I've been seeing references to that movie (Say Anything) all over the place - first Mike's friend Andy and his gf were watching it, then a co-worker mentioned it, then I saw it written somewhere and now this - its creepy - maybe I should watch it....

Which John Cusack Are You?

I'm the same John Cusack - and I put New York for my state before finding that Michigan was on there - but this campus is VERY east coast.... chrikey

Anyway, I'm writing here because I'm in a very, VERY flirtacious mood now and there are no guys to flirt with! Boo! Also, I can't write about guys in my life in my other blogs because they might read that.... and my OD is no more... so here I am! I also just want to sit and have a conversation with someone. I did that yesterday for about an hour and a half with Mike over [his coffee and my] green tea and then more with Shiow while at home. It was so nice, I want to converse more in person.

I'll be back in town on from the 13th to the 16th so let me know if anyone wants to do anything

Oh, and Sig - someone that used to comment on my diary was "Pimp*4*Jesus" - do you know what might have happened to him or how I could find him? I googled that name and got nothing

oops! :-)

!



Which John Cusack Are You?

http://members.aol.com/couplandesque/quizzes/hf.html

01. I think too much.
02. I used to wish I'd be a rockstar...actually, I still do.
03. My favorite number is 13.
04. I am a liberal.
05. Coke is my favorite soft drink...and thing to snort, actually.
06. I like beer.
07. I loathe my handwriting.
08. I don't download music anymore. I'm too poor.
09. I really enjoy my sleep.
10. I can be unnecessarily self-hating.
11. I date too much.
12. I like to read in bed.
13. My favorite professor of all-time is an English professor.
14. My second favorite professor is a Political Science professor.
15. Checking my email is oftentimes the highlight of my day.
16. The Little Prince/The Bell Jar are my favorite books.
17. I am wearing a black shirt.
18. I have a lot to learn. I love to learn new things.
19. My birthday is in April.
20. I am in my 8th semester of college.
21. I am NOT graduating in May.
22. I have no idea what I'm going to be doing 6 months from now.
23. I'm afraid that I know too much.
24. I hope to not fall in love ever again.
25. I love Alfred Hitchcock.
26. I think I'm a poet. :-)
27. I reflect on 2003 constantly. Well...the parts of MY life, anyway. I could give a shit about anyone else.
28. I think forks taste like metal.
29. I'm a terrible cook.
30. I don't care about even numbers.
31. I think my friends are some of the most amazing humans on the planet.
32. I've been to Europe never. Fuck you, Three-Times Hooch. :-)
33. My mind is always in outer space.
34. Love is the most fascinating concept - and the most difficult - that I've ever contemplated.
35. I love my friends.
36. I am very stubborn.
37. I wish that I knew other ways to make Travis Peterson cry. I'm not done with that cocksucker.
38. I have brain cells I never use. I'm sure.
39. Often I feel that I am not good enough.
40. I might be going to hell afterdeath.
41. I hate people that hate clutter. :-)
42. I try to create constants when they aren't there.
43. I'm giving the Saab to my brother. :-)
44. I like the way coffee smells and love the way it tastes.
45. I love words.
46. I'm the only one who really knows my mother.
47. I feel guilty because I can have long conversations with my mother and not so much with my father.
48. I like being crazy and erratic.
49. I like conundrums.
50. I was addicted to a loser a few years ago.
51. I am easily irritated by the way some people write.
52. I miss having money.
53. I love to find money in my coat pocket.
54. I have no idea where I'm going in life and it makes my heart palpitate.
55. I enjoy reading.
56. I've decided no one else will tell me I'm not a writer. I write and so I'm a writer. and also I rule.
57. I wish I got paid to do my homework.
58. I have two roommates.
59. I should be meaner to other people.
60. I am very selfish on occasion.
61. I don't know about children.
62. I couldn't imagine my parents affording grad school.
63. I question everything.
64. I'd like a billion trillion dollars. (Who wouldn't?)
65. I've read Gone with the Wind. Hey, it's long!
66. I steal pens from hotel rooms.
67. I've fallen over due to sleeping feet.
68. I'd like to win the lottery so I could spoil my friends like crazy.
69. I'm on my computer right now.
70. I have several scrapbooks.
71. I want to be revered when I die.
72. I need to start being picky about the purchases I make.
73. Johnny Depp is my boyfriend.
74. This thing is freaking long.
75. I hate getting caught doing things just to look important. :-?
76. I love questions.
77. I don't know jack about figure skating.
78. I can be very nostalgic.
79. I voted for Howard Dean.
80. What the fuck is spelling with numbers?
81. I hold grudges forever.
82. I stay up all night and sleep all morning.
83. I am proud to have been born in the eighties.
84. I am both "public" and extremely private.
85. I like waitressing.
86. I was introspective and a badass child.
87. I am 25% Irish and 75% German. Fucking inbred, Signe.
88. I think typing in ALL CAPS should be outlawed.
89. When I'm sick, I feel sorry for myself.
90. I hate going to the doctor.
91. I always lock the car, even when it's parked in the driveway.
92. I usually do my laundry in the middle of the night.
93. I have a 30 gallon tolerance for booze.
94. I want out of this town. NOW.
95. I use the fuck word a lot. Possibly too much.
96. I am very impressed by thoughtful gestures.
97. I'm NOT hungry.
98. I question the motives behind everything.
99. I would be happy to live with a French Model who smokes lots of cigarettes and wears pink underwear.
100. I feel pathetic for actually filling this out and posting it.

