This is my story.

This is one clip my AI professor showed during class.

The robot is soooo creepy looking! It's like two people stuck in the machine, one facing forward, the other backward! Or like goats... Bottom half, of course.

It is so impressive.



It apparently has no visual sensors, but since Boston Dynamics made it, they're not big on secrets of manufacturing.

Monday
1. Got an A- on my third Writing paper
2. Awesome clips during AI class
3. Chicken and corn during dinner, oooh, yay!
4. Questionable Content!
5. Getting advice on anti-histamines for my hives outbreak

• 05:37 was thankful to be gone, but is thankful to be back home after Thanksgiving. I like my road trips and all, but they're still taxing on me.
• 06:55 Controlled Bleeding's Joe Papa passed away last Tuesday. :-( R.I.P. bit.ly/7tUumQ via @addthis #controlledbleeding
• 12:49 is getting chili set up then will do the job hunt thing.
• 13:44 got the original Nintendo version of "Metroid" over the holiday. I'm thinking seriously of breaking it out now.
• 13:44 @Dee_Groovy Elastica is SO love! ^_^
• 13:49 How To Tell People They've Said Something Racist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Ti-gkJiXc
• 20:36 Support Twitter Pagans and Witches, add a #twibbon to your avatar now! - bit.ly/2epSoy

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People do not teach their children boundaries these days. For example, by the time I seven or eight I knew not to go crawl up in the bushes in front my neighbor's house, peek into the window, and make scratching noises and hiss at the cat in the window. The little shits in my neighborhood, however, can't seem to grasp the concept that doing that is wrong. I'd go out there and give the little bastards a piece of my mind if I wasn't sick and in my pj's.

I guess I shouldn't have expected manners from the brats considering how, a year or so ago, they thought it would be fun to randomly open the front door and let the cats outside. It was unlocked because it was daylight and my dad and I were both home. That, of course, does not happen anymore; the front door is locked and/or barred at all times now. As it should be, honestly.

Maybe it's because the kids on the cul-de-sac I live in are mostly boys. (There are a few girls and I haven't had any problems with them.) I don't know. I do know that if it happens again, I'm going to scare the crap out of 'em. And if their parents say anything to me, well, I'll just tell them they should teach their kids not to peep into other people's windows.

I hate family holidays. It's not as bad as it used to be. There isn't a mind numbing soul obliterating anxiety about them anymore as there used to be. There's just a dull ache of worry and some slight stomach tremors. Really the worst bit was that I thought I'd probably never have to go to a shin dig like this again. I would go one day, I just would never have to.

I didn't want to talk about where I'd been what I'd been doing and how I was. I'm better but not so well that I can always talk about Zac or Wyoming or what was a fairy tale life that while childish and unsustainable was also beautiful. I just can't talk about it especially with people who don't get it and no one in my family gets it.

Instead I gave short answers and listened to long unending diatribes of how awesome everyone else is. I was glad they were well but I could have done without the jabs at where they were compared to me. I sincerely hope I never did that to them or anyone else, though my successes are so few and far between, I'm sure I've had little opportunity to knock some else further down that way.

In particular my cousin, who works at Fenway went on and on about how boring but glamorous her job was, how much she hated living at home (though she does nothing there but sleep and hang out), and how wonderful her parties and nights out were. I wanted her to be successful. I was prepared to hear about her success and joy so it didn't even sting that much when she kept slighting me and where I was or discarding some of the work I have to do like chores and house upkeep and whatnot.

What did sting was to find out later that her job at Fenway pays $9/hr she works no more than 30hrs a week and she doesn't get benefits. She'd sat there and scorned my retail work as less and demeaning when we make the same hourly rate, I work full time and my job gives me benefits. I don't have an hours commute by public transportation to pay for or anything.

In other more pleasant news my bro got a letter from Mass Maritime and we think it might be his acceptance *hopefully*. I've got to wait for him to come home and open it but I'm super hopeful for him. It's very exciting.

