the annie blog

I’m feeling a lot better. I think I’ll be given back my membership card to Pleasant People Town. It’s about time. I’ve been a raging bear to anyone that looks at me. I still am going to crash early though. I’m worn out. I don’t plan on doing much tonight. I made some muffins from a mix and am waiting for those to cool. Then I’ll make some tea, have a muffin and read. Later on I’ll take a shower and go to bed and read.

I was surfing for audio book info last night – because I can’t watch TV – and I came across this place. It reminds me of Netflix, but only with audio books. I’m going to join because I just can’t get books on CD around here. So, I think it’ll be well worth the cost for me, anyway.

I finally took some pictures of my office for your viewing pleasure. I started at my door and went around the room. This is my door viewed from my desk. You can kind of see my collection of wacky pens and pencils on my desk – care bears, barbie – you name it:

This is continuing around the corner, use the black file cabinet as a reference. I love James Dean!

This is the wall immediately to my right when I’m at my desk:

This is a closer look at the bulletin board immediately to my right. Yes, that’s a chicken mask up there in the corner. My room is laden with chicken stuff – my improv comedy troupe is called The Rubber Chicken Factory:

This is directly behind my desk. That’s a big newspaper thing on Ernest Hemingway – my fave! And a picture of Shakespeare – another fave. The black and white picture hanging on the edge of the bulletin board is of Oscar Wilde:

This is the filing cabinet to my left when I’m sitting at the desk:

This is the wall to my left, circling back to the door. On the air handler is a collection of toys – just in case I get bored. Hanging above it on the wall are more play things. I don’t know if you can tell, but on top of the bookcase in the corner is my collection of magic wands (you never know when you need to cast a spell) and, of course, more chickens:

Lots of eye candy, huh? Well, hope you enjoyed my office!!!

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My ass is getting kicked this month. It’s that time of the month, and I feel like some Victorian woman that needs smelling salts to be revived. I swear, I usually am fine, but this time – my God!!!! I look awful – I’m all hunched over and always have a hand across my stomach (protection I guess) and I’m totally drained of color. Plus, there’s this nasty looking scowl on my face. People are running away from me. That’s fine, because I’d probably bite their damn head off if they got any closer.

I am in desperate need of tea!! I have some lame tea bags in my desk – I’m sure I’ll resort to them. I need to rid myself of all Lipton tea bags. I keep them for those “just in case” moments – like this. But I’d do better with the tea from home. I need to prepare more and always have yummy tea in my office.

Ok, I’m gonna go wander the halls and spit fire at anyone that crosses my path.

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I am in pain! I despise cramps. I am moving slowly and am a little grumpy – obviously. I don’t have too much to do today, but I do have a 3:30 meeting, so much for going home early. Whaaa!

In other fun and exciting news. Mark and I went to bed last night at 9:30. We were tired. It’s kind of fun to do that once in awhile. Just say the heck with everything and turn out the lights and hit the hay early.

I still have two final exams to make. One is going to take me some time. The other one has all the questions on disc, so I just need to pick and choose.

I may write more later – I’m gonna veg out right now.

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I had my evaluation today. I didn’t know it was today… One of the Deans caught me this morning and told me she was coming to my Mass Communications class to evaluate me. We have Deans evaluate our “in-class” performance once every three years when you’re tenured. It’s my time… So I told her that she could come on up and hang out. I really had a good lecture today too. I usually prepare a whole bunch on evaluation days because I get nervous, but without even having much notice I jammed. Good for me. At least I think I jammed. We had great discussion and they were able to answer questions I threw at them. I was very proud of them. Only once did they all start talking and I had to hush them up. We’ll see. With the way paperwork is done around here, it may be summer before I ever see the results. Then I have to go in and have a meeting with another Dean about my results. So, hopefully it’ll be smooth sailing for me.

It is rainy, rainy, rainy today. I can’t believe it. Gray, cloudy, wet – puddles everywhere. And humid!! It’s unreal. I am so sticky. I hate that. I always feel sweaty and dirty when it’s humid out.

Tonight I have to read – a lot. I won’t be watching TV, so Markie may have to go to another room and watch while I figure out what I’m going to do. I would like to craft, but my end-of-the-year reading assignments are getting due and I need to be a few steps ahead of everyone.

