I didn't have time to proofread this, so please don't laugh

Okay... so the lucky one thinks I don't update enough. Maybe I could update every day during break, but while I'm in school, it's a little more difficult. So here goes:

Saturday: Mom, Brandy, and I went to Champaign. It was quite a fun little trip. I spent the $50 I had in Border's cards at... Borders (oddly enough) and bought 3 books. Thank you Aunt Becky for the first Fannie Flagg book. Thank you Sarah C. for the second Fannie Flagg book. And last and also least (just kidding of course) thank you Brandy for the collection of William Faulkner short stories. These are all Christmas presents, by the way. Mom bought me a raspberry mocha thing from the cafe in Borders (I really have to stop drinking coffee) and then we went to the mall and did our thing there. I bought an elastic hippie-type headband and an oversized brown flower shaped clip for my hair, both from Claire's. That was all I spent. Mom took pity on me and bought me a pretzel with cheese and a drink because I refused to buy my lunch. I got really depressed because I realized I didn't have any money to spend. I shouldn't have gotten that cute hair stuff at Claire's. Dang you, Claire's Boutique. But at least Mom bought me a few things. Then on our way home, Mom got extremely lost and started panicking because she thought we were all going to be trapped in Champaign for the rest of our lives. I don't know what was so scary about that, because what else do you need? We had a Borders in front of us, and a mall that had a Claire's and a pretzel place in it. I didn't see what there was to freak out about that. I tried to explain to Mom how to get home but she was just being hysterical and crying and not listening to me anyway. And the funny thing is, I was right about getting home. Anyway she called Dad and tried to get him to do a MapQuest map to get directions home (keep in mind we don't get out much) and he couldn't figure out how to do it, so she just got worse. Anyway, enough of that. We got home. Yadda yadda yadda.

Sunday: Went to church. I even went to class for once. Only to realize the church took a trip to Champaign Saturday too. Go figure. After church I came home and started studying for my Shakespeare midterm. I'm a little nervous about it. I want to keep my grades up. Just a hint of my perfectionism coming out. Sometime yesterday evening, I turned on the water in the kitchen sink to soak a pan (it had cooked beans, rice, and cheese, so yes, it needed to be soaked) and suddenly the water stopped flowing. "Hmm" I thought to myself, "what a strange occurrence" and so I asked Mother if there was any water running elsewhere and she informed me that she had just flushed the toilet. At my house, you can't have water running in two places at once or else the water shuts off. So I trudged downstairs, muttering to myself, and went over to the thing and flipped the switch. Nothing. I tried it several more times. When I started seeing sparks, I got mad and stomped upstairs, screaming near-obscenities. Dad laughed and went down there. I'm sure he was certain he could fix it. Hmmm... same thing happened with him. So we had no water until this morning. Last night I felt like I was dying and I don't really remember going to bed, so I don't know what went on there.

Monday morning: I woke up around 6:00 (very early for me) and read some Faulkner (for class, not the book I just got at Borders) and I had a blinding headache (which has since turned into an extremely near-sighted headache), my back was sore, and throat hurt, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I have no idea what that was all about. I'm mostly better now though. I got some stuff together and drove to my grandma's to take a shower. Boy was that fun! I'm glad I didn't see any mice. Before I came back home, I decided to bring my small electric heater and my prized Pineapple Willy's mug back with me. I feel complete now. Well... sorta. And now, I must finish getting ready, because I have two classes today, and then I'll go to work. "And now you know the rest of the story."

Nothing to Say at the Present...

This is for you, EJ

Grr...

Okay, I know I shouldn't be mad about this, because something really bad probably happened and then I'll feel like an insensitive, self-centered jerk. But I'm a little pissed off. Both my classes were canceled today. I knew the second one would be, because I signed up for a conference in it for 12:20. But then I got here this morning, only to see that my 9:30-10:45 one was canceled too. I was like what the crap. I could have signed up for a Friday conference and not even come to class today. I could have been at work making money. I'm going to be broke soon, ya know.

