The Laughing Fox

Live in a world of suspended amazement...

A note on the subject of pain

As all of you should know, pain and I are oddly attracted to each other. Apparently I'm a sucker for it. Here are the latest escapades to prove this theory.


Example #1

It's Thanksgiving. You are mashing potatoes that have been cooking for the last 45 minutes in boiling water on a hot stove. All water has been drained from potatoes and you have added the correct ingredients to make a very good mashed potato mix. You have your aunt hold the pot for you after your grandmother gave you a teaspoon to get the entire thing of potatoes out (which, when emptied, fills two large bowls). Using said teaspoon, you work around your right-handedness and your aunt's left-handedness. You spill some on hot stove. What do you do?

Correct answer: Put spoon in other hand while you use your fingers to try to pick up still incredibly hot potatoes that have been boiling for 45 minutes and are resting on a hot stove. You then try to eat said very hot potatoes while your aunt and mother die laughing at you. After you have burned both your entire mouth, tounge, and right hand, you realize, hasn't this happened before? and figure out that wasn't such a great idea. Note to self: Don't do that again. At least until next Thanksgiving.



Example #2

It's the Sunday that ends the break. You have class the next day. You're trying to write an essay. You hurt really bad from having fallen on stupid acorn a couple weeks ago, and are still in much pain. You understand that your knees are likely to give out at any time on you, due to figure skating for ten years, tennis for two, and lacrosse for much longer than is healthy. Someone comes to your door saying "Have you ever played broomball? No? You have one minute, we're going." What do you do?

Correct answer: You agree eagerly, as you have never gotten the chance to play broomball. You can't graduate this school without having played one game of it, right? You then put on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top, and a tshirt, and a sweatshirt, and run to the ice rink which is across the entire campus, because you are running late. This hurts, but you don't care. You're giddy with amusement. You get there and you still don't know the rules, and as people are handing you the stick to play with and putting your helmet on for you, they push you onto the rink. You ask what to do, they just say keep the ball from going in the net. Alright. What does that involve? You guessed it. Slipping on the ice for a half hour, with no knee pads (because my captors didn't find a need to tell me about that little thing). A half hour later, your knees are twice the size they should be and you can barely move, let alone walk. You idly threaten said captors (which you know pretty well and they know you're joking) and go get some pink lemonade from the market on the way home. Still idly threatening because you're in much pain. You wake up in the morning, your knees are still double their normal size, you have a goose-egg on one, and you have bruises from the top of your knee to four inches below. And you don't bruise. Note to self: Next time, take knee pads. And a doctor.



Your honor, does that satisfy your requirements for evidence?




;) Cheers.

Ah... how time slips through our fingers like water...

I'm sorry for the long delay. I've wanted to post, but time has not allowed it of me.

Lots and lots of things have been goign on. This coming week I have three papers and an exam. Oh, and a fellowship proposal for next summer - which I really really want to do. Basic line we're going off right now - How come Americans are fascinated with pirate movies in certain years but not others? Is it the silent rebellion against the government and politics that makes these rebellious heart-snatchers take our breaths away and fascinate us? That's the basic idea. Perhaps if people want, once I get it finished, I can put it up here for you to view. But you've got to comment to let me know. If not I'm not going to bore the hell out of you by putting it up here.

So right now I'm trying to get that paper done, for my research proposal. I have two papers due Thursday, and an exam Wednesday.

Steph is moving to Norway or somewhere like that. One of those countries up there where I can't visit. It makes me sad and angry. Not trying to be angry, but I kinda am. She's leaving on the 7th. Of December. Guess I won't get a suprise visit from her over break, like my parents wanted to do for me for my birthday.

Going to a wedding in early January. I'm really excited about it. I've known Sean for years - he gives me a reffing job every summer. And helped me with goal tending and is just in general a good friend, even when he coached opposing teams. And Anne is a sweetheart. So I'm excited about that.

Been to a LOT of doctors lately. I've been feeling worse and worse, and it's really messing with my studies. Went to an opthomologist (sp?) and then he sent me to my general doctor, because he thinks I have diabetes. So how did I spend my first day of break? You got it - in the doctor's office. An hour of being examined, then she sent me to the hospital to get a glucose tolerance test, blood sugar tests, some arthritis tests, and only god knows what else. Seven tubes of blood later, after fasting for 14 hours and drinking a sweet drink for the sugar test... I was done around 1. After starting at 8. And I still don't know the results. I know they're really worried about me having either diabetes and/or some other test that I don't want to talk about. Either one means a serious change to my college diet. One means taking away most of my pastas/bread/carbs of any sort. The other means they all go. Completely. Neither of which makes this less depressing.

So if all bloodwork comes back okay (which would be very good), then I get to go BACK to the opthomologist for more eye tests and stuff. Because I can't read my computer or the teacher's slides anymore. That's a really bad thing.

Oh, I did get an early christmas present yesterday. Hallmark's ornament of Pirates of the Caribbean. So sweet. Plays Yo-Ho. :D

Alright, well, I can't stand looking at this anymore. I feel like I'm about to pass out. So cheers and let me know if you want to read my proposal later, or if you want me to talk about anything... or yeah. I'm done. Ta.

Aww crap...

"Ben, I'm going to sue the squirrels of Miami."
".... ... ... WHAT did you do now!?"


Geez, even my RAs know me too well. But that's my goal still - I just don't think the courts are going to accept my claim of life endangerment and death by squirrels. Though every college student knows they're tricky little devils. Gotta love them though.

So you're probably wondering why I'm on a rant about evil, conniving little squirrels. Well, this happened Wednesday... basically I was running out the door to class, and managed to find the one acorn on the step, and in doing so, fell after twisting my ankle in two. Man it hurt. I think they set a trap for me. Honest. It was a yucky, rainy day, and everything was wet, and blaaah. In this wonderful twisting of my ankle, I also managed to bust my right knee and sprain my wrist. Go me.

Once down, I had someone help me up cus it hurt sooo much trying to twist my ankle and leg to get in a position to stand up. She was sweet and offered to get an RA, which I said wasn't necessary. No matter how good I am, I know I won't seriously hurt myself, soo no matter how much I hurt, it wasn't serious. Then I was standing against a pillar and Kuhl comes up to me and does his little Marine yell in my face, and I just ignore him. So assuming I didn't hear him, (I had in an ipod and had my eyes closed) he shakes my shoulder and asks if I'm okay. He's a sweet boy - funny and nice. Assuring him I was, I went along my gimpy way to Psych class. (Ironic...)

Called mom and laughed the whole way there - easier on the body than crying. Then the nice janitor guy that I talk to every day I go in told me to sit down and stop arguing while he went and got me an ice pack. :) Make a long story shorter, by the next day I could feel the fall throughout my entire body, since I try not to fall and throw EVERYTHING out of alignment. So now my hips down are in a LOT of pain. Therefore, we have four new ace bandages which are on each ankle and each knee. Go me! -_-

Last night I managed to hurt myself all over again, so I'm glad I got those bandages Friday... cuz I'm not sure I could convince myself to do all that walking at this point. (I currently look like a zombie. I have so many bandages on...)


Different note: Didn't get to ref yesterday. Probably a very good thing, but still very depressing. Also managed to hurt myself yesterday WITHOUT the help of running for five hours on uneven muddy fields.

And I really miss my Steph.

Another Long Week

First things first... I miss my Steph. A lot. Painfully so. I helped her with KOC, and she saved me from a horrible death by history paper, and then still makes me laugh. Sometimes I think she might even miss me, too... :) (hard to imagine, I know...)

Had a paper and a group project due today, have group project due tomorrow, have presentation and paper due Thursday. Blaaah. Also have allergies, but that wasn't due. Just happened. I swear.

