The finals countdown

Western Civ paper (Due Tuesday by 12:00)

American History paper (Tuesday by 10:00)

Literature review/thesis proposal paper (Tuesday @6:00)

Literature review/ thesis proposal speech (Tuesday @~7:15)

Spanish test (Wednesday @7:30)

Work (Wednesday from 1:30-10:00)

Architecture test (Thursday @1:00)

Work (Thursday 3:30-10:00)

Sell books back (whenever)

Pack

Clean(only half done)

Get ready for new roomie

A little Christmas Music

This is dedicated to Grant, who won't stop playing with the digital ocarina on his iPhone.
Shamelessly swiped from Faith and Family Live

Outside My Window... it is sunny but frigid
I am thinking... that I actually have enough notes to write this paper, but that I'll need to get some pictures
I am thankful for... the nearby Walmart that sells single serving packs of real cheese
From the kitchen... cafeteria coffee and fresh chocolate chip cookies
I am wearing... jeans, a crisp white shirt, wool sweater and sk8er shoes
I am creating... a paper for my architecture class
I am going... to go do loads of research
I am reading... old building notes
I am hoping... that everything they found in the house inspection this afternoon can be remedied somewhat painlessly
I am hearing... Brighter Than Sunshine by Aqualung
Around the dorm... my work is sort of piled all over my space
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: work and writing

Outside My Window... the parking lots are almost empty
I am thinking... that I should get to bed soon
I am thankful for... a bed next to the heater
From the kitchen... instant cocoa
I am wearing... my work clothes still
I am creating... this post?
I am going... to finish tossing some clothes in a suitcase and to bed
I am reading... nothing at the moment
I am hoping... that I can get someone to work for me on Sunday
I am hearing... "Hush" by Deep Purple
Around the dorm... my roommate is gone for the weekend
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Home!

Outside My Window... people are getting picked up early for break
I am thinking... that a nap would be nice if I had time
I am thankful for... a nice blanket to snuggle up under
From the kitchen... a peanut butter, cream cheese and strawberry jam sandwich
I am wearing... jeans and a zip-up sweater
I am (re)creating... my blog template a bit
I am going... to drop into class tonight, just for a project consult and then we're free for the evening.
I am reading... html code
I am hoping... that I get Sunday off of work
I am hearing... Bill Bailey playing The Scale of Evil
Around the dorm... my desk is still in need of a good cleaning
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Two more classes, homework, work tomorrow, and then home.

Outside My Window... the over-lit common area between the dorms
I am thinking... that I have a lot of writing to do
I am thankful for... a fiance that works ton of overtime and chooses to use it to buy a house for us.
From the kitchen... instant cocoa and cheetos
I am wearing... flannel pjs
I am creating... a draft of my literature review
I am going... to bed soon
I am reading... journal articles for my thesis
I am hoping... to get to spend more than just Thanksgiving Day at home this weekend
I am hearing... Never Mind the Buzzcocks playing on YouTube
Around the dorm... My roommate is studying for anatomy and my desk is in need of a good cleaning
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Two more days of classes, homework, and finally some real, non-cafeteria food!

Avocado Ice Cream

I haven't done this in a while but I couldn't resist.

Avocado Ice Cream

Ingredients:
1/2 pint (250ml) double (heavy) cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 pint (375ml) milk
3 ripe avocados

Take the avocados, peel and seed them then put into a blender with the milk and make a purée. Pour the purée into a mixing bowl, add the sugar, lemon juice and cream and beat until creamy. Then transfer the complete mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Outside My Window... rainy greyness.
I am thinking... that I should finish making up my package for Grant.
I am thankful for... large mugs of peppermint tea.
From the kitchen... a fresh pan of Almond Roca.
I am wearing... jeans and a grey shirt.
I am creating... a letter for Nina.
I am going... to hopefully pick up my computer today.
I am reading... Easy to Kill.
I am hoping... to make more progress cleaning my room today.
I am hearing... some unknown song on the radio.
Around the house... it is kind of empty with everyone else gone doing things.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: The Conference.

