Last Day in Nov

The Af/Am Lit paper was pushed back to Friday which is a very good thing since she did not have my draft done. But I was able to speak to my Lit Research prof who assured me that I was on the right track for his paper. I knew I was, but I need him to say it. I feel much better now. I did edit most of that paper throughout the day.

Yesterday was a blur. Work on the paper. Knitted in the yarn shop (nearly finished with Sister’s gift). Went shopping with Mom for a pair of pants and found a jacket too. Took donuts to the Twins. Went shopping with the Maternal Grandparents for the necessities of life. Ate dinner. Helped Mom get the Twins to church. Called it a night. Oh yeah, and my soda exploded on me on the way to knitting. Kinda a dull day.

Nov 28

Yea, my presentation over Af/Am Lit’s Annotated Bib is over. And it was not as painful as I thought it would be. In more good news, the Lit Research paper is 10-15 pages and class has been cancelled on Thursday. Since I have a night class, I’ll stop by his office and talk about the paper since I’m about 80% sure I did it right.

Since I have to take a book back to the library tomorrow, I plan on spending some more time in the knitting shop. Even though I’m down to about 8 people’s presents, I am a little more behind than I need to be. I also will finish the Lit Research paper and start the Women N Lit essay.

Last night, the girls came over before, during, and after dinner they danced to some Crooners. The Maternal Grandfather and I also took breaks from eating to dance with them when asked. It was a good moment.

I bought some yarn on Black Friday. Note to self: never again buy ladder yarn, no matter what sale they put it on.

Nov 27

Update:

Af/Am Lit paper: 12 pages unedited

Lit Research paper: 12 pages, not finished (conclusion, defining terms, and more of my opinion still remaining)

Women N Lit final essay: what are the questions?

All in all, I call it a very productive day. I think I’ll have a piece of cake and spend the rest of the day knitting. Ok, so I’ll more than likely take Puppy for a walk and look over the essay topics for Women N Lit. Either way, the countdown has begun and only 9 days left. And still so much to do.

Nov 26

Ha! I actually typed 2 whole pages yesterday on my paper. Then I went to Zoo Lights where Mom paid $3 to have the Twin’s picture taken with Santa. StepDa and I also made the cut, each holding one of the girls. It was worth the entire trip to see him sit on a stool on the other side of Santa and have a picture taken. I’m hoping that makes the Christmas card…some people would greatly appreciate it.

And today, the StepPaternal Grandmother and I went to see the new Bond flick. We enjoyed it a lot. Our next movie will be the one about the Mayans as that was her specialty (for Grad school I think). But our Christmas film is the one about the museum coming to life after hours. We bond well over films and it takes care of any gift no matter the occasion.

Speaking of that particular grandmother, her new place is coming along well. Several people have already planed to rent out the bottom for weddings. It is very beautiful. And since it is the only place this side of the river that will allow dancing and alcohol, she will have no problems renting it out once word gets out about it.

Tomorrow there will be only nine more days before volume 11 is out. That also means I only have nine days to write 2 seminar papers. This should be fun.

Nov 25

Volume 11 of the manga series I follow comes out next Tuesday. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it and devour it in less than 30 minutes. It should be a nice reward for turning in two 15 page papers.

Why do I even bother to try to write a paper during the holiday? It’s like asking a carnivorous animal what salad dressing he would like. But the undertow is definitely about to pull me under, which would be the first in a very long time.

Nov 24

No, I did not start my paper. But I do have a clearer picture of how I am going to write it tomorrow.

And, I have ½ of Sister’s Christmas done. I finished the Purple Spider Web, now I have to block it…weekend after next. Also, another scarf has been made with another about to be thrown on. ‘Tis the season to make scarves. I really should just finish Dad’s though. The list is rapidly growing smaller. I wish my papers would follow suit.

Day ere Turkey Day

No cleaning, but rather productive anyways.

Mom and I took the Twins shopping at a dollar store. The Older found large yard candy canes and put two in the cart “For Halloween.” She told this to us several times as well as to anyone else who would listen. They picked out some good gifts and some not so good gifts. But it’s the effort that counts. I’m expecting a handful of silk flowers or really flashy yarn.

Finished one pair of mittens and found a scarf I made for StepSister no. 1 for her birthday. I think that takes care of just about everyone in the DC family. Except that I realized about 4 hours ago that my Sister would be the only one I did not knit something for. When I started Christmas knitting, she was in the navy and I was going to buy her something she needed. Now that she is home, I’ve thrown something on the needles for her. Should have it finished in time to wrap and ship out there. Now if only I could get through Dad’s gift.

what day is it?

