No, I Am a Cat.

リラックマについてスピーチ (Speech about Relax Bear)

2012-01-23T21:46:00.003-06:00

I returned to Japanese class today after missing Friday's class due to a dentist appointment (btw, having medical/dental facilities literally a block from my office is seriously convenient) and found out that I missed the day everyone got to sign up for one-minute-speech dates. The only spot that was left was...this Wednesday. UM OK NO BIG DEAL I'll just pull this outta my butt and somehow memorize it by Wednesday.
If you have experience with Japanese and want to offer feedback, please do. I can't change anything (it's against course policy to have a native-speaker check one's work before handing it in), but I would appreciate the learning opportunity anyway. For my non-Japanese-using friends, I've provided nifty English translations.
私はアリソン・ラップです。リラックマについて話します。
My name is Alison Rapp. I'm (going to) talk about Rilakkuma (Relax Bear).

四年の夏前に、日本で留学生でした。あそこで、リラックマについてならいました。リラックマは日本でずいぶん人気があるくまです。
Four years ago during the summer, I was an international student in Japan. There, I learned about Relax Bear. Relax Bear is a very popular bear in Japan.
実は、リラックマはくまのスーツの中にくまです。おもしろくて、かわいいですね！リラックマはねて、食べて、休むのが好きです。
As a matter of fact, Relax Bear is a bear in a bear suit. Interesting and cute, right? Relax Bear sleeps, eats, and likes resting.
ある日、いけぶくろにさんぽしながら、ゲームセンターの外にリラックマが子供と写真をとるのを見ました！リラックマが大好きだから、”私も写真をとってもいいですか”と言っていました。今、リラックマと写真を持っているので、うれしくて、見せるのが好きです。
One day, while I was on a stroll in Ikebukuro, I saw Relax Bear taking pictures with children outside an arcade! Because I love Relax Bear, I said, "Would it be OK if I took a picture, too?" Now, because I have a picture with Relax Bear, I'm happy and like to show it off.
いつか、あなたも日本に行けて、リラックマと会えるといいですね。
Someday, I hope you can go to Japan and meet Relax Bear, too!

Edit: In response to my classmate thinking I shooped this photo, I just want to clarify that this is a real picture of me and Rilakkuma, and yes, I had black/brown hair from my senior year of high school until my second year of college. :)

My Ten-Minute Foray into the Ocarina of Time Minecraft Remake

2012-01-22T23:39:00.000-06:00

It shouldn't come as a surprise (at least not to those of you who play or are familiar with Minecraft), but there's currently a thing called the "Hyrulecraft Project," and it's a full Ocarina of Time world made in Minecraft. It's currently in a live public alpha testing phase, and there are parts of the OoT world not yet completed (Dodongo's Cavern, for example, is closed off by a wall of glass), but I spent about ten minutes exploring what I could tonight (grad student = early bedtime), and I thought I'd share some screenshots.

Kakariko Village

This sign gets me every time. EVERY TIME.

Goron City

Fairy Fountain (Death Mountain Crater)

Like I said, the world's not totally completed yet, and there are no NPCs, items, and so on, AND I spent only about ten minutes exploring it tonight, but it's definitely still worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of the game (either one, I guess). There's just something about walking around a Hyrule that looks like it's made out of Legos...

My Research Identity

2012-01-22T22:11:00.010-06:00

For my COMM 5615: Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism course, we're supposed to write up a research identity for ourselves. A research identity, for my non-academia friends, is basically a bit of text that explains who you are as a researcher. A kind of definition of yourself as you are in academia--what you study, why, and for whom.

Anyway, Ed (my advisor, the Chair of the Comm. Studies Dep't, and the professor for this course), is having us share drafts of our research identities in class on Tuesday, and I figured I'd post my draft for funsies/feedback/as an explanation to people who might not know where, exactly, I'm coming from in my work and what it is I'm working on.

Please keep in mind that this is my first draft ever. I've never written one of these before, so my first go at it's not going to be perfect. If you have feedback, I'm all ears.

I am a popular media critic with research interests in mainly Japanese popular media, video games, pornography, and new media such as social networking sites. My theoretical framework is a combination of feminist studies, queer theory, game studies, and cultural studies as it applies to newer media; my work is concerned primarily with depictions of females/girls and women/queers in manga and video games, how these depictions are interpreted by readers and other participants, and the overall subcultures associated with the texts (e.g. “gamer culture”), as well as political and legal movements against pornography. Because I am partly interested in reader interpretations and the lived experiences, beliefs, and actions of readers, in addition to textual analysis, I also seek to apply and/or include ethnographic and other kinds of audience analysis in my work. My current projects are analyses of 1) The Legend of Zelda video game series, using archetypes of femininity as bases for understanding the development of female characters in the series over time, 2) yaoi and yuri, two genres of manga depicting m/m and f/f relationships, respectively, and the ways in which images of gay men/queers are appropriated by their mostly heterosexual female readers. Through these and future projects, I hope to help add to the relatively nascent--but ever-growing--body of scholarship on these oft-neglected and/or misunderstood new media, specifically from a gender/sex/queer studies perspective, and 3) laws against pornography depicting minors in the “West” and Japan, and how the West’s social, political, and overall rhetorical pressure against Japan to strengthen its anti-child pornography laws is hypocritical, misguided and ineffective.