I’m gonna wander around a little bit right now, then I need to work on some stuff this afternoon. At 2:30 there is a poet on campus that I am going to listen to. Then I have a 3:30 meeting. Then I’m outta here!

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Made it through another Monday. Actually, I only have two more Mondays of work till August!! Not that I’m counting or anything.

It’s “National Turn Off Your TV” week and I’m participating. It started this morning and ends on Sunday night. I have post-it notes all over the place to remind me. My biggest fear is that I’ll just plop down on the couch and turn on the TV without thinking. So, I’m trying to remind myself. So far, so good. There are a couple things I’ll miss, but I’ll catch up on the website. I will miss the local weather reports, but I’ll just rely on my radio or Mark to tell me what he watched. BTW – Mark is not participating. He’s going to be helpful for me though. He said he’d always make sure to watch TV away from me. I’m just curious if I can do it and how it will affect my week. Just curious.

I have homework to do at home tonight. I brought stuff home so I wouldn’t be tempted to watch TV. I figure the busier I am the better. So, I will need to tackle that here soon. Then I can spend the rest of the night reading. Oh – just thought of something that made me mad today!! Our library on campus has two, count them, two books on CD. Every thing else is on tape. Our public library has two on CD and tons on tape. I am Furious George about this. I guess I’m screwed. I was listening while I was cleaning, crafting, whatever. It was kind of multi-tasking, I guess, but I was having fun. So now I have nothing to listen to. I don’t have a way to play tapes and move around. I’m a 21st century girl. And that’s it – there isn’t a single place in this whole damn town to get them either. Small town living can totally suck sometimes.

I guess I’m just too worldly for this place…. (just joking)

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We’re back from seeing Seinfeld in concert! We had a great time. We left work at noon and got to KC by 3:00. We check in our hotel and freshened up and relaxed a little. Here is the view from our room on the 19th floor. This first one is facing northwest:

This one is northeast:

We met my brother and his wife for drinks and appetizers in the hotel bar:

We then walked to the theatre – it was only two blocks away. We acted like tourists! Here is a picture of Mark and me:

The concert was a lot of fun! We laughed and laughed. Since he’s married he did a lot of stuff about the differences between men and women. That was the best part because everyone can totally relate to that.

We then went to eat at George Brett’s on the Plaza. It was nice to be there. We stayed for a long time and just talked and had fun. We got back to our room at 11:00. I did order room service when we got back – I need my tea afterall. I was wondering what kind they would bring. I asked for Earl Grey and they brought me this brand. Needless to say, I was very pleased.

We got home this afternoon a little after noon. I took a nap and lounged around a little. I haven’t really done much. Looks like tomorrow will be busy, huh?

Tonight we are heading out to see a play, and will try and find a place for dinner afterwards. I’ll be glad to be in my own bed tonight. It’s always nice to get back to your bed and pillow! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

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Here is my mother’s day card I made (hope she’s not reading this… sigh)

Here is a picture (finally) of my cross-stitching. I finally them hung up last night

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I skipped quilting class tonight. Not good. I am feeling down. I really and truly think I have Summer Sad. If I look back at my visits to my doctor for my depression, it almost ALWAYS is in March, April, or May. Never have I had a problem in fall or winter. I kind of almost always dread the summers – not the days off! – but the summer itself. I feel out of place, I feel content in the winter, I feel cozy, warm, relaxed, renewed. I don’t know. I must discuss this with Mark over dinner tonight.

I think I’m on to something…

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Can you say “slightly overwhelmed”???? That’s what I am…. I needed to start getting my textbook orders in for fall semester. I worked with the bookstore and we ended up with tons of stuff. In fact, there is still stuff on order, but I have like 8 new books to read for fall! Plus, the three that are being ordered and one new textbook! Now, I like reading, but when you’re teaching it, you really, really, have to read it and know it backwards and forwards. So, this involves more than just hanging out and reading. This will mean I have to sit with pencil and highlighter in hand and be in a very quiet place. Just a sampling of what I have to read…Black Elk Speaks, Canterbury Tales, Common Sense, and I have to re-read The Iliad I am so much more familiar with The Odyssey but that doesn’t work out with my syllabus. So, do you see how fun my next few months will be? I do love learning, but I feel overwhelmed when it all comes to me at once. I actually have lots of time, but I feel the need to get it all done ASAP. CALGON!!!!!!

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