Aiden is Lauren's significant other. :)

Who's Aiden? The journal was interesting! So I'm procrastinating my senior sem paper and a billion other projects - here's my list : )

01. I act before thinking too often.
02. I used to not get along with my sister, now I think she’s pretty fun!
03. My favorite number is eleven.
04. I am a democrat.
05. Diet Coke is my favorite soft drink.
06. I like beer and other hard liquors.
07. I like my handwriting.
08. I don't download music anymore. I'm too busy.
09. I really enjoy my sleep.
10. I can be unnecessarily judgemental.
11. I watch too much TV.
12. I like to read on the toilet.
13. My favorite professor of all-time is Professor Bessant (A history prof)
14. My second favorite professor is Professor Parks (An education prof)
15. Spending time with Jacob is often the highlight of my day.
16. We Were Each Other’s Prisoners is my favorite book right now.
17. I am wearing a white tank top.
18. I have a lot to learn. I love to learn new things.
19. My birthday is a national holiday. (if 9/11 is a holiday)
20. I am in my 8th semester of college.
21. I am graduating in May.
22. I am going to student teach my 9th semester and then teach elementary full time
23. I'm afraid of the unknown.
24. I am so falling in love again every morning!
25. I love Alan Alda!
26. I am not a poet, have never been a poet, and will never be a poet.
27. I have reflected on 2003.
28. I think spoons are the hippest of the utensils.
29. I'm a decent cook.
30. I really, really like even numbers and the numbers 7 and 11.
31. I think my friends are some of the most amazing humans on the planet.
32. I've been to Europe once.
33. I've never been to outer space!
34. God is the most fascinating concept that I've ever contemplated.
35. I love my friends.
36. I am very stubborn.
37. I wish that I knew more about mathematics!
38. I have brain cells I never use. I'm sure.
39. Sometimes I feel that I am not good enough.
40. I’ll probably be staying in Ripon Wisconsin for spring break. (how exciting)
41. I embrace organized clutter (mainly because I can’t keep things uncluttered!)
42. I grasp for nonrealistic dreams often.
43. I share a car with Jacob.
44. I like the way coffee smells but hate the way it tastes.
45. I love words.
46. I know ‘enough’ about my mother.
47. I feel guilty for eating ice cream and other ‘bad’ foods
48. I like being prompt and orderly.
49. I like oxymorons!
50. I was addicted to Risk II and Snood for a period of about...oh...4 or 5 days
51. I am easily irritated by some people
52. I miss my Stora Enso job.
53. I love to find money in my coat pocket (pants, shirt, any kind of pocket)
54. I have no idea where I'm going in life and it makes my heart palpitate.
55. I enjoy reading.
56. I used to think I was meant to be a lawyer, but now I'm a teacher (almost)
57. I wish I got paid to do my homework – maybe I’d do more of it!
58. I have one roommate/husband : )
59. I should be nicer to other people.
60. I am very selfish.
61. I want to have children.
62. I wish my parents would update their ways
63. I question most things
64. I'd like a billion trillion dollars. (Who wouldn't?)
65. I've read the entire Bible
66. I steal pens from hotel rooms and those prescription ones from the doctors!
67. I've yet to fall over due to sleeping feet.
68. I'd like to win the lottery so I could spoil my friends and family like crazy.
69. I'm on my bed watching The Apprentice right now
70. I have several scrapbooks.
71. I want to be remembered when I die.
72. I am very haste about the purchases I make.
73. Jacob Graf is my husband (nobody else better bold this one!)
74. This thing is freaking long.
75. I hate when people do things just to look important.
76. I love questions.
77. Rascal Flatts is my favorite band right now
78. I can be very nostalgic.
79. I voted for Howard Dean.
80. I hate it when people spell with numbers or those mini abbreviations
81. I hold grudges for a really long time.
82. I stay up too late at night and wish I could sleep all morning.
83. I am proud to have been born in the eighties.
84. I am both "public" and extremely private.
85. I hope never to work at a fast food restaurant. Or at any restaurant.
86. I was a normal child.
87. I am a lot German and little Czech and a little Lithuanian.
88. I think typing in ALL CAPS should be outlawed.
89. When I'm sick I piss and moan and am miserable
90. I hate going to the doctor.
91. I always lock the car, even when it's parked in the driveway.
92. I usually do my laundry on the weekends
93. I have a hamster and the cutest kitty in the world
94. I want a REAL job
95. I chew gum way too much
96. I am very impressed by thoughtful gestures.
97. I'm kind of thirsty
98. I question the motives behind most things/people
99. I would be happy to live at Borders.
100. I feel pathetic for actually filling this out and posting it.

