My 26 Things are finally completed! I rushed to upload them all before Tracey posted the link to list your pictures. I now see that she still hasn’t put it up yet, but no matter.

If you would like to see my completed photo project, you may do so here.

I hope that you will take a look at them and let me know what you think! :)

Posted at 5:46 PM | (4)

Oooh I just had to share a link that I found over on Synapse.

It’s magnetic poetry for the web!

We all know that everyone loves magnetic poetry—who can resist creating something either wholly obscene or utterly incomprehensible, all by rearranging a few magnetic words on a refrigerator.

There’s just something about it. People who would otherwise shun poetry and would never dream of creating their own piece of poetry find themselves with boundless creativity. I always love walking into a house with this stuff and seeing what they have chosen to showcase on their fridge.

Anyway, in case you can’t tell, I think this is pretty darn cool, so go check it out. You can even customize the words you want to use, and showcase the poem on your website!

Since I’m sure you’re still all dying to know!

1. Lines
2. Mechanical
3. Stretch
4. Through
5. Bottom
6. Organised
7. Different
8. Far Away
9. Green
10. Mug
11. Dummy
12. At Night
13. Liquid
14. Artificial
15. Out of Reach
16. Switch
17. Relief
18. Blades
19. Missing
20. Underground
21. Historic
22. Button
23. Popular
24. Grand
25. Exotic
26. Delicious

My total is now up to 24. Several people have given me some interesting ideas—even my mom was giving me suggestions over vacation. Stretch shouldn’t be too hard to do, once I get around to it. I have to check on my idea for Grand, or else think of something else quickly.

Only 3 days left until I unveil them.

Posted at 9:58 AM | (6)

Not to steal Leonieke’s thunder, but I must report that I too am going to be starting a new job (this was the cryptic “big decision” that I wrote about last week). Sorry I was so vague, but I didn’t want to write about it, and potentially have word get back to my bosses before I had officially given them notice.

My job will be at a different company than the one I currently work at. Similar job duties, with a few extra ones like minor editing, putting out an occasional newsletter, and maintaining a section of the company’s website. I’m more interested in these new duties, since they are the ones that have the most potential for me in terms of where I would like to go with my career—editing, writing, and/or web work.

It’s still considered an entry level job, but I haven’t been in the working world TOO long, and I will of course be making more than I am currently. I only hope that this job allows me to have some exciting opportunities, because it will be a little scary starting at a new place filled with people I don’t know.

I’ll miss the rapport I’ve come to have with many of the long-time staff here at the Library, but I think, at least for the time being, that it is time for me to try my hand somewhere else. I’ve worked here for almost 5 years—2 as a student, and almost 3 as a staff member.

Wish me luck, I start on the 16th of August!

Posted at 10:15 AM | (14)

My vacation is now officially at an end. Back to getting up early and going to work starting tomorrow!

The week was nice and relaxing, and it was nice seeing my family for an extended period of time. My sister and I even got along for the WHOLE time!

Yesterday we finished off the week with a trip to Catalina Island. I had never been there before. It was nice, although I think I would go insane if I were a local—tourists everywhere. We basically just sat around and had a few drinks, walked around some, and enjoyed the HOT weather. I got some color—we’ll have to see if anyone notices. I think it’s pretty obvious, considering how pale I was a week ago, but you never know. :)

Anyway, I’d write more about the details of my vacation, except that they kind of blur together after 10 days. It was nice being on the beach in hot weather, nice not having to work, etc.

