cornerofmadness

Much of which was pure boredom as I sat on my butt from 9:30-5:30 watching students take my muscle exam (and me getting short tempered in a way I don't like. I don't like getting nasty with students. On the other hand, you're not five. I've said this 10 times already in the last 10 minutes, why are you asking me again?).

But the one student I did a big favor for (allowed her to take it alone, but did explain why she needs to go thru official channels to make this happen next time and how it's to her benefit to do so) was so happy and felt so good about this that her last words to me as she left the exam were 'I could hug you but your hands are full of dead cat.' (well they were). And on the bottom of my best student's exam (seriously she's been at the college since she was 13, she's brilliant and ambitious and sweet) she wrote a thank you to me for answering all of her many questions and that I made her want to go to medical school more than ever. I'm very happy and proud and thankful for those little gifts to me because I don't think they know how much it means to us to know we really DO matter in their lives.

And then there was the pure humorous joy of listening to the OChem teacher talking about his two cats and the mouse. They were just watching it and not doing what cats are meant to do. Not even when he tried to give them the mouse (which he eventually just carted off to the woods himself).


And then a deep sadness. Grandma's house is officially in the hands of the new owners. I'm very sad about this because it's been a part of our family for more than 100 years. I'm trying to concentrate on the fact the new owners have 4 boys and the house will be filled with life again.

And then frustration. New story, old dilemma: What shall I name the airship this time? Also do I set it in 1900 Athens or Wellston (which had a casino and amusement park at Lake Alma)? And more importantly where to find historical data on this because the internet is thin? Looks like a trip to the library is in order but which one.... and it's a story I doubt will be published as I'm aiming for the 2017 Christmas anthology (might as well write it now DURING the holiday) because it's going to be steampunk and not contemporary. You know what, if no one wants it, I'll sell it myself.

I also got an email from UPS about my Think Geek order saying I put the wrong address on it and it had to be rerouted (it was my parents address) I was like fuck I can't call. I'm in my exam. Then a half hour later I get 'it was rerouted and is on the front porch.' Of WHERE? I called my mom and she's like yeah there's a package but there's no name on it and it has 3 shipping addresses... (She calls me at 10 to say she finally put on her glasses and yes it does say Think Geek. It's HER Christmas present of 50th anniversary Star Trek crap.).

And I FINALLY used the gift card silvrethorn gave me to Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab and got myself this (which was the theme of my story The First Light of Winter MARI LWYD
An echo of the rites of Rhiannon, the Great Queen and Mother of Horses, the Mari Lwyd is a Midwinter tradition in Wales. The beribboned Grey Mare travels door to door with her entourage, seeking permission to wassail and initiate a contest of wit: the pwnco, a battle of improvised verses filled with good-natured ridicule set to song. If the Mari party were victorious, they were invited into the home to partake of ale and cakes and provide entertainment for the family. - Welsh cakes and ale with a smattering of dried lavender.

and I bought myself this from them: SWIFT AS LIGHT, BEAUTEOUS IN COLOR, CHARMING IN SONG
The bird flutters round us, swift as light, beauteous in color, charming in song. -Wild musk with flickers of neroli, mallow, and graceful magnolia, alight with orange blossom and sweet with honey. I smell good in orange.


And I borrowed an idea from beer_good_foamy, a musical advent calendar (but how the HELL is it Dec 1st already??) I'm not promising the songs I'll share are all great songs. Some might be downright weird but I do promise they have meaning to ME and I'll share that with you.

This one was the first song on the radio after I left work after eight hours sitting in preservative fluid fumes and I was feeling old and tired. Nothing makes me happier and feeling younger than 80s music, especially the hair bands. This song was my high school graduating class theme song until administration forced us to change it to some sappy song that I can't even remember. It brings back memories of my freshman year in college and dancing on the bar in the TKE house (well I don't so much remember it but there are photos. Mostly I remember being given pizza and someone saying Hey Dana want to join in our chug-a-lug contest...)

This is the original MTV video with about 2:40 minutes of story before the song even begins: