:: Venting Insanity ::

:: Saturday, February 22, 2003 ::

Click here to find out what element YOU are!

new section
Added a new section for job searchers, as well as a section with places I used to work at. I also put up some message boards you can check out, if you so wish to. ^_^

Also, put up a cute crystal ball/mind reader. It worked about 2 out of 3 times for me after playing with it for a while. I already noticed a few things that would help make it more accurate, so I don't need a huge explaination on how it works... >P (I've had people do that to me before...)

sleepy...
Long make up class... We watched Anthony Robbins after break. That guy's like huge! He's got big WHITE teeth and reminds of the Jolly Green Giant... O.O;;; He was discussing aspects of emotional management or something like that. Lucinda's topics of the day were time management and stress. Afterwards, Mark and I discussed some ideas for the presentation, which I need to type up what we're going to say. Then, this weekend, I'm going to work on my CDP. John S wanted to hang out, so I'll see how that goes. If I get enough done, I'll go out, but I do have a lot of work to do. The CDP is due next Wednesday, at the same time as the presentation. Now, THAT's frustrating. Having two projects for the same class due on the same day. O.O;;; Plus, I've got the final coming up for math. But, I figured out what I did wrong on those determinants, so I'm all good now with how to do them. It was a stupid sign issue where I had a negative where I should have had a positive. -_-;;; It's always the silly mistakes that get me...

navcloumn updates
Added a new game... Mini Golf. I also moved stuff around so I have a new "funness" section to put all the games in. ^_^

coming soon
Message boards that are open for general posting, and some other neat stuff. Keep watching! Plus, I might actually update the main site someday!!! {{everyone dies from shock}} Aww... c'mon, guys... I'm not that bad, am I? Guys?? {{silence}} ^_^;;;

:: Friday, February 21, 2003 ::

break time!
ARGH! I have no money to buy a snack... {{sobs}} We're on break right now after watching two of those self-help videos with Lucinda Bassett. Brigid said Lucinda's book, From Panic to Power, is actually really good. Maybe I'll see if my library at home has it. {{shrugs}} I don't think I want to buy it right now. I don't have the money anyway.

money, blah
Tina said it might take like three weeks to get my paycheck from tutoring. I'm so bummed. I don't even think I have a hundred bucks massed up on that sheet, either. I'm so not looking forward to having to borrow cash from my parents...

here at class
Well, I'm here, but Rob's not. I hope he gets here soon. I'd rather not sit here by myself doing nothing for the next 2 1/2 hours waiting for class to start. Especially when I have no money to grab a snack or soda from the vending machines downstairs. {{sigh}}

to pay or not to pay
My friend showed me this website for a guy who knows how to legally not pay taxes. I talked to Mom about and she said it's a scam. She would know, she works for the IRS. However, she still wants to know what this guy does to get away with not paying any income tax. My friend said he's going to see if the book's in the library and look it over.

I also talked to Tina today, and we hit everything from tutoring and how often we get paid to Financial Aid issues and student loans. We think my student loans got a bit messed up because I was claimed as a dependant on my parents taxes while I was 24 (which is the last year they can claim you on Federal income tax). So, now I need a co-signer on my loan no matter what. If my parents hadn't claimed me, we might have been able to get around the co-signer bit. Either way, she gave me a couple of ideas on how to get more money for school and how to get some job possibilities where I can make a good amount of money for easy and almost no work.

job blues
My job search seems to have come to a screeching halt, too. I haven't heard from anyone in the past few days. I'm starting to get discouraged again. Hopefully, the websites that Tina and my dad gave me will help get me past that.

case dismissed, but not solved
Well, we can dismiss the case of the messed up blogs, since Dan and AJ are both back online, but, whatever happened to them, we may never know...

hmmm
AJ's blog isn't working... Neither is Dan's...

still hungry
I had a small dinner after I got home from class, so now I'm hungry again...

homework tedium blues
YAY!!! Less homework this weekend from math!!! Of course, that only means I'll be spending all that time working on my career development portfolio. x.x;; {{dies}} I also have to type up the presentation during the day tomorrow so I have it to show Mark tomorrow. I think I'm going a bit overboard with all my certificates, but she wants them in there. I have all sorts of silly ones that I can stick in there to make it look I did a ton of stuff. ^_^;;; I still have a lot of typing to do for the other stuff. But, I think I'm just going to put my resume in as the last one I sent out, along with the last version of my cover letter. I just hope I have enough page protectors. I think I have some more upstairs. I also have to ask Mom or Dad if one of them can bring home dividers from work. Either that, or see if I can borrow some cash to buy new ones.

