Happy Birthday Maura!!!

I'm done.

So why am I not relieved?

Well, I'll tell you -- I have the age old problem of turning in a paper and fearing that it might be terrible, awful, horrible, disgusting, or as my "Cinematic Desire" professor called the ending of A.I., "vile schlock." Nevertheless, I think I solved some issues in this paper that were intriguing, and hell, I've had my mind on it all semester so it couldn't be that bad...right? Hmmm...this feeling I'm having might just inspire a Friday Five, even if I'm the only one to answer it.
Papeles
1. What was the subject matter of the best paper you've ever written?
2. What was the subject matter of the worst paper you've ever written?
3. How do you usually write? Do you outline a lot before hand? Do you write early and revise often?
4. What's your favorite quote by a writer? I'm sure you have lots, so pick your favorite of the moment.
5. What's a topic that you might enjoy writing a paper on in the future?

Now, of course, I should celebrate my first year finis by going to Collegetown and buying something really in unhealthy to eat. Afterward, I'll take a nap and go for a run. At some point, I also have to buy an end of the year shirt...don't you think?

Alright...here I am answering my own Friday Five.
Physicians and other medical fun
1. What was the best doctor's visit you ever had. Come on, there must be one of them...
Does finding out I tested negative for HIV count as a doctor's visit? I went to a clinic, but I think that counts. I also enjoyed going to my doctor this past time, because it WASN'T ABOUT MIGRAINES!!! Yay!
2. Would you ever want to be a medical doctor? If so, what kind? Why?
I've often thought that I would like to be a medical doctor. Strangely enough, I think I would want to work in the morgue. That way I wouldn't have to worry about saving lives....just dissecting carefully.
3. Are any of your close buddies doctors or nurses? Do they like their job?
No, I don't know any doctors or nurses. Just lawyers, engineers, teachers, and a couple people that work for companies. My Aunt Mary went to nursing school, but had to give up nursing after she had the twins because of her legs. Personally, I think someone I know should go to medical school so I can bother them when I have a medical question.
4. What was your pediatrician like?
My pediatrician, Dr. Reiner, was awesome. He used to throw my socks across the room after taking them off. He also had a drawer of toys -- plastic dinosaurs, plastic rings, lollipops, etc. and I got to choose one after every visit.
5. What's the silliest thing you've seen a doctor do?
This is a stupid question. Why did I ask it? I guess the best thing I can think of is the socks. Oh, I also had a boil in high school and when I went to the doctor about it he seemed to enjoy the fact that he could stick a tweezers inside it and rummage around. Damn, that boil was mf'ing painful.

So that's it on the Friday Five front. I'm in the midst of my paper on A.I. so I probably won't be blogging for the rest of the week. I should mention that lightning struck just outside my window at 4 a.m. last night and damn, was that thunderstorm loud. Then the fire department came and sat outside the building. Theye were nice enough not to use sirens, but their trucks still made a helluva lot of noise. As you can probably guess, I didn't get much sleep last night.

I'm still disappointed about Brad Pitt's ass. The built it up so much. Sigh.

At any rate, I don't know why I'm blogging right now. I should be at home sleeping. I slept only 2 and ahalf hours last night because I had a final in Fred Ahl's class today. The final wasn't as bad as the midterm, but I probably should have started studying last week instead of this week for it. Ahh...hindsight.

I went to physical therapy today for my hip again. The therapist did ultrasound on it and it feels nice and loose...though it still hurts a little bit. Why in the world did I suffer for so long without going to the doctor? I think that will be the topic for this week's Friday Five by Megan.

Physicians and other medical fun
1. What was the best doctor's visit you ever had. Come on, there must be one of them...
2. Would you ever want to be a medical doctor? If so, what kind? Why?
3. Are any of your close buddies doctors or nurses? Do they like their job?
4. What was your pediatrician like?
5. What's the silliest thing you've seen a doctor do?

Hello.

This weekend Mike and I went to Troy. Although it was certainly not the greatest movie I've ever seen, it had some merit. What that is, I cannot identify right now...but perhaps I will later. Also, the shots of Brad Pitt's ass are disappointing. I thought we were going to get a straight on shot of the ass, but no, it's just shown from the side.

Here's my answers to the Friday Five.

