penn

Going backpacking

for the weekend on the SW side of Mt. Hood. For those playing along at home, we'll be near the Tygh Valley on trail 468 (near Tygh Creek and maybe Little Bear Creek)?

I've got new pictrures up on flickr.

Sunday will be a day of paper writing, presentation doing, and high stress. Go me for procrastinating.

I'd also like to announce that I'm done with lab work for the remainder of my undergraduate career, and I will now be focusing on research analysis, writing papers, and studying for my finals.

Time to pack and sleep.

Followup on the Geeks & Nerds

to the geeks and nerds, another Craigslist posting:

How To Stay in My Pants

somewhat adult in content, which is located behind the cut. Basically, tho, it's dating advice for guys on how to stay with a girl. Some are spot on, tho numbers 8 & 10 aren't really all there.

Mental Switch

I'm starting to say "I live in Oregon" rather than saying "I go to school in Oregon."

woah.

Crazy

My dad has a great saying about craziness. I'll only mess it up, so I'll force him to comment and give the witty version of this:

I thought perhaps I was going crazy. After listening to those around me, doing some introspection, and reading a good book, I've decided that I'm the only one I know who isn't crazy. Funny thing, that.

Geeks & Nerds

via Kottke

Why Geeks and Nerds Are Worth it (reprinted in the cut, in case the link goes away eventually)

I am sorely tempted to write back and say a few things:

1. not true for all geeks, and they won't always know what you like. I did date one geek, and all we did was play d&d at his friend's house. not that I didn't enjoy that, but . . .

2. I think the key is a geek with enough money to do activities (not flush, but not poor-ass broke). This is probably easier to find now than it was in high school.

3. where are all these cute geek hiding? the CS guys at my school aren't this cute (then again, my school has a rep for not-so-cute guys). I'm definitely a geek kinda girl, but the opportunities don't present themselves often. I think that, if I move back to Portland, I will have to patrol the coffee room at Powell's for cute, geeky guys. I did once meet a really cute guy there, and I'm still kicking myself that I didn't get a phone number or email address. Then again, he was an artist, not a geek, so perhaps it's for the better.

bottom line? I don't disagree with this craigslist poster, but I don't think her advice applies to everyone universally. Each guy is just a little bit different, and not all geeks/nerds are like the ones described in her rant.

Food Budget

This summer, I'll be living by myself and cooking by myself. I've decided to challenge myself to keep to a strict budget. To that end, I'll be recording and analyzing my spending (always the science nerd ^^).

My roommate says that she feeds herself on $50 a month. I was thinking that $100 per month sounds resonable. Thoughts on this? How much do you spend per month on food (not including eating out)? What are tips/tricks for spending less?

Truths

Whatever one believes to be true either is true or becomes true in one's mind. -- John C. Lilly The Center of the Cyclone as found in 100 Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom

My truths

* I can finish three major papers, two research presentations, and preparing for a botany test in the next two weeks.

* I can resist the baiting of my roommates; I will be gone (for all intents and purposes) in two weeks.

* I can take a few minutes to myself to relax and take care of my mental health.

* I will return to writing more often and higher quality (not just on my blog) after graduation.

* I am so excited for this summer.

me, all me

My weekend was a lot of little things. Friday found me TA'ing during my normal weekend time (done with class at 11 on Friday, but Wed classes were on Friday this week b/c of senior projects day when all classes are cancelled). This start to my weekend was an appropriate foreshadowing.

Friday night, I went to Duck Variations by David Mamet because one friend directed it and two friend/acquaintances were in it. It was quite . . . contemplative. I'm not sure how much I liked it. They jumbled biology (true to life, as most people do), but that frustrated me. Afterwards, I lost Scrabble to Jeanne. Again. By 12 points. We're going to do another rematch. Hopefully, we'll continue have rematches for years to come. I'm so tickled that I've met a friend who loves playing scrabble.

Saturday was mentoring middle schoolers (end of year celebration, even tho we have one more meeting left), shopping at TJ's (hence the yuppie post), and working on tadpole research. Oh, and I watched movies (not sure how many -- I don't think I watched any straight thru).

Today was the zoo and more tadpole research. My life is thrillingly filled with science, but I'm too tired to appreciate it right now. On the bright side, I got some great pictures that should be up sometime next millenium.

I feel whiny and uninspired. I think I have senioritis b/c that's the popular thing to do; I'm not really that stressed except for my honors thesis (but that's another post).

I'm sorry for the lack of actual content in this post. Perhaps after I've gotten sleep and not spent hours hallucinating in the greenhouse while staring at tadpoles and worrying that people will sneak up behind me through the locked, unopenable, solid door.

Open Letter to the Spoiled Yuppies who shop at Trader Joe's

Dear Spoiled Yuppies:

I'm glad you support and shop at Trader Joe's. I shop there because I can get good food, there's an option for organic items, and they've got lovely frozen things I can't get elsewhere. I'm an earth conscious person, and I enjoy shopping at smaller, more personal locations. I assume that all of you shop there for similar reasons.

However, could you also be considerate of the other people around you? Specifically, do not leave your carts all over the parking lot. Trader Joe's is not Safeway or Alberton's or (god forbid) Walmart, so you don't have a giant parking lot. The walk to return the carts is less than twenty feet. Sure, you have to cross an area where cars drive, but you crossed that to get to your damn car. Why can't you take your freakin' cart back?

Also, get some damn canvas bags. I'm sick of all the plastic bag carrying double bagging people who waste tons of plastic or even tons of paper every day. I get a weird look every time I go to the grocery store because I brought my own bag. Now, I don't expect everyone and their kid sister to canvas bag it; some people just don't think that's an important issue. But if you shop somewhere like Trader Joe's and espouse the lifestyle and put your kids in cute little patagonia clothes, can't you buy a damn canvas bag or two? You don't have to use them every time; I understand you might reuse your plastic/paper bags. But sometimes you can make your grocery runs and not use up a tree or two.

thank for bearing with me, yuppies. And, seriously, return your damn carts.

Throwback

I've been reading the Sierra Club Wilderness Handbook recently, which was published in 1971 as a revised edition from the 1951, '67, and '68 editions. Despite the lack of some obvious statements (synthetics only; cotton kills!) and the presence of some others that shouldn't be there (fires are wonderful for cooking), it's a decent book. It definitely gives me ideas about food to bring on backpacking trips.

My favorite part are the frequent gear recommendations. Often, they suggest Abercrombie & Fitch. It's hard to think of the day when A&F was an outdoor gear shop, Eddie Bauer wasn't on the horizon (or maybe just not as popular), and REI just did not exist. Wacky.

It was a good used find at Powell's. Still, I must say that I feel ripped off because I paid $2.25 for a book that originally sold for 95 cents.