Oscar Time

The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and, as usual, I have seen pretty much none of the nominated movies or performances. However, I do have a copy of Crash on DVD from the library right now so I hope to find a time to watch that in the next few days.

I did see War of the Worlds, which is nominated for three less prominent awards and which has earned Tom Cruise a Razzie nomination, for worst acting performance!!

Horrible book

I love to read books/short stories/plays that have been made into movies (preferrably before watching the movies), I guess to note the differences and try to figure out why those differences were made - to try to get in the creative mind of the filmmaker. Nine times out of ten, the book is way better than the movie. I mean, there is just a LOT that has to be cut out of a book to get it down to approximately two hours and rarely is one able to get attached to the characters in a movie like one can in a book. Anyway, I read this book the last couple of days that HAS to be one of the few where the movie is way better. And I haven't even seen the movie yet.

I'm talking about Just Like Heaven, which is a little romantic comedy starring Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. It comes out on video/DVD next week and it turns out it was based on a book called If Only It Were True by Marc Levy. I found this out and the book was only 229 pages so I thought it would be a pretty quick read and I requested it from the library. Not only was it a quick read, but it was also an awful read. I don't remember reading a book so bad... since, well, some Christian fiction book one of my friends made me read when I was in a book club a couple years ago. Ugh.

The overall plot of the story is kind of interesting and romantic, I guess, but the writing is so corny and stupid that you just don't care. The auxiliary characters that are introduced are irritating. I swear the same dialogue is used over and over and over again... I could go on. Why didn't I just put the book down and not finish it, you ask? A valid question, to be sure, but it was such a fast read that I figured I might as well get to the end - even though the end was incredibly predictable. I just cannot fathom how this stupid novel became an "international bestseller" as it claims OR how the author got what undoubtedly was a huge sum to have this drivel turned into a movie. Ironically though, I'm sure it will make a decent movie, though. It's one of those books that seems like it was written all along with the intent of being made into a movie, with even the author writing as if he was transcribing a movie.

Busy busy

I have no idea what I have been up to this past week but here I sit on a Sunday, having spent hours and hours in the computer lab to try to catch up on all my homework for the week. While I did manage to get the minimum assignments and postings for my two online courses completed today (the week ends on Sundays for these classes), I did NOT do all the reading that I am supposed to be doing. And I haven't even started the readings for my class that meets tomorrow night. Oy. I can't believe how far behind I already am in my classes and it's only the third week of school. Luckily, one benefit of not having a job is that I have free time.

I did apply for a couple jobs this past week, which I guess is what accounts for me being so behind on homework. Job-searching is more important to me than homework right now. However, I have not heard a thing from any of the jobs I have applied for so that is pretty frustrating. But it takes time, they say.

This week: more job stuff and maybe not only get caught up in my work but get ahead!?! Crazy thought.

Now I have a TV network named after me!

The big television news announced today (via TV Guide Online) is that the WB and UPN will merge in September and be called CW. The CW stands for CBS Warner apparently. Now the big question is which programming from both networks will make it to the new network. They say that my favorite Gilmore Girls is safe. Phew!

Animals running in front of me

I'm not even exaggerating but I counted SIX animals running in front of my car yesterday during the course of the day and it just seems like that would indicate bad luck or something. There were three cats, two squirrels and a skunk (I think, although honestly I don't even know what it was!!). None of the cats were black, although the squirrels were and presumably the skunk was, too, although that happened late at night and it was hard to determine its color. And, also, I didn't hit any of them.

Anyway, it was just weird, even if it isn't an indicator of bad luck....

Daymare

Today's word is 'daymare' which is pretty self-explanatory but not something I knew was really ever a word before.

daymare: n : a nightmarish fantasy experienced while awake

Isn't that just a bad daydream?

Dancing with the Stars spoiler...

I kind of get sucked in to that silly Dancing with the Stars show every Thursday because I really wish I could dance like that. I did force myself to go out last night before it was over, although I recorded it and watched the rest when I got home.

Anyway, so they have the dancing on Thursday nights and the elimination show on Friday nights. I know they advertise the Thursday show as being 'LIVE' and I just assumed this was also true of the Friday show. I honestly didn't really know or care. I haven't even watched the elimination show because it's just filled with fluff until the very last second when they announce who is voted off - just like the American Idol elimination show.

However, when checking some sites this evening, I found out that the name of the next person voted off is already on the Internet. It's this person here apparently going home. Or else it's just a coincidence that that person is going to be a guest on Regis & Kelly Monday morning - the same show that has featured the castoffs on Monday morning for the last two weeks. I'm guessing if ABC was aware that Regis & Kelly were advertising the name of the next castoff on their site before the results show airs, they would probably not be happy.

