…is not my life. If anyone who stumbles across this blog (or, gasp, follows it closely) is not aware, I am currently pursuing a degree at the University of Kentucky. Though there were a handful of institutions I would have rather attended, I chose this school for no other reason than its geographical accessibility — it was the closest college to my original place of residence. After my first semester, I knew I had made a terrible choice. But I pressed on, keeping my eyes leveled on my goal: a degree. Liking the program in which I’m enrolled, or the people who attend this university, is not as important as graduating.

This semester, however, has been a horrific experience. I have seen so many unsettling things, and I honestly loathe the fact that I have three more school-terms to survive (four, if you count the summer session… and I don’t, just to keep my blood-pressure within normal range).

TL;DR version: If you’re thinking about going to the University of Kentucky, don’t. Do yourself a favor and mark it off your list immediately. If you’re at all interested in reading the reasoning, though… click through.
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You bet your sweet ass this is going on the fridge.

…this year, I am quitting smoking. I think. Last time I quit was right after I got back home from my trip to St Pete in February. I can’t begin to say why I quit that time… whatever inspired me to do it, but it sort of worked for a few months until I realized that buying cigarettes at your friendly corner convenience store was a somewhat easier (and a lot more legal) than buying Xanax at your friendly corner convenience store. So now that I only have one month left before class starts (read: one month left before I’m covered by University Health Services and can legally obtain said Xanax), I figured it’s a good time to try again.
Actually, I’m only doing it because Kev said he was going to try. But he seems determined to be self-defeating, which is going to make it all the more hard on me. Because yes, this is all about me and I’m the centre of the universe here.

Anyway. I’ve had since April to officially apply to the College of Social Work at UK, and I finally did my entrance essay just this morning… less than a week before I have to have it turned in. Luckily I can deliver it by hand, so I know it’ll hit their desk(s) before the first.

Finally, it takes a special kind of girl to fuck up Tuna Helper. And I am a very special sort of lady. What should’ve been cheesy noodles with tuna has been transformed into yellow mushslop with tuna flakes and burnt bits. I am not happy about this. But at least the salad part of dinner was okay. It’s just impossible to jack up lettuce.

Stuff has happened. All ye who follow my LJ have heard it all, since I have no secrets and tell no lies. I just rarely find anything to be publicly blogworthy until it all accumulates into this big ball of… accumulation. So how do I want to go about this, I wonder… hmm.

Well, the bad news. First and foremost.You’ll remember that my big white thundarrcat Moses passed at the end of this past summer. It was a shock to the system on so many levels… one in particular being that he bit it before Carmie, who I sometimes lovingly refer to as “Parkinson’s Kitty” and “Old Man Pants”. We always figured him to be older than Moses, so we always figured he’d move on first. When Moses went, we knew Carmie couldn’t be too far behind. This morning, about six months later, Carmie went. It’s… odd. I wasn’t there when it happened, and I didn’t “say goodbye” so I don’t have the image of his death in my mind. I also have the comfort of knowing that Mo is waiting for him. So… while it hurts… and I’ve suffered a wet face all day in private moments… I’m doing better with it than before.
Still. Of course. He will be greatly missed… and always fondly remembered. Love you, duder…

*sigh*

Shaking my hands out a bit, now. There is good news. I’m doing well in all of my classes, staying on top of things (and even ahead in some respects), so my academic life contributes only minimal amounts of stress to my general life. The worst thing about this semester is, still, the driving. But not for very much longer… bringing me to good news point number two: I’m moving to Lexington. I have my address, and a tentative move-in date in two weeks. I’m not sure when Kev is coming up to hang his hat, yet… hopefully not long after. It’ll be grand to be closer to campus, but it sure would suck to have to bimble around by my lonesome for too terribly long.

Other big news: My car broke 100k miles last week. Poor ol’ baby… I have to take it easy on her from now on, huh? Also, I’ve quit smoking. It’s been two weeks and two days since my last cigarette. Congratulate me, assheads. And finally, today is Kev’s birthday. Happy birthday again, babycaeks! Now fuckin’ blog somethin’ already!!

What we have here, are placesettings. Plates, knives, forks, glasses, and all sorts of other neat and groovy things. Sadly, you have no idea what I’m talking about, as I’m not going to post photographic evidence. Which, I suppose means, “it didn’t happen”. But the fact that I experienced part of this setting-getting expedition myself, as well as Kev, who braved a sea of cheap silverware to discover a treasure by the name of Pfaltzgraff, I would say it did happen, regardless. Besides, we have the receipts.

