The hunt has officially started foooor…. My First Place (TM HGTV
lol)! I’m soooooo excited about “independency”… I don’t want a
roommate. I’ve decided. I’d rather be alone than have someone living
with me, when we both know that it wouldn’t be a “BFF” situation (and
even if I did live with close friends… I don’t know how long we would
remain so). I’ve found 2 ideal spaces. One RIGHT across from the mouth
of campus for like $950 a month and the other about a block away from
where I live now, in a retro-fitted, Historic building for $890 a month
(website!! http://www.bishopberkeley.com/ ). Ok, not like any of you
kids care, but I’m making a list of things that I feel are necessary
and a “Well, I’d like that… but I can live w/o” list:

Must Haves              
              
           
        Would Like (But Not Necessary)
Under
$1000               
              
              
   Hardwood Floors
Close ish to campus           
              
            Lofted space
Either utilities, water, or garbage paid             Beautiful Building
Attractive space           
              
              
   High speed/Wireless Internet
Relatively Safe neighborhood        
                
Laundry
Close
to public transportation        
               
Close to friends

Ah, I
love getting distracted by silly things! Anyway, other than stupid
cultural anthro reading, Beowolf looming over my shoulder, and trading
clothes every night, this is about all I’ve been doing. Sad sad
existence, right? OH. One more thing!

Went to the Of Montreal concert and it was AMAZING! Good gosh, why am I
so attracted to androgenous (“hmm he’s probably gay”) guys?! I mean,
sure Kevin Barnes was wearing a wedding dress and then changed into a
sequined pink and blue-jean top that didn’t button up… but I mean, he
was still way hott despite the rhinestone choker. Anyway, there was
this reaaaaaaaaaally funny opening group called Grand Buffet (visit
their website! www.grandbuffet.com) and they were these two white guys
(one of them loooked like an Irish Rasputin) and they rapped, but not
like gangsta rap. Like, they had weird funny stuff like “Oh My God
You’re Weird” and “Sensible Shoes Keep Me Outta the Hospital.” So, for
your reading pleasure, lyrics!!:

Americus: The Religious Right Rock
for sound –> http://www.grandbuffet.com/gb-AMERICUS-LIVE.mp3

I got a shirt made by little girl’s hands,

In a little warehouse on a little island.

I bet she’s even got herself a little boyfriend,

But she’d drop him in a flash for an American man.

TTFN. Ta ta 4 Now!

Today I had my first apointment with my therapist. Kelly. For a mental
image, think Jessie from Saved by the Bell with updated curly hair.
Soooooo yeah. I have another appointment on Monday and she’s going to
call me on Thursday and Friday to make sure I’m ok. On anotehr note. I
have the shingles.

I might have lost the only people that cared about me in Northern
California. Have tickets to see Belle and Sebastian, but I can’t make
myself feel happy. Only empty and hopeless. Sorry guys, I think I’m
really broken this time.

uggh, for once in my entire life, the rain is NOT my friend. Ok, so for
years I’ve totally stuck up for the rain (“come on guys! Rain is
wonderful! Cleansing and rejuvenating!!”)… but, that was before the
rain kept me from going to Disneyland. Fudge. I’m returning to NorCal
tomorrow without a last visit to the only thing in SoCal that actually
matters to me. The rain has, for now, lost its biggest supporter. Take
that!!

On another note, I’m glad/scared that some things in my mom’s closet
are actually starting to appeal to me. I mean, it’s great that I can be
like “Mom, I really want a hobo bag big enough to put heels in so that
I can change into them when we go clubbing in San Francisco” (lol, just
try to picture me in a club)… and she responds that she has a couple
from the 70′s and 80′s in the closet. Score! Not only do I get vintage
stuff, I don’t have to pay the vintage price… It’s like she’s helping
me save money.

Speaking of which, I’m really determined to stick to this allowance
I’ve set myself to. $50 a month. Yeah, Urban Outfitters will miss me,
but I really can’t spend this much money all the time. It’s almost
become cliche. This month, I am spending my money on something that
could turn into a disaster…

I’m going blonde.

I have a really good colorist in Berkeley and I trust him to do a good
job. I’m also really sick of getting comments like “Jessica, do you
realize you look like a 40-year-old?” (said by Rachel, Annie, and Ben)
or “So, how’s it feel to be a stepford wife?” (…is flipped out hair
really that out?!) oooooor my favorite “Wow, I never thought about how
much your hair resembles Martha Stewart’s!” ( … “thanks MOM”). Lam
(My stylist) will for sure be informed to make me look like I’m
actually 19, not 90.

I’m also not going to censor myself anymore to save the feelings of any
of my readers. Sorry, if you don’t want to hear about it. Don’t read
it.

Wish me luck on my dye-job this Monday!

So, the winter break is coming to an end… Time for another list!!! :::::

*I shall miss Lizzy, Holly, Connie, Rachel, Ben, Casey, and all 
of the Redlands  posse  SOOO much. These have been a fun few
weeks and I’m so glad you all are my best friends.

*I shall not miss “Redlands Bullshit” as Holly coined it, and I’m quite
happy to return to Berkeley where Agism isn’t an issue because EVERYONE
is a smart-ass college student.

*Disneyland has once again become my savior and I’m so happy I can
visit it whenever I want for the next 365 days (w00t)… yeah, I’ve
already gone like 9 times in the past 3 weeks.