RULES and RULERS
1. Do you have any household rules? For yourself? For your roommate? For your partner?
Yes, Mike and I have many. I've learned that it's better to squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom. I never realized that before.
2. How often do you break little rules -- like no eating in the library?
Well, I understand that they may not want you eating a hamburger in the library, but in my opinion little candies that don't make your hands sticky and things like Luna bars are A-OK. For the most part, I do follow the "no eating in the computer lab" rule, though I've noticed from the way the keyboards feel that not everyone does.
3. Did you ever get sent to the principal's office or equivalent for breaking the rules?
Um...I first got sent to the principal's office for almost going to the school committee about the lack of bathrooms open in my high school. It's a nerdy reason to get sent to the principal, I know. Otherwise, I got sent to the Dean for stealing another class's pizza in high school. A short while after the teacher left huffing and puffing about the pizza, the dean, the vice principal, my friends and I all had a good laugh about it.
4. Do you own a ruler? What kind is it?
We own a very expensive ruler. I got upset with Mike for buying it because it was $10. It's a good ruler, but damn we could have got one for less!
5. Which measurement system do you prefer on your ruler?
Both, of course. I use English more often, but it's nice to know the metric is there for you.

O.K. Here's a Friday Five. It's late, but it's still on Friday and I'm just proving that it can be done.
RULES and RULERS
1. Do you have any household rules? For yourself? For your roommate? For your partner?
2. How often do you break little rules -- like no eating in the library?
3. Did you ever get sent to the principal's office or equivalent for breaking the rules?
4. Do you own a ruler? What kind is it?
5. Which measurement system do you prefer on your ruler?

Silly and inane, yes...but it can be done.

And now to answer my own questions...

1. What do you plan to do when you retire?
I'm not sure whether I would like to retire. If I'm really old, I guess I would retire and then just travel...everywhere. That's what my Grandma did and she seemed to have a lot of fun doing it. Plus, she orgnaized a lot of trips so she got to go for free!
2. How old do you think you'll be?
Old. Who knows? I guess I would have to get a job first and that won't happen for awhile. I suppose that retiring at 70 is a good age to shoot for as a professor ... but it all depends, on when I get a job, when Mike retires, what's going on with my body at the time, whether I'm living in this country stil...
3. If you could retire now, what would you do?
I don't know that I want to retire now. I guess the only thing I wish I could do more of right now is direct/act in plays. I know, it's strange, here I am studying theatre and I have little time to do that. Well, I had no time this year actually. My plans for next year are a bit better on this front. I'll be taking Directing in the Fall and I think I'll act in something in the Spring. I'm also going to try to act in something this summer!
4. What are your feelings about rest homes/nursing homes?
Ugh...I'll never forget making copies for the law firm at this horrible nursing home. It was smelly, terrible and frightening. On the other hand, my fabulous Great Aunt Dorothy lives in a retirement co-op. She owns her own beautiful condo. The downstairs is gorgeous and they even have a fancy dining room. Attached to the complex is a nursing home like area. I think the situation is nice because you have your condo to go home to. That makes you want to get better and leave. So I guess retirement homes can be fabulous. So can nursing homes (if such care is needed). It just depends on which one you choose.
5. Do you hope to have grandchildren (adopted or otherwise)? How much contact would you want with them?
Yes, I'd like some grandchildren and I'd like to see them often. I don't think I would mind babysitting for them or anything like that.

This weekend I saw Kill Bill volumes 1 and 2. I felt they were both good. But despite what people say, I believe that they are in no way bloodier than Dead Alive. I plan to rent Dead Alive this week to prove this to Mike. In other news, I cleaned a bit, sent flowers and cards to various mothers, and now I'm planning on going to the gym. Ciao.

It seems the Friday Five girl retired. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to make up my own questions for right now. I don't have time to answer them yet because I have to go to class, but I'll give you a preview.
Retirement.
1. What do you plan to do when you retire?
2. How old do you think you'll be?
3. If you could retire now, what would you do?
4. What are your feelings about rest homes/nursing homes?
5. Do you hope to have grandchildren (adopted or otherwise)? How much contact would you want with them?

Ok, so these questions are sappy. But I don't have much time and I have to go to class through a strange route; they closed all the entrances to the library for Slope Day.