I’m back: after missing 2 classes last week, a trip to the APN, being sick all weekend, and spending the past 2 days writing an Annotated Bib for Lit Research (nearly all my previous research was useless).

Wow.

Obviously, I did not travel this past weekend at all. I showed up to class Thursday morning to present my Annotated Bib for Af/Am Lit…only to have the class canceled. I went to Lit Research, turned in some work and went home early. On the way, I stopped at the nurse. She likes giving me shots, and I did not fight it this time. I even took all the pills she gave me in addition to the shot. Stars, I was out of it. I’m finally back on food, but taste is still en route. This week’s big dinner was moved to our house, which means lots of cleaning tomorrow.

But my Annotated Bib for Lit Research is done. The baby blanket I threw on the needles last week is done. All Mom’s mittens need are thumbs (BTW, the knitting shop I go to loves them: lots of compliments today on them, not to mention how many tried them on) and I am down to the last 3 inches on the Purple Spider Web.

Now, if only I could write that paper for Lit Research, do another draft for the Af/Am Lit paper, read the last text for Women in Lit, and finish all my Christmas knits. Life would be very, very good.

Nov 15

Spent the day in bed, curtsy of a stomach bug. What I would give to hold something more than soup and crackers down. It woke me up every 2-3 hours last night. I did manage to get some reading done. Not sure what I read, but my bookmark has moved several pages.

Tomorrow is my big day, and unlike other Thursdays this one starts with a presentation. Lucky me.

I’m hoping to feel better in time for my weekend trip but at this point it looks like I’m going to have to cancel. That bites.

Nov 14

Today was not the best day ever. I locked my keys in the car and called Triple-A at 0700. Two hours later, they let me in my car. I called them several times, the last time I was hysterical, after all, when I placed the service request the person told me I was the only activity. Amazing how having to deal with a hysterical female makes people jump.

Sadly, I had to go home early, due to a migraine sitting on top of sinus pressure. I hate missing class for any reason. But I was in no condition to attend my Lit Research lecture on Af/Am criticism.

This tells you how bad it was, I didn’t pick up a pair of needles from the time I left Af/Am Lit class early until MASH came on at 1730.

I’m taking meds and working on a baby blanket as of now. I have to get better soon, as I need to write a paper and will be returning to my old campus this weekend. It was the only way I saw myself getting a holiday before the semester ends.

Nov 13

Guess who got up before dawn and got all the classes she wanted? Yep, that would be me. I feel like the world’s biggest dork for being this happy. As of 0700, I have been enrolled in Elizabethan/Jacobean Drama, Medieval Lit, History of Critical Theory, and Research Methods in Writing. Though I might drop the last one to take Rhetoric Theory. Can I handle two theory courses in one semester? I did as an undergrad, but I’m really questioning myself about it now.

The Purple Spider’s Web is almost complete. Only about 9 inches of lace knitting left. I’m seeing its recipient this weekend back at my last university. She has no clue it is for her, which I like.

Well, I’m off to write another journal entry for Women N Lit before heading off to Wal-Mart to replace a taillight that went out. Fun.

Nov 11

It’s been a long, long day and a half and between the Twins’ lack of a nap and their dog eating my knitting needles it has not been a good one. Thankfully I found a piece of sandpaper and the needles can be somewhat repaired. I am still mad at that stupid thing. Guess I am much to use to my well behaved Puppy.

Mom’s doing well; the damage wasn’t as bad as the doctors thought it would be. In fact, if she continues on this path, I’m going to hide for a few hours tomorrow.

I am definitely starting to feel the undercurrent of Grad School Homework threatening to pull me under. Right now, I am just barely above the surface. Despite this, I still love it. All I need to do now is keep going and avoid the panic over grades. Speaking of which, I made a B+ on my second Women N Lit essay and there are now 12 pages to the Af/Am Lit paper.

Nov 8

From 0730 to 1300, I was able to add 5 pages to my Af/Am Lit paper and overhauled what I had already written. This leaves only 5 pages to write, and I haven’t gotten into 2 of my sources yet.

I really want to take Friday off from homework, since I’ll be playing sister all weekend. Mom goes in for oral surgery and will have lots of happy pills for the weekend. I’ll figure it out tomorrow.