EDIT: I added a couple bits about my work on child pornography laws--because, thanks to the overwhelmingly positive feedback on my presentation at the Japan Studies Association, I realized need to make it clear to people that I am not only a communication studies student and scholar, but also a student and scholar interested in issues of international relations, public policy, and law (specifically law regarding speech and expression).

Thoughts on my bigger captive bead nostril ring, customer service

2012-01-20T10:29:00.000-06:00

The other day, I finally pulled the trigger (my apologies for the violent metaphor) and went to Steady (Tattoo and Axis Piercing) and got my nostril ring changed out. The one I had in my nose had been there for a couple years (I was originally given a stud, but later graduated to a captive bead ring), and it was starting to smell (Jake tells me the smell is actually from the dead skin in my nose, which is pretty gross). Not to mention it wasn't totally snug against my skin, so often, the bead would slide down into my nostril and I'd have to awkwardly dig it out again (I'm not picking my nose, people!).

So anyway, I went to Axis (now just Steady) and got a new captive bead ring put in. This one's much more snug against my nose, which means it doesn't move around. The thing is, though, the ring both feels and looks like it's a smaller gauge (a smaller gauge means a bigger size in jewelry). My nose has been a little sore for a couple days, but I've had my nostril pierced for about four years now, so luckily there's little chance of it becoming infected.

One last thought: I won't name names, but my changing-out-my-nose-ring experience at Axis/Steady was much less friendly than any of my experiences at Saint Sabrina's. I think the man who was sitting behind the desk when I came in (he also changed out my ring) was trying to be chill and casual, but it came off as being lazy and annoyed. I mean, listen. Maybe he had a sixth-sense that told him I'd been to piercing places enough to know generally what's going on. But even that doesn't make it OK to give off the air that I should just figure everything out, including what I should get stuck in a hole in my nostril next, all by myself. Customer service, people! It doesn't matter if you offer customers a better deal on your services and products if they don't feel like they're getting as much positive personal attention as they do other places.
Nonetheless, I do plan on giving them another chance by purposely scheduling my appointment (see: walk-in) when the other piercer is working. Axis/Steady's prices are much more affordable for me, so it'd be a shame to give them up based off just one mediocre experience.

Anyway, here's the finished product. It's literally the same thing design I used to have--only bigger and a better-fit.

P.S. I still highly recommend Steady--and especially Roger--for tattoos. I fainted about halfway through getting the first bit of my tattoo done, and I remember waking up to artists running around getting me water and sugar. Very concerned, polite, talented people there. :)

Carl the cat, boyfriand, Minecraft, and other things

2012-01-17T21:40:00.000-06:00

Several people have censured me for neglecting my trusty blog-steed, No, I Am a Cat, so here's a much-needed (and much-deserved) update on my life (complete with images--because, really, what is my blog without images?). For those who follow me on Facebook and/or Twitter, you may already know a good deal of this:

I'm still dating Jakey-poo (or "Jake", as I like to call him on normal days, OR "Jacob Dean Nelson-Johnson," as I like to call him when he's being a stinker). He's pretty great. Did you know he's graduating this year from Augsburg College? With a B.A. in Film because he's a a bad-ass.
I still drop f-bombs like it's nobody's business because I believe that words are just words, and when you censor them, they retain their power. Also because the word "fuck," when properly placed, is more comical than anything.
Grad school is HARD, yo--but so damn cool. I rocked last semester, too. I took Japanese S/N (P/F, for you Auggies), but even with that de-motivating factor, I still managed an A-. Which definitely isn't easy with Japanese at UMN. This semester, I'm taking the second semester of Intermediate Japanese (JPN 3022/4004), COMM 5615: Introduction to Rhetorical Criticism, and...another class I haven't picked yet. I was originally signed up for a course with our awesome DGS, but I went to the first class today and decided it might be a little too foundational for me, so instead, I'm considering this biggun: WRIT 8550: The Body as Text and Context in Law, Public Policy, and Medicine.
Jake and I played a LOT of Minecraft since we got it in October. If you haven't played Minecraft, but liked Legos as a kid (or hell, even if you didn't like Legos as a kid), YOU NEED TO PLAY MINECRAFT. Trust me on this.
I also have Skyward Sword (thanks, Mom and Bob!). Its awesomeness needs no further explanation.
I went to Honolulu to present my undergrad International Relations thesis (on child pornography laws and cultural imperialism of media/sexuality norms) at the Japan Studies Association Conference. I got a ton of really positive feedback, so I've come back fired up to continue studying pornography and media law.
Teaching is BOSS. I don't even care what happens to me in life. I could become a zebra (I hope at least some of you catch that reference) for all I care--as long as I get to teach on the side, I'll be happy.
I have a cat named Carl and he is probably the greatest. Except for when he drinks...and when he poops. It's, like, his momma-cat never taught him good manners: He's always sloshing his water around (he used to tip his bowl over constantly, before Jake bought him an un-tippable bowl), and he doesn't seem to understand that the reason there's cat litter in his box is so he can cover up his poop. What a lazy sack of crap.

NOW PICTURES (ALL CAPS YEAH)

Me, Carl, Jake, Maggie, and Bob

I love my friaaaandz

Carl.

MINECRAFT, PEOPLE

Not all of Honolulu looks like this, but it's impressive that even a part of it does (Waikiki). It's like a fake place, it's so beautiful. I even swam in the ocean!...and got stung/scratched/bit by mystery creatures.

Ok, people. Go live your lives. And for the goddess' sake (SKYWARD SWOOOOORD), follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay up-in-the-hizzouse with all my business.