Outside My Window... the lilacs are in bloom.
I am thinking... that Apple is really quick about repairs.
I am thankful for... tax returns.
From the kitchen... absolutely nothing is happening.
I am wearing... jeans and a work shirt.
I am creating... mental additions to my book list.
I am going... to set up sprinklers for the vegetable garden.
I am reading... Easy to Kill.
I am hoping... they aren't serious about the new dress code at work.
I am hearing... Kennedy's Kitchen, and Jenni singing along.
Around the house... there is conference prep going on(Jenni collating as she sings).
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Picking up my laptop, and The Conference.

The Summer Reading List

So, due to 5 days without my laptop, and not much to do for leisure aside from lots of gardening, a trip to the library was in order last week. And a very small library resulted in not having a very worthwhile selection of fiction to choose from without planning ahead and ordering things in. But they do have a few Agatha Christies, and now I'm hooked. So my summer reading list is mostly short pleasure books(aside from Sheen and Mallory). But here it is in all its length, and I'm sure it will continue to grow.

(Italics are finished)
Endless Darkness – Agatha Christie
Murder for Christmas – Agatha Christie
Easy to Kill – Agatha Christie
Cards on the Table – Agatha Christie
The Sittaford Mystery – Agatha Christie
Sparkling Cyanide – Agatha Christie
The Hollow – Agatha Christie
Funerals Are Fatal – Agatha Christie
Third Girl – Agatha Christie
The Man in the Brown Suit – Agatha Christie
N or M? – Agatha Christie
Passenger to Frankfurt – Agatha Christie
Three Blind Mice – Agatha Christie
Murder in Three Acts – Agatha Christie
Dead Man’s Mirror – Agatha Christie
Thirteen at Dinner – Agatha Christie
The Clocks – Agatha Christie
Dead Man’s Folly – Agatha Christie
At Bertram’s Hotel – Agatha Christie
Mystery of the Blue Train – Agatha Christie
Ordeal by Innocence – Agatha Christie
Postern of Fate – Agatha Christie
The Secret of Chimneys – Agatha Christie
There is a Tide – Agatha Christie
The Body in the Library – Agatha Christie
The Boomerang Clue – Agatha Christie
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency – Alexander McCall Smith
Tears of the Giraffe – Alexander McCall Smith
Morality for Beautiful Girls – Alexander McCall Smith
The Kalahari Typing School for Men – Alexander McCall Smith
The Full Cupboard of Life – Alexander McCall Smith
In the Company of Cheerful Ladies – Alexander McCall Smith
Blue Shoes and Happiness – Alexander McCall Smith
The Good Husband of Zebra Drive – Alexander McCall Smith
The Miracle at Speedy Motors – Alexander McCall Smith
Le Morte d’Arthur – Thomas Mallory
Three to Get Married – Fulton Sheen

Outside My Window... darkness.
I am thinking... that maybe this is a cold instead of allergies.
I am thankful for... good friends and good food.
From the kitchen... more chocolate chip cookies, though not as fresh.
I am wearing... capris with socks(yeah, yeah, but I didn't do it in public).
I am creating... a mental list for the next couple of weeks.
I am going... to be working lots next week.
I am reading... nothing at the moment because I finished a book just before I left this evening.
I am hoping... that next week isn't so stressful as it looks like it will be.
I am hearing... the news in the next room.
Around the house... there is conference stuff being assembled.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: Work in the morning and the Conference this weekend.

Until I can find something subtantial to blog about. . .

I'm going to steal Gianna's form for blogging.

Outside My Window... the freshly planted and almost finished garden.
I am thinking... that I need to take a Claritin before bed.
I am thankful for... Smithwick's(because "it's damn good!").
From the kitchen... The smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies, and the sound of Dad emptying the dishwasher.
I am wearing... jeans and a slightly dirt-streaked t-shirt.
I am creating... Well, I picked up the fabric for a really cute top this afternoon, so I'll be creating soon.
I am going... to bed soon because I have work in the morning.
I am reading... Murder for Christmas.
I am hoping... that this allergy goes away.
I am hearing... the TV in the family room, and cups being stacked in the kitchen.
Around the house... all the gardens are just about finished, two flowers left to plant.
One of my favorite things... satin PJ's.
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: A bit of work, some room cleaning, and The Conference.