I realize this isn't really the point of this thing, but...

...I have to write a paper about If I were a house, what would I be? Not as in, what would I like to be, but my personality/psyche/self represented, house style. The outsides/some of the inside is supposed to be how others perceive me, initially and as they get to know me better. So, what I'm asking is (not in house format)- how did you first perceive me as a person, and how has that perception changed as you've gotten to know me better? Please be totally honest, here- I won't take offense to anything (and, me being un-girl-ish, you know I'm not just saying that.)
Anything at all will really help me out. If you feel like shooting me an email instead of commenting, that's cool, too: anneagain.c@gmail.com

Thank you!

Rianne
P.S.- Maybe I'll start a new trend- people getting homework help, blog-style!

12 Things I Learned at the Mandatory Campus Safety Presentation

1. Administration is smart enough to know to swipe our sun cards at the end rather than the beginning of the presentation

2. Don't get raped

3. Use u-locks to lock up your bikes

4. Hondas are really easy to break into

5. Don't drink if you are under 21....its against the law

6. Don't bring a homeless person back to your dorm

7. You aren't allowed to sublet your dorm

8. Chevy trucks are second easiest to break into

9. Lock your door

10. Don't take your roommate's Ritalin....even if they offer it to you, it isn't your prescription

11. Don't hitch a ride on the light rail by holding on to the back of it while on your bike

.....

and the most interesting piece of advice of the evening

12. Women should invest in an inexpensive masculine item to leave conspicuously placed in their cars

Intro

Well, I don't know if ya'll are ready for this, but I wrote a rap today in my intro to engineering class, which I may simply describe as what feels like a waste of time. I'm actually kinda proud of it, and definitely got some props from a couple classmates I shared it with. I felt ya'll should see it too, although it really isn't the same just reading it. It's much better performed.... (I pull off the stereotypical rapper dialect.) I'll try to help out with how I type it up.

Chek it!

I'm feelin' inspired
since I desired
to spend sum time
layin ou' my rhyme...
This E-N-G 13-0-1
Got my head unduh-the-gun
Can't wait til it's done
Cuz it ain't no fun
What duh hell're we doin'
Cuz dis class is screwin'
With whatI'drather be pursuin'
Atleastourgrades are a shoe in
It feels like a was[t]e
This class all ovuh duh place
Drooldrippin' down yuh face
Eyezcovered with uh glaze
Movin' at a slow pace
Why can't we cut to the chase?

(*rhythm change*)

We know IR equals V
And IV equals P!
Man, you think that we
Nevuh did see
Any 'lecticity?

(*rhythm change*)

In them comfy green chairs
You see us with them blank stares
Wonderin' "Who cares?"
Yeah.... Sic' em, bears...

Coocoo choir song... enjoy...

So the English translation of one of my Spanish choir songs reads as the following (with "cucu, cucu," at the beginning of EVERY line):

the frog was singing
under the water
a gentleman passed by
with a cape and hat
a lady passed by
with a long skirt
a babysitter passed by
carrying a salad
he asked for a piece
she wouldn't give him any
he went back in the water
and swam away

I didn't know why it wasn't making sense in Spanish, until I figured out that it doesn't make sense in English either!

For Laura!

even though I am

far away, I wish Laura

a happy birthday!

Wait! Not yet!

"It's snowing outside!"

Many people rush to see

Wait, it's only dust.

Ahh the joys of Jr high girls....but there is now snow on the mountains so our yearly dose must be just around the corner.

The early bird gets...

(A five-part Haiku)

Last Friday morning
I went to 8 a.m. class
Arriving early

The seats fill up fast
I was the first person there
And chose the best one

I waited for class
Getting out notebook and pen
Five minutes elapsed

And still nobody there
I glanced down, checking my watch
7:55

Then I realized
Computing only meets on
Monday and Wednesday

Silence Survey

OK, this what happens when you spend time checking out the library. I'd like to know your answers...

Is silence merely the lack of sound, or is it a sound itself? What do you personally think?

By definition, it should be the first choice, but I remember something I've read before that once described silence as "deafening" and I think some people might actually consider it a distinctly recognizable noise of its own. Or maybe it is a sound in the sense that it can communicate hesitation or agreement, etc. (Go figure I have "Sound of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel stuck in my head...) I'm not sure what to think myself.