My Desk at UMN

2011-10-03T11:33:00.000-05:00

Ever wondered what my desk at UMN looks like?

My desk as a whole. I have two deep drawers and one long, shallow one, three scarves on top to add some color, and since the filing cabinet is next to me, I have a little bit more surface area to work with (my bike helmet usually goes there).

On the left side of my desk: The lamp my parents bought me (sometimes it gets dark in the office, and few people like the overhead lights)--with the tiny Korean flag (you can't really see it in this pic) one of my students made my class for her informative speech, a photo frame containing my Cold War Kids ticket (Jake took me to the concert for our first date), and two Pokemon figures: Reshiram and Pikachu.

My bookends. The only books in there at the moment are Professional Development During Your Doctoral Education (written by my awesome adviser/dep't chair, Ed Schiappa), and the books I was supposed to use for my ALL 8001 course, before I dropped it in favor of an independent study.

On the right side of my desk: A fake plant (all my real ones, which I've miraculously kept alive for a while, knock on wood, are at home), a tissue box (I have bad fall allergies/a cold), a frame containing one of the weird cat postcards I got in Japan, a Rilakkuma notepad, a Ren Fest mug, some tea, some Japanese candy, a couple Pokemon cards (which I use as bookmarks), and my lucky duck. My lucky duck helped me rock swimming sub-sections back in ninth grade (I got the duck as a secret-swimmer present, I think from Taryn Brown), and get my Augsburg President's Scholarship. He's since lost his luck, but I still keep him around.

From left to right, starting at the top: Tech desk, Sanrio's Shinkansen, Link, gay love, Sanrio's My Melody, The Nightmare Before Christmas' Lock, Shock, and Barrel, and Sanrio's Cinnamoroll.

I dig it.

Humbert's New Saucer

2011-09-30T11:09:00.001-05:00

Humbert is a big boy now, so I bought him a treadmill appropriately-sized for his body (too-small wheels can permanently damage a hamster's back). This one's a "Flying Saucer" in "Battlestar Blue." Humbert is now a sci-fi fan (Battlestar Galactica, anyone?). Even just a few minutes after I recorded these two videos, his saucer-running skills had improved. I'll have to record him going full-speed one of these days once he really figures it out.

Enjoy~

What does my weekend say about me?

2011-09-19T23:34:00.001-05:00

Over the last few days, a both novel and common sense thought struck me: The activities that people engage in on a day-to-day basis, and maybe, more particularly, on their "days off," can tell us a lot about those people--what socio-economic rung they're in, what gender they identify with, what's important to them, and so on. I know, I know--like I said--it seems like a common sense concept. But I think what really got me thinking about it in a critical way was the group project I had my students do last week: I split them up into five groups. Each group was given a magazine to analyze--to look for demographical indicators in ads, stories, and design. At the end of about ten or fifteen minutes, each group had to describe the target demographic of the magazine, and construct a stereotypical person that would fit into that demographic. Then, after every group was done, I had them play a guessing game: Which of the five magazines (Better Homes and Gardens, Game Informer, Wired, OUT, and Marie Claire) did not belong to me? (note: I borrowed 75% of this assignment from the NCA's "Assign This"). My (albeit, new) teaching instincts made it clear that the exercise got my students' heads a-turnin'. And it got mine a-turnin', too.

So, what follows is a pretty standard "No, I Am a Cat" post: Some pictures and a bit of text underneath each picture to explain it. But here's my challenge--one that will, I think, be fun for both people that know me well, and people that do not: Look at my pictures. Read my text. Then think: What do the things I did this weekend say about me? About my socio-economic level? About my education level? About what I think is important? And so on.

Friday

Jake and I spent Friday night in: Doing homework (reading reading reading), listening to Crystal Castles, eating Papa Murphy's pizza, watching The Daily Show, and drinking Schell's Oktoberfest and Woodchuck Cider's Fall release. If you've never experienced the latter, I suggest you haul ass to the nearest liquor store and pick some up. It sells out very quickly, and for good reason--it legitimately tastes like you would think fall would taste, if it had a taste. It mixes cinnamon, nutmeg, white oak and is honestly the best-tasting drink I've ever had.

Elmo, Devi's family's dog, who stayed at our house for the week. He's old, arthritic, and incredibly spoiled, so he gets away with a lot, and the entire time Jake and I were eating, he kept sticking his face through the hole between our armpits and our bodies trying to sneak a taste.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

9/13/11 in :60 Seconds

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor & Satire Blog

The Daily Show on Facebook

Saturday

I've been to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival about a dozen times before, but this year was the first year I dressed up in costume for it. Lily lent me her green tunic (I wore a brown long-sleeve shirt as a base layer, a mustard yellow tunic under the green sleeveless tunic, knee-high brown boots, brown leggings, and a brown satchel), Alan's costume was ridiculously awesome (and hand-made, of course!), and Lily worked at the Fest, playing trumpet during jousts. Lily even invited us up to the secret upstairs of one of the pottery shops, from which we dropped a fake spider down in front of people. We had good beer, mead, and oh-so-fatty-and-delicious cheese curds. I bought a mug, too, as a thanks to the pottery shop people for letting us go into their upstairs and drink their beer for free. Jake didn't dress up, but this year was his first year attending, so it's OK. He said "thank you" to me (I bought us our tickets as a date) for about four hours straight, and he welcomed the idea of going again next year, and dressing up, so, needless to say, I think he had fun.

