Let the birthday extravaganza begin

[coffeesnob318]

My sister's birthday is tomorrow, and mine's in a few weeks, so my parents came to visit on Saturday to take us out to eat and give us presents. No surprises there. The real surprise was that they brought Grandma (more affectionately known as MeMaw) with them. That may not seem like a big deal, but this is the first time she's been to Denton while I've been here, and I moved here ten and a half years ago! So we were very excited to see her without having to go to Childress.

We ate at Greenhouse, and the waiter was slow, but he handled my dad well when he not-incredibly-subtly pointed his sloth-like performance out. MeMaw was funny with her enormous hamburger. After that, they left for home - apparently, only a day trip - and I was planning to take a nap, but went to Beth's pampered chef party instead (too bad those boys from the email weren't there...). Then I hung out with Angela for a long time. Busy day....for a Saturday, at least.

Yesterday was busy, too, but not so bad. I did nap. That was exciting. Aren't you glad you read it? That's 3 seconds of your life that you will never get back.

Today has been crazy. I made candy today because this week is the sample speech week at NCTC and ECC. I have to make another round tonight, because I made them too big. Grr...one more trip to the store.

When I got to school today, I found that one of my friends had emailed me and various others (most of whom are also formally well-educated) a treatise on why universities are basically useless. Very. Annoying. Yes, I concur that there are problems, just as there are with....well, basically everything else in life. But hello - what do I do for a living? And knowing this, she should know how to expect me to react, especially since we had a conversation very, very recently over how much I enjoy what I do and how rewarding it can be - a conversation that could only lead one to conclude that I do value education, in any form, but particularly at the university level. So. Very. Annoying. Anyway, I'm choosing to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she just sent the email to get a reaction.

Hee hee! I saw Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan - I think - on the OC) on the View this morning. He's so cute. My favorite part of the interview was when they asked about rumors that he was dating his costar...whatshername...and he avoided the question by responding, "Adam Brody? Yeah - in a heartbeat. He's dreamy." Fodder for slash fans everywhere, God bless him.

Insert a few random quizzes/memes here...

You're Canada!

People make fun of you a lot, but they're stupid because you've
got a much better life than they do.  In fact, they're probably just jealous.
 You believe in crazy things like human rights and health care and not
dying in the streets, and you end up securing these rights for yourself and
others.  If it weren't for your weird affection for ice hockey, you'd be
the perfect person.
Take
the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

Taken from afemale
FIRSTS
First Job: cleaning the display case at an eye doctor's office
First Screen Name: coffeesnob
First Funeral: my great grandmother
First Pet: a little bulldog
First Piercing: my ears
First Credit Card: Visa....First Bankcard Center
First Kiss: Is it sad that I don't remember?
First Makeout: on the bus on the way back from a regional UIL meet
First one that mattered: about 4 or 5 years ago
First love: Gannon - when I was in 6th grade. He was dreamy.
First Enemy: ?
First Big Trip: Family vacation to Denver to see my aunt and uncle and their enormous dog
First Concert: Michael W. Smith (shup)
First Musician you remember hearing in your house: The Carpenters

LASTS
Last Car Ride: my car on the way to school
Last Library book: Fast Food Nation
Last Beverage Drank: coffee (c'mon - is that really that big of a surprise?)
Last Food Consumed: Total raisin bran
Last Phone Call: to my bank to make sure that my online loan payment went through
Last Time Showered: this afternoon
Last CD played: Weezer
Last Annoyance: that email I mentioned earlier
Last Website Visited: www.gradeamarketing.com (very nice updates, btw)

NOW
Single or Taken: single
Birthday: March 18, 1975 *cough*presents*cough*
Sign: Pisces
Siblings: one sister
Hair Color: brown
Eye Color: blue-ish
Shoe Size: 6 1/2
Height: 5' 2 1/2"

RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE YOU
Wearing: red shirt. skirt. Really cute shoes.
Thinking about: what I need to get at the store later.
Listening to: the hum of the computer

How quirkyalone are you?
Your score was 83. Somewhat quirkyalone (otherwise known as quirkytogether):
You are probably part of a mysterious group of people, the quirkytogethers. You share many of our quirky qualities, but you manage to find yourself, on a regular basis, in a coupled situation. Interesting.

And I think that will about do it for today.

Comments

[wingsonwind.livejournal.com]

How could someone have the gall to send you an e-mail bashing the value of a university education? I am interested to know what exactly it said. I have heard (and defended) its value for a long time, even to a person I dated who felt that education beyond a bachelor's isn't worth much. He think it's OK for me to do, but not for him. I guess I have to respect that.

What is, if I may ask, sample speech week?

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

I only read through part of it, because I was concerned about what would happen to my blood pressure if I finished it. A little about the person who sent it - she's not formally educated beyond high school, and she tends to poo-poo anything outside of her immediate experience. So our conversation was basically me defending what I do with my life, and until this email, I really thought she was actually trying to see my side. Turns out that she saw it as an invitation to go online and try to find everything she could to "prove" me wrong. It's not enough to her for me to see her side, and I do - college is not for everybody and for every career path, and there is merit in learning by experience and personal study. She wants me to actually agree with her. I don't think it was so much the email that pissed me off, but her timing.

Sample speech week is the week before the students give a speech in which I field questions, calm fears, go over outlines, and give sample speeches so that they can see what I want their speeches to look like. Their first speech is demonstrative, so I demonstrate how to make my favorite candy - Martha Washingtons (chocolate covered nougat of coconut, pecans and lots and lots of sugar) - and bring them samples.

Re:

[nonnierms.livejournal.com]

*insert drooling here* and her MW's are just as awesome as she says they are!

Re:

[coffeesnob.livejournal.com]

I'll have extras.... *taunts nonnie*

Re:

[nonnierms.livejournal.com]

*sniffles* but I already had my two days off this week! I can't come up :p


Tell Tammy Happy Birthday for me, kay? {{{hugs}}}

[wingsonwind.livejournal.com]

Bribe them before the big day? That's smart. I never thought to provide them with an example, though I suppose my "how to" and "how not to" speeches served a similar purpose. Those were always fun...