Dense Reading

I am so glad I accidentally bought the companion guide to Joyce's Ulysses. A good portion of my life (over 12 years) has been spent reading the Classics and I still have problems following all the references. And this is not even the real book. I start that tomorrow after I prepare for a presentation on Tuesday on John Donne: women and virginity. Not a big deal, I am familiar with the material but I do need to spend about three hours prepping everything.

Ravelry is a wonderful distraction. I saw one of my own projects when I was trying to find a new pattern to use some bulky wool with. Then there is the IK Icarus shawl that I have been dieing to cast on. But all the lace weight I have is in this red-ish brown and I simply do not know how that will look. Ok, so I've seen this shawl knit up in variegated yarn and in bright colors. But red-ish brown? No such luck. I did cast on a Calorimetry (Knitty Winter 2006) at Stash's Knit Night and it is so boring. Even just to mindless knit. The Maternal Grandmother has been hinting at needing one, she is getting socks for Christmas. They are already done. Yet, I find myself knitting this thing.

To be honest, this week has been rather low. I did not read for a class at all, nor did I even bring the right book on Thursday. Just the paper due Wed and an abstract for Thurs. If I had not read so much Donne three years ago and finished Ford's The Good Solider last month, I would have not been prepared at all. And I find myself not knitting when there is a perfectly good time to. And no, that time has not been spent even thinking about knitting.

thank god!

It stormed nearly all night. And we needed it, though it probably did not do the cotton any good at all. On my drive this past weekend, I noticed there was fields and fields of cotton that had not been picked yet.

In other news, the girls wore non-dress up dresses for their pictures. The Elder Twin did have on a lot of make-up and wanted to put more on for the picture. The teacher told her no. I don't blame her, The Elder Twin can put on pounds of lip-gloss and still want more.

Today is my really long day, though I am hoping to call it quits early. Mom has bronchitis and with her immune system still weak, this is not a good thing at all. And it turns out I do not have a copy of Joyce's Ulysses. I have the companion guide. I knew it was too easy to read. Now I have to go buy a real Ulysses and read it before Wednesdays. This is on top of my two presentations next week. How do I manage to do this to myself?

The big fall festival at the Methodist Church is this weekend. I wonder if I can skip this year.

I'm falling behind

In more ways than one.

The Maternal Grandfather is doing fine, the VA put him on a blood thinner and sent him home that night before 2200. He walked in the door fussing about how he was rejected by the VA. He thinks he is funny.

Yesterday there was a dog convention at Mom's house. I took Puppy over to play with Mom's Pompom dog when the Matriarch Ms SW brought over their new hot-dog 3 month-old dog. Puppy was definitely the oldest and largest dog. So much so that when she joined in the fun, the youngest dog back down quite a bit.

The first real paper of the semester is due tomorrow, and I am close to seven drafts into the blasted thing. There is one more person going to look at it for me in the morning.

Tomorrow is also picture day for The Twins' Kindergarten class. They were going to dress like Disney Princesses, but the teacher was warned about the campaign and diverted their efforts. They are now going to wear "Pretty Church Dresses."

I did get my computer in, but no pictures to post yet. However, if the battery will hold out just a bit longer, there should be some on Ravelry.

My Unplugged Weekend

So I really haven't used a computer since Friday morning when I was helping out at the library, and even that was very limited. Needless to say there are over 20 new messages in my Inbox, a paper I am now rewriting for the 5th time, and about 5 days worth of catch up on the blogs I read. And I am subbing tomorrow afternoon.

Can this get any more fun? Oh wait. My Maternal Grandparents are on their way to the VA hospital because my Maternal Grandfather's arm got numb during church.

At least the Paternal Grandmother is doing well. She's lost some weight but is working on gaining it back. We had a really nice weekend together.

Back to the paper mill.

wow, a new knitting buddy

So, I was standing in line to get a candy bar (eating for moral) when I see a girl knitting what appears to be 2 socks on circ needles. Next thing I know, we are chatting away as we knit. Talk about a good time, the impromptu knitting was just what I needed. Yes, I still had a candy bar for when the good vibes wore off.