Managed to win two shirts off of Lt. Cassidy last week - I'm wearing one right now. Made most of the unit laugh - and wonder how I didn't get this before. Basically they're Navy ROTC shirts for our unit. Now if I can just win a USMC one as well... Yesterday I also brought my swords in, and I think people were wondering what I was planning when I walk around with these swords in hand asking for Lt. Gonser. They're prolly going 'wtf does she want with him...' Oh you know, I just really didn't like that last grade I got, and wanted to let him know... lol jk. So now they're safely locked up in his office for later in the week.

Saturday I get to ref HS Boys lacrosse for the first time... should be... interesting, to say the least. 5 hours of reffing really... big... boys... and angry coaches.... Note: Coaches don't like a girl reffing their boys. They think I'm unfair or something... no guys, only unfair when you act like jerks to me. But should be very.... educational to say the least. Pray I survive.

Leaving off on this post by copying Steph's post for today, because honestly, it sounds exactly like what I would have said in her place and it reeeally made me laugh. Perhaps it's just my sleep deprived, stressed out mind, but oh well. Cheerio.


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PB & J... Death Ensues
Published Tuesday, October 31, 2006 by Steph.

---

Day 2 of work over and done with. In case you were wondering, it was damn boring. The highlight of the day was getting into groups and filling out a "Job Safety Analysis". The instructors picked a task and we had to break the task down into steps, describe the potential hazards of each step, and then give ways on how the hazards can be avoided. The task was: Making a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.

1. Gather materials
HAZARDS:
A) Falling off the stool while trying to get the bread off the top shelf--death ensues
B) Trying to reach the jelly in the back of the refridgerator and knocking something heavy on your foot--long term hospitalization, possible amputation
C) Knocking the peanut butter onto your head from the shelf--concussion, coma, death ensues
D) Getting cut on the knife as you get it out of the drawer--death ensues
AVOIDING HAZARDS:
A) Put the bread lower
B) Keep the jelly on the door of the fridge so you don't have to reach around anything
C) Put the peanut butter lower
D) Wear heavy leather gloves to retrieve the knife

2. Open the jars.
HAZARDS:
A) Giving yourself carple tunnel--long term hospitalization, surgery, therapy, loss of mobility in the hand
AVOIDING HAZARDS:
A) Utilize tools, such as a jar opener to open the jars

3. Spread the peanut butter and jelly on the bread
HAZARDS:
A) Mishandle the knife and cut your wrist--death ensues
AVOIDING HAZARDS:
A) Use a plastic knife

4. Construct the sandwich by placing the two pieces of bread together.
HAZARDS:
A) Could possibly drop the jellied piece of bread on the floor, slip on it, and break the neck--parilyzationzation or death ensues
AVOIDING HAZARDS:
A) Do not be careless. Concentrate and place the two slices of bread together using the proper technique.

Sooner or later I'll get back into the swing of this...

I keep forgetting to post. Though I really like this look compared to the green blue one. That one depressed me. If you can't see this blog well, make sure you view it in IE, apparently. Firefox doesn't seem to like pretty things. Ah well.

So yesterday's random bird's comment on what he thought of me kinda sums up this week and last. Bah. Kinda like the squirrels throwing random acorns at passerbys. Been looking at graduate school stuff. Really really depressing. My GPA isn't anywhere close enough to where I need to be. That... is really freaking me out. Everything is resting on going to grad school, but I need to actually get into it first. That would be a good thing, and the outlook isn't good at the moment. Also trying to get scheduling stuff worked out before I sign up for classes tomorrow. Also a very bleak outlook. Is my luck running out on me?

I'm considering doing a 12 credit hour course this summer, an internship of sorts for the university, perhaps about pirates. I could stay at home and read all summer, and write a paper for my report, or do a website or something. I'd get a stipend, as well as my books paid for, then just talk to Prof. Cayton over email and such, as he'll be out of the country for all of June. I have to apply, doesn't mean I'd get the scholarship though. But it'd look so damn good for grad school.....

