Tvindy

And the Possum Moves Down

I'm thinking it's high time I got back to blogging on a more regular basis. Possum pics tend to get a bit old after the first couple of weeks, and I really do need to update my readers on some significant developments in my life. The big thing for me right now is that I won't be returning to Oregon in the fall. There's actually a long story behind this, which I will now tell.

Back when I first applied to the university there in 2003, I began the application process too late to be able to have it completed before the deadline. As a result, I was declined admittance. However, since it was still possible to enroll as a non-degree graduate student, that's what I did. I figured that would help to show my seriousness when I reapplied as well as allow me to start earning academic credit, which I could apply to my degree. Unfortunately, when I submitted my application at the beginning of this year, I was again declined. The frustrating part is that when I spoke to someone there about my situation, I could see that it was more that I had fallen through the cracks and been forgotten about than that there was anything specifically wrong with my credentials. I really don't want to go into too much detail about this in a blog, but it certainly was an eye-opener to me about how disorganized the selection process is.

I do still intend to get a masters degree at that university, but it struck me mid-summer that it just doesn't make sense financially for me to go back there this year. Paying out-of-state tuition and housing for another year on top of my mortgage here in Muncie is just crazy, especially since only a maximum of fifteen hours of classes can be transferred to once I get into a program, and I already have more than that.

It's taken me a several weeks to fully commit to staying in Muncie, but I've finally canceled my fall classes, and withdrawn my housing reservation. It wasn't an easy decision at all. I have to go a full year without trampolining, making stained glass, attending a weblogger meetup, or, most significantly, teaching Portuguese. And it's kind of depressing feeling that I've wasted all that time. More troubling still is the fact that a great deal of my stuff (including my winter clothes and computer) is still in storage in Oregon, meaning that I will eventually have to drive back there and pick it up. I don't know exactly when I'll be returning, but I'll try to organize my trip, so that it corresponds with a weblogger meetup and includes a visit to snowball.

More U of O Signage

Here's a follow-up to last month's signage post.

A new vomit sign:

A haunted cyclist:

God hates everyone:

Back Again

I'm back in Indiana. Sorry I've been away so long. Finals were rough. Actually, they were all papers and a take-home test. The problem with being a language major is that I couldn't do any of the work in English. Also, I had to completely move out of my dorm room for the summer even though I'll be in the same room next year. That was nearly as stressful as finals, especially since the rule is you have to move out within 24 hours of your last final. Then, of course, I had to drive back to Indiana, which is always tiring. Along the way, I tried to visit Snowball, but the two of us managed to fail at meeting. We'll try again when I go back in the fall. I did spend a bit of time in a town near where she lives having adventures. The town of E is a truly bizarre place. Now I have to catch up on reading everyone on my blogroll -- a truly daunting task.

Busy Busy Busy

I probably won't post much in the next few days as I work on final papers and study for exams. I was noticing today how all my classmates are starting to get circles under their eyes.

Daily Cleaning

I like to be tidy, so every day I spend a couple minutes neatening up my room.

Trampolines Galore

Today we got to do our trampolining in the great outdoors. Click on the pic for video.

We Now Have Whiskers!

It's all finished! The whiskers may very well have been the most difficult part of the entire project, but it turns out they were well worth the effort.

Hello Kitty can be very understated when she wants to:

There are certainly some flaws, but I think it came out great as a first project. I'm already thinking about my stained glass project for next year. I definitely want to do something a bit more ambitious, and I'm seriously considering this painting as a possible template.

Willamette Valley Folk Festival

The annual Willamette Valley Folk Festival is taking place outside my window all weekend long. The view isn't ideal (I face the rear of the stage.), but I've set up my netcam so you can take a gander. The picture refreshes whenever it detects motion.

Interesting Signage

Have a look at some of the signs/posters/graffiti I've seen on campus over the past several months.

Polygamy? How exactly does that work? And why was this posted inside a bathroom stall?

Korea Night must be stopped at all costs! (Oh wait, there's a tiny little "by".)

I won, by the way.

Not funny, just odd.

Yes, but where?

The Swiss flag, perhaps?

What day?

I could easily write a whole entry about the content of this flyer, but the weirdest part is this sentence: "A student of color who raised diversity issues in class was escorted to and from the bathroom by teachers."

Note the small sign on the upper left that advertises "Free Marijuana".

This bicycle is always on campus.

More Hello Kitty

Well, it's finished . . . almost. After I left my stained glass class today, triumphantly being the first student to finish his project, I realized that I had forgotten the whiskers. They'll just be soldered on, so it shouldn't take more than a few minutes. But I'll have to wait an entire week for the next class. Here's a more detailed backlit image: