The scribblings of David

Darn it George R.R. Martin, stop killing all these great characters.

...except Joffrey. You can kill him.

David
 

Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

...though, those rumors about my laziness in posting?  Yeah, those were pretty true.

:-)

Fun with bluebooks:
Accodring to my students this semester, the French perpetrated the Boston Massacre upon the English Bostonians during the Great War for Empire.  I laughed.  I cried.  I took off several points.

In other news, your friend David is still kicking.  He's been sick.  He's watched fellow grad students drop out of the program.  But he's also found a job for the summer and managed to keep his head.

Overall, things are okay.  Life continues to be interesting, but I've also managed to keep myself pointed in a direction I think is worthwhile.  I'm worried about my family, as it seems spread to the winds at times, but I do my best.

Been emailing poeple now and then with updates (slightly more regular than this.)  If you're interested, let me know.

David

Well, got the insurance stuff from the accident sorted; that's good.
Lexington-bound for the holiday, which is somewhat unfortunate, but I'm eating dinner with a friend out here I met at orientation, so that's not so bad.  
Still have a lot of work to do, for school and COG.  Did a little today, will try to do more after Thanksgiving. 

Went  and saw "Hitman" tonight.  I felt like watching a film, and that was the one that sort of caught my eye.  I watched a trailer, and it made it sound like he was trained by the Church or something....which is false.  

No spoilers, really, but basically he's a guy trained by some unmentioned organization to kill people.  He's bald and has a barcode on th eback of his head (real inconspicious, really).  

The movie was unexceptional, and made little sense.  For one, I never really had a clear idea of why he was "set up"  and why people were trying to kill him and the female lead.

But there was a lot of gunplay, which made people happy.  And they have $7.50.  I suppose I went and saw it because Timothy Olyphant is in it, Sheriff Bullock from Deadwood.  Eh.

Happy Thanksgiving. 

 Since I last posted:

1. Mom had a heart attack, I drove to Maryland.  Mom is OK - feeling much better and home after a minor surgery.
2. I got into a car accident and Mary Ellen (my car - yes I named my car) got some nasty damage.  No one was hurt.
3. I was adopted by a cat.  
4. I probably won't be going home for Thanksgiving due to said damaged car and expense of plane tickets this late in the game.
5. I bought most of Wylde Nepts music off Itunes, a Decemberists album, and Led Zepplin IV from the store.  
6. I gave a short presentation on the American Rev War to my professors Undergrad class - that was cool.
7.  I still have 65 or so pages of combined pages to write for papers due in early December.  

Which Epic Poet Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Dante Alighieri You are Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy. You chose to employ a very complex allegorical method to attack the political and religous shortcomings of your contemporaries, as well as to express wider spiritual truths. Your affection for Vergil led you to make him a central character in your epic. Dante Alighieri 70% Homer 65% P. Vergilius Maro 65% Torqauto Tasso 60% John Milton 40%

What's this, a post after less than a month? 

Well, my noble car has developed another problem.  My shifter is stuck in Park.  She starts up fine.... but you know, won't go anywhere.  This is a dificulty.  It means I'm not going up to Ohio tomorrow.  However, it also means I'll get grad school and COG work done, which is probably a good thing.  ...though I was sort of looking forward to going up there. 

Sort of tired this afternoon - I've been halfheartedly reading for class on Monday, and thinking about all the other things I should be reading for.  Ah, thought.

Fencing was good last night, though after reading some websites about "classical fencing" I think I'd like to find somewhere to do that.  Classical fencing is less point oriented, more form oriented.  They described themselves as oriented around the question of "What if the swords were sharp?" as opposed to "How can I get a point?"  That philosophy means that moves like the flick and the fleche aren't used because they'd be near-suicidal in a "real" bout.

Unfortunately the two places I found that do this in Kentucky are 2 hours away.  Alack and alas.

My knee and leg don't hurt as much now - which I'm a fan of.  In other news, I let my class out early today.  They had an exam yesterday, and I guess I didn't really have much planned.... in retrospect, I wish I had kept them there longer and planned something more tangible, but I'm not too torn up about it.  This is the first time I've done it, and I'll be a jerk and keep my Monday sections the whole time.  Heh.  

Ah well, back to work, or something.

 

In the swing of things down here.  Classes are going well enough... the fun thing with history courses is that you really only have a handful of assignments which are graded.  The last of which is usually the biggest and worth the most.  So until I finish those, I really can only guess.  But I am learning a lot.  

TAing is cool.  I'm enjoying it for the most part.  Sometimes its draining, but overall, its good.

Working part-time for me old job is going okay.  I've been doing a few  hours a week, and while its straining, it is welcome additional income, and I'm helping out, which is good.

Fencing - I'm back.  I'm slower, and my right knee is troublesome, but I'm landing touches and parryiing some, so that's good.  Leaning more towards epee these days.  I directed a foil bout last Tuesday though, which felt good.

Hoping to go up to Columbus this weekend for Hallowwen stuff.  Also, thinking I might try to get to a Decemberists Concert up  there in mid-Nov.  We'll see.  

-David 

Monday in class:

Prof: "I've always wondered how you pronounce "Giles."

David: "I think  its Giles, at least that's how it was on Buffy."

*Pause, everyone looks at David*

David: "....Yeah, I watched Buffy."

*unanimous laughter*

Heh.

 Well, again, its been a while.   Things are pretty good, I moved out here at the beginning of August.  I'm still doing some (very) part tiem work for Cog, but most of my time, as is probably obvious, is spent schoolin'.  Thanks very much to Jeremy, Allan, and Steph for their help in moving me out.  Jeremy who's basically making it tenable by taking care of thigns back home in Savage, Steph and Jeremy for helping me move out on my second trip after I wrenched my back, and Allan who helped me move on the big trip and was a steady and familiar presence out here for a few days.

Lexington is a cool town, and I'm enjoy it.  I haven't seen nearly as much of it as I'd like yet, but there ought to be time for that yet.  Grad school is interesting, and challenging.  The people have been really nice so far.  TAing has been a great experience thus far, and I'm hoping to do well enough to continue as that capacity.  

Almost two weeks ago, I pulled my back again (I did it a month ago, lifting a box full of books.  Big box. Heavy books - lifting with back bad).  This time, recently, it hurt a hell of a lot more than when I originally did it, and continued to for a while.  I got one of the people whose phone numbers I know out here to drive me to the local hospital and I spent basically half a day in ER waiting and getting looked at.  All in all the ER wasn't a bad experience, mostly because I wasn't in life threatening shape.  I don't like waiting, but I'd much rather have a baby with a fever, or an older person, or some kid with a bloody injury go ahead of me, who was dumb about lifting.  The docs and nurses were nice, and basically told me I pulled a muscle.

So by this time I can walk straight - really it only complains in the morning, when my muscles are "cold" I guess.  

Been doing a lot of reading - and that's not gonna stop in the near future.  Not much writing yet, but that will change soon.  I'm hoping to get exercising again soon, but that will happen when i feel I can do it without screwing up my back again.  I went to a week's worth of fencing here before having to stop - it was good.  Intense footwork drills, which were very tiring, but necesssary.  I'm itching to get back to it.  Along that line, I've been trying to be social - when there's a gathering or something, I've gone.  If I hear about any clubs that sound good, I might check 'em out.  

Its been great hearing from those of you I've been in touch with, and for those who I haven't been, I hope things are well with you.  

Just got back from seeing "3:10 to Yuma."  Very good film - great Western.  Wash is in it!  Crowe plays a good villian, and Christian Bale does a good job in the role he has.  

I'll admit that I mostly am switching to LJ because I think the icons are really cool.  :-)  I just spent the better part of an hour perusing Highlander icons.  

Serenity Special Edition comes out August 21.
http://www.serenitymovie.com/
If you haven't seen this movie, or Firefly - you need to.
If you have - see it anyway. Again. Because its Firefly.

I downloaded the opener for BSG season 3 off Itunes last night and watched it. Fantastic. That was awesome.

At work now, I need to finish some things up before Monday. Thinking of cooking some stuffing and ground turkey for dinner tonight. See, isn't this the excitement that is the interweb? You now know the fooding and entertaining I've done the last 24 hours? This, this is the modern age.

-David

So.... again, long time, no write.

Things are going pretty well. My life has been pretty busy - busier than I care for sometimes, but then again, if it weren't I'd probably complain about not being busy.

I'm finishing "full time work" at COG this Monday (woo hoo). Sometime within ten days later of that, I hope to have moved to Lexington for high adventure and history. Or, just history. American, that is. I've laid claim to a place not far from the school and begun preperations for the move.

Our annual hike on the C&O canal was great. We did 60+ miles, walking from Hancock, MD to Cumberland, MD. It took us five days, without any outside support. It was neat having more people this year - and especially since for some, it was their first experience camping seriously. And this was a heck of an introduction.

It has been a good summer, thus far.

Unclear on how to continue addressing the past few months. I may be moving exclusively here for writing online. If I do, I'll make notice and such. Today I was grabbing icons from the various communities on livejournal, and that prompted me to think I should write more, that I may display these neat icons.

Fair winds.

Well, the previously blank post was me trying to post my results from the "What superheroine would you date" quiz Jack posted. Apparently the coding I copied didn't jibe well with the lj. Oh well.