I took quite a few pictures, although I’ll admit that most of them were with the 26 Things in mind. This means that they aren’t “typical” vacation shots, and also that I’m not posting any until I decide which ones are making the cut for the photo scavenger hunt. I wouldn’t want to give it away ahead of time, would I? :)

Posted at 10:05 PM | (1)

The latest tally as of this evening is as follows:

1. Lines
2. Mechanical
3. Stretch
4. Through
5. Bottom
6. Organised
7. Different
8. Far Away
9. Green
10. Mug
11. Dummy
12. At Night
13. Liquid
14. Artificial
15. Out of Reach
16. Switch
17. Relief
18. Blades
19. Missing
20. Underground
21. Historic
22. Button
23. Popular
24. Grand
25. Exotic
26. Delicious

This bring the count to: 20!! Of course, some of these pictures are similar to each other and others are not necessarily my best work. What I wind up using is still up in the air, but with only 8 days left, I suppose I’m not in such bad shape!

Posted at 10:52 PM | (1)

Yesterday I got my hair cut again. Most people wouldn’t consider this to be terribly noteworthy, but I guess I’m not most people. This is only the third time that I’ve gotten it cut in a salon—ever. It’s also the 3rd time that I haven’t had to pay for it. I suppose if you don’t really care too much, people who do care will pay for such things.

I didn’t have an opinion so I just told the guy to do whatever he wanted to it. Below is the end result. Worth 2 hours and $90? You tell me…

Posted at 5:10 PM | (5)

Hooray for stolen wireless connections! I am lying very still on the bed, trying not to lose the very weak signal I have obtained! And here I was afraid I was going to have to be without internet for the entire 10 days!

So far my family vacation has been nice. We went to the Orange County fair yesterday, and today we went shopping at Huntington Beach. I bought a bathing suit, and my mom bought me some shirts and a pair of jeans. We have also walked along the beach a bunch, although in the evenings.

Although the weather has been fabulous—sunny and very hot—I have yet to lay out, and the only color I have obtained is the slightly burnt right shoulder from my 2 hour drive with the sunroof open.

I hope that everyone will be able to survive if I am unable to post too often. I hope that these people with the wireless keep their connection up all the time. I have a fairly big decision to make tomorrow. Anyone in the know can offer any final pros and cons before I make the call tomorrow afternoon or so.

Posted at 9:18 PM | (2)

Seeing people such as Leonieke give updates on the progress of her 26 Things, I figured I’d post on mine as well. I’m sure you’re all dying to know, right?

So in case you’re curious, the items I have tentatively completed are bolded as follows:

1. Lines
2. Mechanical
3. Stretch
4. Through
5. Bottom
6. Organised
7. Different
8. Far Away
9. Green
10. Mug
11. Dummy
12. At Night
13. Liquid
14. Artificial
15. Out of Reach
16. Switch
17. Relief
18. Blades
19. Missing
20. Underground
21. Historic
22. Button
23. Popular
24. Grand
25. Exotic
26. Delicious

Bringing the total to 12. 12 down, 14 to go! Of course, this list is pretty tentative, because I’m not happy with some of the photos—hopefully I will get the opportunity to take better ones.

Posted at 5:20 PM | (4)

People who know me well know that I tend to exaggerate a little at times. I also tend to rant about trivial events in my life. I think that most people just shrug it off and are either amused by it, or roll their eyes thinking, “Here we go again!”

However, I have been told by Steve that I am justified in my anger over the latest in “I hate my roommates” rants!

Someone/multiple someones has/have been eating my food—or at least some of it!

I went grocery shopping last Wednesday and bought, among other things, one of those little cartons of milk. Normally this is enough to last me until the expiration date—a few weeks or so. I used about 3 teaspoons of it on Wednesday or Thursday night to make some mashed potatoes. I then went home for 3 days and didn’t touch my food.

On Monday, when I prepared to make food, I noticed that the milk was missing. In just 4 days, someone DRANK ALL MY MILK!!!! And the Orange Juice that is normally laying down on MY shelf was now standing upright on a different shelf (which I don’t actually mind, because it expired two months ago and should’ve been thrown out. I hope they get sick off of it). And I’m pretty sure I’m missing several pieces of bread.

I suspect it’s the international students staying with us for the summer, as this hasn’t been a problem prior to their arrival. I am not sure if it’s a miscommunication on my landlady’s part, a language barrier, or if they just feel entitled to ALL the food in there.

