damage control
My final graduate prose workshop reading last night was good. I didn’t get to choose what I read, so it happened to be a story I’m a bit weary of, context-wise. Still, I read well and had a good time. (I just heard that a few people in the audience were tearing up during my reading. Wow.) Not only did many friends wish me well via email, the MSG, Inkbot, Andrew, Steve, and A.J. actually made it to see me. I am so lucky to have such great people in my life. Despite the success, and even after eight hours of sleep, I am beyond exhausted. This morning, I am having to triple-check everything one of my student assistants does. It’s not that he hasn’t been trained; he has, even more than any of my other students. He just doesn’t...
Read Morethanksleeping
We had a great Thanksgiving with my family. The MSG made a wonderful turkey, with homemade (by me!) cornbread and sausage stuffing and homemade gravy. My family adores the MSG, and not just for his mad culinary skillz. We all laughed a lot and played Cranium and Chez Geek and now I am thoroughly sleep-deprived. Some of that sleep deprivation came about in a less than optimal way. We got up so early on Friday to spend most of the day traveling, spent all of Saturday cooking, and then got up at the crack of dawn again to spend Sunday traveling. Our first flight of the day was delayed, so we missed our connector in Denver just as the snow really got going. Six hours later, we finally caught a flight out to Oakland instead of SFO, and spent another hour in the...
Read Morethanksmissing
In three and a half hours, I need to get up and shower. The shuttle arrives at 04:30 for our 06:30 flight. I haven’t been to bed yet, of course. This should get interesting. Tonight the MSG and I shared a perfectly lovely Thanksgiving meal with part of his dad’s family. We laughed and ate great food and laughed some more. Everyone made me feel so welcome. The patriarch of the clan reminded me so much of my grandfather that it brought tears to my eyes. I miss him so much. Earlier in the afternoon, I spoke with my mom for a while, and realized just how much I miss her, too. I’d love to steal the MSG off to Chicago for a few days at New Year’s. We’ll see. Johanka, I do still have that photo of a little birdie perched on my...
Read Morethankskitty
Today I would like to thank Zen for hanging around with the likes of me. I was in a bad way when I got home last night, and she snuggled up to me and made me feel less sad and lonely. Right now Zen is licking her toes in the sunshine streaming onto her cat tree, giving thanks in her own way. Here’s to however you give thanks, today and every day.
Read Morethankity thank
Because I am still a little sad, even after a great chat over dinner, I am going to write my Thanksgiving thankfulness list of thankfully giving thanks right now. First of all, I must note that yes, I understand that Thanksgiving is a perverse sort of holiday, so you non-Americans can fold your little fingers in your little laps and refrain from lecturing me now. What you might not understand is that I like to eat. A lot. And so massive extermination of multiple cultures aside, this is an awesome holiday, one dedicated to overeating really unhealthy things. Without further ado, my Thanksgiving thankfulness list of thankfully giving thanks: Nutella. O, like you didn’t know this was going to be first! Books. I like them better than people, most...
Read MoreSo I’m the turkey.
The prez gave all university employees the okay to leave at 14:00, but I have to stay until closing. It’s an easy workday, though. It’s just me and a student at the helm, and a mere handful of patrons scattered throughout the building, mostly email-checkers, but there are some panicked students who are attempting to hand in assignments before the break. Their little faces are pale and their hands open and close as if grasping at invisible source material. The café is already closed, so no latte for me. Good thing I had instant coffee this morning! Except for not. The ferry was packed with commuters skipping out early. I’m so used to commuting alone that the overwhelming aggression and disdain for fellow human beings actually caught...
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pen intended
38 days until the New Year … what do you want to do with your life? [link ganked from Hammer and Nail] I am drinking some of Inkbot‘s instant coffee right now, Trader Joe’s brand. I would say “it’s my first time drinking instant coffee” but I’m sure Lara will remember an instance in college during which I not only drank instant coffee but had some part of my head pierced simultaneously. So I won’t; I’ll just assume I’ve done this before, although I don’t remember it. Which reminds me of an Elvis Costello lyric: “And don’t try to read my mind because it’s full of disappearing ink.” Yes, Mr. Costello. Yes. So my impressions of instant coffee are mixed, no pun intended. I...
Read Moremanaging tough public service situations
One of my employees is experiencing his first bout with the flu. Poor dear. So I’m working the night shift tomorrow, the last night before break, and sort of looking forward to it. This is because weird stuff happens in libraries after 18:00. It is a proven fact. Time and time again, the evening circulation supervisor gets to tell all the great stories, and during the day we just get to deal with the usual brand of insanity. The bizarros really come out after dark, and are frighteningly regular in their habits. One we have dubbed “the Bride of Frankenstein” due to an interesting hair choice. She comes to all the art gallery openings for the free food and wine, and she loves to use our computers for her own personal gain, the exact nature...
Read MoreHow to Date a Pisces
Someone on del.icio.us — which I am terribly addicted to — linked to ehow.com: Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything, so I went to look and saw the category Family and Relationships. Of course I had to click “How to Date a Pisces” … and this is what it said (my comments are in parentheses): 1. Give the Pisces personal gifts. It’s not the gift that impresses a Pisces, it’s what’s inside the giver. (Like intestines. And a spleen. Give the gift of your organs.) 2. Try not to feel slighted when your date acts as if she loves everyone. It’s not really true, but because Pisces are the lovers of the universe, it’s their nature. (Also, try not to feel slighted when your date acts as if she...
Read MoreNestcam
The cam was last on Friday, May 4.
Hello What
I am Halsted, a/k/a cygnoir, and I do stuff with words.
My favourite things to do with words are keeping this diary, writing stories, and organising information.
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Tenacious D
3 days, 16 hours and 5 minutes ago - To Be The Best
Tenacious D
3 days, 16 hours and 6 minutes ago - They Fucked Our Asses - Explicit Version
Tenacious D
3 days, 16 hours and 7 minutes ago
Plugging
