Another very good, very neglected series

Redwall Series by Brian Jacques

Chronological Order:
Lord Brocktree
Martin the Warrior*
Mossflower*
The Legend of Luke
Outcast of Redwall
Mariel of Redwall*
The Bellmaker
Salamandastron*
Redwall*
Mattimeo
The Pearls of Lutra*
The Long Patrol*
Marlfox
The Taggerung
Triss
Loamhedge
Rakkety Tam
High Rhulain
Eulalia

*Have them/have read them.

Life update

Apartment kicks some serious booty. Had a wonderful time last night - made DINNER in the KITCHEN while jared was making HIS OWN! at the SAME TIME!

Annie's mac and cheese - using soy milk and no butter, mixing the cheddar and alfredo+broccoli cheeses

Salad - green lettuce, italian dressing "con limone" (boy was it sour!), and kalamata olives for me

Water and OJ

Apparently my water boiler is already a hit and will be used mightily. It'll make up for it sitting by itself all summer. Only problem: in the market around the corner, there is no Tetley, only English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast and some other imposter black teas. What is this shenanigans. Where is my Tetley.

I'll have to search elsewhere for it, lest I perish of my teeth getting too white.

Also, no curtains up yet and Adam doesn't know if he wants them at all. The room looks good with just blinds - well, whaddya know. I like it because there is light in the morning, which allows you to wake up at the right time and not feel like a zombie.

We're going to see about a couch tonight - brown leather, 3-cushioned, 2-recliners for $775 because it's "new" and a steal for those stats. Ikea, the cheaper-ish furniture store, has leather couches with ONE recliner (not two) for $1,299. We'll see about that.

Spotty internet, I think we're stealing it from the wireless on the roofdeck. Go us.

No cable yet - the man from RCN is coming on Wednesday between 5-8 and there needs to be an adult over 18 to authorize him to flip a switch in the cable box down the hall. Why don't we just do this ourselves? It's unlocked. Adam checked.

Same thing with legitimate internet, it's going to come through the same box. 2-3x faster than DSL for $18/month, etc.

Figuring out the bus was fun. I now officially take the M15 to East Harlem (limited or local) up First Avenue, through East Chinatown, and stop a few blocks past the hospital at 34th street. It's about a 35 minute bus ride, which is relatively long but it beats getting all sweaty walking to work. I can read or listen to music. Plus no one is on it at the Seaport stop, so I get my choice of seats. I'm going to gallivant out to Second Avenue after work and find the M15 to South Ferry so I can get back home. I re-checked this with a co-worker who takes it. It would be no good to take the subway (way too hot) or cab (???$$$) or walk (o.O).

Did I mention how much this entire experience is reminding me of Germany? It's absolutely ridiculous. Everywhere I turn, there's a major glitch in the Matrix and I'm left blinking at the deja vu. The way the apartment is set up, white walls, wood floor, view of the city, the blinds on the windows... taking the city bus (which I've only ever ever done in Germany going with Maike to school), and all other manner of things.

Tea. Now. I'm off.

big swing in opinion, then back again

1) Cat lady didn't talk about her cats today.
2) The Pope called about the miracle.
3) Had a "performance review" with the boss. He said he was overall satisfied, but that I hadn't "done things still that he had asked me before." Now I know that "maybe" and "if you want to" really mean "do it now." As much as it's my fault for not being proactive about those things, I think it's a teeeeeny bit his fault for not being clearer. Whatever. Also, he said that "I have told you specifically multiple times to not do any work for anyone else, why do you keep doing so?" wtf?? Work? That, to me, does not include bringing up a piece of paper for someone who sits right next to me when the receptionist asks me politely since I'm going upstairs anyway. THAT IS NOT WORK. I see his point, but I was so confused and kind of pissed off, since I really see that as being polite and not wasting my paid time. I've noticed a couple of times when he has been rather unpolite and aggressive when people innocently ask about certain things. It's unnerving. That day, obviously I was a little upset and kind of disenchanted - which was then followed by an atrocious day where we lost 3 test cells (the 4th is considered lost today, so a ton of paperwork and planning and money goes out the window). And I say "we" meaning I lost one at first, and then he lost 2, thank the lord - so apparently it wasn't my fault, they were just frozen wrong. Today was better, I was super busy and did some things well, so I think I'm getting back into the swing of things.
4) My dad recently said I should get a hobby. I've realized since then that instead of not having a hobby, which I previously thought, I definitely do. BOOKS. READING. GGNNNAAHRHRH. I just found out that there's a Border's 6 blocks away from me.... probably not a good discovery. I think I'm going to shift my money-spending habits from clothes I don't need to books I don't need. Yay!
4a) Just bought 4 Tamora Pierce books. I don't know why I'm still writing.... laters, y'all.

prejudices

Everyone at work is very nice and have given me no reason to be bothered by them - except one teensy weensy little thing that one person does. She constantly talks about her cats. All the time. Me, Lucy and someone I'd just met (Susan?) were all having a nice conversation about yoga and tai chi and how to find cheap classes, etc. when this woman sat down. She didn't really say anything (not being the yoga type), and we started talking about Lucy's blueberry and peach pie she was eating. I said something about strawberry rhubarb pie, and within literally 1 second of the end of one of my sentences, the woman announced that she picked up her cat from the vet yesterday.
I know more about this lady's cats than anyone else in the entire office. One of them, her daughter's cat, had a tumor "the size of a cantaloupe" on it's right side, just behind the ribcage. She couldn't stand up properly, was attacking people when touched and she was taken to be euthanized. "It was terrible!!!!" [insert a full 15 minute diatribe about how horrible putting down pets is - as if no one else in the entire lunch room had ever done it.] Everyone else is pulling their faces with sympathy and looking at her quietly as she goes on this tirade. Personally, I think if the poor cat had a tumor the size of its body, couldnt stand up and was going through obviously drug-induced paranoia fits and biting people, it was MERCY to put her down. I tried saying this and got a dirty look from her. Good thing I didn't say that I think all cats should be put down. Stupid things, making me sneeze.
This was 2 weeks ago. Every day since has been an update on her damn cats. Today's was on the sympathy card that the vet gave her in their "care bundle" after her cat died. "I read it and burst out in tears. Then my daughter read it, and she says, oohhh! and bursts out into tears. It was so wonderful and beautiful - all about how she is forever young and in the most wonderous place and happy, and how she's waiting for me, and when it's my turn she'll reach out with her paw to hold onto my hand and guide me to the place where I'll stay with her forever -"
I couldn't take any more and left. It was insanely ridiculous. I can see how you would feel something like that after your pet died, but it's been SO long and I really hope that no one cares enough to ask her about it again. In fact, I know that she brings it up herself every time and no one actually asks her.
Grawwwll!!

The reason this post is named "prejudice" is because this woman is from Staten Island. Imagine now everything I've quoted in an atrocious accent.
*shiver*

another day, another DNAse reaction...

Watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" yesterday, for lack of anything else to do. I didn't really have any desire to watch it, there just wasn't anything on tv, etc. etc. Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johannson - basically just a real big bitch fight, although Scarlett isn't really that bitchy but just as pathetic because she is all caring and hurt and forgiving. Essentially, sucks to be them. Natalie did a good job and I really didn't feel sorry for her at all, even when she got her head chopped off. Anyway, depressing, but still a good movie if you're into English history, adultery, incest and Victorian fashions.
I did learn one thing though - Anne Boleyn's daughter with Henry VIII = Queen Elizabeth? Hm!
Shut up, I'm no good at history.

I looked on my iGoogle page and saw, under "Today in History":
"Dog days" begin, heralded by the appearance at sunrise of Sirius, the Dog Star"
Sneaky, sneaky J. K. Rowling. I had to shake my head at this one.

I'm excited about this weekend - I'm about 5 hours away from 3 days off, 4th of July celebrations and seeing family again on Sunday. There have been a bunch of somewhat hilarious emails going back and forth between me, Stacey, Jessie, Jared and Adam, all considering what we should do and where to hang out. I think the concensus is now Charles Schurz park, after a little hiccup when Jared asked if we could bring drinks in there and they said no. Oh well, there's bars around and we can always "pregame for the fireworks"... good god, that just sounds super lame. But, as we all know, everyone's gonna do it so whatever.
Going back home on Sunday, see the rents and the little bro. I asked my dad if he could pick me up Sunday morning from the train station, unless he had anything else to do, and he said he couldn't because he had scheduled the rearrangment of his sock drawer for that time. Love it.

Mark's endoscopy is today. He's had this really odd eating problem for the past couple years - whenever he eats red meat or similar objects (I'm not really sure exactly), he has a lot of trouble swallowing/moving it down his esophagus. Drinking water doesn't help, eating slower doesn't help. So he went to the doctor who referred him to a gastroenterologist, who made him drink like 5 liters of really thick radioactive gunk so they could see how his throat was handling it. Apparently his esophagus did not go through peristalsis when he was lying down, so that = weak peristaltic muscles?
He's at the hospital right now getting a tube shoved down his throat with a camera at the end so they can see what's up. Hope he's doing okay...

self-indulgent books still to read!

Tamora Pierce, I haven't had enough of you yet! (Despite reading the 4 Alanna books, 4 Daine books, 2 Aly books, 8 Circle books and I think the 4 Kel books... 22 in all!)
I still have:
The first in The Provost's Dog Trilogy, "Terrier: The Legend of Beka Cooper"
Plain Magic
Testing
Elder Brother
Student of Ostriches
Huntress
Hidden Girl

Her future stuff:
Melting Stones, an audio book - October 1, 2008
untitled Circle Universe book with Rosethorn, Briar and Evvy going to Yanjing - 2008
Bloodhound and Elkhound, II and III of Provost's Dog - both 2009
untitled Circle Universe, with Trisana going to Lightsbridge - 2010
Numair: The Early Years - conflict with Ozorne - 2010
untitled Tortall Universe, coming of age of Maura of Dunlath - 2012

Even though Twilight was SO SO SO good, it disturbed me somehow and I don't want to read the other ones. It was too good, I think. Too insightful, too perfect, too... well, I just got too involved, perhaps, and don't want to be sucked away like that ever again. I got an Amazon recommendation for one of the ones later in the series and I just felt this weird drop in my stomach and I got away from that page asap.

Anyone know of authors I might like? Anyone?

Confusing people

Someone at work keeps thanking me at inappropriate times. For example, I'll say, "Oh, the painters came in over the weekend." And she'll say, "Thanks."
What? I didn't come in and paint. They did. I didn't do anything!
Or I'll say, as a part of normal conversation and not meaning to be informant, "The CO2 tank started beeping last week! I didn't know what to do!" *laugh laugh*
And she'll say, "Thanks."
??? I can see how you might think that the "thanks" = for telling her this stuff, but it was completely meant to be conversation and that's it. It's unnerving. I don't know what to say.

Few days later...

She's getting nicer and is practicing more socially acceptable forms of communication, so it's better. Phew.

I don't write a lot because I have no more angst...

Things are going so well recently that I really have nothing to complain about, reflect on (negatively) or pout at. Usually negative feelings are a lot easier to write about, since writing purges some, if not all, of the negative feelings. Only positives, here, though!

Job:
Going as well as I could have hoped. Hansis, my PI (principal investigator, for all you non-lab types) is the type of person no one could ever feel intimidated by, which is good because I can be easily intimidated. And I don't mean this in a bad way. He is goofy and smart and laughs at my jokes, which makes sitting in a little room by myself all day much more pleasant. His boss, on the other hand, is the intimidating type - the type who doesn't look at you even when they're (rarely) talking to you, who has a very cold demeanor and just is very business-like and not fun to talk to. I'm glad I'm not working with him.
I do experiments all day long, take care of the cell cultures, run PCRs and gels. It sounds like it would get boring, but it really hasn't so far because the results are always different and you always can learn something from it. A clinical lab would be much more boring because it is actually the same thing over and over - say, if you're testing for a certain rare disease marker, something like 95-99% of your samples are going to spit back negative results. THAT is boring.
The people are all nice, although mostly much older than me, which makes for sort of an age gap. There are some funny andrology lab girls, but when I say "girls", some of them are married and the youngest is most definitely at least 5 years older than me. Is it weird to want to eat lunch by myself reading a book rather than sit in the lounge and kind of stare/awkwardly talk with people who are all friends with each other already? I guess that's new kid syndrome. I don't know, never had it.

Living:
It's working out better than I could have hoped! Definitely not getting sick of Adam all the time, and it's pretty much a perfect balance of me and him time. We make food when we want (kielbasa, scalloped potatoes and salad last night), we go out when we want (Subway in Madison Park for lunch), and we run errands when we can (Bed, Bath & Beyond for laundry detergent, a knife sharpener, shampoo, toothbrush and tylenol). We're capable of doing separate things, but don't mind if the other person is there. We hang out all weekend long, and if he gets back early or late during the week doesn't matter - although we'd both rather he get back early. Jared is funny, glad he's around, and Miles is nonexistant and will be even more nonexistant now that he's done with his job and is going on vacation to the buttcrack of Eastern Europe - somewhere crazy like kosovo - so it doesn't really matter. It's been a whole month already (wow!) and it's going so good that I have no qualms about moving to the new apartment we just signed the lease for down by South Street Seaport. I'm so excited!

School:
Going to the orientation two Fridays from now. We get our registration code and some other things that they are being vague about. I hope that for now, at least, I can just take the one required class so I can sort of ease into it and not have to pay that much - after 6 months NYU will pay full tuition for me. I need to balance the timing, too. The first two required classes are Tuesday, Thursday from 4:55-7:35pm, so it looks like that should be fine. I hope other classes don't interfere with my work schedule too much...!

Step-Up Women's Network:
Stacey got me to sign up for the Open House for this club/networking organization for professional women. She said it's really fun, lots of volunteer opportunities, networking and good freebies. I've always ended up liking volunteering and clubs and things like that, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Downside: you have to pay to become a member - the first rung is $50, and it gets more expensive from then on. I don't even know if I need to do this, because it's mostly for people who are sort of lost in their career paths and need mentoring to try to figure out/find out when they want to do and where they want to go in their lives. I'm kind of set regarding that right now, so we'll see if this can offer anything else. Also, not completely sure I want to volunteer tutoring people stuff... that's my white suburbia self talking, but if I'm not too put off by this open house I'll do my best to see if it's worth it. Again, have to make sure to balance this, school and work - the latter two are definitely more important and I can't risk jeopardizing either of them for this.

Update:
Went to the Step Up Open House thing, and even though it looks really cool - in a crazy volunteer, scary mentoring kind of way - it's $50/year minimum and even though spread out that's only $4/month, I would much rather spend that on, say, a textbook that I will need anyway. Especially since I'm only really interested in the Health+Fitness programs, things like rockclimbing and yoga and self-defense workshops, so I probably wouldn't be involved in the other stuff as much. And... shh, I'm not good with kids... at all. Which is basically what this entire thing is about anyway. Get a little middle school girlie and teach them stuff, go with them to workshops and be a role model. Me? A role model? HA! I just wouldn't know what to say. Plus the fact that NO ONE in the room at the Open House was younger than 27, most were in their early 30s and at least some had gray hair. Weird! I want to be in a club with... *gulp*... less diversity? Age-wise, I mean. I still feel threatened when there are a lot of older people, because then I feel like a little child and it's not fun.
Whatever, I went, and it's over, and if I do end up doing it, it won't be for a while at least.
I'll look for college clubs at NYU. I'll get my volunteer fix in doing that!

such good quotes today...

"When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half."
Gracie Allen

"My work is a game, a very serious game."
MC Escher

"The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius."
Oscar Wilde

surveys??

Name: Christine
Gender: Female
1. When showering, do you start the water and then get in or get in and start the water?:
start the water, then get in - because water at home takes 5 mins to heat up and i can't help it now
2. Do you read the labels on the shampoo bottle?:
not really, no
3. Do you moan in the shower like the people on the herbal essence?:
creep.
4. Have you ever been forced to shower with one of your siblings?:
doesn't everyone when they're little? it's all about efficiency.
5. Have you ever brushed your teeth in the shower?:
never, that's weird
7. How old do you look?:
i always looked older when i was younger because i was tall, but recently someone asked me if i was 18 yet... and i'm 22
8. How old do you act?:
depends. i can act 25, but sometimes act 12
9. What’s the last song you heard/sang?:
beethoven's 9th symphony
10. Have you recently become a member of anything?:
maybe one of women's step up network... that's next monday
11. What are your plans for the weekend?:
first weekend where we aren't walking our feet off around manahattan looking at apartments
12. What is your mood at the moment?:
angry at "christopher rice" who is in a housing lawsuit and somehow got his shit onto my credit report
13. Have you ever ridden a mechanical bull?:
no
14. Do you ever intentionally vomit after drinking?:
only to avoid it later
15. If you were working on a pirate ship, what would you most likely be?:
the crow's nest guy - not afraid of heights
16. Have you ever called anyone a slut?:
not out loud
17. Has anyone ever called you a slut?:
only in jest... sort of
18. Have you ever smuggled something into Canada?:
never been, but that will change in august!
19. Does playing a guitar make someone more attractive?:
not really, no. it's devolved into this kind of retarded frat boy thing.
20. Do you live in a city with a good sports team?:
boston or new york, you pick it. unless you mean the mets, and then no. :(
21. Have you ever finished off the popcorn?:
all the time
23. Who’s your favorite superhero?:
Human Torch
24. Do you have more enemies or more friends?:
friends, i try to be open and nice
25. Have you ever sent an anonymous letter?:
no, i signed my name and got some credit
26. Can you fix your own car?:
not off the top of my head, but i am probably more than capable
27. Are you smarter than your friends?:
no, but i can do things they cant - i still can rattle off the 12 cranial nerves
28. Have you ever stolen anything from your friends?:
not on purpose - more of a "whoops, i still have that??" thing
29. Have you ever been to jail?:
no
30. Last thing you bought over 50 dollars?:
perscription meds... damn you insurance
31. Do you like the smell of beer?:
if it's wheat beer, yes
32. Have you ever died or killed someone in a dream?:
no, my dreams are more weird instead of violent
33. Who did you steal this from, and who is most likely to steal it from you?
jimmy, and no one
34. Would you kill a dog for $1000?
never
35. Do you live with your parents?:
yes, but that's going to change in about 25 days
36. Do you have plans for your future?:
already doin it
YOU ARE:
[ ] 5’4’’ or under
[ ]5’5’’-5’6’’
[] 5’7’’-5’8’’
[X ] 5’9’’-5’10’’
[ ] 5’11’’-6’
[ ] Tall (6’1’’ and up)

HAIR:
[ ] Blonde
[ ] Red
[X] Brown
[ ] Dark brown
[] Black
[ ] Light brown/dirty blonde

EYES:
[ ] Blue-eyed
[] Brown-eyed
[ ] Black-eyed
[X] Green-eyed
[ ] Hazel-eyed
[ ] Gold/gray-eyed
[ ] Silver/gray- eyed
[ ] Blue/green-eyed
[ ] Blue/gray-eyed
[ ] Green/gray-eyed

[ ] Glasses
[ ] Contacts
[ ] Neither
[X] Both

[] Medium hair
[X] Long hair
[ ] Short hair spikes!

Your personality is sometimes ..
[X] Talkative
[X] Shy
[X] Funny
[ ] Serious
[X] Laid back
[ ] Strict
[ ] Hyper
[X] Sarcastic
[ ] High Strung
[ ] I have multiple personalities

Your confessions:
[ ] I’m afraid of silence
[X] I’m really ticklish
[X] I’m afraid of the dark
[ ] I’ve collected comic books
[ ] I sometimes shut out others
[ ] I open up to others TOO easily
[ ] I read the newspaper
[X] I love Disney movies
[ ] I am a sucker for gorgeous eyes
[X] I am a sucker for gorgeous smile
[ ] I am just a sucker
[ ] I don’t kill bugs
[ ] I have “x”s in my screen name
[ ] I bake well
[ ] I have worn pajamas to class
[ ] I love Martha Stewart
[X] I love to laugh
[ ] I can’t swallow pills without water
[ ] I bite my nails
[X] I have gotten lost in the city
[ ] I have gone out in public in my pajamas
[X] I made out in an elevator
[ ] I have been skydiving
[ ] I have been bungee jumping
[X] I have bitten someone
[ ] I have egged or rolled a house/car/telephone booth with toilet paper.
[ ] I have been fired

Have you ever…
[X] Seen a shooting star
[ ] Joke proposed to anyone
[ ] Gotten stitches
[X] Eaten sushi
[X] Gotten the chicken pox
[X] Ridden in a taxi
[ ] Been on a cruise ship
[X] Driven over 400 miles in one day
[X] Been on a plane by yourself
[X] Had surgery
[ ] Seen a movie 3 times or more in the theater
[X] Been on stage
[ ] Gotten a black eye
[ ] Memorized all the dialogue in a movie
[X] Watched an entire baseball game

Do you like…
[ ] Old movies
[X] Musicals
[X] Blasting music in your car/or someone else’s
[X] Foreign foods
[ ] Pokemon
[X] Christmas time
[X] Animals
[X] Coffee
[X] Tea
[X] Summer
[X] Winter
———-
More questions…
1. Two names you go by:
Rice, Tink
2. Two things you are wearing right now:
khaki pants, grey sweater
3. Two places you want to go on vacation:
Spain, Greece
4. Two favorite animals?:
dogs, chipmunks
5. Two reasons you’re doing this survey:
no one's here to catch me
6. Spell your name without vowels:
Chrstn Lzbth Rc
7. How many pairs of jeans do you own?:
only one that works well, but like 20 if you count the old/not fitting ones
8. What color(s) do you wear most often?:
blue, green, brown
9. Last song heard on the radio?:
probably some classic rock
10. Are you missing someone right now?:
no, i'm pretty good - i'll see him tonight!
11. Are you happy with your life right now?:
yes, extremely
12. Do you shop at stores like Hollister and Abercrombie?:
i have, but no
13. How do you make money?:
get paid by new york state - and then give most of it back
14. Last thing you bought?:
apples
15. How’s the weather?:
humid and hot
16. When do you start summer break?:
a while ago
17. Favorite brand of shoes?:
saucony? adidas?
18. Do you own big sunglasses?:
only aves
19. What should you be doing right now?
changing the medium for the stem cells
20. How many beds did you lay in yesterday?:
1, and it wasnt mine
21. Name one thing that you do everyday?:
smile
22. What’s the color of your bedroom walls?:
white
23. What’s your favorite sport to play?:
soccer
24. When was the last time you saw your dad?:
two days ago
25. What did you have for dinner last night?:
homemade pizza
26. What is your fav. Starbucks?
chai, cinnamon latte
27. Recent time you were really upset?
it's been a while
28. Best things in your life right now are?:
him, job