August 2005 Archives

So besides the noticeability that comes along with my hair colour, I had my film debut at MIT yest. This group of kids was wandering around campus videotaping frosh answering questions about alcohol & sex at MIT, and I ended up being one of them.

Which equals me being ditzy on a large screen in front of a good deal of my freshman class. Rock on.

But I did answer one question exactly right, and they didn't even use that part of the clip.

25% of MIT frosh will lose their virginity this year. Think about it.

Slash a two-dimensional anime-haired cheerful Power Ranger.

Slash a nonexistent upperclassman.

Classes don't start until September 7, so basically we've been having lots of fun starting way too early in the morning and going way too late.

Highlights include terrorizing unsuspecting upperclassmen until they kick us out of their lounge because "no one there likes us," impersonating the Power Rangers, being overly friendly with less bitchy upperclassmen, writing on the walls of my dormroom, spaghetti wrestling, making fun of Texans, making fun of Cliftons, having my hair glow under the black light in the bexment, being a fashion diva, answering questions about drinking&sex at MIT on camera & MUCH MUCH MORE.

Yay college.

'kay, love you, bye.

Edit: Contact lens solution in a ziploc bag will do the trick. And you don't even have to waste a lot of solution by filling up the whole bag. Just enough for a little corner and let gravity do the rest. Magic!

Um, yeah.

Except it is hot as balls in my dorm room. Seriously dying.

Which is probably why I should go out and find something to do.

No roommate yet! Perhaps she doesn't exist?

But what's ten minutes to dash off a last pre-college post?

My yearbook did, eventually, come. On Wednesday, only four days after everyone else got theirs. A couple typos in my profile, but none so egregious as "abusing herself in spirit," so I guess I got off easy. There are more pictures of me in there than I expected, including, unfortunately, one from graduation. And then there's the fabulous "most intelligent" with my hair falling in my face. And I love how my hair's different in like every single picture. Oh, good times.

The last two back-to-school items of clothing I was waiting for arrived via post yesterday, so that was splendid. Though my dad made fun of me for spending like $30 on a t-shirt. That's only, like two hours of work, whereas I will definitely spend more than two hours of my life wearing that t-shirt. Whatevz.

I also went into the city for lunch with Tom and dessert ft. two special guests. Presents! No, the special guests were my lovely aunt Jane & equally lovely might-as-well-be-aunt Laura. But there were indeed fabulous gifts. Including a HP Photosmart 720, take two. Hopefully no beaches in this camera's future. But lots of pseudo-artsy shots to come. The other gift was a box of envelopes to provide for my weekly pizza urges. Because everyone loves pizza. :DDD

And on the train ride home I had to pee more badly than I have ever had to in my entire life. And there were these little blonde girls going "NIKKI! NIKKI! NIKKI!" and talking loudly about my hair, so of course I had to make an effort and smile benevolently at them. Which is trying, when your bladder is threatening to explode.

Eventually the longest train ride of my life ended, and I was excitedly anticipating walking all the way home from the train station while trying not to wet myself, when I spotted an angel in the form of one of my sister's little friends playing in front of her house next to the train station. Feeling like a total stranger-with-candy I asked if I could use her bathroom. And she let me. And all was right again with the world. Though I still had to walk home with a stack of two boxes and my leftover pasta from lunch.

So, yeah, we're driving up to Connecticut tonight, stopping at my grandmother's house to abandon the bratlings, then continuing up to Cambridge tomorrow morning.

MIT ho!

"Getting an education from MIT is like taking a drink from a fire hose."

This layout inspired partly by that quote and partly by Safari's RSS feed style sheet. So minimalist, so classy!

T minus two days and counting.

Too bad I am too unskilled to actually get it seated myself. My daddy had to do it because apparently I wasn't pushing it in hard enough. I'm sorry I didn't want to break the $150+ piece of hardware. I just have a tender soul.

So now I think my darling's going faster, but it's difficult to say. That's the idea, though, right?

I stumbled upon this random girl's ell-jay, which I enjoyed skimming briefly because she comes across as having such a keen enjoyment for life.