Lost in Walla Walla: A Sunday Morning Epic

In my attempts to avoid the freshman fifteen, I try to go on a run 3-4 days a week, usually for about 30 minutes (thats honestly all I have time for... college is insane). So I wake up Sunday morning, pull on my sneakers and tell my roommate that I'll be back in half an hour so we can go to brunch (a beautiful thing at whitman...). It is 10:15am at this point. I generally run in the neighborhood kind of behind my dorm. My brother's house is back there as is a small park. Well until this point I hadn't actually been able to find my brother's house by myself, but this time I was confident. So I follow the directions and head down Alder (this street is important later on) like I had before, then over a few blocks and up a back alleyway and sure enough I see my brother's car! So what if it was the back side of the house, I was still there! It is now like 10:30 and so I continue to the front side of the house, bang on the door to see if anyone's awake (they're not) and continue down Whitman Street (which incidently is not very close to campus). I soon come across the park, but it was a different part than I had seen before (it has an aviary!) And this is where I made my mistake; I started to run in the park. Normally I just run by or around it but no, I decided to run in it. Now I swear I was going the same direction the entire time, but I think the path turned and I didn't notice. So when I got out of the park I was going the entirely wrong direction and at 10:45 (half an hour into my run) I had NO idea where I was. It was definatly nowhere near campus and nowhere I had ever been before. I saw the "mountains" but couldn't remember which direction they where from campus. So I tried to remember the angle of the sun in comparison with my dorm room but since I was turned around that only got me more lost. And then, like a glorious beam of light, I see it! Alder Road, standing there in all its roady glory! As I approach it I realize that I was not familiar with the intersection, but of course I'm like "Hey it's alder! I can get back." So I try the sun/dorm-room trick again (bad idea) to get me going the right way. So I run yadda yadda yadda and then the road ends. Yeah, I was like WAAAAYYYY in the boonies of Walla Walla. It's like 11:15 (an hour after I left) and I finally decide to ask for directions because a) my legs hurt b)i'm hungry and c) my roommate would be worried. I find a woman sitting on her porch (thank goodness) and I start to walk over. After I avoid nearly getting attacked by her two dogs, I ask her how to get back to campus, after which she looks at me in awe and says "Whitman? you've got a ways to go!" And I'm like "oh jeez!" So she gives me directions and I follow them exactly. Her directions take me to the opposite side of campus, but nevertheless at approximatly 11:45 I stumble into my dorm room, exhausted. Of course people were wondering where I was, so I told them the story and soon enough it was all around my hall. On the bright side I was quickly given a map of Walla Walla and a few suggested running routes. And fyi, if you are ever in Walla Walla the mountains are east.

Proof that there is good in the world

Little humming bird

In an orange tree, at rest,

At peace with the world

I just thought I'd share...

So, at Scripps, not only are we permitted to pick the flowers, it's somewhat encouraged. So, every week one of my roommates and I go pick roses form a courtyard between two of the dorms.

So, On that note, I thought that I should share the loveliness with all of you. That and I wanted to play with my new camera. Hopefully I've brightened some one's day, whether it needed brightening or not.

Love all,

Andrea

Inzone Inspiration

I just had to share this sunset shot I took from the Baylor vs. Washington State game last night.

When I left in the 4th quarter it was 42-14!
Sic em' bears!

Oh, and just so ya'll know, I survived Hurricane Ike. Waco wasn't really hit that hard, although it was a bit windy and rainy today. There weren't even any tornadoes or anything. How boring is that?! :-P

My roommate on the other hand says her family in north Houston doesn't have any power, and they'll be without it for about 3-4 weeks... A lot of trees blew over around there. (Please pray for those in the coastal area. Lots of flooding to deal with too...)

I have a...

very runny nose

sore throat and a head in fog

being sick just sucks

It's all Greek to me

Okay so I'm taking four classes, one of which is required.  And out of those four, in three of them we are discussing the same book.  The very first one Richards' ruined for us all those long years ago.  Any guesses? Yup, The Odyssey.  Its amazing how much I know about one book now. I even know how to read and translate parts of the original Greek text. 

 However, this is where the faults of elementary education come into play.  I never learned how to diagram sentences, or most basic grammar rules.  So I have to get special tutoring to learn all of that, which is a must know before learning Greek. I however, get to learn it at the same time.  So I get to feel really, really dumb once a day.

In contrast to that, my history course has nothing on Heuston. The professor will even stop and explain things if you have questions- even if they don't relate to the specific topic.  For instance someone in the class asked what he thought about 300 (this is a Mediterranean course), and he said "There is no documented evidence of any human successfully having a battle rhino."  

My favorite place at Whitman: the human bird bath.  Literally, a big bird bath meant for cooling off sweaty students.  :)

Why I Teach

Little child, big eyes

Calling my name again

I am so well loved

Yes, I'm addicted to my mailbox

Isn't it amazing
How one little mailbox can
Provide so much joy?

Never have I ever.....

...seen a leaf this big. Seriously. Those are my feet. I found this outside the dining hall. And I'm a little scared of the tree this thing must have come from...

sometimes computers suck and are freaking confusing..or confused...mine thought it was spanish for a bit...

My drunken room-mates (take two)

Sleep interrupted
Once again, this time by two
Giggling room-mates

Mmhmm... I'm in Tae Kwon Do club too!

Asians say: I am
Honorary Korean.
They are so friendly.
^_^

I shake my head.

You know what's funny about being at South for too long?

I get an email from the Latin Dance Society, and I have a double take, thinking to myself, "I never signed up for anything mormon... Why am I getting LDS stuff???"
:-P

On the prudence of abstinence

Very drunk roommate
Enters my sanctuary
At 2 am. Ugh

Ninja Footsteps

I feel like the odd ball our reading all these blogs. In fact, I felt led to ask the god/goddess if I was even allowed to be an author here because I am a) still in Alaska and b) not going to college. She said yes so here is a taste of my "gap" in the storm of life.

Fortunately this alienation is of my own choosing and I am thoroughly enjoying myself. I get to dictate my own little world, like when I get up, when I eat and how I spend my daylight (it's fading fast!) without worrying about homework or professors. I no longer have to be subjected to the cruel schedule of waking up at 6:30am (unless I want the car before 3 and even then I can take a nape after I get home). I'm finding I like 9:00am just fine. I then have six hours or so (if I get up at 9) to eat, bike, pray, read, write, draw or anything else that suits my fancy. The I'm off to the dojang to spend two and a half to four hours teaching and practicing Tae Kwon Do. After all that I sometimes chase the sunset, go to youth group or take younger friends out for ice cream.

So although this life may seem boring and "slackerish" compared to those abroad (I have no interesting room mates or guy stalker stories) I do still have some stories. For instance there is a deaf girl at my dojang who was once my student and is now student teaching with me. Because of some miscommunications between her and her parents the other day I got to spend an hour with her, a pad of paper and a pencil. It's the first time I've really been able to communicate with her since I first met her two years ago. I already knew she was funny, spunky and tough but I didn't know she was only in eight grade and that she will go to East next year because Diamond does not have a deaf program. Even when the language barrier is up she is still one of my favorite people to playfully poke (even though she can hit really hard) and to harass certain boys with. What a joy it is to be able to make eye contact with someone, smile evilly and know that is all the communication you need. Perhaps the best part is that we will be testing together on the 20th to get our second-degree black belts.

On that note of violence...most of you know that my brother bought me a katana for my eighteenth birthday. It is arguably the prettiest sword I own and it's without a doubt the sharpest. Well I was practicing with it a few days ago (yes I actually have to know how to use it for my black belt testing) and for a brief moment in time forgot how long it was. Thankfully no one was in the house to hear my blade slash a new line in the painting of my map hanging in the living room. It's not noticeable unless you look, really! I'm just glad there was no glass in the picture frame or my misguided handiwork might have been recorded beside the time my brother broke the laundry room light cover with his bow staff...

Waiting

Oh, gray Alaska.
How long can I stand Palin?
Mania persists.

Something I Noticed During A Conversation In Which I Nodded And Smiled And Understood Nothing At All

Norwegian sounds like
Iambic pentameter.
Very poetic.

Haiku on the Topic of Campus Dish Meal Plans

Campus Dish Con Men

Trying to screw me over

Didn't fool me.  Ha.