And best of all, I finished the first paper for the semester this morning. I have been trying to do that all week it seems. Now to pass it along to my friends in the English departme

What a Monday

There has got to be a conspiracy.

First, my computer is being shipped off--again. And just as I got my invite to Raverly (a knit/crochet community). This is just irritating.

Second, for about 30 seconds I had no clue where the Younger Twin was. I went to pick her up since Mom took the Elder Twin to the doctor (sinus infection), but the kid was not in the after-school daycare program. I called Mom and confirmed that Younger Twin should be there. On the way to hunt down one of the teachers on the car-pick up line, I step into the kindergarten classroom. There she was, having speech therapy. Called Mom to update her on the Twin hunt, turns out we were suppose to have cancelled that speech therapist. Not my fault, but still a nice little scare.

But the biggest heartache today was sub-ing in the total care multi-handicap room. I should have rolled over and gone back to sleep. As it was, I am now emotionally drained for a few days. My StepDad was right, I should have told them I would not stand in today.

And no, I have not gotten past page 1 in Joyce's Ulysses.

wow, a new post

Like Joseph Conrad's novel Chance, this week has dragged on forever and ends just when things are getting interesting. I did finish that text and need to start James Joyce's Ulysses; but first comes the 85 pages of Michel Foucault's The Archaeology of Knowledge.

Knit Night at Stash was fun, I rewarded myself for the work done on my thesis thus far by buying Folk Style from Interweave Knits. This created the idea of a deadline and rewards system; which I really need to plot out. And soon.

Friday was interesting, mainly because I took one of my happy pills instead of my migraine medicine the night before. I was tired, to put it very mildly. An hour later, when I became unsure of which pill I took; I opted not to take anything else and get back on schedule Friday night. The pill mix up resulted in the inability to sort books by a 'W' author, a horrible migraine and all that comes with it, and a really great disposition when I stopped by the Twins' Kindergarten class. Their afternoon sub, Mom, and I helped 12 kindergarteners to make cookies in the shape of the letter 'C'. I got there before Mom and entertained everyone until she came. I am now the proud big sister of a kindergarten class.

My life is now complete.

ok, now for the long version

Monday was a great big rush on several fronts, but now I am within easy reach of a computer and a few moments to write.

The library I'm volunteering at is rearranging just about everything. But we have made our way in the fiction/Accelerated Reading books to the letter F. We were going to work our way back from Z but somehow in the middle of the S's The Librarian Matriarch decided to change methods. This also happened to be the day they went over the dress code in chapel. And I was wearing a tank top. Oops!

Two of my JMBarrie biographies came in. Which was really good timing, as I need a working bib by Fall Break next month.

And we had dinner at the local hamburger/milkshake place for the StepPaternal Grandmother's birthday. It was suppose to be a simple affair. Then The Elder Twin took over. There were balloons, center-pieces, a gift (from The Younger Twin), and candles on a cake the restaurant provided.

Last night, we (the Marion family minus the StepPaternal Grandmother) ate dinner with The Twin's BFF's family. It is really good to see that dad around, we kinda like him being state-side. They are looking to buy a 4 bedroom house closer to town.

Wow, this really is the long version. And I did not even get a chance to talk about what happened at Stash.

quick

I have a thesis adviser! Enough said on that topic.

The Younger Twin has a viral throat infection and the bite-looking thing is a staff infection.

fever readings

The Younger Twin is going to the new doctor first thing in the morning. She has been running a fever (like 102-103 degrees F) for 24 hours. She also has a weird bug bite on her leg. The two may or may not be related.

As for me, if I read two chapters tonight, an hour before I go to campus tomorrow, and two hours after I get home; I just might be caught up for all my readings--for Tuesday.

Somehow, I have not been able to read much this weekend. Of course all those mini-jobs I get at the last minute might have something to do with that. The Elder Twin also spent the afternoon with the Maternal Grandparents and I so the Younger and Mom could get some rest. She is staying over tonight as well.

