Proof that Josh does not go against his word:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/ishmaella/smile.jpg.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f103/ishmaella/pretty.jpg

"It's so peaceful that my eyes slide off!"

Thank you, Rose.

The story on why I'm shrinking:

It's my own damn fault.

One of the reasons is because I hate milk, so I apparently have weaker bones. The rest of the story is more interesting. I don't really sleep enough, what with working my way through college. It turns out that this has actual, tangible effects on my long-term health, one of which is the shrinking. When you're asleep, or at least lying down, your spine decompresses. When your spine doesn't decompress, it starts to grind a little bit. Or so I was told.

There's also one more maybe-reason that was mentioned. My weight went down a lot last fall. I've managed to put most of what feels like normal weight to me back on. (A difference of 40 lbs). Although I have a large skeletal build, I am still "overweight"...okay...the weight that I gained back this spring is apparently pulling too hard on my weak bones, also causing shortness.

So, between all of this, I apparently need to lose 40 lbs again, by exercise, since malnutrition is ten kinds of not-fun, and also find time to spend eight hours a day in bed. Damn it. Maybe I can deal with shrinking instead?

I'm not delusional, and this has nothing to do with lack of sleep. I'm shrinking. I'm down to 5'7" (The last time I checked myself was last summer, 5'8" then).

This might sound obnoxious, but I'm a little worried. I don't drink milk, but I was sure I got enough calcium. But losing an inch, especially at 21, seems a little extreme to just be laughed off. I think I might actually call Mark and talk to him about this...

I have officially sold some of my artwork. I know it's not that great, but it makes me feel good that someone liked it enough to give me money for it. Smile meter just went up another few points.

Life is good. I'm done with school for the summer, I got an A. (The prof told me as I was leaving.) I'm calling one of the grad schools I was invited to attend tomorrow, to see if my invitation would still stand, if I were to choose not to finish my philosophy degree. I'm pretty sure I'm done with Hartwick philosophy, but I think I'd like to earn my Ph.D for it at some point. While I know this is no walk in the park, I don't think I'd have too much trouble, as both McFarlane and Rocknak had no doubt that I would breeze (comparatively) through the thesis.

It might seem like a waste of time to the rest of you, but since I want to work for the FBI, I don't think I'm overqualifying myself. They like over-educated people. So, I have this next year to get my grades up, and hopefully I'll do the internship there summer of 2008.

The waters are receding, I'm all moved in and in a flutter of domesticity (Liz is coming over to bake pies and make fried chicken with me today), school is done, and someone very special has walked back into my life. I needed a pick-me-up, but this is like...never mind, I won't describe it. Josh already told me I'm dopey.

Working is rough, but it'll be a lot easier with no school work except thesis prep. I'm only working 4 jobs this summer, for a rough total of about 90 a week. That's down from last summer, but I'm spoiling myself a little this year.

I got a new cell phone, and my dad, as usual, went above and beyond. He asked what kind of phone I wanted, I said I really didn't care, but a flip phone would be nice, so it wouldn't get all scratched up in my pocket. He, of course, got me a camera-phone, so watch out! I've been playing with it.

Life is good.

You all mean the world to me.

At a point in time where someone has actually been decapitated, partially due to the weather, I think it is appropriate to be thankful to God that all of my friends in Oneonta are alive and more or less ok.

I want a canoe.

Wow, Main St. has been shut down, due to flooding. It's like I'm at home or something. It stopped raining for a little while today...where's Chanticleer when you need him?

Chest Compressions

An EMT, a P.A., and 5 nurses are taking a refresher CPR course. Who's the only person who answers the Physiology question right?

That's right, me. Congratulations to me, I know more about why the human body works than those who are supposedly far more educated than me. Make your own punchline.

Oh, snap!

Operation Aardvark was a success.

Smell being the most potent memory trigger...

Last January, as in 2005, I was still living in the dorms. Our door made a very distinctive click when it was closed. Not loud or obnoxious, mind you, just distinctive.

In January, Alicia was in Prague, and I was the only one there.

Almost always, I dream. Almost never good things. That morning, though, I didn't dream at all. There was no dream to interfere with the click that snapped my eyes immediately open. It was definitely our door, but I was the only one there.

I didn't move, and the next thing that hit me was a smell I hadn't experienced in two and half years. I smelled Brennan's cologne, just a tatter of it, hanging in the air, the brief scent you catch of someone as they walk by.

I don't know what kind of cologne it is, but I know it. I've checked Men's cologne counters in department stores whenever I'm wasting a day shopping, but I've never found it. And I'll never forget it.

As this scent lingered in my mind, I realized that I was cruched over onto one side of my tiny twin bed (I normally slept sprawled out, taking up the whole thing)...I reached my hand over to the empty piece of bed, so as to stretch my body out...and it's warm. Like someone had been lying there, and had just gotten up.

I can tell myself that I had just been sleeping in that spot, and had just managed to crunch myself over, just before imagining the clcik to wake myself up...but I can't explain away his cologne.

And just now, while walking home in the warm rain, I smelled it again.

Am I going crazy?

Part III

I finally plugged in my TV. And watched Bill and Ted. Totally non-heinous.

So, I just bought the Alphabet of Manliness from Amazon. To go along with it, I picked up Gate to Women's Country and The Handmaid's Tale.

What truly amuses me is that Gate to Women's Country is a futuristic tale where women have taken the world over and the men live in a tightly regulated section of society. It is described (in Amazon's official review) as "provocative". The Handmaid's Tale is a futuristic tale where men have taken the world over and the women live in a tightly regulated section of society. It is described (in Amazon's official review) as "chilling".

When the "intellectual" movement is dominated by femi-Nazis who scream at the slightest offense to any woman, while trampling the rights of men (sorry, but I can't bring myself to refer to them as "inferior beings"), does anyone actually think we still live in a chauvinist society? All these people do is create animosity towards women.

Television Again

I still haven't touched it. But I have gotten another round and a half on my rug.

Television

I have a TV now. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this. It's a nice 13" Toshiba with built in VCR. Since I haven't been able to watch Bill and Ted in a year (due to lack of television), this is a blessing. But is it a mixed blessing?

I haven't owned my own (haha) television since I was in high school, and I don't think I actually watched that one more than once in a while after freshman year. Both of my roommates freshman year had TV's, and I never even watched it. Last year, Alicia had a TV (also combo VCR), and good times were had with movie nights. But unless Alicia was watching Law & Order, I never actually watched television.

I've spent the last year (with a few exceptions) almost entirely television free. I think it's had a good effect on me...I appreciate movies a lot, and I'm not desensitized to television as I have previously been.

Which leads me to conclude that I'm not sure how I feel about the TV that is currently sitting on my couch. It's been here for over three hours, and I haven't even looked for a place to put it (other than my couch). I actually glare at the TV once in a while, when I look up from the rug I'm currently working on.

Eesh, why I am so bothered by a TV?

Chinese or Something like it

http://fireflychinese.home.att.net/episode.html

This website lists all the Chinese in Firefly and Serenity, along with the proper pronunciation, since the cast apparently slaughtered. It's pretty cool. Now I can start swearing in Chinese.

Empire Records Drinking Game

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Empire Records Drinking Game, as created by two scientists who have realized that they don't want this on their vitae.
Drink when:
Debra makes a music reference.
Everytime Joe yells.
Every time "Say No More, Mon Amour" is played, said or sung.
Everytime Lucas sounds like Mr. Miyagi (or this is referenced).
Everytime AJ paints or glues something.
Everytime Corey "eats a breath mint".
Everytime Berko looks confused.
Everytime someone says "veto."
When Mark is eating brownies, take one drink everytime he takes a bite.
Everytime Gina says something over intercom.
Whenever Rex Manning flashes a fake smile.
Everytime someone says something about Rex Manning's hair.
Everytime Joe tells AJ to fix the sign.
Everytime you see one of Debra's bandages. (That means you drink twice when you see both in the same shot)
Everytime "Music Town" is referenced.
Everytime Warren's voice cracks.
Everytime money is seen.
Everytime Lucas is seen carrying the couch cushion.

Indeed

What kind of looter am I? You decide!
You can also view a breakdown of results or put one of these on your own page!
Brought to you by Rum and Monkey

Part II:

http://kevan.org/nohari?name=Aynsley2

Bridges!

http://kevan.org/johari?name=Aynsley

Have at it.

Fun Games with the TSC

Sam: "Do you like your new hard drive?"
Me: "Yes..."
Sam: "Then don't ask questions."

Brokeback Mountian is cancelled, and no one cares.

Since the link no longer works, the article was about a cancelled run of Brokeback Mountain. I actually never even saw it. I'm not much for sappy romance and longing, of any sexual orientation.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/08/brokeback.canceled.ap/index.html

"Broad Utah audience"?

Newsflash: Utah is 99.5% MORMON. A film about two gay cowboys who leave each other and get married to women would not be well-received, particularly the part where they "rekindle their relationship over the years". The Bible isn't big on adultery or homosexuality, as far as I can tell. I'm really tempted to watch it to see how many commandments are broken.

Seriously, though, I read an article in middle school about a movie made about Nixon in the 70's, that was pretty much Fahrenheit 911. One Utah theater that was brave enough to show it had to cancel it after the first screening, as the crowed rioted, and did about $2,000 damage to the theater. And that's 1970's dollars.

And people are complaining because he canceled it? I don't see any complaints from the crowd that must have been anxious for gay cowboy love, just one little snipe from "Equality Utah", a "gay rights advocacy group."

And another topic: I am so fucking sick of groups who are for "equality". That is bullshit, most of these groups do not see (insert "minority" group here) as being equal, they see them as better, since every single fucking "offense" by someone from the "majority" is a crime that should be settled with millions of dollars in courts...

Two Scenarios:
Me: (accidentally steps on someone's foot, as I frequently do) Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?
Another "majoritarian": Sure, it's cool. Take it easy!
Me: Have a good night!

Me: (accidentally steps on a precious minority's foot) Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?
Minority: You racist, sexist, capitalist bitch!!! You are oppressing me!! I have the right to stand, WITHOUT having my toes crushed my some klutzy cow!!! You have no right to oppress me!
Me: Chill out.
Minority: "Chill"??? Are you implying that I'm hot, because my skin is darker than yours?? You bitch! If I'm hot, I'm hot under the collar, because feel that you can injure me, and then toss ethnic slurs at me!
Me: Security. Help.
Minority: Oh, that's right. Call security! More people to oppress my people! YOU'RE ALL INVOLVED IN A CONSPIRACY TO OPPRESS US!!!!
Security arrives. They see minority person foaming at the mouth and apply pepper spray. Minority person is dragged, kicking and screaming from the room.
Me: God, I need a drink.
Next day: "Daily Star" headline: "Minority discriminated against, victimized by security guards"

I feel like these scenarios should be a comic to better illustrate my point.