I didn't sleep well last night, but whatever. Maybe I should treat myself to that Frappuccino and Krispy Kreme like I was wanting this morning after all. Only thing is, can I really justify this sort of spending? I won't get paid again until next week, and I need to buy gas, but I may just have to give in to my sugar/caffeine addictions today anyway.

This is My 60th Post... Where's My Prize?

Yes, hard to believe, but this is my 60th post. I'm at school, passing the time until I have my night class. I'd rather be at home, but whatever. I think I'm going to skip tomorrow's STD meeting again because I only have one class from 9:30-10:45 and then a conference at 12:20. I don't really want to stick around for 5 hours to go to a meeting. Maybe we're not ordering t-shirts after all. I don't know. I never know what's going on. All I know is, I am not financially secure enough to lay down $20 for 2 t-shirts (a $9 English Club one and an $11 STD one). I'm pretty tired today. Guess I'm going to have to start drinking coffee in the morning again. Hadn't done that one in a while.

Last night I started my "Mastering the Art of Hypochondia" paper for fiction. I think it is coming along nicely. I don't have my first class on Friday, so I don't have to be at school until noon. I don't know if I should try to go in to work early or not. I could, hypothetically, work from 9-11 and then go to school and come back around 2:00 to finish anything I didn't get done from 9-11... I may consider this option. Nothing too interesting to talk about today... and that's just fine with me.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Can you believe the banks close for my mom's birthday? Either that or for a president. I've had a fairly good day. I met Jerome Rothenberg (a poetry guy) at school today. We didn't do much in my first class either. I worked a couple hours after school, and then my grandma came over with cake (to celebrate Mom's b-day) And Brandy's not coming tomorrow, so I guess I'll have to drive myself on Wednesday. Sucks. I'll try not to let that bother me. Although it seems like people are always telling me they're going to do things or get me things and then don't. In fact, Mom still owes me money for some dry cleaning...

50 Isn't Bad, Is It?

I had a great time with Rachel and Sarah last night, though I'm not sure how much fun Sarah had... By the way, thank you Rach for treating me to that stuff last night. I think I'm addicted to Mocha Fraps now... and I am enjoying the pictures. To Sarah: sorry it took so long, but we were mainly waiting on the people who were using the picture machine before we got there. Anyway, we all seem to have survived, and it was one of the best times I've ever had bowling.

Can't talk long because I've been at town shopping all day and in about an hour and a half I'll need to leave again because my grandma is fixing supper for Mom's birthday (tomorrow is the actual day). Anyway, I need to catch up on my Shakespeare before I go. I just wanted to say thanks again for last night--it was a blast!

Tonight I'm Looking for a Party Crowd...

I worked all of 2.5 hours today (woo-hoo) that's more than I usually work in one day. Sad, I know. I think I'm going to try to get back on at the CK in March. I encourage my friends to join me in this misery. Most of my buds who used to work there aren't coming back when they reopen, so I'm gonna be sad and lonely. Back to today though, I also scored a trip to the courthouse which means an extra $5 on my check. AND... I found a dime today. I think I'm going bowling with Rachel's church youth group tomorrow. But I hate bowling, so I might hustle a little 8-ball instead. Not sure. Then Sunday the fam is going to Granny's to celebrate Mom's b-day. Brandy is going over to my house tonight (because she never comes over, ya know) and we might play Xbox or something. I plan on drinking a lot of expensive coffee and writing some crappy poetry. Maybe read some Faulkner too, I don't know. Heck, I'm just glad I have the day off from school. I don't care if I spend that day off doing homework. It's all good, baby.

Weather or Not

What a frightening evening! I went to Granny's and brought her pizza. Didn't stay long at all and decided to go home because it was starting to storm. By the time I got to the square, it had flooded and water was trying to rise as high as the sidewalk. That was creepy. Then I couldn't see anything on Main St. except for car headlights. I ran off the road and hydroplaned a few times. Praying constantly and at the verge of fainting, I made my way home. Miraculously, the weather cleared a little. It was still raining and lightning, but not nearly as bad as when I left.

Brandy called me tonight. We were sort of in the process of making plans regarding the weekend, when my cell phone cut out. And still hasn't come back. Dad's phone works but for some reason mine still doesn't. Don't quite understand that. Oh well. Also, I got cheese grease from the pizza on my nice LEI jeans today. And I haven't felt well most of the day. And... I'm worn out from being so frazzled trying to drive home when I literally couldn't tell street from sidewalk from yard from house tonight.

I'm really glad I didn't go to the Sig Tau meeting.

Valentine's Day is for Suckers... Specifically Cherry or Watermelon Ones, Please

...Although candy or stuffed animals will do as well. By the way, thank you to Dr. Coleman for acknowledging that "ain't" is a perfectly fine word. Now... to the real issue. So today is the infamous Valentine's Day that I so vehemently protested against yesterday (note to self--this is the first time I've actually used the word "vehemently"--and I'm still not certain as to how it is pronounced). Looking back over that post, I see that I was perhaps a little opinionated, jaded, and otherwise a**hole-ish. Oops. Guess that's just my character. But so far my day has gone rather well. I got up at a decent time this morning, and for the first Tuesday this semester I actually got ready for school without rushing and made it to school about 30 minutes before my class started, thereby scoring an excellent parking place (not as excellent as the one I had yesterday, but by my standards, pretty dang good). Just before I left for school, my dad handed me a bag with a Beanie Baby poodle and a card that said "I love you" in it. That made me happy. Then I got to school as I just mentioned and sat down to read the paper, when all of a sudden Derek (or however the crap you spell his name) walked by and said, "Heads up!" and a beanie pig came flying my way, accompanied with a "Happy Valentine's Day," in a tone I'd never heard from him before: not sarcastic, but sweet for once. Maybe at 27 he's starting to realize it's okay to let his good side show :) And class went okay too. I came upstairs in the library just now to check my email and saw that Kris sent me a happy Valentine's email, and I got some forward from Jennifer (this could be interesting:)) and of course I have one more class and then trips to: the dry cleaners, to Wal-Mart to shop for Mom, and to JAC to treat myself all planned for the afternoon. Right now... I'm starving. Mom is supposed to treat me to Subway tonight as a part of my anti-Valentine's day party. Happy Valentine's all (even if you hate the holiday as I do, at least enjoy the day--it's nice out).

You're Getting Sleeeepy...

Yes I am. I woke up at 2:30 (AM) and didn't think I would get back to sleep. I did eventually. And somehow I even managed to wake up feeling somewhat refreshed this morning. Classes went okay. I read one of my poems in poetry today. The class seemed to like it better than I did. Went to work for an hour and a half. I think I will have a whopping 4 hours and 45 minutes on my next check (by the way, I'm paid twice a month). After that, I came home and started on Twelfth Night. Or I think that's what I'm reading. Honestly I usually don't know what Shakespeare play I'm reading at any given time. Nor am I familiar with character names. Let me put it this way: I can definitely tell that Billy wrote parts for certain people in the company and every one of those men were terrified to do anything other than variations on a theme.

Tomorrow is the big Valentine's day. Well I say barf on Valentine's day. It is nothing but a crock. No wait... there's more! It's not just a crock, but it is also a marketing scandal. Yes, you heard me folks... marketing s-c-a-n-d-a-l. It's an excuse for people to waste money on crap for reasons I won't go into on here because I know for a fact that my readers (I know I have a few followers) are of a highly refined and polite class; so I will leave the word "nookie" out of my posts.

By the way (person who will remain anonymous), I do understand that I have nothing. But do we really have to discuss this in class? You're lucky I'm not Some Girls. Some Girls would consider that sexual harassment.--to AG--this is what I'm NOT telling him :)

I've been reading up on how to become a writer. Now I'm getting inspired. Although writers really don't have that great of a reputation. They tend (no offense to anyone but myself) to be the outcasts, losers, wanna-be's, freaks, (need I say more?) of society. Guess I passed the entrance exam!

I think I'm going to buy (quite literally) into the consumerism I was bashing not five minutes ago and treat myself to JAC tomorrow. It beats other ways I could be spending this not-holiday.

I'm SOOO Far Behind

Okay, so it's the weekend. Well, for another 8.5 hours that is. I need to be doing homework (YUCK) and working with pecans (oh yes, I'm still doing that occasionally) and if I don't start back on the granny-square afghan, I'll forget about it. Right, and I have about a week's worth of devotionals to catch up on. How did I let myself get in this situation?

Oh well, it's not critical. I'll do my best to catch up sometime. So... news, I saw Kara yesterday--made my day because I hadn't seen her in a very long time and I really missed her. Also, Chris and Janet are back, so no more touring at Jenni's house for a while I guess.

Buying food in bulk makes me happy.

It's FRIDAY!

Well, it has been a pretty fun week, all in all. I figure I'll have to work this afternoon (haven't worked since LAST Friday) but I'm actually looking forward to working. I think it's because the weather isn't that great. It seems sinful to me to be at work when it is beautiful outside. Maybe I'm just psychotic though.

Once again, we didn't get anything accomplished at the STD meeting. Next week, they better have pizza and order t-shirts, because I'm getting tired of them stringing us along on stuff just so we'll come to the meetings. It's not like anybody else is going to show up. They need to just accept that while there may be 30 or so members, only 6-8 are ever going to show up at any given meeting. Ugh.

I was planning on going to the next English Club meeting until I found out it was on Valentine's Day. Not that I have any big plans or anything, but I thought maybe my parents would like to take me out. Or maybe I could nag them until they do. Either way, I really don't want to be at a stupid meeting on Valentine's Day.

Sunshine in the Eastern DEN

Well, today is the big day, folks. My words (well they were mostly mine) were put in print in the major voice of college journalism today: The Daily Eastern News. I have to say I was more than a little irritated that they added cheap extras like, "were some of my thoughts" and changed the ending. I liked it the way it was, that's why I submitted it as such. But that is life when you deal with editors.

So far nobody has noticed the column but me.

By the way, the picture is--as I expected--a bad one, where I look like a wasted hippie. Oh wait, I always look like that.

But in all seriousness, I am happy to finally have something out there. I submitted a second story to the DEN on Monday, and I will probably spend a day this weekend writing several more. For Val, here's an attempt at a link: http://www.dennews.com/media/paper309/news/2006/02/09/Opinions/The-Joys.Of.Commuting.And.Parking-1605078.shtml?norewrite&sourcedomain=www.dennews.com

I have an STD meeting tonight, and I think I'll go to English Club on Tuesday. I'm actually getting tired of these long days, but I need stuff for resumes and college apps. Plus I need more T-shirts.

Now on to yesterday...

Yesterday was a very sleepy day for me. I fell asleep several times in the middle of Much Ado About Nothing. I mean I literally fell asleep in the book. I drool a lot in my sleep, but luckily I woke up before giving my textbook water damage. I really can't afford to pay for that right now.

Then in Shakespeare class I was in la-la land for approximately 43 minutes and 22 seconds. Sometime during la-la time, I did not understand a joke, playing on the word "nothing" in the play. I don't really want to elaborate. If you don't understand it, then do some research on what the word "nothing" was a slang for in Elizabethan England.

Yesterday was the final performance of the 4 Days at Jenni's Tour. It came complete with a demon possessed portable CD player, a trip to the bathroom in the dark while more than 50% asleep, and yet another dream where I was smoking. The trip was fun while it lasted.

Did I remember to repack my toothbrush?

Queen of Apathy

This morning I'm updating for last night, since I didn't get around to it then. I'm sitting here in the library, half asleep, with uncombed hair, and I don't remember the last time this sweater was washed. But here's the thing: I really don't care.

