Instead of studying flashcards

I pretty-fied my tree blog!

So tired these days. I'm kind of missing the summer vacation I didn't have and won't get this summer thanks to starting work straight after finals and overlapping the end of work with the next semester. I just keep telling myself Next month will be easier, though I've been saying that since March...

For serious though, I am taking a crazy vacation next summer. If I have to turn thirty, I'm doing it up proper.

Front page of ESPN.com

Tell me there's a footballer named Pysche in the World Cup.

Also, since when was I so familiar with ESPN.com?

All around lovely soccer and croquet-filled day today. My croquet game has improved from atrocious to passable in just one day!

Also, I discovered a handful of flowers at my doorstep when I went up to water the plants on the roof this morning. Maybe Olivia left them when she was here last night? Curioso. Thank you whoever you are! Twas a pleasant surprise.

After a successful shopping trip yesterday, I am the proud owner (finally) of three new pairs of socks, sea green tights, a snazzy red and leopard print strapless bra for the bridesmaid dress on super sale at Macy's. ow!

Other than that, I feel like I've just been running around and around working in the greenhouse, cooking, and watching soccer. I half crave a quiet evening to just practice for the GRE and research grad schools, but I suspect that whatever it is I'm doing now is more fun.

Pretty

World Cup!!

I love this time of year. Or, this time of the decade? World Cup! Soccer on tv! I caught the second half of both of today's games. Thankfully I have a soccer-friendly work place. This is how you know you're working with the right people. I think I'm even joining one of these betting pool things, which I have never done before, but there is no money prize -- just a barbecue for everyone at the end (paid for by the buy in) and the satisfaction of knowing you scored the best -- which vastly improves the fun to stress quotient.

I was all ready to shout allez les bleus! this afternoon, but whoever said France lost pretty much all their good players wasn't kidding. Great show by South Africa, though. The bafana bafana even had a fantastic synchronized dance for their goal. I highly approve!

I am feeling bummed that I have to miss England v. USA tomorrow, but there will be lots of good soccer to take in over the next month. And the times aren't tooooo bad given that the matches are all in the RSA. Bless ESPN 3 for broadcasting over the interwebs, though! And bless Henry's for showing all the games, even the ones at 4:30am PST!

ps. Word on the street is that the USA doesn't completely suck anymore. The Colombian in our lab predicted they could even take the World Cup in a few years. Shocking, I know. I may be obligated to root for them at some point in the future. For the time being, I think I have a soft spot for Spain and South Korea. And Brazil. And maybe Germany and Denmark or the Netherlands. Too bad Germany's best guy can't play.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

This internship thing is going well. The people are great and even the menial labor is still fun. I got to do a little field work last week up in the Sierra Foothills near Yuba City, which was great, v. hot, though. It was cool to see a proper oak woodland.

Then this week has been all root cleaning, all the time. I'm going to have really buff hands by the time this is done, which may not be for a long, long while.

I'm officially Not moving, though. Apparently the girls I thought I was living with want a 2 bedroom place instead, and even if they find a 3 bedroom place, they don't want me in the third bedroom. Double smack down on that front. Sting!

Mostly good things, though. Lots of busy-ness. Maybe one of these days I'll have fifteen minutes to myself to have a thought about it. For the time being, full speed ahead.

Also, my sister got into med school! There will be a doctor in the family in five years!! And another triple graduation in four! I do love my family <3

Or not

As is typical of each of my attempts to move, this one may well have already fallen through. Sigh. At least I'm feeling a little relieved not to be prematurely giving up my place to live without having a replacement.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

So it looks like I'm officially moving. Eep! Scary and exciting at the same time!

Any housing situation will be worse in some ways, as I assume all things are, but better in lots of ways, I'm hoping.

The plan is to move in with one of my pals from school and one of her former coworkers, who I met tonight. Things sound good. I think we all want the same kind of place. We haven't found it yet, so it's a little scary to give notice at my current place, but I'm feeling pretty good about it. Roommates, a garden, sunshine! Laundry that doesn't require coins! Paying only 1/3 the cost of internet!

Lots of new and exciting things to be discussed soon!

Were you aware of it? vol. 30: Going back for seconds

In an age where creative marketing is king, even feces can be turned into gold!

Modern Toilet may well be the most bizarre restaurant ever created.

Supposedly inspired by manga, they started out selling piles of chocolate ice cream in containers shaped like squat toilets.

By some act of popular revolt beyond my comprehension, this wildly popular business was able to expand and now has multiple locations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China offering a full range of drinks, hot pots, spaghetti, curry, and gratins -- all served in toilet, bath tub and sink-shaped dinnerware.

Note:
the toilet-shaped soup bowl
the toilet seating
the toilet light fixture