In that spirit, this entry will attempt to be as upbeat and complaint-free as possible. Starting. . . now!

Remember how I thought I failed my math diagnostic test? Well, perhaps you don't, but I do. I thought they were going to kick me out of MIT for getting like the worst score ever. But don't even worry, my future is, for now, secured.

Part I - Algebra - 24 /25
Part II - Geometry and Analytical Geometry - 21 /25
Part III - Trigonometry - 16 /20
Part IV - Logarithms, Exponentials, and Complex Numbers - 25 /25

TOTAL Score 86 /95
Weaknesses Noted: None

Of course, it's MI effing T, so I'm sure at least half the freshman scored 95/95, but I'm just proud I didn't fail. Ew trig.

I found out that our results were up, again, via someone else, approx. a week after they'd been posted. I don't know if I am just more apathetic than everyone else or what, but really not doing so well on keeping up with the times.

At any rate, I also now know my Freshman Advising Seminar: 17.S10 Race, Ethnicity, Gender and my HASS-D: 21H.104 Riots,Strikes,Conspir: Am Hist.

Cha-ching!

And I'm leaving in less than a week, ahhh! Started shopping yest. with teh M. Bought all sorts of things. [Buying back-to-school supplies like pens & pencils, etc. has to be the most boring shopping experience evar!] The fun stuff was sheets & a comforter & a bathrobe. Oh, my bathrobe. It is too ridiculous. Blue and turquoise vertical stripes. A hood. BFF AAf.

Not quite finished; want to buy some clothing still. Those stylish track jackets. Perhaps a light coat.

Other tasks left to do before my departure include le dyeing of les cheveux. I.e., making it atomic pink. Because I'm a little addicted. The bleach&dye arrived from Amphigory today, so all that's left is to guilt my mother into acting against her gut instinct. But that shouldn't be too difficult. If I don't want a boyfriend, that's my prerogative, she says. [Nice boys aren't attracted to girls with weird hair, obv.]

I am pretty much a kickass driver. Tolly comfortable at the wheel. Drove from Allentown to Wilkes-Barre and then all the way home. Highway driving, whee. Merging, changing lanes, going fifteen miles per hour over the posted speed limit, assholes galore. Yeah, son.

Friday I bid adieu to my sweet KJ. She's currently at Lafayette, most likely playing manhunt with her new friends. Or avoiding playing the game to the best of her ability, because it's not really her style. She squeals if you poke her in the middle of the day, while you're standing right next to her.

And I received some sweetsweet CDs from M.Cass. Including Soul Coughing and teh Goo Goo Dolls. Oh, the late 90s. I miss you terribly. Except for the part where I was an awkward preteen.

I also didn't completely suck at dancing, dancing, and revolting Fri. evening. Yes, I was playing beginner's mode, but still. Definitely improved since last I plodded around the DDR pad. Go team!

1.5 more days of work.

AHHH, COLLEGE!!!!!!!!1111one

PS: I unconditionally guarantee that HOE.org: COLLEGE EDITION will be up soon. I'm sorry this layout is trying on those with sensitive artistic natures. You'll just have to deal for the mo.

PPS: If my yearbook doesn't find me soon, the probability of me eating someone's brains will continue to grow exponentially greater.

So I've been having a busy week.

Wedz. = Allie B & I attended Sienna's going away party and had a barrel and one half of fun [involving s'mores and sidewalk chalk et c.]. Mostly because we are bitches. Sienna, I respect your lifestyle choices. <3 Friends forever.

No, Allison is just really fun to be around, I think because we've known each other forever. Even though we weren't on speaking terms two years ago. Oh, high school.

Thurz. = I attempted to drive to Will Bruce's party in the rain and was v. g. at getting lost. But I eventually delivered his Pirate tape to him. And we had a brief but meaningful conversation. And then I was off to Melissy's, where I got to hang out with people I never see. I.e., Amay, @, & Marge. Who are all fabulous. As well as Steve Straub, whose hair is wonderful. And AT made fun of me for being ditzy even though it was like FOUR YEARS AGO. And Amay is as darling as evar. And Peg and I reminisced over the approx. 3 memories we share together. Fabulous!