I came across this in Aiden's Live Journal. I have an hour and a half to kill at the moment, so...I'm going to do it. And, if you're either bored or lame (or both), I invite you to do the same.

Instructions:

1. Copy this whole list into your journal.
2. Bold the things that you have in common with me.
3. Whatever you don't bold, replace with things about you.

Ready, set, go!

01. I think too much.
02. I used to wish my sister and I were twins. I got over it.
03. My favorite number is five.
04. I am a liberal.
05. Mountain Dew is my favorite soft drink.
06. I do not like beer.
07. I like my handwriting.
08. I don't download music anymore. I'm too poor.
09. I really enjoy my sleep.
10. I can be unnecessarily judgemental.
11. I watch too much TV.
12. I like to read on the toilet.
13. My favorite professor of all-time is an English professor.
14. My second favorite professor is a religious studies professor.
15. Checking the mailbox is oftentimes the highlight of my day.
16. The Little Prince used to be my favorite book. Recently, I've begun to think that it might be a bit too sentimental.
17. I am wearing a black shirt.
18. I have a lot to learn. I love to learn new things.
19. My birthday is a national holiday.
20. I am in my 8th semester of college.
21. I am graduating in May.
22. I have no idea what I'm going to be doing 6 months from now.
23. I'm afraid of the unknown.
24. I never want to fall in love ever again.
25. I love Alfred Hitchcock.
26. I am not a poet, have never been a poet, and will never be a poet.
27. I still haven't reflected on 2003.
28. I think forks are the hippest of the utensils.
29. I'm a terrible cook.
30. I really, really like even numbers.
31. I think my friends are some of the most amazing humans on the planet.
32. I've been to Europe three times.
33. I've never been to outer space!
34. God is the most fascinating concept - and the most difficult - that I've ever contemplated.
35. I love my friends.
36. I am very stubborn.
37. I wish that I knew whether or not the folks over at UMT hate me.
38. I have brain cells I never use. I'm sure.
39. Sometimes I feel that I am not good enough.
40. I might be going to Ames, Iowa for spring break.
41. I hate clutter.
42. I grasp for constants when I know they aren't there.
43. I share a car with my sister. Neither of us own said vehicle.
44. I like the way coffee smells but hate the way it tastes.
45. I love words.
46. I don't really know my mother.
47. I feel guilty because I can have long conversations with my father and can barely speak to my mother.
48. I like being prompt and orderly.
49. I like conundrums.
50. I was addicted to The Sims for a period of about...oh...4 or 5 days, back when I lived in the dorms.
51. I am easily irritated by the way some people write.
52. I miss my museum job.
53. I love to find money in my coat pocket.
54. I have no idea where I'm going in life and it makes my heart palpitate.
55. I enjoy reading.
56. I used to think I was a writer, but now I'm not so sure.
57. I get paid to do my homework.
58. I have two roommates.
59. I should be nicer to other people.
60. I am very selfish.
61. I never, ever want to have children.
62. I wish my parents would volunteer to pay for graduate school, but I don't expect them to and would probably feel guilty if they did.
63. I question everything.
64. I'd like a billion trillion dollars. (Who wouldn't?)
65. I've read almost the entire Bible - not that I remember most of it. (Hooray for religious studies majors!)
66. I steal pens from hotel rooms.
67. I've fallen over due to sleeping feet.
68. I'd like to win the lottery so I could spoil my friends like crazy.
69. I'm in a computer lab right now.
70. I have several scrapbooks.
71. I want to be remembered when I die.
72. I am very picky about the purchases I make.
73. Strong Bad is my boyfriend.
74. This thing is freaking long.
75. I hate when people do things just to look important.
76. I love questions.
77. Rudy Galindo is my favorite figure skater. That guy is my hero. Seriously.
78. I can be very nostalgic.
79. I voted for Howard Dean.
80. I hate it when people spell with numbers.
81. I hold grudges for a really long time.
82. I stay up all night and sleep all morning.
83. I am proud to have been born in the eighties.
84. I am both "public" and extremely private.
85. I hope never to work at a fast food restaurant. Or at any restaurant.
86. I was an introspective child.
87. I am 100% Norwegian.
88. I think typing in ALL CAPS should be outlawed.
89. When I'm sick, I eat tons of chicken soup, dring so much OJ I think I'm going to explode, and scald myself in the shower. For some reason, I think this will cure me.
90. I hate going to the doctor.
91. I always lock the car, even when it's parked in the driveway.
92. I usually do my laundry in the middle of the night.
93. I have a 30 gallon fish tank.
94. I want out of this town. NOW.
95. I use ellipses a lot, possibly too much.
96. I am very impressed by thoughtful gestures.
97. I'm kind of hungry.
98. I question the motives behind everything.
99. I would be happy to live at Borders.
100. I feel pathetic for actually filling this out and posting it.

Jacob has the little tech tv spiel taped and on his website and on FadingMaize.com if anyone missed the event of the century!

I don't mind the flame shoes, but you should see the outfits that guy wears and he has the weirdest shoes. I swear he's gay (not that that is bad) but he's married and tries dressing cool but is in desperate need of that queer eye! Anyways, Jacob kindly left out the 10 minutes of biotching I do every night at around 6 about what a stupid show it is and how irritating Patrick and Leo are! I supposed that was nice of him, but either way that show/channel is the devil. Jacob is addicted to it.

Siggy, cheer up, and don't get so upset until you find out for sure about grad school. I'm sure you'll get in to one of those wonderful schools eventually. Waiting does suck, though, but hold on and it'll be all fine! : )

Hi Lise. I saw Jacob on "The Screen Savers". Well...I heard him. That's probably more accurate. Either way, it's awesome. Tell him that I said congrats for making it on to Tech TV. He did, in fact, mention you...and the shoes. Those shoes, by the way, are very familiar to me. Jamie owns them, in boot form, and *I* like them. :)

Just a quick question - what kind of 'thing' do you do for college graduation? A lot of people had big high school graduation parties. Do you do the same for college? Just wondering what most people do for this sort of thing. Ripon graduation in May 15th at 1:30 if anyone wants to come. I think we'll have people over for drinks and appetizer like stuff afterwards, but nothing big, I don't think. Not that we have a huge house to have anything, either! Let me know when everyone elses' graduations are so I can plan ahead!

I do have lots to do, specifically an entire 2 week integrated unit, but I'm of course procrastinating and the blog seems to be the quagmire of procrastination contributions.

Bethany, Jacob's sister, got married this past Friday. I can't believe how young they both are - 18 and 19. I realize I was only 3 1/2 years older than her when I got married, but looking back when I was 18, there was no way I could have gotten married. Sure I was dating Jacob, but still! Anyways, the wedding wasn't what I thought it was going to be. It was a little on the unorganized, chaotic side, but that's expected and sort of Bethany's style I think. We didn't have an actual rehearsal, so the ushers had no idea what to do. Obviously, walking people to chairs isn't very difficult, but they seemed quite overwhelmed. Then Phil, the guy that DJ-ed for my wedding, did Bethany's also. She had him there the ENTIRE time though. I should explain the wedding was Friday night with appetizers, no dinner, and a dance afterwards. So Phil started Canon in D - the song EVERYONE walked down the aisle to - too early. So I ended up walking down during the part Bethany was supposed to. Not that anyone, but Bethany knew this! The ceremony was a little rushed, and I was quite surprised 'God' was a part of their wedding. The pastor seemed pretty nervous and Bethany and Joe were super nervous, too. It was religious, but not like a whole lot of religion; a nice balance, I'd say. So anyways the wedding went pretty good, and immediately following the ceremony and reception line I hit the bar. No, I'm not a drunk, but after a day like that I definitely NEEDED a little bit of alcohol! So I had a few and then went and smiled pretty for the camera and signed their license and all that sort of stuff. Visiting with the in-law family and dancing was actually kind of fun. That part was a good break from the usual school stuff!

I never realized after a wedding you have to clean up. We really didn't clean much up after Erica's wedding - I don't think there was anything to clean up. I'm sure people helped clean up after mine, but I wasn't around and to be honest I wasn't caring about that at the time! So Joe's family didn't really help clean up, which was pretty shotty on their part. Ranee, Bill, Jacob, and a few of Bill's cousins, and I cleaned up everything and packed the gifts in their van and headed back to the Graf house. It was about 2 by the time we got there, since Lake Arrowhead is in like fricken Adams county. Anyways, we had to unload all the gifts - they couldn't sit out in the cold. I didn't end up going to bed until like 3, and for some reason Jacob's snoring kept me up. He usually snores, but as odd as it sounds, his snoring is actually is kind of comforting and rythmic.

The gift opening was at 11 at the Graf house. So I was up by like 8 (after like 4 hours of restless sleep) to help set up food and clean up and get ready for all the people. Ranee over estimated by quite a few people, but when she's in party planning mode no one tells her anything different than what she thinks in fear of getting your head snapped off, ate, and crapped out. It all went well, though.

Jacob and I bought the newlyweds a wedding photo album. Saturday morning, Jacob got up extra early and took our digital camera to Wal-Mart processing and got all of our pictures developed. He put them all in their album and wrapped it all up pretty. They seemed to like it, which is good! Eventually, Jacob will get the pictures from Bethany's wedding up on his website so if you want to see them check www.jacobgraf.com out!

Not much else is really new in this Graf household. Rascallies is the cutest kitty ever. He's not really a kitty anymore and his name is actually Rascals, but Rascallies adds that little touch, you know?! His new thing is sleeping in our dirty clothes baskets - yummy - what better than a cute little white cat that stinks like dirty socks and undies?!

When is everyone's spring break? Any exciting plans? Anyone up for coming down or up to Ripon for a night? Let me know, I want to get together with everyone sometime! Miss you girls!

Well, I actually DO have nothing to do.... and I realized just the other day that this is the first time since I was 4 that I have not had to worry about school during the semester.

I hope that my job search is not hard and finds me something that will not interfere with my need to get MRIs done, relax and exercise.

And in more news at the Arnold house, I was on Channel 9 for what they dubbed an "exclusive interview" - I deedmed it a fluff peice. I had called earlier about getting some footage of the crash scene and they wanted to ask me a few questions and voilà! Urs done been on the TV.

A stray cat wondered onto the property yesterday and my dad and I fed it. Then it went back to the neighbors but I hope it will be back today because they don't feed it. I named it "Kitty Amin" because of my propensity to refer to her as "Kitty" and because its a cool name

And I re-took an IQ test last night and I am dubious about the results, here are the reasons:
1. I took this test on Thursday but I did not remember any specific answers
2. I did remember general themes and strategies
3. The test is an hour long and after about 30 minutes, I had 17-19 problems done, 17 meaning 132 and 19 meaning about 136
4. In the last 20 minutes, I really only got about 4 questions done of the 30 to do
5. I got one of my answered questions wrong, but I think the error was in my paperwork, so not a total error

Anyway, I ended up with 22 right. 20 right means a 138 and a 23 right means 148, they didn't say anything for 21 or 22. 148 is apparently the cut-off for mensa and in the 98th percentile. But, like I said, I'm dubious and would like to take a different IQ test that is simlar to this test. What I mean is that I want to do puzzles, not think up palendromes or other things that are on The Spark's IQ test.

Anyway, thats about it for news here.

I don't have anything to say, so I don't know why I'm writing this. Actually...I do know. I have a paper to write, and I don't want to write it. The internet is great for wasting time that I should be devoting to meaningless assignments.

I am watching the show Missing for some reason, and the missing kid is named - get this - Eric Miller

And the show is basically about teasing in Junior High going way too far. The kid has severe depression and he was teased by a lot of people. He then lashed out by calling this one girl a "dog." A lot of the girls banded together - popular and unpopular - to get revenge. They tied him up naked and threw dirt on him. He then ran away. Its amazing how well this show can protray the unknown torture of being unpopular in Junior High. Parents hear about what their kids are doing to others, or what is happening to the kids and are so shocked.

I hope that when I have kids, I can empathize and let them know that the pain will end. I hope that they will be well adjusted. I hope that I won't make any mistakes to scar them forever.

PS--I heard Clark was dropping.

I'M voting Dean, much to my father's chagrin...(well, not really, since I bet him ten dollars on the primaries and he's probably going to win, but that's cuz he's a sleazy Mic) I mean, I understand that Clark and Kerry have more conservative conversion, but that's because they're conservatives. What's the point in even HAVING two political parties if they're just going to mold together and be the same? Everyone goes on and on about how "oh, well, anything to get Bush out of the white house" but how the hell is a closet republican or "conservative democrat" going to change anything if they just kow tow to what Bush-like republicans want anyway? I suppose Dean's major error in judgment is his honesty and his pro-activeness...something that our "democrats" apparently don't want, and that's why there are so few REAL democrats left. I think it's rather sad that people will go with a "Bush Lite" in order to win. What's the point of winning if you're not winning anything in the end? What IS winning? The TITLE of "democrat"? Or just the fact that the name "Bush" is no longer attached to President? Ursula makes an excellent point, as did Dr. Governor Dean...how can someone beat Bush in a debate if they agreed to everything he suggested initially? Sleazy under-the-table shit makes the nausea rise up in my throat, excuse me while I vomit.

I'm voting Clark, simply because - being a military man - I think he has the most Republican-conversion potential and, therefore, the greatest chance of kicking Bush's ass. (Although, honestly, Bush is a big enough dumbass that Republicans might not vote for him just because he's a dumbass.)

I think I'm pretty sure I'm voting Clark. I did some more looking into Kerry, and he seems like quite the 'crowd follower' and not really the leader I think we need. I think Clark is good at making decisions, and Sig had a good point when I was talking to her - he could really sway some republicans with his military record. Anything to take votes away from Bush! Can you imagine where we'll be in 4 years if he gets re-elected?!

I'm starting to get pissy with my dumb MSN crap - it's not working! My history senior sem. professor said some of the funniest quotes I've ever heard tonight - so I'll post them in here. (You might have to be a history dork to find these funny, but I found them amusing)

He actually quoted the Rocky Horror Picture Show in class, "Time is fleating, as they say in the Rocky Horror Picture Show." Which then lead into a discussion concerning The Rocky Horror Picture Show - you know how you guys all did that showing thing at Sig's house - get this - my professor had a party at his house - all out party! He even suggested getting it ok-ed by the Plant Department and having our own party in class!! Sweetness!

"The Enlightenment was the diet craze of that time; all the IQ, half the calories!" We all got a kick out of it!

He told us if we, "Really wanted to piss a historian off drop a line that is something to the effect that his/her work is a bunch of antiquarian clap trap."

We also got the usual plagiarism speech and he said when he reads someone's plagiarized work these are the options that go through his mind: "First I think; explitive, explitive, explitive, this explitive must think I'm a real explitive explitive. Second thing that goes through my mind is how the explitive I can a) end their academic career as quick as possible - or b) how I can make the rest of their academic life completely miserable."
- yes he said 'explitive' and not a real swear word.

This guy is my version of Sig's lesbin. He's married though, and has a few kids, I think. He's been on leave the past 2 years, studying in Africa (that's his 'speciality') and I really wish I had more time to take his classes. I have him for Senior Sem. and African History 1000-1700 and I have so much fun. He's absolutely hilarious and makes learning so much fun and totally personalized. There's almost 35 students in my African History class (that's huge for Ripon, our classes are supposed to be like 10-15 at most)! The class is just a bunch of what he calls 'short assignments' and the 1st one was the same for everyone, and then he designs the following 12 assignments to personally fit each of us and the direction we want to go in. Our tests, quizes, and final are all personalized! This is truly amazing to me, studying to be a teacher, I've been told so many times by edu. professors that this is supposedly 'impossible' to do with a class bigger than like 10! This is the only professor who I'd be completely confident in auditing a class with - even without knowing what the class was! He is the epitomy of what I'd think is an ideal professor/teacher.

