WTF?
I'm so unlearned

Yahoo news is so informational, and they do a great job of luring me into the complete story with their headlines/bylines/whatever they're called. Example:

A man blinded by an explosion has his sight restored after doctors insert his son's tooth in his eye.

What?? How does this make any sense??? Is this actually true????? The answer is yes. Crazy, I know. There was also another linked bullet point under the byline which said, "Find other cures for blindness." Jesus?

Then I see an article called, "A new way to memorize the names of the 11 planets." What??? Last I heard, Pluto wasn't a planet and there were only 8! So I click on the link and see that apparently, at some point, it was decided that Pluto was a planet...as is Ceres and Eris. When did this happen?? Did everyone else know this? Am I a moron? And the thing is, I'm actually interested in shit like this. What gives? For the record, the new mnemonic device for remembering the ELEVEN planets is "My very exciting magic carpet just sailed under nine palace elephants." (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Eris)

Yeah. So implanting a tooth in your eye socket cures blindness and there are 11 planets in our solar system.

News of the Day.

Randomness
And I may have a terminal disease

I'm still awaiting the news on whether or not I made it into the Convance study. I'm worried I won't, because I got my CBC (complete blood count) results and I apparently have a high white blood cell count. Which could mean I have anemia, an infection, or leukemia (among other fun things). I actually had 2 CBCs done because the results were high in the first one. They were even worse in the second. Bu tI had a decently bad cold the next few days, so I'm hoping it was from my body fighting that off. Or something. And not leukemia.

On the positive side, my pregnancy, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS tests came back negative. Yay! I don't have HIV! That knowledge will come in helpful for my line of lovers.

I went in for my second say of training at Sylvan today. Which meant I watched a video and filled out a packet. I go in next on Monday where I observe for a few hours. I'm going to be teaching study skills, apparently. Joleen, what did you teach when you worked at Sylvan?

My apartment smells like meatloaf because I made it for dinner. The smell is slightly nauseating.

I'm going to the Badger-Mich St basketball game with Sarah tomorrow. Go Badgers!!! I owe Sarah $5.

I saw Charlie Shortino (local weatherman) at the grocery store this afternoon. He perused the soup selection after I did.

I made cookies the other day. They turned out kinda flat. I seem to have this problem a lot. And I'm addicted to making cookies. I don't even really like to eat them, just bake them. This time I made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. They tasted good out of the oven, but now they're too crispy. Plus, I baked them less than the instructions said. And yes, Sarah, I did put them in a ziploc bag.

OH!!! That reminds me--what is ZipLoc's main competitor? Sarah and I couldn't remember and it is driving me NUTS. You know, the brand that has the blue and yellow sealing parts that turn green when they're sealed properly? What brand is that???? Please, someone let me know!! (I should have looked when I was in the grocery store today, but I forgot. I also forgot to buy coffee. BAST!)

Oprah v. Tina?
Which celebrity should I listen to???

I didn't watch SNL this weekend, but I heard about Tina Fey's Weekend Update. I watched it. It was funny. If you want to watch it, go here: Tina Fey

I had my first day of training at Sylvan today. It involved me reading stuff on the computer and taking tests. I go in again on Wednesday for a video, more computer stuff, and more tests! Fun!!!

I saw There Will Be Blood with Sarah. It was a'ight. I still want to see Atonement and I guess I should see Juno since everyone seems to love it.

We celebrated Sarah's (26th) bday on Friday. Dinner, chocolate, then dancing at a bar (The Cardinal?). Fun times, even though I detest dancing with a vengeance.

Yep. Nothing else to say, really.

There's Nothing I Can Do

Total Eclipse of the Moon

So, last night there was a total lunar eclipse. I went out around 9 when it was supposedly "total." It didn't look totally eclipsed, but when I went out a half an hour later it looked the same, so I guess that's what it was "supposed" to look like. It was cool enough, but not mind-blowing. Basically, the moon looked orange. Here's a picture (that I didn't take) for you all to see:


I went in to Covance (the "sell your body to science" place) for a screening to do a study coming up in March in which I'd get paid $1800 for 2 different stays there of 4 days and 3 nights. They took my medical history and took some blood tests and stuff. I had to go back today because I had low something-or-other in my blood. So they had to take another sample. I hope this one's OK, because I want to do the study! I think it might have something to do with low iron (my low count of whatever it was)? I don't know. The study involves taking some pill "that might be helpful in the treatment of low salt in the blood associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and other diseases." Apparently, they've already done a couple studies with the drug using different variables or whatever. The biggest side effect is that it apparently makes you pee a lot more. All in all, doesn't sound too bad.

I also had applied for a part time job at Sylvan Learning Center a while ago and interviewed for it a couple weeks ago. I got called on Monday and was informed that I got the job. Yay! Although I think it's super part time, like 10 hours a week. Better than nothing! I go in on Monday to start my training.

I learned that Jeopardy! is going to be filming their College Championship in Madison at the Kohl Center in April. So I "applied" for tickets (basically, I filled out a form and sent it in the mail). I'm excited about that. Because I'm a dork.

The Oscars are coming up soon. I think I've seen ONE movie that's nominated. Which would be No Country For Old Men. I might see There Will Be Blood with Sarah tonight. I really want to see Atonement. Doubt I'll see it before the Oscars, however. Too bad 27 Dresses wasn't nominated for anything...I did see that!

Hmm, anything else? Can't think of anything. My back is sore from how I've been sitting. Interesting, eh?

Hillary vs. Barack
The Wisconsin Edition

Well, Wisconsin held its primary today. I was almost the 500th person to vote at my polling place, which would have been around 12:30. Not too shabby! So, who did I end up voting for? Well...

So, as I mentioned previously, last week I went to the Barack Obama rally at the Kohl Center. I was really feeling pretty strong about Obama. BUT...yesterday Sarah and I went to the Hillary Clinton rally at Monona Terrace. Much different. There were about 17,000 people at the Obama rally. There were about 4,000 at the Clinton rally (but it was held in a much smaller venue, so it was still packed). Obama's rally was full of excitement and "glitz". While there was definitely cheering at the Clinton rally, it was a bit more subdued (in my mind). However, after leaving the Clinton rally, Sarah and I both discovered that we really appreciated it. Comparing her rally to Obama's, hers was MUCH more informative. It made me feel much more comfortable about her as a president.

I don't think that Obama ever discussed his actual policies at his rally. He just talked about "hope" and "change." The more I thought about it, the more that really bothered me. Not that I have a problem with hope or change, mind you, but it all just seems so...I don't even know. Grandiose. In an annoying way. Too general. I mean, the whole Obama appeal is....well, appealing...but is it realistic? He's one dude. Can he really change Washington? I somehow doubt it. Not that he doesn't have other things going for him, but he doesn't do a good job of touting those other things. Hillary did a great job of talking about things that were important to her (other than nebulous terms like 'hope'). It made me realize how her campaign is much more geared at her actual political stances, which I really appreciate. So, basically, she was a good enough speaker to change my mind to lean in her direction. Plus, I completely ODed on Obama TV ads. Seriously. Obviously he outspent Hillary in Wisconsin. And Hillary did a much better job with the local radio station interview with Connie and Fish (on Z104!). Which was surprising to me. Obama sounded...awkward. Hillary was both funny and informative.

Earlier today I found myself leaning a bit towards Barack again. I was literally standing in the voting booth with my pen poised, not sure who to vote for. I just decided to go with my gut, and voted for...Huckabee. Hahahaha!!! Ok, kidding. No, I ended up voting for Hillary. But I'm fine with them both, really.

Apparently, Wisconsin has already been called for Obama (which I knew would happen). Right now, it's 55% Obama and 44% Hillary. I'm not sure what percent of votes are in, because the site I'm looking at doesn't state that. I'd be interested to see the various city breakdowns (like Madison and Milwaukee and smaller cities). And, thank God, McCain is beating Huckabee.

So. That's that. Surprised? Not surprised? Thoughts? Feelings? Dreams? Aspirations?

Primary Colors
Let's all wave the ol' Red...Yellow(?)...and Blue!

In response to Candy's comment asking "So, if you're not sure who to vote for, what makes you hesitant about Obama?" I respond with, " I'm not hesitant about Obama. I just think it's kind of unfair to Hillary to not vote for her simply because it bothers me about the whole Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton thing. You know, it wouldn't be basing my decision on her actual policy stances and such." But in all honesty, if I see one more Obama TV ad I may shoot myself and not have to worry about for whom to vote. I think I see an average of 2 every commercial break.

Sarah and I were talking about how people call Hillary Clinton by her first name and Barack Obama by his last name. We debated whether or not it had anything to do with the fact that she's a woman and if it's at all demeaning/condescending. I decided that it's just confusing to call her Clinton because you think of Bill Clinton when you think of Clinton. At least I do. And how many other famous Obamas are there out there?

I think that Obama has a better chance at beating McCain than H. Clinton does. That's actually a very convincing argument for me to vote for Obama.

Tonight, Sarah and I are going to an H. Clinton rally at the Monona Terrace. I figured we may as well be equal opportunity and check out her's as well as Obama's. It was supposed to be yesterday, but got postponed to today because of our shit-ass weather.

My parents visited me this weekend. They came up on Saturday. We went to my neighborhood sports bar--Babe's--and watched the game (along with Sarah). They played the Gophers. It was much closer than I would have liked, but at least that made it more tolerable for my dad. We then hung around and did nothing for a while, then we watched Evan Almighty on DVD. It wasn't very good. Then we went to Paisan's for dinner where our pizza had WAAAAY too much garlic. I felt like throwing up all night. It was horrible.