Either way, I have a lot of work to do. Those CDP pages in the book are rediculous. O.O;;; I'm going to be really busy tomorrow during the day. I hope I can get a lot of it finished before I have to leave.

school stuff
I have make-up tomorrow night, but we're thankfully not going to be there from 5:30-11 pm. We only have to get there at 8:25. However, I'm going in at 6 to help Rob with his math homework and to help study for the upcoming final. We were supposed to have a test tonight, but the trains got all whacky, making Dr C late again. So between that and the snow day on Tuesday, we didn't have a test. He went over the homework, showed us some new stuff, and gave us review problems and new work to do for homework tonight, instead. It wasn't bad. I actually learned some new stuff that I didn't learn in the math classes I took at Suffolk. So, today's class was interesting. The next chapter is right angle trigonometry, so that should pretty easy for me, too.

I was thinking of keeping this book to use it for tutoring as long as I can. That way, I'll at least get the $110 out of it instead of just using one third of the stupid thing.

I also want to go over this new stuff we're doing. I got something wrong and I don't know how I got it wrong. I need to double check it somewhere and find the problem.

doctor visits
Mom was home late again today. Yesterday, she took Auntie Lyn to the doctor (Auntie Lyn's not allowed to drive yet after her stint in the hospital), and, today, she took Nana to the doctor. {{sigh}} I hope they keep these late appointments. If I get a job, none of us will be able to take them during the day.

speaking of jobs
Dad found a neat website with FBI and other gov't jobs on it. I'm going to check it out and see if I can apply to any. They're waiving the experience requirements and hiring students and new grads. ^_^ It's worth a shot! Plus, I want to call Linda at SUNY SB and see if they got my last resume. I also didn't hear back from Zoraida or John or Andy about the NBTY and BnW things. As they say, if you have to call twice, you probably didn't get the job. {{sobs}} I hope I didn't miss out on that NBTY gig. She said I had time. Maybe I'll leave one more message tomorrow and see what happens...

and now...
...to get something to eat...

:: Thursday, February 20, 2003 ::

hungry
That sandwich didn't fill me and I'm starving again as I write this...

projects
Well, Mark and I finally worked out an idea for our presentation. I'm going to write it up now that we worked out the idea while he takes care of getting together all the presentation materials we're going to use. Hopefully, I won't get killed in math homework again this weekend. And I have make-up class on Friday for my Monday/Wednesday class. Luckily, we're not doing the two classes in one night thing. They're only expecting us to be there for the duration of one class. YAY!!! {{dances}} Of course, my career development portfolio is majorly suffering. I really have to work on that this weekend, too. {{sigh}} Again, I hope we don't get killed with math homework... And the teacher still has to finish Chapter 6 and teach us Chapter 9 before the final in two weeks. <sarcasm>This should be fun...</sarcasm>

:: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 ::

thank you, dave barry
It's great to know there are wonderful native events around the world that attract tourism.

Two Crushed at Naked Festival

should i file a missing persons report?
Well... Evelyn and Jennifer showed tonight. I didn't see hide nor hair of the other four math students. Go figure. However, Rob Vertuccio said he submitted my other signature sheet. Hopefully, I'll be getting paid soon.

making calls
I also called NBTY and BnW today. John said his boss would get back to me (BnW) and I left a message on Zoraida's voice mail (NBTY). I told Zoraida that I would like to continue with the interview process. That should stall things long enough to hear back from the other positions. I still haven't heard from Linda about the programming position at SUNY SB, but I don't know if I ever will. I wasn't sure if I was qualified enough.

soreness and boredom don't mix
I'm so sore today after yesterday's shoveling fiasco. My shoulders, neck, arms, and back are killing me. {{sobs}} And I still have half an hour before class. I'm so bored. Jen was easy to tutor, so she was out of here by seven. O.O;; So, now I'm bored out of my mind. Plus, there's another class coming into the library right now, and they're apparently having a lecture of some sort since their teacher dragged a podium into the room with the security guard's help.

new stuff considerations
I was thinking of adding a new section to my navcolumn in order to make direct text links to the sites where I adopted all my sprites from. However, I still haven't decided. If I do, I'll it some other time. I don't feel like messing with all that HTML right now... My template is so complicated with all those table sections and links right now.

dinner time
Well, I'm going to go eat my turkey sandwich (with American cheese, mayo, and bacon bits) and mixed fruit cup that I brought along. Maybe I'll save the soda for class... Depends on how thirsty I am...