Jake and I did a bit more homework when we got home, and immediately after my homework (though, honestly, my homework never actually ends--I just stop doing it for the night), I played around on Pottermore (I finally got my wand and got sorted! I'm in Gryffindor!...wait what? Is this just because I'm ballsy?). Then, later that night, Jake and I busted out my new (to-me) copy of Ico, the precursor (but spiritual sequel) to The Shadow of the Colossus, one of Jake's and my favorite games.

Ico

Sunday

I did homework most of the day, but I took a study break mid-afternoon/evening to make a run to the Seward Co-op, pick up some yummy fresh, organic fruits and veggies (and a new box of tea--this one to help me with my mystery respiratory/heart problem), and home-make some chili and applesauce bread (with added raisins and walnuts) for dinner. Both dishes were a big hit, and Jake sure appreciated them after his three-hour Sunday class with Augsburg's Dean of the College.

Sunday night, I played with Humbert for a little bit (I think he's actually growing to like being pet!), and did my Japanese homework (a 100+ character essay--I wrote mine on the classes I'm taking this semester).

Jake drew a smiley face on my nose

Hall

Kant

That's all for now. Enjoy my little challenge to you, peeps! And don't hesitate to ask the same questions about yourselves--what do your activities, the places you go, the people you meet with, the things you eat, say about you?

Grad school, nbd.

2011-09-07T21:13:00.002-05:00

I'M IN FECKING GRAD SCHOOL. O_O!!

That's how I feel.

As I have only about fifteen minutes to spare before I have to book my tush over to Folwell Hall for Japanese class, here's a brief rundown of my last few days, my first two days of grad school:

Teaching. Is. AWESOME. So awesome. I am teaching my own class, people--COMM 1101: Introduction to Public Speaking. I am responsible for the degree to which twenty-seven undergrads learn good public speaking skills. SO. AWESOME. I taught my first class yesterday, and it was seriously baller. That's pretty much all I can say.
Classes are hard. I mean, I'm taking Japanese pass/fail, but if you've ever taken a language course, you'll know that even undergrad-level language courses can kick your ass. I have Japanese ever day for one hour (which means I have new homework every day)--which is pretty normal for undergrads, BUT, as a grad student, I'm also expecting approximately 200-300+ pages of reading assigned for every class. Every. Class. EVERY. WEEK. Just yesterday, I had my COMM 5211: Critical Media Studies course, and I've got a couple hundred pages of dense reading (see: theory) to do by Tuesday of next week. No big deal.
I have got to start making my lunches ahead of time again. Food on-campus is waaaay too expensive to get every day. Homemade chili that lasts me a good two weeks, here I come!
I have a wicked cool boyfriend. Jake has been extremely supportive of my busy busy busy schedule the last few weeks. Having that support is really important, as my life will get only busier as I start submitting to conferences and applying for fellowships (not to mention, writing term papers and grading my own students' work). Jake also tends to be considerably less OCD/neurotic than I am, so he's a good reminder that sometimes, spending quality time with the people important to you is a better use of your energy than reading the last fifty pages of a book.

Edit: I actually had to take off for Japanese before I could finish this post. BUSY BUSY BUSY. So here's the rest:

There's actually a difference between a T.A. and a G.I. (or G.S.I., depending on where you attend school). A T.A. is a teaching assistant, which means the student assists a full professor/teaching faculty with his or her class. A G.I. is a graduate instructor, which is a graduate student who teaches his or her own undergraduate course. I'm technically both--I'm a G.I. because I teach my own COMM 1101: Introduction to Public Speaking class, but I'm also a T.A., because in the spring, I'll be assisting a Comm. Studies professor with his rhetorical fictions course.
Though I joke that I look younger than most college first-years (and I probably do, judging by the questions people ask me--"Where's your ID?" "Where are you going to school this fall (implying undergraduate school)?"), I have noticed that I'm at least growing in years, because I'm beginning to be able to recognize first-years from the rest of the pack of undergraduates. Does that make sense? It's hard to tell you look young when you're a first-year, because what you look like is the norm. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I can tell that at least my technical age (if not the way my body looks) has grown beyond the lower-class undergraduate. I'm not sure if that means anything in particular, other than that I can tell I'm getting older. Just an observation, I suppose.
Now that school's officially in-session, I'm eating like shit again. Gone are the days when Jake and I made meatloaf and marinated chicken and homestyle fruit salad! Now, my evenings are filled with breakfast food and V8 Fusion to make up for my fruit/veggie deficiencies.

That's all for now. Clearly, there's more going on in my head, but sometimes, it's hard to unpack all of that.

In other news, Humbert is doing well. He's still terrified of me, but I managed to pet him the other day while he was in the bathtub! I realized that if you approach him while he's got his back to you, he'll let you (oh-so) gently stroke his back. He'll jump a little, like it still scares him to be touched, but it's almost like, if he can't see you, he just pretends you're not really there. Silly Humbert.

OK, that's really all for now. Sorry for the lack of pictures this blog-around. My phone's internet isn't working, which means I can't upload anything I take. Never fear, though! It'll be fixed soon enough, and then I'll be able to snap snap snap away.

I HAZ A HAMSTER

2011-08-24T10:36:00.002-05:00

So, I'd been missing Per

pretty badly for a while. And then my parents had to put down one of our family dogs, Sadie,

and our last family cat, Ernie,

at the same time. So my life was beginning to become very pet-less and very pathetic.