Also, they've finally corrected the comp and literacy portions of the mtels, I should finally have results and hopefully a license on the 9th. Maybe I've be able to pick up some second term work or start vigorously looking for the fall. I'm apprehensive and excited. I don't know what I'll do if this doesn't work and my parents feel strongly I'll need several other back up plans that I'm not sure how to approach but I'll have to figure something out soon I guess.

Back home! I stupidly forgot my glasses, contacts solution and contacts case in my dorm room (had to buy new of the last two! GRRR, lost money). I've been wearing contacts about 12 hrs/day since Wednesday and getting monster headaches, so that's why I avoided my LJ/IJ and FB and other sites.</i> Well, essentially looking at my laptop. I used it briefly for listening to music or having hulu episodes playing in the background while studying. Even studying and reading were hard on my eyes.

Sorry if I've missed a lot of milestones or fun times or bad times in your life during my incommunicado days! *hugs to all!*

The bus was suppose to leave Midway at 4:30pm but ended up arriving at 5:15pm and leaving at 5:30pm. Then we had to detour to O'Hare to pick up overflow there so I got back to campus around an hour and a half later than expected. I shouldn't have been surprised, really.

Following is my list of gratitudes since Tuesday, which is kind of a list of some things I did each day, too.

( Gratitudes! )

Eyes tired...body sore...should go to sleep...

My grandmother sent me this "cutesy" email forward about how awesome dogs are and how aloof and uncaring cats are.

I sent her pictures of her great-grand-kitties.

I have an upset tummy and a slightly whiny back. Oh, for a bottle of ginger beer and a gentle backrub! I might have to use my Hitachi Magic Wand for its officially intended purpose.

More stress today; had to call to switch my Medicare Part D insurance plan to one where I wouldn't have to pay a premium. Enrolled over the phone. My hands were shaking the whole time. I almost dropped the phone.

Tomorrow I need to get ahold of Molly Maid so I don't have to worry about my place being a sty for the inspection on the 8th. Why the hell they are doing inspections now is anyone's guess. I just hope it's not the 3rd, because if it is I'll have to reschedule my MHMR appointment.

But I am valiumed up now and sleep will be soo.

In the mail (I only check my mail every couple of days, I checked it last night) I got 1) a notice of an inspection on the 8th and 2) paperwork to fill out because Social Security is reviewing my Disability.

It's too damn much. Why the hell are they doing inspections NOW? And I know they do periodic reviews of SSDI cases, but god, the TIMING!

Happy Thanksgiving!

(To those of you who celebrate it, that is.)

Happy Thanksgiving, USAians. Happy Thursday, rest of the world.

• 05:21 Check the new release on Proper Talent - "Elation" by DJ CJ vs. Mezo, incl. a remix by Metasyn, @DJRap's new band! tiny.cc/elation
• 07:15 @todayyouareyou Reminds me of The Simpsons when Ralph Wiggins kept going "Duck, duck, duck" during Bart's b-day party & never said "Goose!"
• 12:12 @adamsbaldwin Agreed on the politicians. I hesitate to think that they truly have our best interests at heart.
• 12:16 is going to have to hop offline now. Still have to clean kitchen, pack my bags and hop in the shower before 5 pm CST. Happy Thanxgiving!!
• 13:50 Kitchen cleaned, bags mostly packed, but I still need a shower. Partner's off work early, so we might beat traffic if her bro arrives early.
• 15:21 @angiehartmusic Love your music & glad you getting respect! "Here's a big article some might have seen in Inpress. bit.ly/62edpZ"

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• 05:29 @paper_hand We all need a positive boost at times. &gt;.&lt; "I'm good enough. I'm smart enough. And gosh darn it, people like me."
• 11:16 What exactly DOES Sarah Palin stand for? bit.ly/84cUWS
• 11:30 From Not Always Right: Why Judgment Day’s Gonna Be A Cakewalk, Part 1 - bit.ly/sPpOm WJDGBAC, Part 2 - bit.ly/6JxEPI
• 12:21 @jaredleto &lt;3 your work. Just out of curiosity, how do you handle insane fans?
• 12:28 @ThatKevinSmith 'Tho I don't like Twilight, I can respect it. @huffingtonpost Kevin Smith Defends "Twilight" (VIDEO) bit.ly/5xFGRw
• 13:01 @todayyouareyou Could be. A good smudging never hurts, especially in a new house. ^_^
• 13:04 I'm making a cake for my partner's birthday and am going to listen to @ladygaga for the first time while baking.
• 13:48 @ladygaga Well, I was more impressed by your album than I thought I would be. Reminds me of early Madonna in some ways. Cheers!
• 13:50 @djrap *hugs* My partner had food poisoning last week. Sucks! Just take care of yourself, hun!
• 14:07 @helen_bop *raises hand* Not I, said the fly.
• 14:39 How one of hockey's toughest men accepted his son's coming out: bit.ly/4CuH78

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Okay, important thing first. There's a bill to outlaw mail order sales of tobacco in the US. Cigars will be the only exemption. This effects me personally, of course, because I buy my shisha mailorder as much for variety as for price. I know it's only an online petition, but would some of you consider signing this? I'm sure many if not most of you are nonsmokers, but I see it as a personal freedom issue.


Went out with doombuggie last night. He convinced me to check out this new bar downtown. Too loud for my comfort level, but not as bad as most clubs, and it wasn't even remotely crowded so that wasn't so bad, and we didn't stay very long. After that he took me to HEB so I could make a much-needed grocery run. It wasn't pleasant; it was late enough that the restockers were out, clogging up the aisles, but close enough to Thanksgiving that it was still crowded, even at 11. I was so glad to get out of there! We dropped my stuff off and went to Epoch, because doombuggie had plans to meet up with a friend and Epoch's cool anyway. I mostly just zoned out while they talked. doombuggie was concerned about me looking like I was falling asleep in my seat! I was fine, though, just sort of inert. Conked pretty hard when I got home, though. It was a pretty good night.

Had a good experience with complex maintenance. The latch on my screen door has been sticking and last night I pretty much had to break out, so this morning I called maintenance (which is dispatched from a central office, you don't call the complex you're in). Guy showed up this afternoon; I'd met him briefly once or twice. Friendly, polite, competent. We chatted a little while he fixed the latch and he complimented my skull pajamas. No unneeded stress, and my screen door is fixed.

( Moping about Thanksgiving )

Monday
1. Psych assignment turned in early
2. Attended a meeting discussing the curriculum proposals (could have been set up better, but it was a new experience for me)
3. My alum friend arrived safely here
4. Hilarious UNO games with alum friend and one of their friends
5. Watched my first ever "The Office" episode with my friend
6. Dinner wasn't awkward overall

If anyone would like an invite code to Dreamwidth, comment and I'll send one the next time it's available. I may have one or two now.

• 10:37 Win Not Always Right’s new book and a Business Beware tee! bit.ly/narbb Just follow @notalwaysright and @businessbeware and RT.
• 14:44 @djrap Liking what I hear of the Metasyn Remix! That remix kicks small furry animal booty!!
• 14:45 is recovering from last week. Felt like my mind was overloaded. Concert was STELLAR! Leaving for Thanxg @ partner's sister's house Wed aft.

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3 free MP3 dowloads from Amazon.com.

That's any three songs, not just from a limited list, but it's only for a few days.

You're awesome, waywardoctagon. You kick ass in so many ways, and getting into the Company series is only a recent way. It was so much fun being able to finally "Yes! Yes! Totally yes!" with someone over all the Lewis/Joseph-Aziraphale/Crowley parallels, and to snicker at( tiny tiny spoiler ).

I'm looking massively forward to squeeing with you over some of the later stuff. Oh god, Latif in "The Young Master"! Labienus in general in Children of the Company! Much other coolness that I can't even mention yet!

We must recruit more *casts thoughtful gaze at zarla*