your mother was a snowblower!
Mom, Dad, and I went to dig Auntie Lyn and Nana out of the snow... not just because they can't, but because they didn't make arrangements ahead of time to have someone who lives around the corner (the same guy we borrowed the snowblower from, but I'll tell you about that later) come and do it. So, the three of us piled into the truck, drove a half hour, and started digging the old fashioned way for a 75 foot long driveway that was covered in a foot and a half of heavy, sticky, wet snow. And... rather than call around to a few places before we got there (like my dad kindly asked them to do on the phone before we left), they looked up numbers and asked if we wanted them... while we were standing out on their busy street with my mom's car parked in the road because we couldn't drive it in due to the fact that we had to dig out the snow first. Like we were going to stand out there and call while they had access to a working phone inside the house...

Just like how Nana won't use the Town's senior car service, but wants Mom to take time off of work to drive her to the doctor.

Anyway... before I get too far off topic... They finally started calling (or Nana probably made Auntie Lyn call) after we had dug in about 5 feet and yelled out that they had found someone with a snowblower we could use. With much thanks to the Reilly's around the corner, we were able to tackle the driveway before it got too dark, cold, and icy.

Of course, we still had to dig certain areas, like the steps, around the garbage cans, and around the car. Plus, because the snow was heavy and packed, you still had to really push and wrestle with the snowblower. This was no fine powder we were working with today. My shoulders and back are killing me... O.O;;

But, I did get to use a snowblower for the first time! It was cool! (no pun intended)

missing classes...
And we missed class again today. As harsh as it will be for getting done what we need to get done, I'm thankful for it. Of course, tomorrow's tutoring session is going to be killer. I have Jennifer, Keisha, Tommy, and possibly James... and then Rob, too. I'm not quite looking forward to this one... I hope the dean's in when I get there tomorrow before my session with Evelyn. I need to get myself a new copy of the group session sheet. They only gave us one in our packets when we signed up to be tutors.

cliques!
And I just got word from Kitty Power. I'm in! And I got Marie, too! YAY!!! I also changed the link to her cuter animated link. =^_^= Three more...

:: Monday, February 17, 2003 ::

Casserole a la leftovers. My favorite!


What's for dinner?
brought to you by Quizilla

hm.. certain casseroles aren't all that bad, either... ^^;;; I'll add this to my quizzes later.

winter wonderland
Well, I'm listening to the plows right now as they clear out the roads and stuff. I guess the heavy snow has finally tapered off. Mom's home from work tomorrow. The IRS is closed! {{shock}} As for me, I don't know about school, but I kind of hope classes will be cancelled. We'll see.

It's supposed to warm up as the week continues, getting all the way back up into the forties on Wednesday. {{pouts}} And we've got about two feet of snow right now. The snow drift against the back of my garage was almost up to my hips and I'm 5'5". Either way, it's going to rain this coming weekend, so it'll all be tamped down and icky looking. Then, it'll probably freeze over. Of course, if it does that, I could try a little amateur ice skating in my backyard. My friend did that back in 1995. We had a similar freeze over the top of the snow that year, and we were all sliding around on it out in front of the school before the busses left for the day. She had even pulled out her skates and went skating for real in her yard. O.O;;;

homework blues
I hate having this much work to do. I'm glad I didn't have class with the holiday today. I have to bring a copy of my resume to class on Wednesday, though. {{sigh}} We also have to bring a sample cover letter. This is also stuff we need to include in our portfolios. Plus, I still have more catching up to do on the book work. I hate this... x.x;;; {{dies from homework overload}}

telephone tag
I also need to make several calls tomorrow. I need to call BnW, NBTY, and Smithtown SD. I e-mailed them my resume, but I want to call tomorrow and make sure they got it... if the school's even open. We'll see, right?

clique update
Well, I've been accepted to NO sTiCkY cApS and s.t.a.. Scented Angels doesn't work like a normal clique where you have to fill out a join form and be accepted, plus you change your scent with your layout colors. I'm still waiting on word from the others. ^^;;

new cliques
I applied to a few more cliques. I hope they get back to me soon. ^^;;;

:: Sunday, February 16, 2003 ::

i always miss the beginning
I just watched the second half of The Music Man with Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueler's Day Off, The Producers on Broadway, Inspector Gadget). Can I just say it's really hard to watch Ferris Bueler prancing around the TV and singing?? I love Matthew Broderick. I think he's kinda cute and he's fun to watch. He's got a great charisma on the screen. Not to mention that this actor who played everyone's favorite teen slacker is actually quite a good singer and dancer. I heard rave reviews when he was on Broadway in The Producers and How to Succeed in Business Without Even Really Trying.