I'm done rambling now, I'm completely bored and amazingly I've kept up with ALL my homework. Usually I keep up and work ahead the first week or so and that gets me by the rest of the semester, but I figure this is my last real semester (student teaching isn't anything like regular classes), so I'm going to get a hard earned 4.0. No procrastinating this semester (so far)! I'm done! : )

wait i'm back - so i'm really feeling naughty. Jacob and I are going to this microsoft seminar in Milwaukee tomorrow, but I need a business card saying I'm a part of the 'computer business world.' I got one and am an official Ripon Computer & Consulting Technician - hopefully this isn't an interactive seminar as I'm in the negative area in comp. knowledge! Jacob is going for his work just as something fun. Apparently you get all this software free and it's almost a 500 package deal, and if we both go we get 2 and we already have XP and all the other stuff we need so we're hoping EBay will be good to us : ) Clothes shopping here I come! Now I'm done!

Ok, heres the deal, I just saw Dean at Point and this was what sold me on voting Dean:

Think about the debates between Bush and the Democratic candidate... If Kerry is up there, Bush can just thank him for supporting all of his policies - Kerry won't have a leg to stand on. Dean, on the other hand, has taken a stand, has experience and actually gives a damn about something other than his own ass..... think about it.

Oh crikey - well, I should be in town, but I would need a ride to do anything, but by then I should be able to drive, just no car... Anyway, I don't like Kerry because I fear that he is too boring and we may see a repeat of four years ago - a friend of my friend Srah said this:

"Just please don't support Kerry. He's somehow skyrocketed to the frontrunner position despite the fact that he is clearly the worst candidate. He's been of the same opinion as Bush concerning all the major issues of today. So Bush will say "Oh, I lead the fight in Iraq" and Kerry's counter-argument will be a measly, "Yes, well, I voted for it." and then so on and so on with the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, No Child Left Behind, etc. He's a terrible candidate: just a democratic Bush. That's not going to inspire many people to vote for him in November. Plus, he allegedly botoxed the crap outta his forehead."

Now, this guy is obviously kinda biased and doesn't get the "lets just get Bush OUT of office" but he has some possibly valid points. Mostly, I don't like the idea of a man concerned with his "image" - who cares if the "public" doesn't like them? These are the same people that cared enough to make up the term "Bennifer" (I think thats an Onion creation though) and is still harping about Janet's titty! So yeah. I'm going to see Dean with my mom and Jamie tonight (if theres room and parking....) but, like you, I want who ever I vote for will win so I'm torn.

Right now, for me, the question is Dean or Kerry. Not that I don't like Clark, I LOVE Clark, but I want him in a more "decision making" type position. Thats what he is cut out for. The other guys are way too far behind to even care about. Anyway, I don't know why Kerry is the front runner - he doesn't have anything the other canidates don't, except for that elusive quality of "electability" and really, thats not something he can even control. I would like to see a more heated race, so maybe I'll vote for Dean just to give him more support, who knows.

Just curious who everyone is interested in voting for. I'm thinking for now I'd like to see Clark, but at the same time I'm sure Kerry will get the nomination, and I want to vote for whoever can beat Bush - hopefully that won't take too much.

So I have to get mushy, sorry Siggy! Jacob did the most romantic thing ever this past weekend. For Valentines weekend we have to go to Rapids for Bethany's wedding rehearsal and then we're going to a marriage seminar on Saturday; so we really won't be having our own Valentines celebration type thing. This past weekend I knew on Saturday we had to take the in-law's van to Madison airport to pick them up. (They went to visit Bill's dad and stepmom in the FL Keys.) On Friday Jacob picked me up from class with the van, so I thought that was a little weird cuz we hadn't driven the van or anything, it just sat in our parking lot for the week. He drove towards the apartment, but he went right past, and we ended up driving for like an hour or so and we got to Madison. Well, Bethany & Joe live in Sun Prairie so I assumed we were going there, but then we passed the exit. He pulled in the Crown Plaza parking lot, and I figured he had gotten a hotel room for the night so we didn't have to get up early to drive to Madison. Then he had me stay in the van for awhile, and he came down and got me and took me up to our room, and it was so romantic! He had tons of rose petals on the floor and on the bed. In the middle of the bed was a dozen white roses, a teddy bear, a bag of candy hearts, and a card. He had bought candles and put them on either side of the bed. It was a suite room, so there was a couch and table in a seperate little area, and he had a bottle of wine with glasses and then he brought these fancy crystal lead candle holders and bought those tall candles to put into them. All the lights were off and the candles were on, it was just perfect. He had packed clothes, and my shampoo (i hate using hotel shampoo, it's so cheap and crappy) and he even packed some 'fun stuff' for the night! He forgot to pack his swim suit, though, so we couldn't go down to the pool and hot tub. Oh well, we had fun anyways : ) We went out to eat, too. He wanted to go to Red Lobster, but the wait was almost 3 hours, so we ended up going to TGI Fridays. Afterwards, we went to Boarders - Barnes & Noble was closed?! What's up with that? It was only 9 at night I think! And yeah, I know, we're dorks! We found some books and looked around and stuff and then headed back to the hotel and had a wonderfully romantic night/day! So that's my mushy Valentines Day story! We had so much fun, I was so impressed he had all that stuff ready and set out without letting me onto anything! I wish I could keep secrets like he does. Whenever I have a surprise I end up ruining it usually!