On The Relative Successes of Library Missions

So, the other day, having finished one Robert Jordan book, and not having brought the next to college, I decided it was high time to get myself a library card. I looked up the Boulder Public Library website, and looked up the things needed to obtain such a card. It was a fairly simple list: ID, and proof of address in Boulder. So, one fine and sunny Boulder day (Saturday the 30th, I believe), my roommate, Mackenzie, and I, decided to launch an expedition. We had all sorts of errands we were going to accomplish- I was going to get some money from the ATM to get quarters at the UMC's credit union for laundry, she was going to buy postcards, and some things at Target, I was going to get a library card and the next book in the series. It was going to be a productive day.
We confidently strode off to the bus stop, to catch the counterclockwise "Hop" bus down to the library. With us, we had a small map of selected areas in Boulder, one of which contained the library. We were ready to go.
As we approached the bus stop (still perhaps 100 yards away), we saw...the bus. Already there, and loading people. Now, these buses come (theoretically) every 10 minutes, so missing one wouldn't have been the end of the world. However, Mackenzie and I had had some bad luck with buses lately- having to wait 20 minutes for the bus the last two times we had ridden. A 20-minute delay to our productive expedition was not acceptable. I took off sprinting across the mostly-vacant parking lot, the entirely un-vacant street (running in front of a car-but not Too close- and two bikers in opposite directions) before coming to a stop in front of the bus, which was about to, but hadn't quite, started moving yet. And certainly wasn't going to with me standing in front of it, dammit. I stood in front of the bus for the 5 or so seconds it took Mackenzie to catch up, and then we got on.
Our bus trip took about 10 minutes, and we got off at the intersection of College and 9th, ready for the library.
Unfortunately, the library was not ready for us, being located at Canyon and 9th, some six blocks away. The bus was gone, so we started walking. Really, six blocks isn't that bad, and we arrived at Canyon and 9th not too long after. However, at the intersection of Canyon and 9th, there was no evident library. Not deterred in the slightest, we headed down the sidewalk a little way, where we saw a libraryish-looking building, red bricks, libraryish roof, et cetera. We walked down to the path to the building, with growing consternation as we saw that the building was dark, and there were relatively few cars in the parking lot. We tried the unmarked door, and found it locked. Gathering our senses somewhat, we noted that the building was, in fact, far too small. And also, had no books in it. This was clearly not the library. Returning to the sidewalk, we walked a little ways down until we saw another libraryish-looking building, this one with some libraryish-looking people around it. Arriving at the building, we were pleased to note that the side was boldly emblazoned with "PUBLIC LIBRA Y" (the "R" apparently having fallen off in some unfortunate prior accident). However, the words were on a brick wall, with no doors.
Still optimistic, we headed around the corner. There were doors here, and we strode boldly up the steps, before coming abruptly to a halt.
"This side of the Library closed 8/30, 8/31, and 9/1" announced a small sign on the glass doors.
That was somewhat unexpected. However, it looked sort of like an art gallery or something inside, and it said "this SIDE of the Library closed." Using our immense powers of deduction, we deduced that there was, in fact, another part of this library. There was only one direction it could be in, so we followed the edge of the closed side of the library, until we came to a handy enclosed Library-Bridge that spanned the bike path and a stream, extending over to the mysterious and elusive Other Side of the Library.
Surely this was the answer. Again, we strode boldly up the steps (different steps this time) to the Library-Bridge door....and again, were turned back by a locked door. Now that we knew there was another side of the library, an open side, something as small as a locked Library-Bridge door was not going to stop us. We still had so many productive tasks ahead of us.
Down we walked, down to the bike path by the stream, with Library, Part 2 clearly visible...on the other side. Back we walked, all the way back out to the road, where we could cross the stream. We headed down the small path in the direction of our goal (ironically, the same small path that we had walked earlier, to the Not-Library- just a little further this time.)
Arriving in a parking lot by the library, we realized that this was the back of the library. At this point, such a small thing as landscaping was not going to keep us from the quickest route to the entrance. We bushwhacked through the landscaping, arriving in short order at the front entrance to the main branch of the Boulder Public Library (note that all the letters were present.)