The Music Man was no disappointment. While many critics said it was a lack lustre rendition of the musical play, I myself found it rather enjoyable. At least, what I managed to catch of it. ^^;; Anyway... It seems the critics felt it was "lack lustre" in comparison with the original motion picture release of the same show. {{shrugs}} I don't know... if you have a different cast, a different crew, and a different director, it's going to turn out to be a different movie. Each group should be judged on their own merit, not by how others did before them. Plus, this was a made for TV Disney special, not some huge theatrical release. Done the old fashioned way with a sound stage, a production lot, and no fancy special effects, this was a nice movie to sit back and enjoy without getting caught up in all those fancy effects flying around the screen to make people 'oooo' and 'aahh'.

Then again, I was never one to believe the critics.

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
And it has started! We've got snow with a slight easterly wind. You can see it in the way the flakes are coming down at an angle. I wonder how much we're going to get this time...

corrections
And, whoops! Aly caught me. She said I spelled her name wrong. It's "Aly", not "Ally". I apologize! {{bows}} Now I sound like a newspaper! LOL.

cliques
I've also been thinking of starting my own online clique, but I don't know who would join... ^_^;;; I know... It's kinda silly. I also don't know what to make a clique about. Maybe a candy clique? Hmm.... Harry Potter clique? Hmm.... You know, I hope no one reads this and steals my ideas. {{grumbles}}

new stuff
Added some new links (Dave Barry's website and blog, Animedia), as well as updated my job description now that I've been to a few interviews and heard back from Rob about the web design position. {{dances}}

movie night
I went over to John's house last night. We watched Watership Down, the documentary on the new X-Men DVD, and Super Troopers.

I haven't seen Watership Down since I was a little kid. I only remembered like two scenes from it, and not that clearly, either. So, it was basically just like seeing the entire movie for the first time again. It's about a group of rabbits that abandon their warren after one of them has a terrifying premonition of death and destruction. They leave behind some of their friends and family to journey what seems like hundreds of miles to a new home. They meet all sorts of hardships along the way, including hunters, other rabbits, and a farm that has a dog and a cat intent on catching them. That and the fact that, when they reach the new home, they realize they have no females in the group and they have to find a way to either liberate some from a neighboring warren that's run like a police state or from the farm.

Super Troopers is a comedy about a group of State Police Highway Patrol Officers at a station in Spurberry, VT (I'm not sure if this town actually exists). They're fighting to save their station from the state budget cuts and prevent the local PD from taking over their jurisdiction. It's a comedy that includes everything from road stops gone bad, insane pigs at murder scenes, ritualistic rookie hazing, drug running teens, and testing new equipment. It's not quite low brow humor, but it's definitely good for a laugh.

I loved X-Men when it came out in theatres and I'm really looking forward to seeing the sequel. John S bought the fancy new DVD that has a whole documentary done up on the making of the new movie and some slight problems they had in the first one. ^_^;;; It was really good. They give you some sneak peeks of scenes, a backstage view of the new set (which is almost done being built), and interviews with the cast and crew. It's a good pairing with a great movie.

snow day? but school's already closed!
We're supposed to get more of it tonight and tomorrow. Six to twelve, they're saying. O.O;; Good thing class isn't happening tomorrow. Speaking of which, I meant to call Keisha and Tommy. They had wanted to get together to do the homework today, but the library at school wasn't open. {{grumbles}} And my brain is so fried from the ten tons of math homework I had to do this weekend. I still have three graphs I have to do up, but I need to find my graph paper first.

Not to mention my Career Development Portfolio and the exercises in the book that I sorely need to catch up on. {{sigh}} And the fact that my notebook is terribly disorganized. I haven't been doing any of the exercises in the book in the book because I want to be able to sell it back. The only problem is, Brigid wants to flip through our books to see what we've done. She wants to see my notebook since I told her I didn't do the exercises like that. And it's in such disarray. I never do those types of exercises in order, either. {{grumbles}}

chores galore
And I'm washing the slipcovers for the living room furniture, finishing up some more of my laundry, I'll have to run and clean out the dishwasher later, probably vaccuum tomorrow... I also need to wash the comforter from my bed and the bath towels. On top of that, I really need to go upstairs and clean my room so I can switch beds. Dad's getting tired of having the other one in the garage. My room's just such a mess, it's overwhelming to look at... O.O;;;