Last week I was sort of sick for a few days, but lo and behold, I have healed, through sheer will power and the passage of time. Saturday was good, I did a little carpentry at work making a surface for files and stuff to stand on, and then after that, Steph and I hung out for a while, and watched the Pursuit of Happyness, as well as talking and such, which was good.

Sunday I hiked with Dad for about 6 miles, carrying a pack (maybe about 1/2-3/4 of weight). It was good to get out in the fresh air. I fear I didn't drink enough though, because by the time evening rolled around, I had a headache and my skin was somewhat burned. Worth it though. I've also decided not to wear the shoes I did last year. They're too cramped. Went to Mass with Mom in the evening, which was important. Msgnr. Ariano presided, which was great, although sadly, he seems to be in ill health. He's in his 80s, and I've always loved his homilies, because he delivers them with passion and a very sly sense of humor. I hope things go well for him in the next few months, because he certainly has not decided to slow down, despite difficulty.

Also met with some old friends of mine from hs, which was neat. Jon, Billy, and Johnny.... so it looks like I'll roll them into the next D&D session. WHich will be...sometime...in the ...future. Maybe in two weeks. Keeping track of 3-6 people's sechdules is hard.

Waiting for a final letter from UKy now. Karl's advising me to plan my finances going into this, to see if I can live on the stipend, which is sage. I'm already pretty set on this though.

-David

Hello to all who read this,

Most of you from the Maryland or SMC crowd have heard this already, or if you look at that other place I write stuff.  But I figured I'd put it here to. Why not? 

I'm moving to Kentucky this summer.  Which, is big.  I don't think its really dawned on me yet.  I'm excited.  Not quite sure how most things will resolve around it.  I'm not just doing it on a whim - I'm going to go to grad school there, in Lexington, at UK.  Apparently they have a big sports program.  *shrugs*  I'm going to go for a masters in history, focusing on Early American.  What's more, I managed to snag a TAship, so that I'm not paying out of pocket for tuition, etc, which is pretty much why this isn't a post about "How I almost went to grad school."

Right now I'm typing this at work, I've got to write a report about a seach we did, and I'm stalling. I think, actually, I'm going to go home and finish it there.  This week has been horrible for me in terms of concentrating on stuff here. I get distracted, and just have this feeling of wanting to get up and move around.  THen I get home and I'm sort of let down like....why did I want to leave? 

Anyway.  Its a good thing.  Don't be afeared of losing touch with me.  Allan, I hear they have some bluegrass music over there, and so I'm going to look into this.  Perhaps root out some traditional folk....er....roots. 

Anyway, I hope everyone is well.

-David

Rules:
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense. NO CHEATING!
4. Tag 5 people. (well no one has yet... I'm not gonna start)
5. With the answers, give your own comments on how they relate to the questions.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?
"I'll fly away" - Alison Krauss
(Yeah, I was sorta thinking along these lines.)

HOW DO YOUR FRIENDS SEE YOU?
"Put Me Down" - the Cranberries
(It's true. I'm a huge downer.)

WILL YOU GET MARRIED?
"For the Love of a Princess" - Braveheart Soundtrack
(AWESOME.)

WHAT IS YOUR BEST FRIEND'S THEME SONG?
"Lamentation for the Fallen Heroes of Waterloo"
(Heh, yes, I can see this)

WHAT IS THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE?
"the Butcher's Speech" - Gangs of New York
"My Challenge - by the ancient laws of combat
We have met on this chosen ground to decide
for good and all - who holds sway over the five
points - us natives, born rightwise to this fine land -
or the foreign hordes - defiling it..."

(Whoa.)

WHAT WAS HIGH SCHOOL LIKE?
"The Hymns" - Gypsophilia with Voces Novae et Antiquae
(Well. I don't remember high school being either religious or Gypsy like. However, I am grateful I survived.)

HOW CAN YOU GET AHEAD IN LIFE?
"Turn Around" - Enigma
(Odd that I have to turn around in order to get ahead. Sounds like something Herne would say.)

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS?
"Amazing Grace" - Dropkick Murphys
(I like it. You're traditional with a kick. A dropkick.)

WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THIS WEEKEND?
"Strange Land" - Clannad
(This means either Robin Hood. Possibly a journey to an interesting yet mythic place.)

TO DESCRIBE YOUR GRANDPARENTS?
"Away Ryo" - The Pyrates Royale

"Away Ryo/Awaaaay Ryo/Its fare ye well my pretty young girls/We're bound for the Rio Grande"
(Well, as both sets of them are dead, I guess you could take this in a spiritual sense.)

HOW IS YOUR LIFE GOING?
"In the Jailhouse Now" - The Soggy Bottom Boys
(Figuratively? Maybe. Litterally? Thankfully not.)

WHAT SONG WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Tear Stained Letter" - Johnny (F'ing) Cash
(Somewhat appropriate. I'd be cool with it.)

