I did my first oral argument -- 3 minutes, in front of the class, on video. We get to watch them next week, and get comments. As usual, I had the shaky-knees, but this was the first time I didn't get completely swamped by the podium, so that solves that problem. If anyone cares (which I'm sure you don't) my personal assessment of my performance is that I need to work on transitions between points more (I fell back on the catchphrase "I submit" too often) and I'm still a bit wordier than I need to be. However, I spoke clearly, I remembered to slow down, I made good (direct) eye contact, and I my hands were relaxed and moved freely. I also think I did a decent job of answering the question asked. I give myself a B/B+, and I expect significant improvement for the major argument in a few weeks.

(If anyone is wondering why I'm babbling, it's sort of like me just after a concert. I'm waiting for walkhome, so I didn't have time to settle down first.)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 7:59 p.m. @ 

 
The Rachmaninov was beautiful today. We're playing at a new venue these days (while the theatre gets gutted and redone), and the acoustics are much better than anything we're used to having here. Also, it's "Rachy 2." You can't mess that up. It would just be wrong.

I also got all of my family readings done and all but 30 pages of my evidence readings, so I'm actually on track for tomorrow. (It would have been better if I had finished my evidence readings, but I was too tired from the concert.) Not having to cook or shop or do laundry is making it possible for me to catch up from last week, when I was so over-extended. I still have to sleep alot more than I should, but I'm getting the work done, and that's what matters. Now, as long as I don't get the traditional September-everybody's-back-at-school cold, I will stay on top of things this term. I don't think I'll try this heavy a course load again, though.  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 11:32 p.m. @ 

 
I'm using MotivatedTea's computer for the next 4 weeks, until mine is repaired/replaced. Also, I get a mom for the weekend (yay!) so I have some hope of finishing my work and catching up on the things I have been too tired to do. Unfortunately, this weekend is homecoming, so there is less of a chance of sleep than I might prefer.

I fell asleep on wet hair last night, and when I woke up I had 15 minutes to get to class (darn snooze button) so I put some anti-frizz-stuff in it and off I went. I haven't brushed it all day, but it actually looks good. *shocked* Curly.

The poster sale was on my way to the post office (Menehune, expect more mail), so I splurged. Now I just have to decide where to put the few things that caught my eye. It's weird, but all the pictures/posters I have ever bought all fall into the same colour palette. Does that make me clever or boring?

I think I will clean up a bit. I have to stay awake until 12. Snacky-snacky first, though. (Ice cream anyone?)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 10:20 p.m. @ 

 
MotivatedTea, you saved my sanity yet again. (Or what passes for sanity for me, anyway. lol.)

WARNING to all readers of this blog: don't uninstall Microsoft products. They take revenge! I installed MSN Messenger so that I could get my MSN picture to show in my updated Trillian. Everything is working fine, but MSN Messenger is really annoying. I find out that I don't need MSN Messenger at all, so I uninstall it. I leave the room to wash my dishes, come back and there is a particularly nasty blue screen of death talking about corrupted files and data dumping. 2 hours later, I manage (with great help and patience from MotivatedTea) to discover that it is MSN Messenger that caused the problem, that I can't fix it a simple way (because the computer won't stay on long enough to reinstall the program), and do a system restore. I think it's working. Still waiting to make sure, but I think it is.

So let this be a lesson to all of you. We all knew that Microsoft was Evil, but now we have learned that it is much more than that. It is VINDICTIVE. You won't know when, you won't know why, you won't know how, but it will get you back!! *mwahahaha*

Oh, and an honourable mention goes to my housemate's boyfriend for stapling my internet cords to the wall so that I don't have to duck to get into the room. (He did it just after my last post, so it didn't get in my list of yesterday's news.)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 1:00 a.m. @ 

 
I am finally settled in (I think), so I can write a proper blog today. I got almost everything unpacked, and am waiting for a few things from home for the rest. My bills are organized, my tuition is almost paid -- I'm waiting to do opt-outs before I pay the rest -- and my files are up to date. I have all my books, I am working out a schedule to do my readings on, and my first assignment is due Tuesday. Both orchestras start on Monday. Thanks to MotivatedTea and Quantum Skyline for my router/hub/setup.

Other things that happened:
TechKnight got the website up and running (yay!)
M and bf went to dinner with me (yay for coupons!)
Got my summer job back (will confirm on Monday, but yay in advance!)
Saw AT (from church -- Bubbles, do you remember him? Also his dad M, mom J, and sister S?) online and had a great catching-up talk. He's going to EU(G) for a few weeks, but I think I'll invite him to coffee when he's back and I have time to get home for a weekend. To catch up in person. ;)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 12:54 p.m. @ 

 
What kind of prof would set 100 pages of reading BEFORE the first class, and then NOT warn people that it was 100 pages. "Read the first chapter of the casebook for Friday." Sure. Ok. No problem. That's, like, 25 pages, right? NOT! Argh! Threw my whole schedule off. *sigh* (The party next door didn't help, either. *grumble Frosh Week grumble grumble*)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 10:07 p.m. @ 

 
Wednesday was my last day of work. Opera was supposed to be after work, but it was postponed due to the rain, which was a good thing because I ended up working late. (Who does that on their last day?! Other than me, I mean. lol.) I was mildly depressed on Thursday morning, since I realized that I really do miss work. However, I had lunch on the firm, so that brought my spirits up, especially when it was mentioned that the possibility of my returning for another summer would be brought up at the next partners' meeting.

I discovered on Thursday that I had no ID. Literally none; therefore, Friday was spent getting ID instead of packing. Saturday was Shakespeare-at-S, with Bubbles and Phalse Impressions. The weather was gorgeous, I had a lovely picnic with dad (including wine and cake), and the play was really great. Despite a clash of time periods (dress and music), it really worked surprisingly well.

Sunday should have been packing, but it turned out to be OSCC, practicing for the wedding, and me twisting my neck. Today was packing, driving and unpacking. HUGE thanks goes out to Quantum Skyline, who not only picked up my harp keys for me, but also provided me with and set up a router so that I have internet access.

Classes start tomorrow. Updates to follow in due course.  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 12:04 a.m. @