Other news: Beth is engaged. Nick asked her to marry him on the 14th, for those of you who know who she is from school. I'm petsitting this coming weekend. The weekend after I'm reffing men's lacrosse (high school boys... eeeeep! I've not reffed the bigger boys before... talk about feeling short!), and the weekend after that, going to Dayton Art Museum to see Rembrant paintings........ joy. Oh joy.

That's all for now. I have about a total of 15 pages due for Thursday, then more to do for the following week.... gah. Ta.

Eep!

I know it's been a long time since I posted, sorry y'all. Not that anyone would really notice. Had a whole lot of exams. And still very busy. This is the best update you're getting right now.


Enjoy the new layout.

Randomness

I know these pictures are late... but late is better than never... right? Either way. Following this post are pictures of my purple hand, which was tie-dyed on Monday. The ink is just now gone... the picture isn't great in showing just how it looked... but its close enough. It looked like I had grangrene or something, followed by frostbite. The other pictures are of my opal/sapphire ring I got for my birthday. It took a while to get good pictures of the stone, and it still doesn't do the beauty justice, but it's the best I can do. Enjoy, all.



My Little Girl (by Tim McGraw)

Verse 1:
Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you how much I love you, though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born.

Chorus:
Beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl.

Verse 2:
When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone.
Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown.
Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You!" in the moonlight at your door.
As I walk away, I hear you say, "Daddy Love You More!".

(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3:
Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand.
But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half
that makes you whole, he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man.
I know he'll say that he's in love.
But between you and me. He won't be good enough!

(Repeat Chorus)

Arrrr! It be Talk Like A Pirate Day!




Yes, I am a pirate, two hundred years too late.
The cannons don't thunder there's nothin' to plunder
I'm an over forty victim of fate
Arriving too late, arriving too late.



Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day. :)

Better update than yesterday...

So now that I'm not slightly whacked out...

Yesterday I turned 21. Whoop-ti-do. Other things were much more important.

Such as hanging out with friends who are too cool for words, hanging out with my parents, getting some really awesome things, relaxing... You know, it's rather ... what's the word... nostalgic? no.... just that letdown after having a great weekend, when you think back on it and remember how great it was and then you're like great, now I'm stuck back in the middle of school with exams coming up. Blah.

But anyways:

It was really cool. One of my friends got me 21 gifts of 21 things, which included 21 gummy worms, 21 dollars, 21 pencils, 21 paperclips, 21 tic tacs, 21 hawaiian shirt post it notes, and so forth.

My parents went all out - they spent all day apologizing that they couldn't think of anything great. They got me some really awesome stuff:

- a beautiful opal ring, that's really fiery, with a small sapphire on each side of it. My two favorite stones together... she actually had the jeweler get rid of the diamonds to put in sapphires. -purrs with contentment- I love my new ring. It's absolutely gorgeous. So simple, so beautiful, so perfect. I wish my parents would believe me when I tell them how much I love it.

- I got a really cool swiss military watch, but mom was really bummed when she realized it wasn't the one with military time on it... so I'm going to wait till next weekend to open it, and see if they found the military time one.

- Got two 'willow tree' figurines, one of which is called "hero" and one that's called "celebrate", too too adorable. They're figurines I've wanted for a while.

Hero:


Celebrate:


- a mug with the mug shot of a squirrel



- Star Wars DVDs... the UNEDITED, UNMESSED WITH, ORIGINAL VERSIONS!

- Season Three of Remington Steele

- a 'Boing!' puffer fish... thing... by Moshi... I'll try to remember to get a pic at some point.

- a really really great weekend :)


And yesterday, yes, I did drink. There, everyone happy? .... it was really good. :)

Okay, back to schoolwork. Tata.