Yesterday was quite fun. It started out with me going to American lit and talking about (of all people) F. Scott Fitzgerald AGAIN. Then I went to the newsroom to get my head shot. That is, a picture of my head and shoulders for the column. Not sure when it's getting put in, but that's okay. Then I went to the library and made a complete fool of myself. Went to the union and got a snack (really gotta stop doing this because I can't afford it anymore) and went to my fiction class at 2:00.

By the way, I think I'm being chased by a couple of lesbians? Maybe not...

So then I went to Brandy's house, and after much arguing and some blood and tears, we decided to go to Wal-Mart for some food. I headed straight for the Valentine's stuff first though. I figure, hey, if nobody else is going to get my anything for Valentine's Day, I may as well get something for myself. And I did. I also got a Vietnam game for Xbox. So far I don't think the two are connected.

One hour and thirty-six dollars later, we were back at Brandy's house. Visited with her mom some and then headed to Jenni's. Jenni was very hyper (well, at least about as hyper as it gets with Jenni) and I was about to fall asleep because for some reason I was very tired. However, I stayed up until close to 11:00 and then I took a shower. By that point, I couldn't much sleep. Long story short, I slept, but not well--kept waking up, etc.

Now you know why I'm the queen of apathy--I just want to go back to sleep for a couple of days and then get ready for a weekend.

Boring

I guess I'm getting put in the paper later this week because they needed a picture of me before my column could get into the printed version of the paper. I got the picture today. Hope it looks alright. I had an okay day, but not much to talk about.

Crucial Update:

I just read the online version of the DEN and my column is in there. Maybe I'm just getting published in the online version. Or maybe I didn't look closely enough at the paper today.

I Love Mondays

So I come to my first class and watch a movie about sugar, then I go to my second class and read a poem. It's great. I called and work didn't need me to come in, so Brandy and I had lunch in the union and now we're acting stupid in the library. I made a scene in the union when I almost knocked some girl down, dropped something, and then attempted to recycle the bowl my pears came in. It is type 1 PETE plastic after all. I doubt I'll get in trouble for recycling.

Look for my column tomorrow in the DEN. I'm quite excited, but since something usually goes wrong whenever I get excited about anything, I'm not even expecting it to get printed. We will see. In the meantime, I need to email the editor another of my stories so he knows I'm serious about wanting to write.

Last night I revised my papers, so I don't have much homework to do. This is good because I'm planning on going back to Jenni's tomorrow and Wednesday. I didn't go last week because she stayed with her sister instead.

Does anybody know a method of neutralizing garlic odor from one's breath? I really like ranch chips, but I'm starting to gross myself out.

Super Bowl... What's That?

Grandma is doing remarkably well after her surgery on Friday. The people who came to my church frightened me today--enough said about that. I really haven't done much today except catching up on homework. I mean, I want to get it done in case I have to go to work tomorrow. I love how these things work. I hurry around to get my homework done in anticipation for DOING MORE WORK. And I don't even make much somehow. Probably comes from only working 4 hours a week :)

Regarding the title, I don't care about football in the slightest, so I pretty much forgot tonight is the big game. Even if I did care, I obviously wouldn't be able to watch it because I have other engagements (I did my time in Cather, and now I'm on to 3 years of hard labor with Billy Shakespeare).

To all of you who are watching the game, I hope you enjoy it. Don't go crazy if your team loses--if you even care about either of the teams. They've all sold out anyway. And party safely--don't act stupid. Later peeps...

We're Comin' to Your City...

I went to town with Brandy today. We ate at Fazolis. Then we went to the mall and goofed off. All I spent was something like 43 cents for tax at Fazolis. I had a gift card--hee hee. I was talking with Kevin last night or this morning, depending on where you are. It was between 9:00 and 10:00 Friday night here, but it was between noon and 1:00 in the afternoon Saturday where he is (if I did the math right). It was fun--we were talking about the old days... 4th through 6th grade. Stuff we remember etc. Glad he enjoys that sort of thing.

