My parents’ dog, Solace.
My parents visited this week. It was the first time that I saw them since July.
We’ll be making up for lost time soon since we’re going to Minnesota in a couple of weeks
and then we’ll probably go home two weeks after that during Thanksgiving break.
Then, the semester is almost over.
Abed-nego has been really bummed about them leaving.
He whined for a while and then wouldn’t eat anything until about 8:30 pm.
He and Solace are bff.
Obama is coming to JMU on Tuesday, but I have night classes. Bah.
As a grad student, it would appear that I have a rather flexible schedule, but I actually have never been able to go to a rally because of school even though Obama has come within two hours of us many, many times. Arg.
I think we may take a hit–by that I mean a sleepless night–and go see The Mountain Goats in North Carolina next Wednesday. Surprisingly, the venue is only about two hours away. We shall seeee.
More puppy photos on flickr.
I had a dream last night that I was drafted to go fight in the Vietnam war.
I packed my bag with seven loaves of bread and a knife in preparation.
That was stupid plan.
p.s. I’m writing my Purgatorio paper on trees.
Come Friday, the semester will be two-thirds complete.
I registered for my last semester of graduate classes today. My last semester.
Thesis Research, Advanced Lit Crit, and Christian Authors (focusing on Flannery O’Connor).
I want to plan a big graduation adventure to celebrate. Most people are able to do this when they graduate from undergrad, so it would make sense to do it after grad school. However, this will probably have to wait until summer 2010–or later. This is the most sensible plan. I’m not looking forward to needing to work another retail job over the summer yet again until the transition to my career is settled. Bah. That is just life, though. Bills have to be paid.
Chris: That cardigan would look nice with a navy or black polo underneath.
me: I’m against polos.
Chris: Why?
me: They’re elitist.
The weather seems to have shifted again, perhaps permanently. I turned the heat on in my car for the first time of the season, bringing back that familiar smell. Autumn is so incredible in the mountains, but the changing of the leaves makes me sad at the same time–I hate seeing the trees so bare for so long. Abed-nego has returned to his shivering, so he is sweatered quite often now in response.
We went for a long walk at Blackwater Creek today totaling about five miles, I think. We started out at Hollins Mill, followed the creek, crossed the bridge, and looped around to Hollins Mill again. At one point, we were going to Blackwater Creek about three times a week, but life has become so busy that we really only go every couple of weeks. I’d like to change that. I guess there’s a lot of things I’d like to change.
I hate revising. Like, really really really hate it. It is hard not to look at something and say, “Well, that is good enough, isn’t it?” I’m done with it now, though. I sent my revised proposal off, and hopefully that will be the end of it all.
I wish I could just stay home and play video games all day. There isn’t anything particularly difficult about today–in fact, Mondays are the easiest. I’m just lazy.
Thesis proposal accepted with minor revisions. Glad that is over.
In preparation of my thesis proposal defense–which is tomorrow–I am trying to develop conclusive views on my critical approach. In this, I feel like I am studying myself in preparation for an oral test that will all be on my own writing. This seems odd, like coming to a new state of self-actualization. We’ll see how it goes…..
You have to be kidding me…. Someone made KungFuElection.com where you can choose either the Democratic or Republican presidential candidate, vice presidential candidate, or wife of the candidate. Of course, you then battle the opposing side. So, for all of you out there whose parents wouldn’t let you play Mortal Kombat as a kid, now you can get your kicks with this year’s election. That is ridiculous. But….. decently well-made…..?
I booked our flight to Minnesota for the MLA Conference next November. I’m excited, but also really, really nervous.
Back to writing on Dante and suicide.
Fall break 2007. Peaks of Otter.
I always love how clouds create the hugest shadows.
It doesn’t seem that long ago.
Our first fall break adventure is now complete. I finished up my Engl 101 class at Miller-Motte on Wednesday night, turned in the final grades yesterday, and got on the road as soon as we could. This time we hiked Cold Mountain, which is actually still part of the Mount Pleasant Scenic Area in Georgie’s Forest. “Scenic Area” sounds so lame, but Mt. Pleasant Loop and Cold Mountain are by far my two favorite places that I’ve been so far.
Cold Mountain begins on the Hotel Trail and then connects onto the AT. Shortly after beginning the hike, we found an apple tree.
“I hope this doesn’t end like Into the Wild.” It didn’t.
The area was almost completely empty since we went on a Thursday–lucky us. There are a couple of nice camping areas, one being by an AT shelter, but they are still quite a distance from the top. Once reaching the summit, we found an almost completely clear top, as expected. It seemed like a pasture of sorts almost with rolling hills. Absolutely beautiful–and extremely windy. We pulled on our hoodies and had our dinner.
Heading on, we set up camp under some trees, away from the freezing wind. It wasn’t necessarily an “official” site of sorts, but apparently someone else had been there before as we saw remains of a fire. Surprisingly, I really did not get too cold. Come morning, we packed up and headed home on the AT. The low clouds looked just like water; you could have almost thought it was the ocean.
We made a video out of a few clips using my old Canon Powershot. You can access it HERE, but I must warn the world that it is almost like a low quality, shakey Blair Witch Project remake.
More photos here!