Normally, I'm very critical of cell phones. I mean, remember when we went to college and people would see each other and talk to each other? No more. Now most people get on their cell phone after class and bam, talk to whomever they call. Then when they see someone they know in person, they just nod. This may be fine in some cases, but it certainly seems to have changed the entire undergraduate dynamic, and if I may say so, not for the better.
Yet, a couple days ago, on Tuesday I was yearning for a cell phone, and a ringing one at that. After attending a talk, I was walking on Ho Plaza (the main gathering place at Cornell). As I was walking, some song was being played on the chimes (you know how it goes, almost all colleges have people playing in a high up bell tower). Well, unfortunately, I don't remember the song, but it was some sort of Beatles like sad tune. Anyway, here I am minding my own business and this girl is walking by. She says, "They shouldn't be allowed to do that." Now, I have no idea what she's referring to, but I nod my head and go about my business. Then she says "I mean. They shouldn't be allowed to play that song. It's too sad." I remark, "Well, it's better than the Disney they play." Then I begin to sort of walk away to the right side of the extremely large walkway. I mean, this isn't a sidewalk, this is probably a three lane highway size walkway.
She follows me.
In fact, she follows me right to the edge of the walkway where there is a small two foot wall. Great.
Then she says "I am in so much trouble. I have just five hours to study for this exam. I'm so nervous about it." Me: *smile, and nod slightly.* Then it hits me! I know what this is!!! She's going to ask me to a Bible Study. Oh good, soon enough this will be over.
Girl: "I know it's weird of me to be telling you this." Me: *grin, but no verbal acknowledgement" Girl: "It's just that I didn't want to study and then I watched a movie and blah blah blah" Me: *ok kid, just ask me to Bible talk* Girl: "I'm really upset that I didn't study but now I'll have too." Me: "Well, now at least you know you have no choice." Note that the tone of this was very much a "the end" tone. Now I'm beginning to suspect that there is not going to be an invitation to Bible talk.
Girl: "And I was also excited last night because this boy e-mailed me last night who hadn't e-mailed me in four weeks. I haven't gone out on a date with him, but I think I will." Me: *silent nod* Girl: "But I hate being optimistic. I was optimistic about at it at first and then I got mad at myself and became worried." Me: "Well, you should be optimistic. It's good to be optimistic." Girl (skeptical): "Why?" Me: "It's good to be optimistic about stuff like that. Girl: "But I come from a very conservative Jewish family and he's black and Catholic. I just blah blah blah." At this point, I realize that no invitation to Bible talk is forthcoming. We're about to cross over a really large gorge and I begin to recall my kung fu moves in case she's psycho and tries to push me over. She doesn't. She keeps talking and I keep nodding. Then finally, I can whisk myself away into the theatre building. Me: "I'm going in here...bye!"
I mean, how strange was that? And believe me, she was walking very close to me. When I told Becky this story, she suggested that it may have been some psych major collecting evidence for a really strange experiment. Maybe...but I'm doubtful. Anyway, you can understand why I longed for a ringing cell phone. Lately, I've been wearing my headphones as a method of prevention. I forgot them today...let's hope the walk home is uneventful.

Hello . . . out there?

Nobody seems to be e-mailing me so I guess I will just write to myself. Hello self. What's in store for this week?
Well, today I turn in an outline for my Cinematic Desire class. I hate turning in outlines because I never outline on paper. I'm an index card type of girl. As a result, my outlines end up being way too long and I spend most of my time fixing them. Plus, the nice thing about index cards is that they can be so easily switched around. Outlines, however, seem to be a fixed entity.
In other Cinematic Desire news, tonight we will be discussing "Pink Flamingos." I don't think that I have been more grossed out by a movie in my life. And to think, I was actually considering switching to eggs for breakfast before this movie. Now the very thought of eggs makes me pukey. I almost puked during the movie...almost. Now, keep in mind, I don't have a week stomach when it comes to things. I ate dinner while watching "Sick" for god's sake!
Tonight is my last Cinematic Desire class. I feel the reason to celebrate the end of classes. In fact, I already feel that I am celebrating this week. That's bad because I still have a lot to do. I guess it just seems like things have calmed down a lot. I'm just hoping this last month isn't too bad. I mean, it can't be as bad as last semester, can it?
OK, this post is pretty boring, but at least you've gained information about Pink Flamingos.

