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[Feb. 7th, 2010|11:23 am] |
Oatmeal + molasses + a little bit of sugar + raisins = good
Probably not precisely optimal levels of sugar (though undoubtedly superior to much of what I eat), but . . . holy shit, it's both easy and tasty. I don't even have the instant kind--but that just means it's five minutes of boiling and a few of sitting. Wow.
I made it Friday and was impressed with myself. I'm now going to make it again.
Mmm. |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 4th, 2010|02:01 pm] |
I have now got a washer and a dryer. In my house. That I don't have to put quarters into.
Dude, is that a frickin' score or what? Many, many thanks to Bill for going through the work and expense to make it happen for me. Yay! :D
Yeah, things are going quite well here today. Woot. :D |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 26th, 2010|03:01 pm] |
Today was a remarkably sociable day. I spoke to a couple of people I didn't even know for a while, and caught up with others I did for considerably longer. Got compliments on my makeup, so I'm gonna assume that's working for me, as well.
I dunno, maybe I'm seeming more approachable, maybe it's the first-day thing, but I just felt significantly less isolated than usual. 'Twas neat.
I think I'm going to hate my gym class, but fortunately, there's only three more classes until it's all self-directed (including when I choose to even go to the gym). And I think I can be significantly more pleased with that. I don't even get to go into the fitness room until then, though, which sucks; I was hoping to use that to fill in gaps between classes and such. Ah, well, it's only two weeks.
Today was my easy day, only gym and business law. Tomorrow, I have family law, civil litigation and procedures, legal research and writing, and constitutional law. Hopefully, that'll all be smooth.
I didn't get much sleep last night. Wasn't really expecting to. I was remarkably energetic 'til about . . . oh, half an hour ago, but it sort of evaporated. Oh, well.
Anyway, I guess I should go read my chapter. Bye. |
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[Jan. 22nd, 2010|01:36 am] |
I was having fun with the whole political discussions thing for a while. It was fun to pit wits, to pay attention, and to have something interesting to turn to in general.
But I think I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being called an idiot, I'm sick of thinking that other people are idiots, and I'm sick of thinking I'm a total creep for *still* hating someone for some particularly ignorant arguments they made half a year ago. (Not the dude who made me cry--it's hard to hold a grudge against an overblown caricature of ego. They're too funny.) It's lame.
Still got a horse in the game, and I'm still opinionated as fuck; I'll still enjoy reading what other people have to say. But . . . dude, this arguing on the internet thing? It got old. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 21st, 2010|12:06 am] |
Tried some fake nails. Don't really like them. I can still type more-or-less fine, and do most other things I need, but . . . I put too big of ones on my right hand, and even the ones that are the right size are too long. I really ought to have made sure I had a file first; I thought I'd just see how it all works out for putting on . . . but I didn't make sure I had nail polish remover first, either.
Agh.
Anyway, I'll fix it tomorrow; time for a bath now. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 15th, 2010|07:31 pm] |
I . . . just opened up the first file for my PowerPoint tutorial.
You know how I said I was having to do ugly stuff before? I apologize for that; I merely didn't have the proper context.
*gurgle* |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 15th, 2010|03:51 pm] |
So, it being the last day of the Access module and me having slacked off a bit, I've dedicated the entire day to doing Access work. However, being a slacker, I decided to waste an hour or two of this time making a neat little Excel chart showing my grades so far and how they compare to the rest of the class. In color and with charts and everything, since you just can't beat a bar chart for feeling superior to others. (And a pie chart to show the percentage of work I've completed versus not. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to extract a "number of fields with a number value vs. number of fields without a number value" from my tables, so I'm doing that manually atm.) Bill introduced the idea to me last night, but I figured I'd make one that looks nice rather than is just the raw data copied into Excel and fucked with.
I like this. I think I may want to set up charts for my classes next semester, as well, since it's really nice to have it all on the face and all. (Though I think I only get the class average for online classes, which I have none of next semester.)
Anyway, so far, my average (based only on things I've turned in so far) is 94.28, whereas the class' is 76.54. I'll have to wait until the Access tutorial closes to get good averages, as I have a sneaking suspicion that the report-generator counts assignments not turned in yet as 0 whether they're done or not, but I nonetheless have quite a lead on the competition.
Anyway, back to my real work that I'm being graded on. *sigh* |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 12th, 2010|09:12 pm] |
I've been invited to join Phi Theta Kappa and apply for my school's Honor Program.