So that's why I got Humbert!

Humbert is a roborovski hamster. Robos are from Mongolia/Northern China, are omnivorous (You can feed them beef! How cool is that?), and are only about two inches long.

Humbert, in particular, is named after the unreliable narrator of Lolita, the controversial 1955 book about a middle-aged man who's sexually-involved with a twelve-year-old girl named Dolores Haze (nicknamed "Lolita"). Humbert is terrified of everything, suicidal (he jumped out of his house, off my desk, and onto the floor--he's lucky he didn't break his legs and/or back), ridiculously fast, and obsessed with his wheel.

I've had him only since Saturday, so there's still time for me to tame him (at least to the point where he doesn't feel like he needs to leap to his death). In fact, last night, Jake helped me bring Humbert's house into the bathtub (robos aren't very good vertical climbers, and the "bathtub method" is a common one among robo owners) and tried to coax him into taking a piece of carrot from our fingers. Humbert got pretty close to taking the carrot a couple times, and we counted that as a success. This morning, I woke up to find Humbert actually sleeping outside his hidey-hole--a first since the night I brought him home (when he was so stressed, he fell asleep in one of the tubes). Baby steps...

So, look forward to more Humbert stories/pics/vids/explanations of shenanigans in the future. For now, enjoy these:

Sitting in one of his food bowls/eating.

Sleeping. If it wasn't for his whiskers, I'd have no idea where his head was.

Neighborhood cats, reading on lawns, internships, and other things

2011-08-08T09:38:00.000-05:00

OK PEOPLE CHILL THE HELL OUT

I realize it's been several months. I have no excuse. I've been working, reading, and playing TWEWY. Oh, and eating. A LOT.

Here are some pictures:

My parents got me TWO cakes for graduation. This is the second, weirdly-shaped one.

I moved in June! I had a whole box just for tea. A whole box.

This summer, I've been working as an admissions counselor intern in Undergraduate Admissions. It's pretty sweet.

I share an office with Joe, my fellow intern.

My name badge.

My International Relations thesis, "Speech We Hate: An Argument for the Cessation of International Pressure on Japan to Strengthen Its Anti-Child Pornography Laws" was published in the Augsburg Honors Review! Hot damn.

I've been biking to work almost all summer (except for when it got stupid hot/humid and when I got really sick). My mommy bought me a Chrome bag so my stuff is protected from the weather/easier on my back!

Joe and I at the Admissions staff retreat. We bowled. I totally rocked up my first round (a turkey!), but halved my score the second round.

I went up to the top of the Witch's Hat Tower, a once-a-year event in the Twin Cities.

I have a yard at my new place! It's pretty slick.

My diploma. I'm a BAMF.

Reading Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, my new favorite Murakami book.

Jake and I spent an afternoon lying on a beach along the Mississippi River. I live in a beautiful city.

McDonald's had a Pokemon toy promotion. I went to McDonald's a lot during those couple weeks.

Alan and Lily at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 midnight premiere.

Jake and I at the premiere. This picture was taken before I spent at least an hour-and-a-half bawling my eyes out. THE PRINCE'S TALE D:

Jake, after he finished eating the meterwurst (yes, a meter of bratwurst) at Gasthof's.

Jake made me a mix-tape. A legit mix-tape. We're so hip.

I read all three of The Hunger Games books. I won't deny fangirling.

The neighborhood cat that sometimes comes to visit us. This time, he followed me home after a walk around the block.

So, that's that. I've also been tutoring a girl in Japanese, going up north to Milaca, and writing my COMM 1101 syllabus, too. It's been a pretty good summer. And there's a WHOLE MONTH LEFT! :D

Holy crap. I spoke at graduation. (And other news).

2011-06-22T10:57:00.000-05:00

So, I super duper apologize for not posting for so long. I got busy/lazy and never got around to it (save, my most recent post about needing to find a new perfect mug).

Anyway, I thought I'd tell you two really important and exciting things that have happened to me in the last month and a half:

First, I officially graduated with a cumulative 4.0 GPA. I am not kidding. Yes, it feels good. No, I am never going to put myself through that much stress again.

Second, I was the graduating class of 2011's student commencement speaker. I have several things to say about this before I show you the video: A) It was a HUGE honor, and I have a ton of people to thank, including, but not limited to, the faculty member(s) that nominated me, the Dean's office, and my peers who supported me throughout the speech-writing process. B) The speech-writing process was pure hell. Augsburg, you NEED to select the commencement speaker earlier than a month before the speech is due. You might not see all the hours put into writing the thing, but that doesn't mean they're not there. All in all, I spent probably close to thirty or forty hours brainstorming, writing, and rehearsing the speech. That's not an easy time commitment for an already busy student (as I'm assuming most commencement speakers are) in the last semester of his/her senior year. I can't imagine what it must be like for the commencement speakers who, unlike me, have not had any formal public speaking training. Frankly, I feel bad for them. C) Regardless of what I see as an inadequate amount of time given to speakers to prepare their remarks, the process was truly a ridiculous honor, and I'm humbled to have been given the opportunity to speak to my friends, family, and my peers. Thank you all for your support.

So, here it is. My commencement address. I suggest you skip to 1:10:00, which is where our Jazz Band and Gospel Praise groups come in, performing "This Little Light of Mine." I speak immediately after they finish, and seriously, if you don't start tapping your foot/dancing/having a good ol' time listening to that song, you are stupid.