My parents were planning on leaving on Sunday, but we got freezing rain Saturday night and a bunch of snow on Sunday. Travel was inadvisable, so they ended staying another night and left today. Madison's snowfall total has now surpassed the 7 foot mark. We're just shattering the old snowfall record! I guess the Today Show did a segment live from Madison this morning about our weather, but it must have been sometime in the first half hour because I missed it. Did you know that the Today Show is on from 7-11?? Seriously. 4 HOURS??? Holy crap.

I need to go and start making supper now. Later.

To Barack Or Not To Barack?
That is the question...

I went to a Barack Obama rally the other night at the Kohl Center. I'm still not entirely sure who I want to vote for in the WI primary this coming Tuesday. I just have a problem with Hillary because then I'd feel like the US would be turning into an oligarchy, or something. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton...(assuming the Dems win over the Repubs...let's all hope). Anyway, we waited in a big mass outside the Kohl Center for a while...it was taking forever for people to enter. I don't know what the deal was with that. I guess since they were searching bags and stuff. So by the time we got in, all seats in the Kohl Center were already filled...all 3 levels...over 17,000 seat. Geez! But we braved the lame-o security guards yelling at us and hopped over a guard rail to sit in some private box seats. Pretty sweet. I think people let us stay there because we were with a pregnant lady and a baby (Sarah's sister-in-law and nephew). Owen (age 2.5) was really cute--"Owen, who are you going to see tonight?" "Barack Obama!" "What is he going to be?" "The President!" Hahaha!!! At some point, some small contingent of people (10 or less) started chanting "USA! USA!" But, thankfully, it didn't catch on and everyone ignored them.

I subbed for a Spanish class in a middle school today. It was ok, but man...the kids were a bit wild. I'm not a fan of middle schoolers in Madison. !Feliz Dia de San Valentin!

My dad sent me flowers yesterday for Valentine's Day. :)

Uhh, nothing else to say.

Scurvylicious!
Wtf is scurvy, anyway?

I got to the point where I had practically nothing to eat in my apartment. My grocery list included all the main staples, including bread, eggs, milk, butter, even sugar. So I had to go to the grocery store today. I spent way more than I usually do (probably having to do with the fact that I had to buy all those staples!). I keep wanting to buy Lactose instead of normal milk since, you know, I'm lactose intolerant. But Lactose is like 3 times more expensive than regular milk. Wtf? No thanks. I'm not allergic to milk...therefore I end up buying normal milk. It won't kill me. I've been craving citrus recently. I became concerned that I'd contract scurvy if I didn't get some vitamin C in me. Therefore, I bought a crate of clementines. Those are expensive! $8/crate. I think that's expensive, anyway. I was worried they'd taste like crap since, you know, it's winter and I'm buying them in WI, but so far so good.

It was supposed to snow this afternoon, but I don't think it's started yet. We're a few inches away from breaking Madison's all time winter snow record. I don't know how much snow that is, though. A lot.

I have all these activities that I want to do, but I want to do them while doing something else (scanning pictures, for instance). I think to myself, "I know! I'll watch one of my netflix movies while doing it!" Then I realize that all my current netflix movies have subtitles, thus disabling my ability to multi-task during them. Dammit.

That's it for today. Nothing exciting going on here (as per usual).

Here I am!!!
(Rock you like a hurricane)

I told Brighton I'd update my blog today.

We've had some crazy weather up here the last couple of days. On February 2nd, the local groundhog, Groundhog Jimmy, prognosticated that there'd be an early spring. Aka, he didn't see his shadow. Well, apparently Jimmy is a total fraud. Yesterday, Madison got just over 13 inches of snow. Holy buckets!!! School was canceled for the 2nd Wednesday in a row. There was a 20 mile stretch on I-90 that was completely blocked. Motorists were stranded in their cars on the interstate for 10 hours or more. That would SUCK. They had to intermittently run their cars to save gas, yet stay warm. At points, 2 foot drifts of snow were piling up around their cars. I don't even want to think about what they had to do to go to the bathroom. Apparently, the roads were so bad that semis were unable to make it up hills or up on/off ramps, thus blocking all traffic. Plus, other cars and semis were in accidents and stuff. Ugh. That would have been horrible.

Ummm...what else to say? I don't know. I have an interview with Sylvan Learning Center tomorrow. For a part time instructor job starting (I think) in the summer. So not ideal, but hey. Better than nothing.

I subbed all last week for a high school cooking class and a marriage and family living class. It wasn't too bad, but it was really weird because it was the first week of the new semester. They hadn't found a teacher for the class yet, so they needed a sub. Which was me. So I'm going through their syllabus and shit and and I have no idea what the classes are about (other than the obvious). I survived.

Uhhh...what else? Hmmm. I made chicken mole enchiladas for dinner tonight. Not bad, but not great either. I made Asian lettuce wraps the other night when Sarah came over and we watched American Idol. I also recently made Indian butter chicken (which was super good) and buffalo chicken chili mac (not bad). Yay for me actually cooking.

What the hell?? It's snowing right now. Sonuvabitch. I want warm weather.