And oh! The StepDad, with no hinting or being told about it, went out today and bought the new Disney Princess DVD.

Is this week over yet?

So. Tired.

Yesterday I helped the Matriarch Librarian finish taking all the AR books off the shelves. Monday, we get to shelve them in a new order. Yea team (yes, that was sarcasm just like this is.) I spent the afternoon aiding the 'total care' special education room. That was just emotionally draining. More so than I expected. Mom, StepDad, the Twins, and I went out to eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant but we had a really bad waiter. The whole dinner lasted over an hour. No drinks, no cheese dip, cold food, no sign of him. Nothing happened if the owner did not come by and check on our table. We were there so long, that Karaoke Night got started and all the high school students were starting to show up and dance. The Twins and other kids their age were starting to get pushed off the dance floor. I had to leave, the noise and lights were giving me a migraine. Needless to say, it will be awhile before we go back.

I have had an after-migraine all day, meaning I've been sluggish among other things. The local Quota Club that the Maternal Grandmother had their annual yard-sale this morning. I picked up 10 vintage issues of a magazine called The Workbasket. It has some knitting in it, but other stuff as well. At 10 cents an issue, I call that a bargain. I also missed Princesses on Ice, though the Twins loved it and want to see it again, like right now. Originally I was going, but I opted to go to see the Paternal Grandmother. By the time that plan fell through, someone else was going. It would have been too much for me today anyways.

It's raining, for the 3rd or 4th time this week. Though this is the first semi-storm of the group. We need it bad. Glad I did most of the weeding for the StepPaternal Grandmother today instead of waiting.

Well, this was suppose to be a quick update. Maybe next time.

Wonderful Wed

If I do say so myself. Not only have The Twins sold enough magazine subscriptions to attend the ice cream party (not sure of the date), but my presentation rocked. As in, I took over an hour and still wasn't done. But someone else was presenting on Marx, so I did not pose the other questions I had on Barrie's novel. That was fine, my friend had a really solid breakdown of Marx which is an amazing feat. Gold stars for everyone.

Yesterday was fun, but not nearly as fun as it could have been. The Quad was an adventure as always. We all had ice cream after Mom and I picked them up. I stuck around to help referee. But when they sat down to dinner, I left.

Knitting is going faster than my reading of J. Conrad's Chance. But as I have no pictures, I will refrain from speaking on it. Having no computer is starting to irrate.

ah!

What a weekend. And we have an extra day of it.

Saturday there was a memorial service for a friend of Mom and the Maternal Grandmother. I watched the Twins, naturally enough. The service was said to be moving and there were more people than what was expected. She was a nice lady who died of cancer, of the lymph nodes (I think). Mom thought the services would only last 20 minutes, but it lasted 90.
Nothing major happened at the house during that time, other than my loss of sanity. A kid from across the street came over and played. After she left, The Twins put on swimsuits and swam in a big basin in the side yard. Once inside, I turned on some cartoon show and held them. Obviously, little knitting was completed and no class reading whatsoever.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon preparing some general information on J M Barrie for Wednesday’s presentation. It was so hard to find consistent dates on things. Once source said Better Dead was his first professional play in 1888, another claimed there were a handful of plays prior to this date and play. All this shifting took a while. But it is done. Now to outline some discussion questions, and read for my other classes; then homework for the week will be done. Oh, and last night, I finished weaving in all the ends to the Elder Twin’s skirt. It is now officially done. I’ll give it to her now before she out grows it.

We are on our way out the door to help the StepPaternal Grandmother sort and put up books. I might slip away to Stash (after all, there is sale) and a pet store to get a goldfish to replace the one we had to flush on Saturday. However, there is a large amount of homework to do; most of it preparation for future classes.

Tomorrow, I shall have to book it back home after classes. The Twins BFFs are spending the afternoon and night. The BFFs’ dad is coming home from Iraq for a month, and Mom is watching the girls to give the dad a night to decompress before heading this way. Mom is also having her eyes dilated and with her fake lens, it takes awhile for her to see straight. Which is why it looks like I will be watching The Quad tomorrow.