Of course, the Friday Five person still is not up and running. I would complain, but how can I -- I haven't posted for a week. Of course, I still have a Friday Five to answer. I stole it from Lisa who stole it from someone who she calls "Harsh Betty." Although the name Harsh Betty is really exciting, the questions are not. In fact, to toot my own horn, my questions from last week were far more interesting. Ha!
1. Let's talk about progress for a minute here. What have you done lately which would constitute progress?
I turned in a rough draft of a paper last Tuesday. That's progress damnit! I also protested against people being held at Guantanamo Bay. I'm not sure that's progress, but it could certainly be viewed as progressive. Hopefully, I'll be turning an outline for another paper due at the end of May. That will be progress too. Ah, the little things.
2. And then there's technological progress ... pick one gadget or development, something which was developed, or became widely available, within your memory, and which you really, really appreciate, which has improved your quality of life measurably, and explain yourself (psst: computers are too easy!).
ress for you?
Ok, with the computer I will discount the internet. But if I could answer the internet first, I would. I mean, if it weren't for the internet, I would still be using card catalogues at the library. Yikes! Another fabulous invention is the cordless phone. I don't really use a cell phone, but I use a cordles phone all the time. I mean, they're just great. Remember those days of sitting in one place and not being able to move because you were tied to a phone? Well, I do. I also think other phone inventions, such as voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID are the most fabulous things ever. I didn't have caller ID until this year and now I am addicted. But as Becky points out, it's still polite to answer the phone as if you do not know who the caller is. Hello? Not Hi.
3. Do you use your hands a lot when you talk? Do you touch people when you're speaking with them in person? Or does that kind of thing bother you? Insert your own commentary about body language or personal space here.
Hmmm...it depends on who the person is. I guess usually I don't touch people when I'm speaking (except for Mike of course). Otherwise, I think I have to use my hands when I talk. In fact, I rely a lot on gesture...even on the phone, which is problematic sometimes. But I'm much more humorous with gesture than I am with words. What can I say? That's just the way I work. Otherwise, body language wise, I'm making an effort to keep my hands away from my face. It's not working very well and never has.
4. Speaking of your hands: do you like the way they look? how about your nails? short or long? polished? are you wearing any rings? ... if anybody wants to throw in a photo, that would be really neat!
I'm always picking at my nails. And if I'm not picking at my nails, I'm picking at the stuff next to my nails. If my nails are painted, I pick at the nail polish. Otherwise, I think my hands are just run of the mill. Well, I like them a lot, but they definitely bear some scars. There's a small scar from when my cousin's dog tried to eat off mmy hand one Thanksgiving. In back of that, on my wrist, there is a scar from when a horse stepped on my hand. On my right pinky I have a scar from a chicken pock. I have cute little freckles on my hands. There are some on the back, but my favorite ones are the two on the palm of my left hand. Ring wise I just wear the engagement ring/wedding band combo. If you looked underneath that though, you would realize that I 've been wearing rings for a long time. My ring finger has a dip in it from wearing rings (and from my ring going around it). Because of this dip, my rings often end up turning around.
5. I was just invited (third-hand and via word of mouth) to the wedding, tomorrow evening sometime, of a couple I don't know -- DH works with the guy, but I couldn't pick either of them out of a lineup. I have no idea what to give these people for a wedding gift. Suggestions? Do you have sort of a default gift you give in situations like this where you're not sure what a couple needs or wants? How about a default gift for new babies, or small kids (those pesky impromptu party invitations, argh!) or housewarmings?
Good God girl, clearly the wedding is easy. You just give money. New babies are more difficult. Perhaps I haven't had enough experience with gift giving for youngsters to know what to give. As far as housewarmings go, I'll all about wine. Go wine. If the people don't drink, maybe it's best to give them a plant. Plants are great (when they manage to live after you take them home from the store.

There's my Friday Five. In other news this week I went running. I went down Buffalo and about half way up Court Street before I had to stop. Those of you who are familiar with Ithaca will know what a feat that is. My goal is to make it up Court Street all the way in the next two weeks. Incidentally, after I reached the top of Court Street, I started running again. I went by the gorges and I must say that they are quite frightening but beautiful at the same time.

Today I'm going to a May Day party. Then I will come home to finish all my work for the week. Hopefully, I will also get some outlining done.