Personally, I don’t think it’s fair. We were told upon moving in that we had our own shelves. I don’t eat other people’s food—in fact I wouldn’t even if I was allowed, since I am extremely picky and probably wouldn’t like their stuff anyway. I also assume that people won’t eat mine. The University does NOT pay well, and I really can’t afford to feed 3 other people—heck, I can barely afford to feed myself!

Various people have suggested various methods of revenge. I am VERY tempted. I also guess I’ll have to break down and ask my landlady what’s going on. I kinda hope she doesn’t know what’s going on, because otherwise it means she condones it.

It’s times like these I wish I could afford to live alone!

Posted at 8:50 AM | (4)

Well I am finally back from my weekend at home. The Sing-a-long was fun, in its slightly cheesy way—I think even my sister had fun. There were the usual people in costume, most people sang along. The place even seemed like it was sold out—or pretty darn close.

I was, however, put in a bad mood by the rudest group of people I’ve had sit behind me. First off, one of the guys, carrying a rather large picnic basket, managed to smack me in the head with it. Ok, that happens, but he didn’t even apologize or acknowledge that he hit anything! Grr!

Second, they took out multiple bottles of wine, and proceeded to spill them everywhere—including on one of their paper plates, which they then promptly dropped down into the aisle my family was in. They also dropped down some plastic wine glasses, some plastic cups, a bottle of something, and who knows what else.

During the movie they decided to talk a lot too—and then one of the women coughed like she had TB or something! Honestly, these people were definitely old enough to have known better!

Oh, and don’t even get me started on people who bring their newborn babies to events that last until 1:30am (the time we got home)!

I think within the last year or so, I’ve been home in Whittier more than my four years of college combined. I could be exaggerating (not that I have a habit of doing that or anything!), but I do know that it IS much more frequent.

I am home this weekend to attend the Sound of Music Sing-a-long again. You may recall that I attended this event for the first time two years ago.

We shall have to see if I have any star sightings this time around. It would SEEM unlikely, given that it is an odd sort of event, but you never know. It IS Hollywood!

Anyway, regarding the frequent trips home, I will also return next weekend for a week-long beach vacation, woohoo. Maybe I won’t look so ghost-like when I return. :)

OMG OMG, there is THE cutest puppy on campus. Yesterday I saw it with its owner by a tree. Today it was in the UCen. The puppy is a 3 week old Jack Russell Terrier mix and it is SOOO adorable—light gold-brown with white paws and a white tail.

I could watch that puppy all day—everything it was doing was sooooo cute—whether it was jumping around, drinking water from a plastic cup, or napping on the girl’s shoulder. Makes me want a puppy!!

I know I’m not the only one to have this opinion, as everyone who has seen this dog in my office has commented “Oh, I saw the cutest puppy today at lunch…” :)

Posted at 1:00 PM | (1)

I’ve tentatively taken pictures for 7 of the 26 Things in one day! Yesterday was a beautiful day, not to mention a holiday, so i took advantage and walked around downtown. Took pictures of some things, but only time will tell if they are the shots that end up making the cut for the themes.

Today is gloomy and misty though—hopefully it won’t last so that I’ll be able to take more sunny day shots. Only 25 days left!!

Posted at 9:07 AM | (2)

Don’t you hate it when you realize that it’s mid afternoon and you haven’t eaten yet??

Oops. I guess that would explain why I’m suddenly hungry, huh?

It’s been a year since Sh1ft.org had the first 26 Things contest.

In honor of the anniversary, Tracy is putting on the 3rd 26 Things Photo Scavenger Hunt!! Anyone out there who reads my site and has a camera should participate! It’s a little challenging to find pictures for all of the themes, but it’s fun. It’s also very cool when you know you’ve finished it.

You have the whole month of July to search for the perfect pictures to represent the items. Start snapping those pictures! :)

Posted at 8:23 AM | (5)