Help me pick a new mug/fill the gaping hole in my heart where my old mug used to be

2011-06-08T11:41:00.001-05:00

I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW
I haven't blogged in forever
BUT
I just had to throw away the travel mug I've had since ninth grade. It was from Barnes and Noble, and had classic literature quotes and pictures of authors all over it. It was pretty bomb.
So now I need a new, perfect, forever mug.

HELP ME PICK:

Do I go with the Queen of Hearts, from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (my favorite book)?

Or how about the White Rabbit, also from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

Or how about a Light Cycle from Tron, one of my top three favorite movies?

HALP MEEEEE
P.S. I can't buy a new mug for another 1.5 weeks, since I currently have $10 to my name, and I don't get paid until then.
P.P.S. The P.S. was mostly for my mom, who might waggle her finger at me if it seemed like I was going to buy a mug now, with no money, even though I asked her to buy me a book (the third book in The Looking Glass Wars trilogy) just yesterday.

Holy shit (Part 1)

2011-05-13T21:21:00.001-05:00

A LOT of stuff has happened in the last month. So much, that it'd take me several hours to explain it all. In lieu of a text-heavy post(s), here are a crap-ton of pics. This is Part 1.

Per buckled in and on his way up to Milaca for Easter weekend.

Per snuggling with his bamma (my mom).

Per with his butt in his bamma's face.

Dyeing eggs.

Mah green egg.

Ta-da!

Raggedy old Sadie.

Spriiiiiing!

I climbed my favorite tree! And wrecked my leggings. :/

Me and Per-bear.

Per-bear watching Maggie chase her tennis ball.

Peanut Butter Avengers! Makin' peanut butter 'n' jelly sammiches for the homeless!

We made so many sammiches in such a short amount of time, we won first and third place.

We're goofy.

In case you haven't been able to tell, I'm the crazy chick with the pink hair.

President Pribbenow with pie in his face.

Fred with a creeper stache and really short cutoffs.

I won the award for Best Article in the Augsburg College Honors Review (my int'l relations thesis, "Speech We Hate: An Argument for the Cessation of International Pressure on Japan to Strengthen Its Anti-Child Pornography Laws")! Look at this sweet clock they gave me!

Bob Groven gave this to me. The Spirit of Pokemon Award!

Chicago + random pics

2011-04-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

Because I have such a wicked backlog of posts (I need to blog about the HON 490 Chicago trip and my tattoo/birthday), I'm just going to dump a bunch of pictures on y'all and call it good. This post is mostly of the Chicago trip. If you're looking for pics/info on my tattoo/birthday, look to a future post.

Enjoy~

OK, so I've already blogged about my sissy's wedding, but she just posted this pic on FB last night, and I LOVE it, so I'm sharing it here, too.

From left to right: Sissy Aimee, Sissy Cherish, and me.

Sitting in a really low chair at a really high table/at Hard Times with Jake Johnson.

HON 490 CHICAGO TRIP

All I can say is: The Megabus is SO sketch. The "station" is just a random parking lot downtown, and when one of the busses got stuck in the snow, its driver stepped out and asked the HON 490 men to help push it. Yeah. Right. Push a double-decker bus. Good fucking luck.

The lobby of our very un-sketch hostel, about four blocks from the Art Institute of Chicago.

I've always wanted a bunk bed!

Allison and Bethany at the Greek restaurant we went to Thursday evening.

FISH SKELETONZ. Seriously. The skeletons from my smelt dinner. I love smelt.

In Chinatown with my new "Honest Pig," Engrish tote.

Chinatownnnnn

Beau walkin' around the U of Chicago.

Saw this in a bookstore. Lol-ed (we got to read this for class - FANTASTIC book, by the way).

Veggie chili fries. YES.

The Art Institute of Chicago. Honestly, its collection was comparable to MIA's. So that either means that the Art Institute of Chicago's collection is mediocre, or that MIA's collection is undersold. I'm sure it's a little of both.

A light exhibit inside the Art Institute.

A Frank Lloyd Wright-remodeled interior.

Moar.

A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home.

Inside a church on the U of Chicago's campus.

MOAR FRIES. Wanna know how many helpings of fries I ate in two weeks? SEVENTEEN.

Um, wut?

RANDOM

Oh, Andrew Fox.

The lovely flowers Sissy Cherish and New Brudda Evan sent me for my birthday!

The very kind postcard my friend Justin sent me. He's studying in Germany/everywhere!

BAMF NAILS

HIPSTER SHOES

The cuuuuute things (cottonfood and yaoi doujinshi) my bff Rrrca (Erica) brought me back from Anime Detour. My friend Katelyn got me a frickin' sweet Legend of Zelda magnet, too, but I forgot to take a picture of it. D:

Josh's "lunch."

Oh, silly Japanese textbook.

The pig/horse (porse? hig?) pencil topper Katelyn gave me.

I love life.

It Looks Like a Wiener with Teeth - Pics from My Weekend

2011-03-22T00:06:00.004-05:00

Enjoy~

This was IN my face.

I spent part of my Thursday afternoon at Saint Sabrina's, getting my anti-eyebrow piercing out. It had started rejecting a couple weeks ago, and once a piercing starts rejecting, you need to get it out ASAP to avoid any serious scarring. My piercer told me I'll probably have small scars, but nothing too crazy. I already have pretty substantial scar tissue where the holes were, and since that whole area is still pretty irritated/mad at me, the tissue is red, and looks sort of pimply. Whatevs, I'll deal! It was fun while it lasted.

