Here ya go.  Something different.  Something that's me as of right now.  I don't care if you like it or not.

Things here are still a little tipsy.  After a shake-up like that it takes me a little while to find my way around again.  I am still having very "lost" moments.  Self reflection in the light of drama isn't always a good thing.

On the upside, someone I consider one of my very bestest friends on the face of the planet is making a trip out here next month.  I can hardly wait.  I need mindless fun & I know that we will be more than capable of having it.

I am attempting to plan a trip to NYC for the spring.  OH has other ideas & has told me that I am not going.  I thought I left the person posing as my father in Texas.  Sounds to me like someone is in for a rude awakening.  Yep.

I don't know how reliable any of these statistics are, but it makes you think.

For the next little while there will be nothing new here.  Things have happened in the last week that have thrown my week into complete turmoil.  I don't know which end is up.

I'm lost & I can't find my map.

Currently I am attempting to create a snazzy new layout for my terribly neglected little space of the internets.  It needs it badly.

Any layout wonkiness should be ignored and not held against me.  Really.  It will be usuable and functional soon enough.

Of course, all of this depends on how bad things end up pissing me off.

If you are pursuing a degree, I have a word of advice for you.  Worship the administrative assistant/secretary in you major department.  You may think that it is the chair or the dean that runs the show, but it is the AA that gets things done.

AAs are probably the most under appreciated beings in the higher education hierarchy.  You don't have to shower them with expensive gifts, but a few nice words every now and then works wonders.  Something else you would do well to remember, AAs only follow the guidelines set before them.  They get things done, but they have limits.  Don't get pissed at them when they tell you no.  If they told you yes they just might be without a job.

Yes, I am a department AA and a pretty fucking cool one in my opinion.  I have the unique position of being a student who works for a college in a professional capacity.  When new policies are laid out before me I am able to say, "Well, you know, this is how most students will perceive that..."  Sure, all of my supervisors went to school, but it was a while ago.  This may seem trivial, but it allows me a little bit of wiggle room to make things easier for the student.

So, be nice to the person behind the desk.  They may be able to help you with things you never dreamed they could.  All it takes is a few nice words.  Leave the attitude at the door or you will never get through it.

 Are you dumb?

I gave up on politics long ago.  It seems to be a draining and futile proposition.  Now it seems I must rethink my opinions.  I found this on someone else's blog and couldn't help posting it here.  I could never hope to be this eleoquent about a subject that gets my goat.

Funding for school came through.  Classes start the beginning of next month & now I am several grand more in debt.  To the government.  Joy.

Vegas in July & August sucks more monkey pecker than exists in nature.  Reason number one to never move here.

My friend that revceived his new liver is doing well & should be home soon.

The guy who was like my big brother when I was younger is not doing so well after the home invasion in January.  He finally got out of the hospital in April, but he will never be the person he was.

New home ownership is on the horizon.  We are going to look at a new place soon.  Its close to work and in a much better neighborhood.  Well, as much better as it can be for this town.  Its exciting and way friggin' scary at the same time.

Mom moved to Iowa last month.  The whole herd likes it there.  They moved to a small town which is more their speed.  Corn as far as the eye can see.  Nice.

I've had a headache for two days.

I need to learn Latin.  Badly.  I've registered to take it on campus during my lunch hour at work, but I want to get a head start.  I hate being thrown into things I really have no idea about.

Ideally I would be able to teach myself, but I'm entriely too lazy for that I think.  I'm one of those people that needs consequences in order for things to happen.

Anyone who has actually taken Latin and made a decent grade have any learning tool suggestions?  I'd appreciate them.  Preferably something I can at least pick up used or even check out from my friendly campus library.  Spanks.

Due to events that have transpired in the last week here at GPA, the hunt for a new cave is on with a vengance.  I draw the lines at dead bodies.  Well, bodies that ended up dead against their own will.

The question is do we want to try to buy or rent.  I know that buying is always better, but it comes with more responsibility.  Not that I mind the responsibility, but at least in an apartment I can make a phone call and things are taken care of.  I don't have to worry about some contractor screwing me like a tied up goat.  At the same time, Vegas really is a buyer's market right now.  I'm even considering a lease option.  Of course I have to find a decent one first.  All of this makes my fucking brain hurt.  Bad.

On the up side, my funding came through for school.  So, in August I will be starting what will be the second half of my BA.  I've gone to an online format which means I am paying out the ass, but I don't have much of a choice.  I know that I can't do the in class thing.  I live entirely too far from UNLV to keep going there.  Not to mention the fact that the semester I spent there put me in a monster financial hole because I had to reduce my work hours.  So, after months of research I decided on a school that only does online course work and is both regionally and nationally accredited.  I mean, if I am shelling out that much cash they better be accredited.  Not to mention the fact that I do want to go on to get at least a masters if not doctorate.

On a completely unrelated note, I love Deadliest Catch.

The end