All Hallows Eve

I love this time of year. Skulls, ghosts, pumpkins, and kids dressed in costumes.  I could not light the jack-o-lantern as it was so windy, but I had "fake" one lit.  We only had about 8 kids and their parents, but that was more than last year -- that is what happens in the country.

Best part was the Chinese food and Champagne!

Bathing

It is getting colder outside and I have to think about what to do with the bird bath.  I have to try and find either a heater or a new setup with a heater so our bird friends have water through the winter.  I would hate to take it away completely when the rely on it being there. 
A female House Finch figured out the water was also for bathing.

Podcasting

I got fed up with poor recording quality and programs spazing out and not saving = missing class lectures. I bought a USB microphone and, with the aid of GarageBand, recorded class as a podcast with amazing accuracy, clarity and simple exporting. I should have thought of this before! I mean really, I have worked with GarageBand before for other class projects, but not quite in the same format.

Classes on Tuesday

I have a feeling today is going to be a very long day. I have a Japanese Dialogue check, the only thing I severely dislike about the class, then 2 more classes with breaks between until I can leave sometime after 18:00.

The only thing I want to do right now is take a nap, just a nap, as I have a lot I want to get done today.

Maybe later.

Time

Saturday starts National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
Six weeks until the end of the Fall 2008 college semester.
About two months until the end of 2008.
About six months until "nice" weather returns.

...and the processes repeats itself over and over until the end of this physical body.

Sunday and Computers

Today ended on a windy note -- 50+ mph winds that is. Still not an over all bad day. Did some coding on a couple of web sites, studied some Japanese and Classical Tibetan; pretty much sums the day.

Wow, a bolt of lightening just lit up the sky and a rolling rumble of thunder followed ... and now another set. Thunder storms are beautiful, esp. at night when the lightening produces a creepy lighting effect.

Computer Headache

I spent the day, not doing homework like I wanted to, but fighting with the Mirror Agent for my iDisk. I knew I could fix the "problem" as something similar happened when MAC had the "brilliant" idea to release MobileMe and the iPhone at the same time. Nothing is perfect and there are always bumps in the road. I am just glad to be back on track and able to sync my iDisk again, even if it took 3 hours to fix.

She-who-Squeaks

Squeaky sitting in front of my MacBook.

taken with iSight cam through Photo Booth

Toothpicks for Eyes?

I have come to the conclusion that round about 14:30-15:00 is nap time. The problem:  I have a class.  Coffee does not help; only makes me have to pee.  I try so hard to fight the sleep deprived-ness, but this is a losing battle.  I love the class, but I cannot keep my eyes open. 

On & On

This day has to end.  I have been going almost non-stop since 07:30. 

Campus, errands, Japanese class, force register form, pick up computer, drive home, feed & water the birds while waiting for Mom, take computer back to brother and set up, go home get coffee and books for night class, drive back to campus, Classical Tibetan class, drive back home, dinner, homework while half watching TV, soon bed.

Snowish & Text

The Tibetan text our class (of 4) will be working with was available in the copy center. My friends call it a language of "squiggles," but rest assured the "squiggles" make sense. 

It did try to snow, but it was more of a wet mess.

Snow!?!

Really, even a possibility is scary in the sense that I am not ready to drive in snow, slush, or on icy streets.  BOO! Oh well, this is an inevitable downside to this area.  I do not mind the cold temperatures or snow on the ground, it is driving in that nasty stuff I do not care for.

Productivity

Woke up at the normal Sunday time,

cat at my feet - curled,

usual breakfast,

finished all work for a class,

  two weeks early,

  now it is over,

two loads of laundry,

cooked two meals,

bad tofu made me ill,

  even though it smelled fine,

feel better,

Japanese homework done,

almost time for bed.

Stuffed

A friend gave me birdseed for all my friends outside.
It was a big hit.
This is Chipper's impression of a full vacuum cleaner.

TGIF

End of the week
sleep in tomorrow
hockey game
Sabres win - again
\(^.^)/
hockey tomorrow
homework
laundry
anime?

Fair Trade Chocolate

Chocolate arrived for Reverse Trick-or-Treats.

More info: globalexchange.org --- reversetrickortreating

Fly

Female House Finch flies away after a drink at the local watering hole.

Moon

The moon is huge tonight;
casting spectacular shadows!

にほんごのDialogue Check

A：あ、Rockyさん、こんにちは。

B：あ、Squeakyさん、こんにちは。いま、ひるごはんですか。

A：ええ、きょうじゅうにじにじゅぎょうがありました。

B：そうですか。たいへんですね。

A：ええ。で、Rockyさんは？

B：わたしはとしょかんへいきます。ごごはたいていとしょかんでしゅくだいをします。

A：そうですか。

Yard

There is a little mouse

outside my house,

a flock of birds

who dropped their turds,

and a chipmunk

with cheeks like a trunk.

Novel

November is almost here, and it is time for National Novel Writing Month. I failed miserably last year, meaning I created characters, but never had time to go further. This year I am determined to at least start writing, and truly hope to get to the 50,000 word mark by the end of the month. One of my college classes is ending just before the start date, so I plan to use the time I spent for that class to write my novel. My other classes are demanding, but I am sure I can write every morning while I drink my coffee and do my homework the night before. I am really excited!  I plan to write the novel I attempted to write last year, Oceania 7712 N.E. (well that is the working title, which might just end up as the subtitle).

Hockey Time

Today marks the start of the 2008-2009 Buffalo Sabres hockey season. They play, division rival, Montreal Canadians at home in Buffalo. I started to decorate the den, dusted off the foam finger and got out my Sabres T-shirt to wear during the game -- only.

Let's Go Sabres!

Crashed

My brother's computer crashed today; beyond what we could repair. We took the tower to get a diagnostic check and see if the hard drive died or is corrupted. This is the second time this year his computer crashed and he did not learn his lesson the first time when he lost everything.

Decked Out

I started decorating for All Hallows' Eve. These are not too spooky, but will hopefully will spook the birds enough to not think they can fly though our house.

Cold

frosty morning windows

Junco friends return

colourful trees

wilting flowers

shorter days

digging for gloves

Orange Guest

We have a guest this afternoon. Normally this guest arrives near nighttime, but not today.

Dirty Laundry

I finally had time to do some laundry today! I cannot believe I was so excited about laundry. Clean undies, T-shirt and hoodies --- oh yeah and a couple pairs of sweatpants. I also forgot my bed pants, an oversized pair of plaid cotton pants (2 or 3 times too big) -- the only pants I wear to bed. What the hell is so special about laundry? Simple there is not much I like and tend to wear the same things always: T-shirts, jeans, hoodies, and that plaid pair of bed pants. What can I say, I would rather spend my time on more worth while endevours.

Writing Essays

I did almost nothing today except sit in front of this computer reading and writing my homework for my Digital Internet-working class.

20091 List

I still have to get the photos posted, but I got my car back the other day and it was only a battery terminal end. I made up my mind about next semester classes:

1. Film History 2

2. Programming for Digital Art

3. Web Programming 2

4. Japanese 1st year, 2nd semester

5. Classical Tibetan 2nd year, 2nd semester

Squash Tops

I used to hate squash, but just recently (right before I made these), I found out I love this squash.

"It's a toaster!"

We bought a new toaster.
It makes a lot of noise.
esp. in the early morning.