Unfortunately, my school isn't actually giving me much information about my school's Honor Program. So I'll see if I can find out some information from my advisor's secretary tomorrow. It's so nice, incidentally, to have to get two professor recommendations when all of the professors are at home enjoying their winter break where I can't reach them . . .
Agh. Anyway. I'm tired and grumpy. So I think I'll go take a nap before doing more Access work.
Grumble. |
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| Waitwaitwait, WHAT? |
[Jan. 11th, 2010|11:10 pm] |
So, I'm starting my Access work for my Computer Applications class, and I came across this tidbit:
"Notice the Save button on the Quick Access Toolbar. Unlike the Save buttons in other Office programs, this Save button does not save the active document (database) to your disk. Instead, you use the Save button to save the design of an Access object, such as a table (as you saw earlier), or to save datasheet format changes, such as resizing columns. Access does not have a button or option you can use to save the active database. Similarly, you cannot use the Save As option on the Office menu to save the active database file with a new name, as you can with other Office programs.
"Access saves changes to the active database to your disk automatically when you change or add a record or close the database. If your database is stored on a removable medium, such as a USB drive, you should never remove the drive while the database file is open. If you do, Access will encounter problems when it tries to save the database, which might damage the database."
Can I count the ways this policy seems to be inviting disaster?
I've been discussing it with Bill, and it seems there are many known issues with this sort of setup. Very difficult to backup, and not remotely intuitive. [Thanks to Bill for correcting the "no way to backup" statement, there.] Easy for someone to accidentally lose or ruin a lot of data--and, without backups, such data would then be irretrievable. And if not being connected to the data source will damage the database--well, even aside from removing a USB, what if you're working on a database located on another computer, and the network you're connected to that computer through goes down? I'm not sure what goes wrong, or if it necessarily requires, say, twenty minutes merrily working while unaware that you're no long connected, but it seems that it would be vulnerable to the same issues as raised by removing a USB drive.
Several of these things are rather . . . well, fundamental to databases in general, right? You want backups of your important data, you don't want it to be easy to ruin it all by accident, and you generally do want the database located in one location where everyone can access it from . . . yes? Why would Access make it difficult?
Agh. Stupid.
But anyway, time to learn how to use it better. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 9th, 2010|01:34 am] |
Been sick. Think I'm mostly better. Lots of stuff to do now, some of which is very little work and serves only to benefit me (telling my sister about my computer), some of which is a little more work but still will only benefit me (every. dish. in the house. including party dishes), and a lot of stuff in between. Been putting it off far too long, but I've been sick for a bit.
Well, my course is going well, in any case. The Microsoft Word part just ended, though I had that done days ago; working through the Excel right now. Have been going very slowly because I've felt sick, but it's time to pick up again. It's really not hard work, and I'm still rather ahead of the game, as it were.
I really don't like this class very much, but boring is no excuse to not excel. So I'll just stick to it. It's only a little over a week left. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 5th, 2010|11:14 pm] |
This doesn't really feel like a class.
I'm taking Computer Applications online in the Winter Mini, and kinda chugging along, just . . . well, getting through it as quickly as doesn't actively irritate me, because the thought of being finished with class halfway through the actual runtime amuses me. (But not actually trying that hard, 'cause . . . well, why?) So far, I'm doing pretty well; got As on the quizzes I got to see the results of, the one essay that's been graded, and all of my Microsoft Word tutorial work. Which is all of it; I've moved onto Excel.
We've got four days each to pick up Word, Excel, and Access, then one day to do Powerpoint. I just finished the last stuff for Word earlier today, and am working on my second Excel tutorial. We've got from the 4th to the 16th. I don't think I'll have much trouble. I'm really glad I didn't decide to take this as a full-semester course, though.
The teacher'll answer your questions, but overall it's pretty much "Do what the book says." She's pretty vague when it comes to the stuff not in the books, like what she expects out of the essay questions. (Come on, at least format'd be nice . . .) I don't really mind, especially since I've been getting good grades, but it doesn't make the class feel any more classlike than it has to. I dunno, maybe I'm just not used to online classes. That's probably it.
Anyway, think I'll start on my next Excel tutorial. It's not like I've got nothing better to do, but certainly nothing easier or that gets quite as cleanly done.
EDIT: Oh, BTW, ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) pakgwei! I've been thinking of you a LOT through the Word tutorials, because . . . *whistle* Man, you won't BELIEVE the looks of the stuff I'm having to make for this. Don't have much room to complain 'cause it IS a Microsoft Office course, not an Adobe Creative Suite course, but . . . damn, man!
*sigh* Anyway, er, yeah. Figured I'd say. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 2nd, 2010|08:18 pm] |
With the Amazon card Dad got me, I got some Pixar movies, Ludwig von Mises' Human Action, and Ayn Rand's Anthem. I started reading the middle of these today. Holy crap, is that a lot of book for $25--it'll take me weeks to finish, especially considering how von Mises is a bit hard to read. But it'll be totally worth it.
Meanwhile, it turns out that all of the information I need for my Computer Applications (which starts Monday) course is already up . . . and seemingly has been for a month, possibly. Erk! Anyway, I figure I'll try to get as much coursework done before the semester actually starts, 'cause . . . well, the earlier to finish the class, the better, right? Right.
So far I'm just reading the boring stuff about what a computer is and how important they are to employers. But I've got Office 2007 installed, so it should be pretty easy to start on the Word tutorials whenever I get around to that.
It's good that I've got so much to occupy me, 'cause I seem to be a little sick. Not too bad in the way of stuffy-nose/cough, but my head has been full of fuzz and my limbs have been made out of lead. Walking helps, but it's cold, so I think sitting around and doing coursework suits me better for the moment.
Anyway, that's all. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 26th, 2009|04:33 pm] |
I made an ass of myself just now for taking a political blogpost at face value without looking up what they were talking about.
Here's the thing, dudes: Refusing to hear a case is not the same thing as affirming the judgment. Speaking as though they are the same damn thing is the height of dishonesty.
I shoulda known, too. They kept saying things like "one-line judgement" and never cited the name of the case. They also kept talking about the horrible precedent this sets, but . . . uh, I don't think the Supreme Court refusing to hear a case sets any precedent on that level at all. It merely doesn't overturn the precedent set by the US Circuit Court of Appeals.
I feel like a moron for swallowing it when I should have known better.
(PS, bloggers, here's a hint: When talking about a specific court case, a specific piece of legislation, or a specific any goddamn thing, PLEASE cite. Linking, even, is a good thing.) |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 25th, 2009|01:07 am] |
I hosted family Christmas [Eve] for the first time ever. It was successful and fun, though the fact that the baby was visiting rather than me visiting the baby meant the night had to end at about 8:00. (Still past her bedtime.) Went well--both my and Bill's parents came, and . . . oh, holy Hell was there a lot of food. We still have most of it, including the stuff we didn't make. I'm absolutely sure that Bill and I can't eat it all, but . . . well, we'll make quite a dent, and I figure I'll find a few people to give some cookies to. (Mom's cherry-chocolate fudge, incidentally, is to die for.)
Bill crashed at about 10.00, very early for him . . . I thought I was going to, as well, but then I couldn't get to sleep. Too much sugar/caffiene, I imagine. Shoulda had more beer when it was still around; we've got a bunch of liquor, but I don't really feel like drinking it.
Tomorrow we go to Bill's parents house for Christmas dinner; I think his mom's gonna make Seafood Neuberg, which is, near as I can figure, shrimp in a very, very cheesy white sauce over bread. Bill's friend David is coming over, too, I think--I get the impression he was kind of admitted to the family when he was a teenager, so it only makes sense.
Turns out my winter mini course requires a book that's $130. Used. Agh! And I can't find it anywhere on the internet, either . . . ugh. And that's disregarding the $100 software. (Which really isn't a big deal, as . . . well, Microsoft Office 2007 is probably a useful thing to have, regardless. Already calculated for that.) Didn't occur to me to think of that in advance 'cause, after all, it's just Computer Applications, right?
On the bright side, winter mini courses are all online (except sign language) . . . which means I can do the entire class without getting out of bed or putting on underwear. So that's something.
I hear Maryland has a new recreation tax, or something like that. Sucks to be you folks, don't it?
Anyway, I guess I should probably get back to trying to get to sleep. Merry Christmas, everyone, and a happy new year. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 23rd, 2009|03:15 pm] |
I think I slept on my left shoulder wrong; it's super-stiff and not responding well to my attempts to make it better. Ow. I've been doing that a lot this week, but not to this extent. Wonder if I should give up the cuddling for a few days and see what happens.
Looked around on the Four Freedoms a bit yesterday. Most of the results were strictly informative or on the subject of Norman Rockwell's paintings on the subject. (Or on the Rooseveldt Institute's Four Freedoms Foundation and Award, which I'm not quite sure what to count as.) Most everyone else was slavering over the idea. Well, except for a couple who thought it was a cheap way to get America into the idea of WWII. I do get the impression that we produced a shitload of arms that year, so I suppose I gotta hand it to him.
Still, I would have thought the insanity of "freedom from want" and "freedom from fear" was a little more obvious than that, as well as being a little more obviously inconsistent with any other definition of freedom. Sigh. Maybe the people talking about that hide under different search terms.
So much for it being "too cold to snow". Bill says that's why it hasn't been snowing for the last while--but now we're getting big, fat, fluffy flakes. They look nice, but they make me not want to go retrieve the trash and recycling bins from the walk. I was supposed to have had them up three hours ago, though, according to the county, so I'll do it anyway.
The thought of the get-together tomorrow has got me less excited and more petrified, now. The whole concept of "The house has got to look exactly as I want it to" kicking in. Also, that just shoving everything without a place into the bedroom won't work, since that's where the video game systems are (and I want, y'know, all freedom-from-boredom options to be open. ;) )
On the other hand, it's the fam. So I think they can live with some loose things on various surfaces.
Really, just a little straightening and a vaccuum over all the floors should get me to good. Nothing to worry about.
It occurs to me that I still haven't sent out Dad, Diana and Shannon's Christmas presents. I, er, guess that they won't be getting to them on time . . . er, I'll work on that for next year.
Anyway, I guess that's all. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|03:58 pm] |
Ginger refrigerator cookies are in the refrigerator, thanks to much help from Bill. (I was fine with most of it, but had some amount of difficulty constructing the cookie-roll. He made it perfect, tho.) Yay! Think I'll leave it in there 'til tomorrow, even though I could probably make them tonight. Still, much hope for it.
Dear God, is half a cup a lot of molasses. I had no idea. Glop, glop, glop . . . I should probably start buying it in gallons, in any case, 'cause a lot of the best cookies call for a lot of molasses. Mmm . . . I hate the smell, but once it's in cookies or cookie-dough, it's quite nice. Yes.
Anyway, I figure to make oatmeal raisin cookies later, and maybe some peanut butter blossoms. I'm going to have a gathering--I want a decent assortment of cookies, right? Should also see about appetizers. Meat and cheese and fruit and bread platters rarely go amiss, but I'll see if there's anything else I must have. Anyway, I don't really have very much fruit, so that's something to definitely fix.
Mostly, it's looking very much like cookies. But that's okay, because cookies are fun! :D |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|12:44 pm] |
Huh. I hadn't been familiar with FDR's "Four Freedoms" before. Now, I suppose, I've got a minor research topic for the day. Specifically, I wanna see if I can find an audio recording of the 1941 State of the Union, where it was mentioned. (I hear the rest of the speech is pretty much boring and irrelevant, having to do largely with issues of the day, but . . . well, hell, I like issues of the day.)
I suppose, in general, I could say that it's been a long time since I learned anything about FDR that didn't increase my distaste for him to some degree, and this isn't quite what you'd call an exception. ( Politics cut! Probably a bit disjointed, as these concepts are a bit new to me and a bit hard to swallow. )
Ugh. Well, anyway, if anyone can recommend me any books on the subject--I have a library card! :D--or find me an audio recording on the State of the Union speech of 1941, it'd make me really happy. :) (Don't go out of your way, of course--it's my research project, and it makes no sense for you to put yourself out so I don't have to.) Thanks, guys!
Now, I've got a gathering in . . . oh, about three days. So I'd best start cleaning house.
Bye! |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 16th, 2009|01:28 pm] |
A in Business Law confirmed today (if already assumed beforehand). A+, even. I seem to have gotten 100% in each of the four tests (75%) and 95% for participation (25%) for a total of 99%.
I am going to be absolutely insufferable today. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 13th, 2009|02:13 am] |
Dude. Best Christmas gift ever.
Bill bought me a gun!
(Yes, yes, it's pre-Christmas and sort of ruins the surprise. But on the other hand, I believe it's a major federal offense to buy a gun for someone else; I had to be there to fill out the paperwork.)
It's kinda awesome. I have trouble when using his guns a lot of the time--they're designed for someone with longer arms and more eye-relief than suits me well, and they're also heavier than I really like. This one was bought with me specifically in mind--I tried it out for weight and length in the store, and was pretty pleased. (Bill had to adjust the eye relief WAY back for me, but I think that's pretty standard.)
It's also pretty awesome 'cause it's, well, not really one gun. It has three barrels which I can switch out as I like, so I can have a rifle, a shotgun, or a .22 as I need. (Bill thinks that it won't be much fun as a .22 'cause it's a break-action, but on the other hand, I think I can still have fun one shot at a time.)
The rifle is heavier than the shotgun, but I figure I can get used to that. :D I really look forward to trying all three modes out.
In other news, I got most of my Christmas shopping done. Yay! I would have done more, but by the time I got around to non-gun stuff, well, most of everything except Wal*Mart was closed. But that's okay, there's still some time to go.
(I'll see if I can finish up Shannon and Diana pretty soon--don't want to leave too much of the shipping to chance. And like every other year, sorry non-family, but I'm keeping my gifting-list pretty tight this year. But on the other hand, I can probably spare a few gingerbread cookies for anyone who cares to drop by/send a letter. I got lotsa extra molasses for the occasion.) |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 11th, 2009|03:29 pm] |
I'm also exempted from my Intro final. And I think I did pretty well on my Business Law final, so I'd be surprised if I didn't have that 4.0.
Also, my English professor is using my essay on "To His Coy Mistress" as an example for future classes. I always love it when that happens!
So . . . yeah, I'm done. Finito. Finished. Dude.
^_^ |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 11th, 2009|02:06 am] |
(I feel bad about hotlinking, but on the other hand, the author includes the image link below every comic (labelled "for hotlinking/embedding".) So I figure . . . he'd, er, probably be okay with it.) |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 10th, 2009|10:35 am] |
Yay!
Good news from today:
I exempted myself from the Real Estate Law final, and am receiving an A for the course.
I'm seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Sunday, and found a friend really excited to fill the extra seat.
They've got some pretty neat Hersheys Ice Cream stuffs at the college--I'm eating this Orange Blossom Swirl (orange sorbet+vanilla ice cream) that's just perfectly hitting the spot.
And I no longer step out onto the curb at college than a taxicab comes up.
Yes, today has been a good day.
In not-so-good news:
Bill seems to be sick
I think I've borked my computer somehow
But I'm pretty sure the former will go away, and we'll figure out how to fix the latter. So it's not that bad.
Still, I hope Bill gets better soon. :) |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 9th, 2009|01:51 pm] |
Just did my Intro to Law last test--if I get a decent grade on it, and I've interpreted my previous grades correctly, I'm pretty likely to be exempt from the final.
My Real Estate Law test was yesterday, but it's take-home, so I turn it in tomorrow. I think that will run similarly, though I'm still checking my answers. (I finished the test in-class, but have so far neglected the checking . . . mostly due to studying for Intro and writing for English.)
I've finished all of my assignments for English except for the "final letter" to the professor, which isn't technically worth a grade but will drop my grade a letter if I don't do it. He's already expressed that "Dear Professor Powers, I think it really stinks that I lose a letter grade if I don't turn this in" is technically acceptable, so I'm not too worried. Though I'll of course try to do better than that. (I'll also polish up one of my poems and turn it in for the class book.)
My Business Law class is weird. We have the "final" on Friday, and then come in on our "final exam" day to figure out what we got. Except rather than being cumulative, this "final" is only for the last three chapters. But is still totally a final. Weird. Anyway, I'm hoping I can swing a 100 on that, 'cause I've gotten 100s for all of the other tests (thank goodness for extra credit!), and it'd make me happy inside.
So, yeah. I'm pretty swell. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 9th, 2009|09:02 am] |
School opening is delayed until 10:00. Which is cool. Truly.
Except that I spent half the evening last night (well, okay, exaggeration) getting my To His Coy Mistress paper all compiled and stuff. Argh.
Well, I'll hand it into him somehow, even if I gotta put it in his mailbox. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 7th, 2009|02:40 pm] |
Note to self: Muffins take a long time to make. If there are to be muffins, one must not snooze.
That said, I made donut muffins today, and they turned out pretty dang good. Even better, they consist entirely of ingredients I generally have on-hand.
(Note to self: Buy more shortening soon-ish. Not running out, but running low.)
I have trouble getting the topping to be even, and the muffins really needed a tall glass of milk (if I use more shortening next time, will they be less dry? More milk?) but beyond that, delish. :) |
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