I'm done now : ) I miss everyone - if anyone is going to be around or wants to be around on the 20th, we should all get together - Bethany's wedding is that Friday night and Jacob & I'll be in Rapids for the weekend. My parents our out of town for the weekend, so we're staying there, and if you want to come hang out and depelete the bar downstairs, you are welcome to come over! : )

Maybe he used to have one but doesn't anymore? I don't know...that's what I thought, but it's possible that I'm wrong. I mean, I haven't actually seen the guy since any of this happened.

Interesting (about the poop bag, sorry, I'm a little gross at times) because I certainly did not notice anything... He does look older than I remember him - a LOT more grey hair, and for some reason, he reminded me very slightly of my grandpa Arnold. My aunt Kathy made some remark about him being really, really attractive when he was younger, it was cute. But he did look a little worn out

Yay! That must mean that Anton's not dying anymore! He was really, really sick a while back...he had some sort of weird virus/parasite/bacteria (I don't know WHAT it was) eating him from the inside out and, if I'm not completely mistaken, he has a well-concealed poop bag these days. The doctors were pretty convinced that he wasn't going to make it. My dad and Anton (Mr. Dern...weird...) are good friends. They taught together at West back in the early days before East even existed, and they go to Iola every year for the car show. At Christmas my dad was really worried about him, so...it's good to hear that he's doing better. (And, of course, it's good that YOU are doing better too, Urs.)

Well, while going to my speech therapist, which really is more like a cognative therapist, I heard someone asking a guy to spell his first name and then I heard him say "Anton, A-N-T-O-N." While that may be an odd, irrelavent name to some, I turned my head right away - see, my great (maybe another great in there?) grandfather was named Anton Arnold, and my 9th grade English teacher was Anton Dern. Lo and behold, standing there, looking older than I had remembered with grey hair and in sweatpants, was Mr. Dern! Now this is not important to anyone that didn't go to West or know of Anna Dern, but Jamie, Lauren and Sig should be slightly impressed.

We talked for a bit as he tried to remember who I was. He had me and my cousins mixed up a little - but thats ok, many people thought that Jolene was Jenny's sister, not mine. I learned that he had talked to Taylor and he was in the 8th grade. I also learned that he had some colon surgery and a stroke and he was doing some therapy for that. He told me that his speech was slurred so he had to go to speech therapy. I told him that I was in grad school at Michigan and that he lived down the street from my relatives, the Falkowskis (is that spelled right.... damn polish names).

I also explained about my accident and was conscious of what it meant for me to say "brain injury" because he remembered me for being a little smarter than the rest of the kids in that class. I, in fact, cite a time in his class as my most proud moment. We were reading 12 Angry Men and we got half-way through it and he asked us to decide if the defandant was guilty of not, we were then to physically divide ourselves into groups. The whole class sat on the side saying he was guilty except for me and Mr. Dern... throughout the class, people slowly migrated to my side of the classroom. By the end, almost no one thought that he was guilty. I think thereafter, that Mr. Dern really respected my individuality and ability to stand up in the face of popular opposition. I would love to talk with him some more - I have 3, possibly 6 more therapy sessions scheduled in the next 2 weeks, maybe I will see him again. Oh, and I'm gonna post this in the Debate blog too, I would like to open up more dialog with those people too. Hope all is well! I am terribly bored and without vehicle, feel free to call or even visit - ttyl