I skipped Japanese class on Friday (Augsburg was on spring break last week, but St. Thomas, where I take Japanese, wasn't, so I gave myself a personal day; I am not ashamed!), and here's what I missed: Hilarious and adorable drawings of our entire class (yes, we have only seven students in our upper-level Japanese course). I think the person (cat?) on the top is supposed to be our TA, あゆさん (Ayu-san). Then, starting in the second row, it goes: 先生 (Sensei - Professor), Katelyn, me, Ben, Danny, Lauren, Emily, and Kalia.

I've started wearing my big purple nerd glasses almost constantly, because the bottom part of the frame rests directly over the holes in my face/scars. And check out my U of M sweatshirt! So pumped to be a Golden Gopher!

I went up to Milaca for the weekend. First thing I did? Went to the Drive In, my favorite eating establishment in the whole wide world, with Bob. I had a chicken bacon ranch wrap, and, of course, CHIVE FRIES. :D
I forgot to take my customary picture of my food/the menu, so this picture I stole off the interwebz will have to do.

After we got back from the Drive In, I took Mom's new four-wheeler out to the field across the road and tooled around for about an hour. The snow/muck (muk, for those Pokemon-inclined readers)/several-feet-deep-puddles made it so I had to go 30 mph just to whip donuts. That is, I had a fucking blast. I did get stuck in the ditch twice (how was I supposed to know that there were puddles up to my waist below the snow?), but even having to get pulled out was kind of fun.

I wore Jake Johnson's hipster shades while messing around out in the field and got them all muddy. Whoops. :)

Since I took my four-poster bed from Milaca down to my apartment, my parents gave me their queen-size pillow-top mattress and bought me a pretty new comforter!

Ernie the kitty-cat slept on my bed Saturday morning.

Maggie, my family's poodle, resting her head on my tummy. Adorable.

I've played a lot TWEWY in the past week. Joshua and Neku totally have a yaoi thing going on.

The homemade lasagna I made for my parents Saturday night. I used Chuck meat! FYI, Chuck was a real cow. His name was Chuck. He drank only warm water and played with Bob. I can't make this stuff up.

My birthday isn't until April 2nd, but since I'm going to Chicago next weekend (for HON 490), and I'll be in the cities (see: the Twin Cities, for you non-MN folks) the weekend of the 2nd, we celebrated my turning twenty-two-years-old early. Mommy made me confetti cake (a staple Ali Rapp b-day cake). AND she put my favorite clown-candle-thingies on it!

CLOWN-CANDLE-THINGIES.

Photo Booth fun with the 'rents.

Ernie made himself comfortable in the pile of tissue paper left over from my presents. Among other super-cool things, my parents gave me zebra-print sheets, and 11x17 Tron and Sleeping Beauty posters. So pumped!

Per being sleepy and adorable during the car ride back to St. Paul.

On Sunday night, a bunch of us went to the Trylon to see Orson Welles's Touch of Evil, which co-stars Charlton Heston as a Mexican (hilarious, right?!).
I didn't take this photo, either. Thanks, internet!
And thanks, Jake, for the ticket. :)

Oh yeah. I suppose I should explain the bizarre title of this post. Well, Mom and Bob and I watched Alien on Saturday night, and when the baby alien burst out of the one guy's chest, my mom said, "I'm sorry, but it looks like a wiener with teeth." I almost died.

じゃ、ね〜

Things I like - 3/4/11 edition

2011-03-04T16:03:00.003-06:00

Enjoy~

I love lingerie. So much. I totes need several of these adorable lingerie holders.

From Rakuten.

This is so badass, I don't even know what to say.

From Lokisa Shop.

THIS.

The bright colors! The Alice in Wonderland! I think this sweatshirt was made for me.

From the Disney Store.

HOLY SHIT, this one is just as cool! How do I pick?!

Also from the Disney Store.

Aw.

From Wet Seal.

I heart rings. Someday, I hope to become one of those crazy old ladies who wears a billion ginormous and gaudy rings on all her fingers.

From Louis Vuitton.

Everything about this dress.

From Jason Wu.

I really dig this, though I'm not a fan of hiding my stomach. Work it, girl!
From Ravijour.

Red fox blanket. NEED.

From TopDogCouture's shop on Etsy.

Steamboat Willie Micky Pook-a-Looz.

From Pook-a-Looz.

Love.

From Forever21.

Also from Forever21.

I would use this Rilakkuma duster-glove while wearing my Rilakkuma apron.

From ShopKawaii.

Dreams do come true, yo

2011-03-04T15:02:00.003-06:00

For those who haven't yet heard, I got into grad school at the only place I applied, and the only place I wanted to go, the University of Minnesota.

That means:

I am guaranteed an income, health insurance, and free tuition for at least the next two years, while I get my Master's (M.A.) degree. The U of M's Communication Studies Department is not technically a feeder program (meaning, just because you get your M.A. there doesn't necessarily mean you're a shoe-in for their Ph.D. program), but I'm really excited to join the U's program, and would like to continue there. So, barring any extreme fuck-ups, I will hopefully have that guaranteed income, health insurance, and free tuition for six years.

Like I said, I will have an income. What does that mean? Well, I'll be a salaried employee (the salary would equal approximately $18.52 an hour, if it was an hourly position)--more specifically, a part-time ("junior") faculty member at the U, teaching or acting as a teaching assistant for mainly public speaking courses.