*I wish Veronica well in seeing her tumble tots as she returns to work,
and I hope she knows that her visit was just what the doctor ordered.
Can’t wait for Spring Break and road tripping.

*Layering, while eccentric and acceptable in NorCal, is shunned and
rejected in SoCal… I must find a happy medium. Maybe wear only 2
shirts instead of 4?

*Visiting San Diego was good but it sure was filling! I don’t really
think it’s all Annie and Graham praise it to be, but I enjoyed seeing
both of them, and I’m excited to get back to the Dorms to hear all
about Winter Break craziness.

*Zara Khan, wherever you are, I hope your having a wonderful trip and don’t have the bird flu.

*Watching an average of 3 movies per day with my mom has spoiled me.

*So has going to bed at 4 AM and waking up at 2 PM…

*BUT my earliest class next semester is at noon (on thursday) and every
other day I start at 3 and have about 3 hours of class per day. w00t.

*Neuter’s Resolutions: Go to the Gym more often, Spend less than $50 a
month in all expenses, be a more effective student with better study
habits.

*I took the “which social disorder are you” quiz and I got “HAPPY”… this is a goooooood sign

*I hope every continues to blog their experiences, since AIM is by no
means a full report of what everyone’s up to. Keep me updated darn
you!!!

*In one week, I’ll be cursing public transportation as I hop on a
plane, a bus, a BART, transfer BARTs, hop on another bus (after waiting
like 30 minutes), and finally arrive back to Freeborn. Not looking
forward to the trip.

*Happy Camping!

All I have to say is that I cannnnnnnot wait until this semester is
over. Anthro final this Thursday, Celtic Studies final next Tuesday,
and Irish final next Friday. THEN I will be home for Christmas! Golly
gee. Seriously though, you guys have NO idea how happy I’ll be to be
home. I’ve enjoyed the past few months, but I am so DONE with these
classes. It’s rediculous. It’s horrible that my least favorite class is
the one that I’m doing for my major. Some things I’ve learned this
semester:

+ I am not cut out to be a Celtic Studies major. Ever. History is much
more my thing, and I’m so excited to do field school in Williamsburg or
Maryland this summer.

+ One of the biggest keys to success at college is a core group of
close friends. Both at school and at home. I don’t know what I would do
without Annie, Zara, Jason, Graham, Adam, and Kristin. And I’ve had
support from Lizzy, Casey, Holly, Ben, Rachel, Connie, and Sproul to
keep me alive, basically. lol. So, thanks you guys.

+ Tried and true. Studying always pays off. Do it more next semester.

+ The BART is not as complicated as I once thought. And the Fremont and
Richmond trains are the same thing, but opposite in direction.

+ Emailing important people is fun and usually results in something
good. AKA, a newfound confidence in oneself, a job, an internship,
volunteer opportunities for a National Conference, Summer Field school,
and hopefully a spot in a filled class.

+ I have learned absolutely NOTHING about boys. lol. They still and
always will remain a complete and utter mystery. They do however, keep
me at a mix of happy frustration.

+ And finally. The biggest and best thing I learned. DC++ saves me a LOT of money. heehee.

So raise your glasses to the end of the term! Oops, mine shattered.

bleh, my mom and I have switched cell phones, which means several things:

1. I have to carry around a bulky (almost Saved By the Bell model) huge cell phone
2. No more spiffy ringtones (aka I can’t hear “She Blinded Me With Science” when Lizzy calls)
3. NO MORE TEXT MESSAGING… I’m crying
4. I’m back to black and white o’ vision

On the good hand, my mom’s having a phone fight with Sprint, soooo
we’re switching to Cingular (eventually ha)… but until then, call my
mom’s cell if you want me. Let me know if you want the number but don’t
have it.

***

I’m so very happy for the break, especially since I’m sicker than I can
remember being in a loooooong time. Stupid cold. So I’ve had to cancel
some super fun plans. Ach so. But tomorrow I’m going to Oak Glen even
if if kills me. Aaaaah, and I have sooo much stupid stupid reading that
I need to do (I HATE YOU CELTIC STUDIES!) and I need to look through
Roxann’s college apps. Bleh…. why is this break soo inefficent? It’s
like as soon as you get comfortable, it’s like “HA! Break over!! Go
back to school and get ready for finals. P.S. You suck!” ~cries~ I’m
not ready for finals!

***

You would think that the phone technicians would be able to speak
English. gah. It’s kind of important… communication. uggh. I had to
give the phone to my mom because I was tired of saying “I’m sorry, I
can’t understand you.”

***

They’re doing an internet stalker thing and I swear I’ll have the image
of this naked guy in a kitchen speaking with the TV anchorman imprinted
in my mind FOREVER. Part of me just died inside.

***

Gobble Gobble. Hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was a-mazing! I love food. Yay for random posts!

I’ve been playing around with photoshop recently. Here’s some images I’ve come up with:

This one’s of Annie, one of my good friends at Cal… She dressed up as Mrs. Peacock for a Halloween party.

The background
layer is a photograph Graham (http://xiphiod.deviantart.com) took in
Venice. He’s not allowed to see how I screwed it up. lol

We watched Dead Poets Society (one of my ABSOLUTE favorites since Stevens’ class) and I felt inspired.

Click on the images to see a larger view.
I’m interested to see what people think too.
tra-la-la.

Harry Potter tonight!