I think I'm going to have to have some coffee and cookies to get inspired to write. I need to be writing poetry for creative writing because I need 30 pages' worth by the end of the semester, then I need to put them all together and make a book of it (which I mentioned in an earlier post). One of these days I'll learn how to link archived stuff to current posts. Until then, you'll have to find it for yourselves.

It is with great displeasure that I see no one has offered to to treat me to an evening of cocktails and fondue. They probably wouldn't go well together anyway. But I just eat what I like, and my stomach and I duke it out afterwards. Sometimes my intestines get involved too, and that often gets ugly.

Since my life has become one poorly written country song, I've started listening to other poorly written country songs. And currently on Yahoo LAUNCHcast radio, there's this song called "Kerosene" I think (I'm givin' up on love, cuz love's given up on me). It rings altogether too true for yours truly.

I apologize for the dialect... I know it can be distracting, but it captures the degree of sucky music I have resorted to. To those who like country music... I'm sorry. I sort of like some of the songs too actually. Just like making fun of it.

Not Much to Talk About I Reckon

My Grandma is having her surgery today. Hope it goes well for her. I'm tired. I worked an hour and 45 minutes, which was plenty considering I am so tired. I don't know what my problem is. I guess Amanda just wore me out with the trip to JAC.. hee hee. I did have a lot of caffeine and sugar yesterday... yeah I'm an addict. I apologize to her (and everyone else who had the great misfortune of spending time with me after my caffeine/sugar high). I did have a great time though. And the STD meeting was cool. For more details, see: www.agitswhoiam.blogspot.com. Until next time, this is Sunshine Jones signing off.

I Now Have 3 Months in My Archives!!!

Yes, I do get excited about these things. As of yesterday, I am trying another attempt at the "new me." Yes it's cliche, but I don't give a crap. Those of you who know me well know that I often don't give a crap. I just do what I want or what I believe is right. So there.

Ha ha ha. Okay, so I'm full of piss and vinegar. It's part of this cliched new me thing. I said ONE thing in Swords's class today. And he pretty much said I was wrong and that I needed to be looking for details. Then he said we really needed to be reading the material. Okay, I DID read the material. I actually read the story when I was a sophomore too. Thing is, I AIN'T A BIG FAN OF SCOTT FITZGERALD. I'd rather read Hemingway please, even if you say he's a jerk. And I don't have anything against hunters--even though I'm a vegetarian--I just wouldn't want to be married to one, Tom.

I have beaucoup time now (I haven't used that sexy little French word since the last time I watched Full Metal Jacket, which incidentally, is a pretty dang good movie is you express anti-war/hippie-esque sentiments, such as I do). I don't know where this post is going exactly, so bear with me. Anyhow, back to the less than perfect Modern American Lit experience at approximately 10:32 this morning... last year, that sort of public humiliation would have led me to seriously consider slitting my wrists in the lady's room. Today however, I embraced being one of the lost generation (this is an inside joke to myself) and just got cocky about it. I haven't heard back from Justin, so perhaps he doesn't want to talk to me or he didn't recognize my name and deleted my email. Or maybe it didn't go through. Who knows, who cares.

Is it just me, or does 97% of this campus have an iPod?

If the newspaper really does start printing my columns like they say they will, I plan on having a party. Any of my friends wishing to treat me to an evening of cocktails and fondue can reach me at: www.sunshinejones.blogspot.com. Gotta go read some work by my favorite gender-bending far removed relative Willa C. for the time being, though.

Woo-Hoo!

I'm on something of a high today. I only had 15 minutes of my first class today, so I had some chill out time before poetry. Then I had lunch... and now I'm on my long break. I just checked my email and heard back from the school paper--they want to print my column, and the guy said I can write regularly if I want to. I'm really excited about that. I just wrote Justin an email too. He might not even want to talk to me, but I won't know if I don't try, I guess. Well, I need to get back to reading F. Scott Fitzgerald so I can say I got something productive done over break. I probably should consider starting on some more newspaper columns too...