Winter Break

EEEK... I have only twelve days until school starts and technically by then I am supposed to have my thesis proposal ready to go! Unfortunately, I have not even looked at my thesis over the break yet. Hmmm. I suppose I better get on that. I feel like this break went by sooo fast. It kinda makes me sad. I had so many plans: places to visit, movies to see, friends to catch up with. And it isn't because of lazyness either... well not mostly. I have been driving around the state practically non-stop between the holidays, the zombie filming, and other mandatory bits of social life. And I really have to finish to books that I borrowed over the summer. I used to read a book like this in a day or less, and look at me, struggling to even get started after months of it sitting on my shelf. So sad...

On the up side, my hair looks awesome today, my usually tight shirt looks like it fits super cute, and my books are arriving from Amazon right on time! And most happily I recieved my Master of Olympus : Zeus game in the mail yesterday :)
This game is positively more addicting than Zoo Tycoon! Hard to believe, I know. But it is true. I got this game with my bro for $10 dollars like 10 years ago... well maybe a little less. and we wore it out. I shared it with my new college friends, and it killed a lot of time over the summer and during finals week when we should have been studying. But alas! My dear game managed to get lost. It was passed around so many times I really have no idea when it happened, but somehow it got in between the cushions on our livingroom sofa. Sad sad day it was when I found it. Crushed and cracked beneath the bums of multiple college students for who knows how long.

Long story short, I have been telling myself I would find and replace my favorite game, and I have finally done it! My brother is already asking if he can borrow it. Sure, but not until I first try it out and waist more time not doing my thesis!

Happy New Year!

Today is actually the third but who cares? Happy New Year anyway! It is also back to work day for me. I shouldn't complain, I do need the money, and I actually can work more hours right now. For Christmas, which was great btw, Russell and I got some neat things for the property. My parents gave him a hammock and they gave me a neat picnic table I have been wanting for a while. Russell's mom got us a small fire pit\decorative piece. I can't wait until we have something out there permanently.

School starts back up in 2 weeks or so. I have to make the most of these next days off. I really have to get in gear with my thesis. Blah... I also need to start getting my books for classes. Luckily they should not be as hard as last semester. Whoo- pulled all A's barely.

Property News and Zombies!

So... today I can OFFICIALLY say that Russell and I bought our property. I am pretty sure I have said that before but this time, the government or whoever looks at titles will recognize it. We had been going back and forth with the title company for months but yesterday, after dropping off my brothers' clothes at 4:30am so that he could be zombified I was able to find the title company's office and pay up the closing costs. After all the hassle it took to negotiate getting the title and making an appointment, or even just getting an answer to my emails and Russell's phone calls, the actual signing of the paperwork took about two minutes. The lady who had been such a pain in getting hold of before, actually redeemed my opinion of the title company somewhat in person. She was very nice and let me sign the papers about twenty minutes earlier than my appointment time (I was worried I wouldn't find the place so I got there early). Oh and also, she complemented my ring and gave me a pen. What can I say? I am easily appeased.

You may be wondering: Did she really say 4:30am ? Who in the world gets up at 4:30am on purpose?! Normally, not me. I tend to wake up around 9am actually. Even later on Tuesdays.

Oh wait... you may be wondering about what I meant by zombiefied. Yes. My brother was made into a zombie. Actually, so was I. And Russell, and his whole big family.

You may not have guessed it, but being a zombie is a BLAST. I mean, you get to look cool, you get to make really weird grunting/growling noises, and crawl around in creepy railroad tunnels. How awesome is that?! Here is a picture of me and my love before our first scene together, and before the really cool makeup artist added the finishing touches: oozy chocolate syrup blood, creepy contacts, and alka-seltzer for rabid foaming mouths. Sexy!

Well, a zombie movie called Humans vs. Zombies was being filmed this week near where my boyfriend's family lives, and they desperately needed extras. So that sounded like awesome fun to us, and we all showed up. The only downside to all this, was that call time was at 4:30 in the morning (GROAN). But I was so excited to actually see a movie set and get all this super cool makeup on that I didn't really care. All of us were picked to be in various scenes, and we each were in the front of the zombie horde at some point, so chances are, we made it into the movie for real. If you see a big, scary, orange haired zombie that gets shot in the front of a tunnel... that isn't me. I'm like one person over. hah. Check that off my bucket list.

After three days of filming, I still don't think any of us really know what the plot of this movie is. Supposedly it is based off of a game that college students play on big campuses. I definitely haven't seen anything like it at my small-town college. Humans vs. Zombies will supposedly have a limited release in theaters next Halloween. The plan is to sign a contract with HBO if everything is well received, for a short series based on the movie. Or something like that. I still am not sure. One thing is for certain: I will show up to the theater as if I am walking the red carpet!

By the way, I am pretty sure I am a horrible actress, even for an extra. Keep an eye out for the zombie that looks like she is trying not to laugh. That is probably me.

Tamara Drewe and Stuff

When I am bored at work I like to look at the "Trending Now" top ten on Yahoo's main page and click on topics that seem intriguing (or at least more interesting than what I am supposed to be doing) and a few days ago I clicked on Tamara Drewe because I like the name Tamara (mostly because I love Tamara Peirce's books) and because it had been popping in and out of the trend feed for awhile and was a name I didn't recognise. I figured it be some celebrity news about someone that I had never heard of, but it was actually news about a new English movie based on a comic strip by Posy Simmonds. So I found the web site that hosts the strip and have finished it today. Not bad. I want to see the movie. I don't want to post any spoilers, not like anyone will read it and actually be spoiled, but I would feel bad in the random off-chance. So I will just say that it starts out kinda slow and fairly unremarkble but consistently picks up pace, always keeps at the very least mildly interested and has a kicker of a climax! I was like wow!... wait am I supposed to think this is awesome... because it kinda is... but I am not sure I am supposed to...
Either way the story was an unexpected bit of a break from boredom and now I have a new movie to look foreward to. I saw the casting list and I am a little disappointed in the pick for Beth, but otherwise I think it looks promising!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/cartoon/2005/sep/17/tamara-drewe-1

Also, looking at the Tamara Drewe movie info reminded about the good news I had a few months ago when I found outthe author of a book series I love had agreed to a movie deal. The Uglies by Scott Westerfield is supposedly in movie production! So I checked on that and sad face, nothing appears to have changed in status so maybe it will fall through. But I hope not.
So then I started google-ing some of the old books I used to gobble-up before college forced me to abandon all lesiure reads for drab and almost always sleep inducing "scholarly" works. Its like someone said to all the academics of the world... "
In order to write a book that college professors will force their students to spend unwarrented amounts of their precious spagghetti-o and Ramen cash, you must

1. be as confusing as possible. That way the professor actually gets to answer questions and look at you as if your an idiot for not understanding-- but don't feel bad, secretly half the class also had no clue that the author was in fact speaking in modern english and the other half either didn't read it at all and is glad you are keeping the spotlight off them, or they are already asleep.
2. be as effective as a lullaby. I don't know why but I think this is somehow linked to the fact that the alchol in otc Nyquil was taken out. Maybe they worry college students don't get enough sleep because we always nod off in class (see #1)
3. write something nobody would buy unless they were forced too.

Anyways, I found out some sequals of various books I like have finally been published so somehow between the books I have to read for class and for my thesis I have to fit them in! I always feel guilty reading anything not college related... 'cause in the back of my mind I know if I am going to be reading anything it should be for class. But I can't resist!

Okay, I guess that's enough for today... back to looking at the "Trending Now" list...

One Last Sunburn

Today was a loooot of fun. I got in one last sunburn before returning to college. Russell's family held a small party and we spent the day on the lake and in the pool. I am completely exhausted (in the good way) from all the fun so I am looking forward to winding down the day in front of the TV watching the Green Bay Packers play another preseason game. I really am excited about this season; I think we really have a good chance at making it to the superbowl! Now, if the Rangers will just keep doing well. It is about this time of year that they start slipping and make me sad. But I still cheer for them of course!

I cannot wait for move-in day. This will officially be the first time that I am living completely alone, in my own apartment! I suppose it is debateable if it really counts as living alone: my "sugar boo-boo" (bahahaha) boyfriend lives in the apartment directly above mine, and my brother is moving into one on the other side of the apartment complex. (Yey for scholarships!) Not to mention I will still be surrounded by the apartments of the many friends I have come close to over the last three years. So, okay, I am not technically alone, but I will be more alone than ever before.

And that means I need to go shopping!!! YEY!

My former roommate Lele (who has moved on to a better place.... not heaven, silly, student-teaching!) and I had pretty much split up the various appliances and decorations that one needs to have a functioning apartment so now that I am all by my lonesome I need to fill in the gaps left on the counter. Most notable is the absense of a microwave and I don't know why but I really miss the toaster that I never used. There are lots of little things that I am starting to realise I will need to get as well (like an oven mitt) but I don't mind.

Only four more days until move-in!

End of Summer Draws Near

I am moving back to my college apartment in 14 days. I haven't accomplished much of what I meant to this summer. By that I mean my thesis proposal. I meant to have it finished and presented by now. Oh well. I think I can still have a draft finished by the first day of class.

The guy on craigslist finally called Russell back about his "cabin" he put up for sale. We were interested in the little fixer upper for our property but after about two weeks of no answer from the seller, I had given up on it. Thing is, the little cabin is not so little. I have no idea if it can actually be moved. The seller is adament that it can be. Our parents are going to look at the cabin in person on saturday (we are going to a wedding) and then we will go from there.

I am excited, but Russell continues to be more realistic (and a lot more frugal) than I am, and constantly reminds me to be more grounded and not let my imagination get the best of me. I just really want to get us a place out there. Especially, before it gets too cold.

Hopefully I will also get to go camping with Russell before school starts. We meant to go last summer but just never got around to it. So maybe I can plan for next weekend :)

5 New Law Student Debt Relief Resources...and How to Apply - Money - Greedy Associates

5 New Law Student Debt Relief Resources...and How to Apply - Money - Greedy Associates


Russell!! I found another one you might like.