I know I have no money...

BUT I went to the mall today hoping to buy a calendar marked down to $3 (Waldenbooks drops them to $4 now - it used to be $3, but I guess I understand inflation.) but instead went into stores like The Gap, H&M and American Eagle. I bought this really cute skirt at American Eagle for $4.95. Come on, it was cute, it was a small size (a size I haven't worn in years), it fit and it was $5! I tell myself that once (if) I get a library job, it will be good to have some skirts. Although, miniskirts... not so much. This one isn't that short but it is above the knees.

But it was cute! And it was $5!!

HDTV blog

I found this article via TV Tattle that talks about a man's cat being into HDTV - sitting in front of and sometimes even touching the TV screen when a HD program is on. Seems he's not alone to have pets fond of HDTV. It was a cute article, complete with pictures of the fascinated cat. That site is also one of those ones with articles on which celebrities look good and which look AWFUL when broadcast on HDTV. Potmarks, agelines, blemishes, acne, etc... all show up on faces on HDTV. I find it fascinating to hear who looks bad, but I don't get too much joy out of it knowing full well that my face would look awful too!

Whinge

This is another word of the day that I might try to incorporate into my vocabulary...

whinge

v : to complain fretfully : whine

Here's me using the word in a sentence: At work on Saturday, my two co-workers whinged incessentantly about their depression.

First Day of School

Yes, today is the first day of classes for the Spring Semester. I successfully registered for three classes on Sunday morning, although I probably only will take two and will end up dropping one soon. After looking at who else is in my classes (just about the first thing I always do once the classes are loaded into my WebCT account), I am about 99.99% certain that I will in fact drop the class I'd been planning to drop. Way too many annoying people in there. However, there still raises the question about whether or not I should stay in the on-campus 'Digital Libraries' course. It's required for this certificiate program and it's better to get it out of the way as soon as possible but by taking it this semester, it means I must basically remain in Syracuse until May (or if I were to get a job elsewhere, I would have to figure something out with the professor to finish the course elsewhere... or just drop the course without a refund... yes, there are some options).

So Much to Watch, All on One Night

Tonight is a big TV night for me! Gilmore Girls is on as usual and that is already definitely one of my favorite shows, not to mention it's a high-drama episode tonight. Also, Love Monkey debuts tonight and I'm excited to watch that as I've had a major crush on Tom Cavanagh since the promos of Ed started airing back in like 1999 or 2000 or whenever it was. Also, American Idol is back tonight. Although that is definitely not one of my favorites (especially after recapping it last year for Inside Pulse), I do tend to watch it when nothing else is on and the episodes in the beginning of the season are always the best to watch anyway.

So, anyway, I'll be glued in front of the television tonight. Although perhaps I should be starting my homework...

Syracuse 80, Connecticut 88

The basketball game last night was kind of fun and all but boy, did the team suck. If you look just at the score, you will be sorely misled and think it was kind of a close game but it wasn't at all. Connecticut came out to a 12-0 lead and then pretty much led the entire game by at least that much, usually twice as much. It wasn't until about three minutes to go at the end that Syracuse pulled within ten points. But oh well, it was my first SU basketball game, my first time in the Carrier Dome and only my second major Division I college basketball game ever (that I remember...)!

Basketball game

Tonight, my friends & I are going to the SU basketball game vs. UConn. It'll be on ESPN tonight so look for me! Honestly, though, while our seats are not that great and the Carrier Dome is a pretty large arena, we do plan on going all out with painted faces and all the orange we can wear so maybe the cameras will find us!!

Dateless

Hmm, I wonder if there is any correlation between me always being dateless and me enjoying sitting home alone on a Saturday night watching the US National Figure Skating Championships?

Certificate of Advanced Studies

I've been considering pursuing this Certificate of Advanced Studies in Digital Libraries now that I'm finished with my Master's Degree and there are a few reasons for this:

1.) I had no idea that there really was such a program when I entered the Master's program and to pursue it simultaneously with the Master's Degree, every single elective must be Digital Libraries-related.

2.) The classes in this certificate program actually sound interesting and helpful and I've heard - from people in the classes - that this is true.

3.) Many, many job postings that I've seen ask for some element taught in this program.

4.) Pursuing further education lets me get more federal financial aid, which can help me pay my rent as I job search.