HOW DOES THE WORLD SEE YOU?
"God and Man" - Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
(Hm....)

WILL YOU HAVE A HAPPY LIFE?
"Minstrel of MacDonald's" - Bonnie Rideout
(This is a very melancholy fiddle piece. It doesn't really bode happiness, but at least its tasteful.)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS REALLY THINK OF YOU?
"In Memory of Conor" - Highlander Endgame soundtrack
(This is in memory of Connor MacLeod, killed by his defacto brother, Duncan, in order to defeat Jacob Kell. I guess this means that you guys think of me as a quickening to take in case a more powerful immortal shows up. So be it.)

DO PEOPLE SECRETLY LUST AFTER YOU?
"Fetch Me Old Red Doublet" - Pyrates Royale
(Its about a pirate captain who wears red shirts and brown pants. ....I really don't know how to take it.)

HOW CAN I MAKE MYSELF HAPPY?
Il Gatto - Ennio Morricone (this is the guy who scored the Spaghetti Westerns)
(I guess I have to get a six shooter, a hat, and move to Italy, and be a zany side character.)

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE?
"Charge" - Splendid (From the Buffy soundtrack)
(I like where this is going.)

WILL YOU EVER HAVE CHILDREN?
"Opening Medley" - The Chieftains, 'An Irish Evening - Live'
(???)

WHAT SONG WOULD YOU STRIP TO?
"Berlioz" - Benvenuto Cellini
(This is a classical overture performed by a symphony......Its also 10m long.)

IF A MAN IN A VAN OFFERED YOU CANDY, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
"Li Novias tens" - Early Music Consort, "Music of the Crusades"
(I'd launch a crusade.)

WHAT DOES YOUR MOM THINK OF YOU?
"Setting the Stage" - the Baldur's Gate soundtrack
(I guess I did sort of, for Michelle. And the music is from a rpg game, so I guess I'm down with it.)


WHAT IS YOUR DEEP DARK SECRET?
"Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" - U2
(Ha ha ha.)

WHAT IS YOUR MORTAL ENEMY'S THEME SONG?
"Mist Covered Mountains of Home" - Pyrates Royale
(But this is a reflective song about returning home. I guess I'm fighing the hero. Which would make me....hm.)

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONALITY LIKE?
"I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" - The Soggy Bottom Boys (O Brother soundtrack)
(AH HA HA HA HA HA)

WHAT SONG WILL BE PLAYED AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Scotland the Brave" - James Horner, More Music from Braveheart
(That's pretty funny. But completely acceptable.)

WHAT BEST DESCRIBES THE ANSWERS IN THIS JOURNAL?
"Ja nus hons pris" - Early Music Consort, Music of the Crusades
(More melancholy medieval music. I'm that exciting really)

Christmas and New Years were busy and pleasant. The week after New Years wasn't bad either. Unfortunately, I have a metric tonne of work to do here at, well, work, and of course, under a deadline. The frustrating thing is that I'm having difficulty digging into it, to begin. Yesterday was pretty much a scratch, I got in today at 7:30, and I've managed to organize the claims of the patents into tables, so now I'm hoping I can do some focused searching, so that when my boss comes, I'll have something to show him for the time.

Wrote a personal statement for that last grad app last night. Yay.

Well, back to it.

Hey everyone,

A lot has happened in the last month and a half. For one, I've moved out of my dad's house, into a pretty shiny new place with my friend Jeremy. This is new, and somewhat exciting, and somewhat worrisome, but I'm sure this is all natural.

I've sent out grad school applications, and have one more to send out, and I think this last one might be a good one, so I'm sort of excited about that.

Work is going pretty well. We've been really busy, but that's better than not being.

My sister is going to Patagonia and the Easter Islands! Isn't that cool?! She'll be there for about two weeks over her winter break.

I'll hopefully be getting a computer and a connection to keep up with online folk sooner rather than later. (Bed or computer, hm?)

Take care,

David

Well, hey there. I haven't forgotten about this relatively new journal. I just tend to write in the other one more often.

Hallowe'en was pretty slow yesterday, sadly. I went to Hallowgreens on Saturday, which was neat. Steph, Clare, Amelia and Angie went as the Fanta girls. John H. was a Gonk droid, and John A. a Jawa. Bill had a nice Redcoat outfit with tricorne hat and badge of the Order of the Garter. I? I went as Capt. Mal Reynolds. But yeah. Yesterday, not so much with festivities.

I'm still working on grad school appls. We'll see if I get in to some of the programs. I'll hear from teh SMC MAT on Nov. 10. THen in December I submit for the history ones. In the meantime, I'm still working for a small company, doing research for patents.

Will post again later. This is just, like I said, sort of a "hey, I'm alive." thing.