Dad’s Christmas knit has been hurled to the side for the next week, or so. However, the mittens are working up fast as is the Step-Brother’s hat. Yea for me. After taking a break from the Purple Spider Web, I picked it back up this afternoon. Only 13 more inches to go before I cast-off and block. I am a very happy camper.

But today was really long (after I did my time in the library, I did some reading and ran errands) and tomorrow is my long day by default.

Nov 6

I woke up this morning fully planning on going to the library. But I heard the rain outside and realized it would be cold. So I turned off the alarm and succumbed to the temptation of a warm bed with my Puppy.

Nonetheless, this morning was very productive. I wrote 5 pages on the Af/Am Lit paper and only used 1 quote. Now I have 10 + pages to fill in with source material and explanations of said material. I feel loads better.

I was planning on going through at least two of my sources this afternoon but then I remembered I still had a novel to finish, journal entries to type in, and reading/summarizing the chapter on Postcolonial theory.

In any case, I am very glad that the paper has been started and I am caught up with my homework…at least as much as I can be.

Mom has invited me to go with her and the Crew (Twins + Friends) to Chucky Cheese Wednesday afternoon. I’ll have to see where I am with this paper. I still have to get started on the Lit Research paper. If I can ever figure out what he wants.

Good news for my knitting: Mom’s mitten fit pretty good, I have to re-knit the thumb but I thought I would. And while I have not found the hat pattern I was going to use for the StepBrother’s hat, I have found one that will work. After I fiddle with it a bit.

Nov 5

Wow. What a party. More people showed up than I expected, but I was really glad they did. Neither family has a whole lot of money they can spare to help my buddy and dude to start off. They got no less than 12 complete place-settings in her china along with some everyday plates and some plates in her china pattern.

I’m looking forward to some nice, quite hours in the library tomorrow reading and writing papers. This week is defiantly a week for writing papers.

Nov 4

This is definitely a weekend for parties:

First there was a birthday party for an eight year old who knows the Twins from dance (and her grandmother knows my Maternal Grandmother). Small gathering, but everyone enjoyed themselves. The cake was wonderful. And I made excellent progress on a scarf, as all my other projects require paying attention to the pattern. Another lady was there cross-stitching so I wasn’t out of place.

Then there was a ‘Season Shower’ (she got holiday themed gifts, mostly Christmas) for my buddy getting married in December. I took pictures while the Twins and another kid un-wrapped the gifts for the bride-to-be. This is the second of many showers of hers I’ve attended and each time, I end up with the camera. Thank the stars they’ve hired a photographer for the wedding and that I am not a bridesmaid. This thing is going to be huge and I’d rather not have to play nice to everyone while wearing a dress that about 10 other girls are wearing. No, instead I’ll be running around like mad helping out as needed.

And tomorrow, there is a regular wedding shower for the friend getting married in January. The Twins have already told her they are helping her tomorrow with her presents; while I plan on chatting up the soon-to-be-mom-in-law. She fits in nicely to our chaos here (translation: she’s pretty cool). Again, I don’t have to wear an ugly bridesmaid dress; I’ll be wearing the only costume I have: a Renaissance dress. If I’m going all the way to Nashville for her, I’m wearing what I want to.

But for tonight, I plan on watching a movie while I finish up Mom’s first mitten. She’s trying it on for size in the morning. It has knit up quicker than I thought it would—always a good thing.

Nov 3

Yea! Essay 2 for Women N Lit is completely over, meaning I turned it in yesterday after spending all of Wednesday restructuring and editing it. I love this part of writing an essay, that happy feeling of knowing there is nothing more I can do. True, by Thursday I’ll be wound up worried about my grade but right now all is good.

Turns out, I am ahead in my reading (just barely) so I can have a half holiday today. Good thing too, around 1:30 yesterday afternoon (in the middle of Lit Research) I started to get a migraine. It hasn’t gone away yet, so I am actually going to take a few hours off. You know, read some articles I have saved for my Lit Research paper.

The little morning job I had ended unexpectedly today; the doctors gave the gentleman I was taking the work his license back. I’ll miss the drive, he was a good passenger. And it was nice to have an excuse to get up early to go to the library. Now it really will look like I’m a responsible student. This also means that I’ll probably start substitute teaching in the local public school district. Fun.

And, I finally get to use my new Reeling Machine (it holds the yarn making it easier to roll into balls from hanks). My KnitPick order came in yesterday. I got in from classes and there the box was, waiting on my bed. Happy moment for me.