A few things

First, I bought this book over the weekend. The first 80 pages are full of primers on all the tools and techniques you use for the projects. Needless to say, I was a bit overwhelmed.

I decided to ignore everything except what I needed for the first project and I feel a lot better about the book now. At the beginning, I said I was going to make everything in the book but I really didn't think I'd actually make anything.

So I got to it and I decided to make the first project in the book, figuring it would be the easiest.

It's an LED bracelet. I bought what I could for it today, including online purchases. It was funny being in Home Depot because no one who wanted to help us had any idea what or where the stuff I needed was. It's was like an adventure. Only it was really annoying.

Secondly, will.i.am is going to be at AQ this Sunday at 11. Who is pumped? I am pumped.

Thirdly, I would like to go see Cloud Cult sometime this fall. Rumor has it, this is their last tour and their last album before an indefinite hiatus. Luckily (for me), almost all the upcoming tour dates are near your new homes. They will be in DC on November 10, Boston on November 13, Bethlehem, PA on November 14 and Menominee, WI on November 17. I threw the WI one in there because Nick's aunt and uncle live in WI somewhere. I don't know which one I'm going to choose yet but I'm going to talk it over with Nick and look at trains so let me know if any dates work out for you two.

I also am planning a Lansing/Ann Arbor trip sometime soon, so steel yourself, Toi. If this trip actually goes through, I'll be traveling with Katti, Oliver and maybe a few of our friends. Katti and Oliver have a friend who lives in Lansing so we could all crash with him.

The president's son brought his dog in today. To work. Apparently the RR wanted to see it. She isn't in today.

It's a big dog.

Why I feel the need (suddenly) to become a member of the Grand Rapids Art Museum

"Sign up for membership before October 2 and recieve an exclusive invitation to the Member Preview Party with Special Guest Speaker, Nigel Barker. Enhanced Members are invited to reserve seats."

Totally. Going.

How I remember

Quickie

ED's last day was Friday. Admissions had two parties for her, one on Thursday and one on Friday.

Our office was not invited to either of them. Neither were any other offices.

What's the point of an in-office party? Especially since we all really love ED? We invite them to all of our parties.

Now I totally hate Admissions. It's like the cool kids had a party and talked all about it. And no one else was invited.

! الحمد لله

I am so sorry that I haven't updated lately but things have been crazy. On Mondays and Thursdays, I have class from 9am - 7pm with 5 minutes between classes and work crammed in there too. Otherwise, I have one or two classes.

Here's the rundown:

Mondays/Thursdays
I have Cartography at 9. This class is awesome because I've always wanted to be a useless cartographer and it's taught by Bieneman. Did I ever tell you I had his wife in elementary school? She was my fourth grade teacher. Her mother passed away this week.

At 10:50, I go to work until 1:25.

Don't even get me started on these new kids. They deserve their own post.

At 1:40, I have French Film and Lit. It's only the second week of school and I already am just reading the SparkNotes. The class would be so much less painful with you girls but I'm surviving okay with...the one girl whose name I still don't know after four years and some other girl.

Five minutes after the end of French class, I have Ceramics. It's really just a class to help me calm down but I've already broken two pots and found two very not artistic buddies. I am so not artsy.

Five minutes after the end of feeling dumb, I have Arabic. Which is, quite frankly, awesome. It is difficult but a ton of fun. I feel like such a genius when I get a word right or when I understand what's going on. Also: heritage! I hope I get to talk to my mom's relatives before the kick the bucket because now I know my blood languages (as my mom calls it).

Tuesdays/Fridays
I have a confession to make. Because I couldn't afford the textbook and he stressed homework so much, I dropped my history class. So now I have to take it next semester.

In other news, at 10:50, I have Tai Chi. Which is reaching Folk and Square Dance in awesomeness. The prof learned Tai Chi directly from some famous family who created a form of Tai Chi. He is a hoot. I have a thousand stories from him. He fell off a curb and landed on cement about a year ago and had trouble walking again. His hip hurt when he walked so he couldn't walk across the room until he tried doing Tai Chi. When he walked by doing his Tai Chi moves, his hip didn't hurt any more. Since he is injured, his wife does most of the demonstrations. She also helps him remember how old he is when he adds thirteen years to his age. Both of them are pretty old, 60s and 70s, but they are hilarious. He calls himself Monk and his wife Natalie Teager. Most of the class is taken up by his stories.

On Tuesdays, I have Arabic at 6 (work before that (10:50 to 5) but I have Arabic only Mondays through Thursdays so I just have Tai Chi and work on Fridays.

On Wednesdays, I am not working for the first time in my life. So all I have is Arabic at 6. I sleep, I read, I do homework, I relax.


Overall, this semester is awesome but very stressful. I have a lot of work ahead of me.