Inside the library, we quickly found the front desk, where I set about getting a library card. No hassles here. Mackenzie, at this point, decided that she would get one, too. However, not having read the handy website, she was unaware that proof of address was required. The man at the counter didn't care that we were roommates and so she had the exact same address. No library card for her. No way, no how.
This small setback behind us, we headed to the adult fiction section, the sci-fi/fantasy subsection, the J shelf....where my book was not waiting. Not a single copy of my book was there. Wanting to check all possibilities, we went to a library catalog computer, where I looked up the book. "Checked Out," said the status, "Due back 8/30/08."
8/30/08? That was...the very same day. "Maybe it's been turned in, and just not shelved yet," said Mackenzie. With this ray of hope, we headed to the information desk.
The information lady brought a large mass of grey clouds for the express purpose of killing my ray of hope.
"No," she said, "If it has a due date on it, that means it's still out. Even if the due date were two years ago."
No book for me.
Ah, well, there were still many more productive things to accomplish! Postcards! Target!
At about this point, Mackenzie realized that she did not, in fact, have her wallet with her. No postcards could be obtained. No Target trip. But there was still my ATM/quarters mission.
We got back on the bus, at the stop Right By the path to the library, where we easily could have gotten off lo, those many minutes ago, had we known where we were going. The bus came quickly, and we went back to the UMC on campus. (The UMC is the MU, if that eases any confusion.) Approximate time: 5:15.
Arriving at the UMC, we were pleased to note that it was not super-crowded, as it often is. For the third time on our expedition, we strode boldly up the steps...and were, for the third time, stopped by a locked door. Yes, the UMC closed at 5 that Saturday, because it was a holiday weekend. No ATM. No quarters.
Out of the oh, six things we were going to accomplish, the only success was that I was the proud new owner of a library card.
For the next few days, I checked the library's online catalog obsessively for my book, waiting and waiting for the person to turn it in so I could read it. "Checked out," the status said, "Due back 8/30/08." At one point, I noticed that other branches of the library had copies in. I also noticed that I could put holds on books with the website. So I put a hold on it, and specified my pickup location as the main branch.
After that, I checked the website obsessively to see if my hold was ready yet, until, yesterday-
Status: "On Holdshelf. Pick up by 9/8/08"
Triumphant, I planned a new library expedition. Mackenzie was coming along, too, this time with proof of address, so that she could get a library card. The evening of Wednesday the 3rd (7:45ish, the library closing at 9 that evening), we got on the bus, no problem, and made it to the convenient library bus stop, knowing exactly what we were doing this time around. We were pros at this getting-to-the-library business. In we walked, up to the front counter, where Mackenzie began getting a library card.
I directed my attention to the man behind the counter.
"I have a book on hold...." I said.
"The holdshelf is right over there," he said, pointing, "It's alphebetized by initials, but it's backwards."
With that somewhat odd description, I headed over to the hold area, navigating quickly and efficiently to the "C" shelf. The books all had tickets sticking out of them, with letters in the pattern "C, G N." I scanned the rows for a "C, R A."
There was no such ticket to be found. Determined to be thorough, I checked a few more times, then looked at each book to see if it simply had an incorrect ticket (not as daunting as it sounds, there were only 20 or so.) There was no Robert Jordan book. Even though the initial system seemed fairly straightforward, I checked the "R" section, in case it was very backwards. It wasn't.
I headed back to the information desk, where Mackenzie had just finished getting her library card, and got in the two-person line (I was behind some kid, maybe 12 years old, who had $18, yes Eighteen Dollars in library fines)
I got to the front relatively quickly, and asked the man, "I have a book on hold, and I checked online, and it says it's ready, but I looked over there, and I don't see it. I was just wondering-"
He cut me off. "Did you get an email?"
"Well, no, but the online library-thing says it's on the holdshelf, ready to pick up."
"No, no, that just means it's arrived here (gestures to include the entire library, and probably several cubic miles of airspace besides). It's not actually on the holdshelf until you get an email."
So, apparently, despite the fact that the computer says "On Holdshelf" and gives me a DEADLINE to pick it up by, it isn't REALLY there until I get an email from the library.
"If it says it's on the holdshelf, you should be getting an email in the next few days, probably. Then you can come get it!" the man said, far too brightly for my current grim situation. I wanted that book.
The next day, (9/4), I checked my email, bright and early when I got up.
Guess what? In my inbox, an email from the library.

"The following item(s) is ready to be picked up at
the library location listed below..."

Less than 24 hours (really, only slightly more than 12) since my last trip to the library, and, sure, NOW they had my book. So, of course, I went and got it. And it was there!

On the way back, I stopped at the UMC, which was open, and got a roll of quarters.

Rianne

P.S.- My current/new favorite song is "Romeo and Juliet" by the Killers (originally by Dire Straits, but the Killers version is better.) Check it out!

As Promised, Sand Castles in the Rain

The Sand Castle Building Crew with the Citadel...notice I'm  in my PJ's cause I had already changed to read Gilgamesh and certainly didn't take the time to change back...definitely different PJ's to bed that night.

The Volleyball game that was happening at the same time a few feet from us.

Gotta love the sand bridge.

Ellie with her EVIL CITADEL...she isn't normally that scary looking.

Ellie adding the finishing touches.

SO yeah...more posts/pictures to come...but everyone else should post too!

The Furthest Corner

When Alaska scattered, I ended up ten thousand miles away, in a place that looks suspiciously like Fairbanks in parts....that's right, Hagan, Norway. And, like any good exchange student, I spend a lot of time comparing AK and Norway, which is exactly what they tell you not to do. But I can't help it. Anyway, some stuff is scarily similar-- skiing and school social structure and scenery and other esses....
The differences take longer to notice. Obviously, the language, which I expected. But every now and then, something sort of jumps up and hits me in the face. Licorice candy is heavily salted and tastes of ammonia, even when it looks perfectly innocent. It's fashionable to tuck one's pants into one's socks, sometimes with a hairtie wrapped around at the ankle as well, just to make sure the cuff is as tight as possible. (And don't ask me about man-pris!) In Oslo, there are places where drug users can get free needles, because that way at least they can shoot up safely. And they include an excerpt from the Kama Sutra in a textbook of mine...right next to the excerpt from the Bible.
Oh, and I can't count the number of times that I've had to explain that (a) Alaska is not its own country (b) Alaska is not part of Canada (c) There are 50 states now, and AK is one, and (d) Yes, people really live in AK. But I guess it's understandable, because usually they cut most of Alaska off on world maps, because anything west of California and east of Japan really isn't important.
Well, other than that, I'm doing the normal exchange studenty things....getting lost, taking the wrong busses, figuring out the money, speaking broken pidgin norwegian, accidentally mispronouncing words so they sound like norwegian profanity, understanding what the teachers say in class but not wanting to admit it because then I'd actually be expected to do homework....and generally having a good time.
Further bulletins as events warrant.
Liz

close encounters

So, there was this praying mantis under my lunch table today....

Epic Arizona Storm

So, the first week I was here, everyone was talking about how it was monsoon season, which made it humid, but not quite as hot....etc etc etc. And I really had little to no idea of what a monsoon actually was. I mean, I understood the idea in theory...but didn't really understand what it was like to be in one. 

I do now.
  
Its last Thursday and I am walking back from Argentine Tango Club with my CA and all around in the sky we can see lightning, its like a strobe light, constant and crazy. The wind starts to pick up, but no rain comes down. We get back to the dorm without anything too interesting happening, and due to the fact that I had about 40 pages of the Epic of Gilgamesh to read by the next day, I went inside and started to read, I opened the curtains to watch the lightning, and after a while it started to POUR. One of the girls runs past soaked, and the Eric (my CA) immediately heads outside. Of course I follow everyone...and its AMAZING. In Alaska it kinda drizzles, in Arizona it may not rain often, but it rains with enthusiasm. I live in one of nine dorms kinda surrounding a center courtyard, its called Center Complex and I live in Hayden South. The dorms of Center Complex are completely populated by honors kids, so as a whole it tends to be a much quieter area of campus. 

It certainly isn't tonight. Everyone is outside, screaming, laughing, splashing, using the grassy parts as a Slip'n'Slide, playing volleyball in the mudpit of our sand volleyball court. A group of us go up on one of the terraces, we sing shout scream. It is the most fun I've had since coming. Everyone has this incredible camaraderie from the incredible, crazy, amazing storm. 

And wet sand automatically means sand castles right? I'll offer up pictures of Ellie's Evil Obelisk.