It will get better...

I've had a heck of a week. And even though it's been difficult, some of my mother's natural optimism has made its way into my psyche so I knew things would get better. And I'm glad to say that they have. The large capacity copier was on the fritz the first day of classes (of course) and now it's fixed. The new, multi-functional copier in my office wasn't doing what I wanted it to do and now it's cooperating (yay!). The faculty, while most still don't know what class they're teaching and in which room to teach it, are starting to leave me a lone to do my actual work. My new GA is sweet, intelligent, and incredibly helpful. Classes should be interesting but sufficiently challenging (I'll confirm that after my first psych class tonight). I have plans for Friday night and even though it's not a date with a guy it'll still be a good time. All in all things are looking up. Now if only campus delivery guy hadn't quit...

3 cheers for TV!

Yay!!! Fall TV is starting next week! I actually had a dream about Gossip Girl last night. And...in case you're wondering...I will be giving 90210 a shot. Mostly because I want to see Brenda and Kelly again.

Classes start tomorrow. There has been a lot of stress the past couple of weeks but I'm surviving. A stressful week here is still waaayyy better than one day at my last job. Now I'll just have to find a way to juggle studying and tv in an appropriate way. I need to be a better studier.

And now for something completely different...

I felt really good after working out last night. That was new. And luckily I was able to deftly avoid "Breck" the trainer from hell. What a tool. But I think I'm going to enjoy this whole working out thing. I never thought I'd say that. Who knows if I'll be feeling the same way a few months from now but we'll see.

So I was going to take this psychology class (Social and Biological Basis of Child and Adolescent Behavior) that sounded pretty interesting but also was probably going to be very challenging. There turned out to be a list of reasons not to take the class. Some of these reasons include the book costing $250; said book being one that I'd never pick up again; the class takes place on Monday nights from 7-9:45 (worst time ever); a 600 level class and therefore probably waaaayyy above me; and lastly probably way more about research and less about actual content. So I dropped it and replaced it with Intro to Family Dynamics. I got that book online for $65 and we get to make a family tree in the class. Ding, ding, ding...we have a winner. Oh and the other class I'm taking is a poli sci class called, The Civil Rights Movement. I'll be curious about how that subject matter is handled seeing as we're in the deep south and all. I'm still shuddering from my Civil War (aka "War of Northern Aggression") class in undergrad.

So after this fall I have 4 classes left. One is a required poli sci class that I'm not looking forward to, Research Methods in Social Science (read: statistics), one more psyc class (hopefully an interesting "special topics class") and 2 more from the poli sci/crim justice group (keeping fingers crossed for Sociology and a film class). Heck, once I get my masters I could teach a film class for them. Hmmm...

I'm mad at the world, Joey, I'm a teenager.

Yes, my dear friends, I spent 24 hours in Capeside, Mass. I only took a couple of pictures but realized I should have put myself in them to prove I didn't just copy them off the world wide interweb. Next time, I promise. Hey, Russo, I did take liberty with one of the pics and it's meant for you. You may have to jog your memory a bit.

Leery's Fresh Fish

Whenever characters are down by the water- having meaningful discussions on the complexities of life as a tortured, well-written high school student- you tend to see this bridge in the background

We had a lovely weekend and it was so great to reconnect with old friends. Gus was pretty well-behaved which was a relief. The drive home, while rainy, wasn't too bad at all. Recently I've found that the drive back to our little corner of SC takes forever but this one was pretty good. You wanna know why? Books on CD, people. It makes the time just fly right on by. We listed to Stephen Clarke's A Year in the Merde. Where are my French speaking friends? I know you're giggling right now. Anyway he apparently wrote it in response to A Year in Provence. A Year in the Merde is pretty funny, a little dirty (weird when in a car with your mother) and pretty enjoyable. Plus the reader is English so who wouldn't want to listen to a nice English accent for 8 hours?

Whooooooaaaa Nelllyyyy!!!

Um, uh, er, uh...

Yikes. Ok, I hate to ask anyone to look closer but the top has fallen down, right? It looks like it's folded under her, um, girls. Even so, if you have girls of that size, wouldn't you think to give yourself a wee bit of support in the form of a halter or even the slightest of spaghetti straps (though I'm guessing those things could take out even the strongest of spaghetti straps). Yeesh.

BFFF!

I saw Pineapple Express this past weekend. I went to the $2 theater which is now actually up to $2.75 for the matinee but I'm not complaining because I get to see new movies for less than renting older ones. Anywhoodle, Pineapple Express was ok. I think I keep wanting Seth's stuff to be awesome so my expectations are too high. I am looking forward to Tropic Thunder though. I keep hearing great things even though they may have offended some already. But I won't be going to see it this weekend. No, this weekend I'm going to Dawson's Creek, er, Wilmington, NC. Mom and I are going to visit some family friends (Hot Holiday Jon and his family) and we're bringing Gus with us. I've never been on a road trip with Gus so I'm hoping it's gonna be good.

Hello. My name is Alisa

and I am an Olympics freak. However, by the middle of week two I do start to get a little tired of it. But for now, I'm so excited about the opening ceremonies tonight. I think I'm so enthralled with this Olympics because of China. I'm really curious about China. I'm really curious as to how much of the real China we'll get to see. Oh and if anyone ever sees a replica of the stadium (aka the Bird's Nest) being sold somewhere, let me know. I'd love to have something like that as a flower vase or candle holder or something.

My goal is to lose an Olsen twin

Well actually it's more like an Olsen twin and half of the other one. But for now I've lost 20 lbs. I was thinking how cool it'd be if I could reach this one goal I've set by Christmas.

Oh, I saw The Dark Knight again this weekend. It was just as good the second time. For some reason I can't make it 2 hours and 30 minutes without having to pee. What is that? When I'm at home I can go 3 or 4 hours without a trip to the bathroom. Why is it that the minute you sit in a theater seat it's like it starts some sort of a pee countdown? Like your body gives you 2 hours of comfort and that last 30 minutes is excrutiating. Maybe the problem is that movies shouldn't be 2 hours and 30 minutes long. Speaking of which, I watched Definitely Maybe last night which I enjoyed (aside from the ending). That was just under 2 hours long. What happened to the days of a good, 90-minute romantic comedy?

Anywhoodle...the Olympics start this weekend and I couldn't be more excited. Well I'd be more excited if you were to tell me that Gerard Butler was a big Olympics fan and he'd be at my house watching with me. No, that he was flying me to Tahiti to watch it on the 3 flat screen TVs he has set up in the living room of his house that's situated over the water and has glass floors so during commercials I can look down and watch the fish swim under us while he massages my neck and feeds me (low carb) chocolate bon-bons.