Meanwhile, sometime last week (more like Tuesday), my loan check arrived in the mail. Deposited it on Wednesday before class, and then went to class. First up is LOGIC, where our bastard instructor informs us that he is teaching the most difficult and fast paced section at the University, and that we should drop if we don’t like to work hard. And then Friday, after calling roll and finding that a fair portion of folk did indeed drop, informed us that it was all a lie, but we should enjoy the extra elbow-room anyway. Which still makes him sort of a bastard, but the good sort at least.
Next up is Anthropology, which includes two papers and three exams, plus weekly recitation. Then Women and Gender Studies in the Arts and Humanities, which seems like a lot more work than it should be for such a bunny-foo-foo class. But it was nice when, as I was called out to explain why I chose Social Work as a major, and replied “because I’m nutty as a fruitcake,” she replied, “That’s exactly why I went into English.” Finally, after just barely enough of a break to shove some food down my throat, is Statistics, which I know I am going to hate. Badly. But at least the textbook isn’t required.
I think I will be pleased with this semester. It’ll probably be more work than the last, but at least I won’t be as bored as I was in the last.

Some new things that class[money] have heralded: A coat, three shirts, two sweaters, a fine winter hat, and two more pairs of legwarmers. All on clearance, baby! Plus the above-mentioned housewares, with two mixing bowls and a rather nice pie dish.

Another change this past week has brought is Kev’s [Lazer] moving-in to glostix. I asked if he’d be interested in blogging together here on a whim, and he said he was down with it, so I got things all re-arranged and freshened-up for him. Looks nice, no? Don’t know how often he’ll post (not that I post very often anyway, hah!), but I’m tickled pink to have him on board WE has a website! Huzzah!!

Alternatively titled: X-Mess Wrapping.

Final grades are all in.  Two As and two Bs.  Not what I hoped for, but about what I expected.  Actually, if we can be honest here, I expected to do much worse than a B in German, considering just how much I slacked off after midterm.  Actually, I slacked off pretty freakin’ badly in all my classes after midterm.  Half of my SW lectures were slept-through or missed altogether, and I generally skipped Micro when I missed SW.  Didn’t finish required reading in Ecology.  So I should be very satisfied with what I got, and extremely frustrated at how much I didn’t do in order to get those marks.

I could be a better person if I just tried at it.

So now all I have to worry about are the holidays.  I’m still trying to figure out what all I need to pack.  It’s sort of strange that the less I have to pack, the more confused and flustered I get with it… constantly feeling as if I’m forgetting something.

Clothes? Check.  Chargers? Check.  Tits?  Double-check.

I just hope some of the drama simmers down for the holidays.  The forum for which I serve as an admin has had two punches over the last few, one very recently in the way of an article filled with copious amounts of misinformation and flat-out ignorance that directly quoted from us out of context, so I’ve been lurking pretty heavily and trying to put my best-face-forward on that front.  It’s all fun and cupcakes til you realize there are people out there who derive some perverse sense of joy from belittling a peaceful spiritual community.

I’d wager these are folk who try and pretend they didn’t see the Salvation Army bell-ringers when they walk out of a store.  Or worse, pretend they can’t afford to spare a dollar when they’re carrying out $500 in merch for their ungrateful brat-children.

And finally, how wrong is it that 800 miles of latitude separates two temperature ranges by 50F?  Words cannot describe the frustration.

I only occasionally check the Kernel… only when I am very, very bored, but one of my campus talk-to’s told me about this, and I just had to face-palm.  I mean, seriously.  It amazes me how stupid people are.  Since when does your belief Christianity define how a country without a state religion should be run?  But ah, well.  Of course this dude is afraid of transgendered and transexual people being given “special rights”… it’d challenge the monopoly on special rights that Christian[-variant]s have enjoyed since Day One of American History.

Speaking of transgender issues, November 20th is Transgender Day of Rememberance.  An email was sent through the OUTsource circuit with names, CODs, and their dates, with a link to the case of Duanna Johnson. Reading about her attitude, pride, and defiance against the local po-po made me smile… but of course bit at my sides to know that such wit and strength was wasted, stolen, and destroyed for no good reason.  That I have friends that could meet the same fate for the same reasons absolutely terrifies me… it makes me sick to the heart and head to know I live in a world where people I love are in such danger…

Last on my big gay agenda: HOLY SHIT I NEED TO WRITE MY SW PAPER.  Due first thing in the morning.  I suppose, with all this, I should be able to write easily on why the GLBT community needs advocates in the field of Social Work, but ease isn’t as much an issue as time.  I can’t even start on that til I whip out my German homework, which is due tonight at midnight.  There isn’t enough coffee in the world to save me.

Three more days to plow through before my flight out to Tamparrrrgh… two more class days.  Once I get this paper done, it’ll be a breeze.  A breeeeze right into Kev’s warm, strong, loving and very nommable arms.  Arms and hands and smile and gaze and LEIJFLIJGLEIRIEWK!!!1  I start thinking like that, and three small days seem like three months of time between.  Hurry hurry.  I mean, after I get to sleep tonight, hurry.  I don’t mind having the time to wait while I need it to do class-things, hah.
Mmmm… ahhhh.  AAAHHH!!

Good news is that I’m only really missing one lecture next week, since everyone else pretty much decided to cancel classes on Monday and Tuesday.  German still meets, but it’s a “fun day” where Lissi has decided to have a Q&A and teach everyone to curse in German.  On the one hand, I’m glad I’m not missing testable lecture.  On the other, GODFUCKINGDAMMIT that’s what I wanted to know most!! XD