And I lunched with Miriam tod. who is leaving for college TOMORROW. And I talked to a new friend [via the Internet] who is not really new because he has secretly read my entire blog up through last summer. So he is basically extremely well-equipped to tease me while I impotently use all caps back at him. But it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship, I can tell. [Bitch. <3]

And I made KT a college blog with a layout I would never use in a million years for myself because I hate America, but since she is genetically predisposed to love American history [to an extent that I worry she will have premarital sex and get herself in a sticky situation!], it is quite suited to her. And hopefully she enjoys it.

A new one for me is coming soon. I actually made it a while ago, but I didn't want to put it up and get bored of it before I even left for college. So. Perhaps this weekend.

And Andrew, you are a jerk. I've heard about your AIM/cell phone exploits. And it shames me. But I still have an undying love for you and your British accent. Marry me, plz.

TONIGHT: WE FEAST!

Our internet is mysteriously not working, so the only way I can access the rest of the world is by sitting in my backyard, on the outer reaches of my neighbour's wireless internet network.

The best part is that there are mosquitos galore out here getting drunk off my vital essence. Second best is I'm trying to FTP and it's slow as something that's really really slow.

In other wireless news, I went to Panera last evening and brought along my iBook to try out their free wifi and guess what!

This site is blocked by the SonicWALL Content Filter Service.

URL: http://www.her-own-eyes.org/

Reason for restriction: Forbidden Category "Adult/Mature Content"

Is that too intense or what? Like, there aren't even pictures of naked Asian lesbians here or anything.

I feel like I have so much to do and way too little time to do it. Which is a shame, because it's fucking SUMMER. But you know.

On Saturday I went to a local MIT frosh picnic. And of about 15 students who attended, 3 were male. And no, there weren't any aliens or robots or "it"s in attendance. The rest were female. Does that make sense to anyone? So much for stereotypes, MIT.

Actually, my class should be about 50/50. Which is fab, I guess, in terms of progress and equality and all that. But which still does not equal 3/15 boys. The mind is boggled.

Not much else is going on in my life besides work. Some creative pursuits in the "making blog for friend" and "sewing design on skirt" veins.

I want a 1GB 200-pin SODIMM DDR PC2100 memory upgrade for my iBook real bad. And as soon as I get my next cheque, I'm going to buy one. And a colour LCD iPod. And probably an HP all-in-one. But I'm not nearly as eager for that.

And wherrrrre are our yearbooks? Not that I'm dying to see my chunderiffic picture or anything, but I like getting mail. And I kind of want to insert my insert before I lose it. If I haven't already. Lost it, I mean. Which is a definite possibility.

I am pretty much an awesome automobilist. I know, I should have had my license like two years ago. But. I'm busy.

So my dad has been constantly nagging me about driver's lessons and I am like no, thx. And he's like, "okay, so, when are we going to go to the DMV? We have three weeks left."

Me: Um, I can't take the test if I don't know how to drive.
Him: Well, why aren't you ready?
Me: I need confidence.
Him: Because of your mother? [wtf?]
Me: Um, no, because I NEVER PRACTICE.
Him: Oh.

After we go to the library.

Him: *walks to passenger's side of car, gives me keys*
Me: -_- It's night! And rainy!
Him: You can't drive at night? *starts to stand up*
Me: No, I can drive at night. *snatches keys* But I don't have my permit with me. *gets in car, drives home like an ACE*

And then the next night I drove to the veterinarian and back. And last night I drove to the mall and home, WITH my brother and his obnoxious friend in the back. Resulting casualties: zero.

So maybe once I perfect my parallel parking skillz, I'll be able to get my license. And won't that be something!

I know, I am teh grand high priestess of l4m3. Don't be jellus!

Do you know what's surprisingly convincing? This. But don't even think about clicking if you haven't finished the Half-Blood Prince. Repent at leisure.

So how about a OMFG 16 DAYS?!!?!?!?! Yeah.

And how about the eBay search "DIY" in women's clothing is highly addictive. Adorable skirts, shrugs!, and too much awesomeness to link. Why am I not a sewing goddess?

Teh beach was fabby fab fab! Even though I hate sand with a fierce and undying passion, the water was lovely and surprisingly warm for the Jersey shore. Plus boogie boarding = tons o' fun.

All in all, an excellent period of relaxation.

Then was the wedding/camping extravaganza, which can perhaps be divided into three categories:

the exceedingly unpleasant: setting up the tent in the dark with obnoxious siblings, taking down tent in the heat while obnoxious sibling goes for LEISURELY CANOE CRUISE, having personal space invaded by too many insects, sleeping on— or at least attempting to sleep on— the ground

the phenomenally fun: getting my groove— how you say— on, pwning the volleyball court, pwning the croquet pitch[?], being a suckass canoe paddler, EATING!, blowing scented[!] bubbles

the singularly special: visiting Monticello, remembering that people actually have southern accents— including some who live in Virginia, being gifted a mint condom and listening to a well-meaning albeit alcohol-fueled lecture about college and sex, being instructed to use the code "'my friend' needs an abortion" if I have any questions in the future, being instructed to ignore everything previously heard by equally well-meaning more conservative fatherly relative, swimming in the extremely sketchy— and leech-infested— pond with patches of warm and cold water and muck galore

It was an experience to remember, to be sure.

[Forgive the excessive em-dashes. I'm experimenting with punctuation.]

In dorm news, I am falling more in love with bexxxley every day. Of course, because I'm me & lame like that, I had to scour the web for Bexley references.

Plz just read the story of Bexley vs. the FBI and try not to cream yrself with glee.

The rules of Bexley:

1. Bury your own dead.

2. Freshmen cannot smoke pot in the elevators.

3. No more rules.

Rule two becomes especially poignant with the revelation that there are no elevators at Bexley.

Oh, Bexley. Tr00 luv. You even have an "x" in your name, a spectacular letter, if there ever was one.

The only thing that makes me a bit sad is the mystery of my roommate. So I pretty much am on facebook everyday searching for 2009 Bexleyites with the same room number as me, but it is all in vain. My roommate is either a) a Luddite, b) too lame to know what the facebook is, c) traumatically upset that she was sorted into Bexley and transferring out of there ASAP, or possibly d) far too cool & laidback to obsessively update facebook.

My fingernails are gnawed to the cuticle with anxiety/anticipiation. Only not really. My fingernails are all rather normal, if not on the longish side. I do have that one toenail that sort of fell off earlier this summer, but it's growing back quite zippily and could pass for normal.

PS: Bizz, you had best be going to that picnic, or my heart will break irreparably into a thousand shards. And we will probably have to be mortal enemies, locked in combat for all of eternity. It happens.

After walking 1.4 miles with teh M. who had the brilliant idea to walk to Stone Harbor for breakfast at an ungodly hour of the morn, and ordering my everything bagel with veggie spread and cranberry raspberry fruit-tea freeze, I was sorely tempted by the "INTERNET ACCESS $10 FULL DAY" signs in the cafe.

However, having not lugged my iBook those four-tenths and one miles, I thought I might come back at a later date. But when I returned home, after recuperating a bit, I did the old "move laptop around to different spots in the house" trick and found an open wireless network, accessible from a corner of the family room. Cha-ching! No ten dollar fee for me, and I don't even have to leave the house.

So the results of the MIT housing lottery have apparently been up for a week, and I only just noticed that an awful lot of people seemed to have their room numbers up on facebook.

My housing assignment?

Even though it was my third choice after Senior Haus & East Campus [those "stereotypically more involved in countercultural activities" -- god, I love wikipedia], I've had a special place in my heart ever since our "running tour" of the dorm.

Plus, the location is sweetsweetsweet in the center of campus. Just read the wiki article and try not to love it. "distinctive anarchic and free-spirited subculture"? Hellz, yes.