5.) The program can be entirely completed online and is only 15 extra credits for me, so I could fit this in with a job anywhere in the world.

So, all things considered, I haven't totally decided what to do, although I am leaning in that direction. Registration is not until Sunday. However, I was invited to and attended the new student orientation yesterday for all new students. I am considered a new student since I officially graduated. Anyway, I went out of curiosity, to see what they told the newbies, to see a few friends I knew would be working, to get free food and to hopefully kiss ass of the professor of the one class I want to take. Check, check, check, check. Everything was accomplished. But, what also was accomplished was that I got so pissed off at the ass-backwards way the school conducts things. They throw all this random information at the students in the most ridiculous order and format and then usher them off into advising sessions. They are told how to register and what they should register for... then they have to wait three days before they can do it. Then, because there is a holiday on Monday, if there are any problems, these can't be addressed until Tuesday. It's just ridiculous. What would be so awful about allowing registration to start earlier? What would be so awful about leading the groups to a computer lab and letting them register immediately after the orientation? There are just so many things about the way the program was organized that it made me so mad! So, yes, this really does make me rethink giving more money to this school!!

Abulia

n : abnormal lack of ability to act or to make decisions

I signed up to get one of those 'learn a new word each day' calendar kind of things delivered by email every day and never have I come across a new word that seemed so fitting for me!!

Close call... but I'm still not paying for Internet access!!

I've had AOL since early June now and haven't had to pay a dime for it. I got it free for whatever it was, 50 days or something with one of those 'try it free' disks that are everywhere. After the fifty days were up, I was able to con them into giving it to me free for another month... and another... and another... and another. Tonight, I thought I was in trouble and that my lucky streak had ended because I got someone new on the line. She said she had only been there about a month. Oy. She didn't really seem to know what she was doing yet and didn't even know all of the price plans to suggest to me (which I would then turn down, saying they were all too expensive...). She put me on hold for a significant length of time twice, all the while I kept thinking, 'She better offer me free service for another month after all this waiting.' I was worried, though, that she wouldn't be able to offer me free service. I mean, I wouldn't think a newbie would be able to just give it to me for free without checking with her boss. And, in fact, after talking to her boss, she came back to tell me that I should sign up for the Verizon Broadband package because even if I move, I can just take it with me. Umm, sure, if that place offers Verizon. I'm not convinced that the entire country has Verizon phone service available to it. Anyway, finally, she realized that the best thing to do would to just give it to me free for another month and went ahead and did that. Phew. I was really worried there for a few minutes.

Report card

I got my grades in the mail today and for the four courses I technically took in the fall, I got four grades. Well, duh, of course, you might say... except that one of those courses is the internship I'm finishing up at the med school library. Finishing up - in other words, not completed yet.

If I already have a grade, should I continue showing up?

Oops, wrong number

So, when I got back into town, I had an answering machine message and I thought perhaps it would be about the job I'd interviewed for mid-December but nope, the message went a little something like this:

"Hi Jessica, it's me Kevin, so now you can't say I didn't call you. I'm kind of sorry we're not matching up here so I'll try to call you later in the week. If not, send me an email, okay?"

Umm, guess what Kevin? Jessica can totally say that you didn't call because you didn't get her number right! Or maybe Jessica fudged her number on purpose... Hmm. This message made me curious on so many levels, starting with the fact that Kevin's voice sounded SO much like this guy I dated here. In fact, I thought it was him at first and was really confused. But I soon realized that it wasn't him but just another dopey guy.

Back in Syracuse

My ten days home went pretty quickly and now I'm back for my second full day in Syracuse. While I was home, I managed to see a few friends, hang out with my parents, see my brother, sister-in-law and nephew and celebrate Christmas, New Year's and an Ohio State Bowl game victory. All in all, a pretty good vacation. The one thing I did not do that I had planned on doing was apply for jobs, since my parents only have Microsoft Works on their computer. (Not that I find anything wrong with any of the Microsoft products at all, Mr. Gates.) But really that was just an excuse because I could have easily used that or gone elsewhere (like a library). I doubt that most companies do a whole lot of resume-viewing and interview-conducting during the last two weeks of the year, anyway.

When I got home Tuesday evening at about 7pm (after making AWESOME time), I went into ultra housekeeping mode and scrubbed floors, cleaned the bathroom, reorganized my closet, reorganized my kitchen cabinets and did some furniture re-arranging. I have NO idea what got into me, but it's nice to have a productive time like that once in a while. Yesterday, I had to work. I want to finish up those damn internship hours ASAP, I'm not even kidding.