I will also have health insurance. I don't know what else to say about this, other than I feel extremely lucky to have gotten a job that will give me benefits. I know a lot of peers who still worry about that sort of thing.

I will also not pay a dime in tuition to get my M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. I'll still have to pay some fees (couple hundred dollars worth a semester, I think), and buy textbooks, but in the grand scheme of things, paying even $1000 a year to get a terminal degree is SO worth it.

I'll be going for Communication Studies, concentrating in Critical Media Studies (URGO peeps, think Stuart Hall). My goal is to become a full-time professor somewhere after I finish with my grad education.

Well, there's most of the technical stuff you'll need to know. Emotionally? When I found out, I started screaming. Then I cried a little. The I screamed for another fifteen minutes or so (I also ran out into the quad and Bob Groven hugged me). Then, I basically went into shock, and totally lost it when I got home. The stress of wanting to get into grad school so badly and not knowing if I would was one of the worst things I've ever had to deal with. I had nightmares about getting rejection letters for several months. Even though getting that acceptance email was a positive experience, it was still stressful. By now, though, the only feelings I have are feelings of excitement. I can't WAIT to start teaching! And I already feel so welcome at the U (the Chair and I have been emailing back and forth about various things, including his daughter's newfound fascination with Japanese culture, and if I have any manga suggestions for her!). My family and friends have all been appropriately happy for me, and last weekend, a bunch of us went out for drinks at Sgt. Preston's. We walked back to Augsburg, through the U's campus, around midnight, yelling and singing (there were several renditions of "For (S)he's a Jolly Good Fellow"). People carried me (not because they had to, but because we were all so happy). It was seriously fucking magical. And now that I think about it, I couldn't ask for better friends. :)

I'm leaving Augsburg for the final time as an undergraduate student this May, but I'll never forget the support the people here have given me. Someday, I'll figure out a way to thank you all individually, but for now, this blog post will have to do. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for writing letters of recommendation, giving me high-fives, letting me miss class so I could visit the U, making me dinner (we be makin' da pancakes), giving me incredible opportunities to work and do research for pay, backing me up when I decided I wanted to study video games and "gay porn manga," organizing the office to surprise me on my birthday, spending ungodly amounts of money on homemade past and delicious salad, sitting with me at Hard Times, throwing me a Pokemon party, taking care of me when I was sick, and for everything else. I LOVE YOU ALL! And stay tuned, even after graduation in May, as I detail to you all my next big adventure: Teaching and getting my Master's at the University of Minnesota!

The Weisman Art Museum (above), over on the U's East Bank, where Ford Hall (below) and the Communication Studies Department, are located.

And I get to stay in beautiful Minneapolis, "City of Lakes," the U.S.'s most literate city, with more theaters per capita than any other city outside of NYC, home to Minnehaha and St. Anthony Falls, and the country's highest percentage of volunteers.

I LOVE AUGSBURG. I LOVE THE U OF M. AND I LOVE MINNEAPOLIS!

Peace out, yo.

Some much-deserved updates for my lovely friends

2011-02-21T20:31:00.001-06:00

Friends,

I have some news to share with you. Some of it is fairly banal, part of my everyday existence. Some of it is sure to shock the pants off of you.

x Mitch (my fiance of four years, and my boyfriend of five) and I have decided to remain best friends, but end our status as a couple. That is, I am no longer engaged, nor am I in a romantic relationship at all. As my friend Andrew and I like to joke, I haven't been single since Kirby Puckett died (seriously - he died in March of 2006, and that's when Mitch and I started dating), so I realize that this is somewhat of a shock to some people. I want to assure my lovely readers that the breakup was mutual, and that we are on very good terms. I am still living with Mitch and Tony in our three bedroom apartment (I now live in the "fun room"), though I plan to move out in June. Per will stay with Mitch.

x I am now URGO's (Augsburg's Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity) first ever Student Coordinator for Zyzzogeton, Augsburg's research conference. If you have any questions about submitting an abstract to the conference, let me know!

x I'm taking five classes: ENL 228 - Broadcast and Online Journalism, JAPN 212 - Intermediate Japanese II, HON 380 - Japanese Kanji (independent study through the Honors Program, otherwise known as a "Student Created Learning Experience"), POL 459 - Human Rights and Refugees, and HON 490 - Honors Program Keystone: Legacies of Chicago.

x I'm still waiting for my decision letter from the U of M. My guess is, I'll hear back within the next three weeks. I want to make it clear, now, that if I get in, there is going to be a lot of raucous partying. And I am not ashamed to say that. Frankly, I'll deserve it!

x I'll be submitting to the St. Thomas Undergraduate Communication Research Conference again this year. Wish me luck!

x Other than school texts (of which there are too many to list, including some really fascinating works by Jane Addams), I'm currently reading the Loveless series (a whole lot of BL and not enough yaoi for me, at this point...and I never thought I'd be saying that), and Kafka on the Shore, by Haruki Murakami, a prolific Japanese author who also penned Norwegian Wood, one of my all-time favorite books.

x I am getting ever-closer to being able to afford my first tattoo. I'd also like to do a boudoir photoshoot, get my belly-button pierced, and get a stomach tattoo, though those things will happen over the next several years.

x Another Scholarship Weekend has passed, and so has my participation in The Big Show, Augsburg's second annual Conan O'Brien-spinoff, performed for both current and prospective Auggies. A shout-out to Topher, whom I probably embarrassed by telling the whole crowd that I have a crush on him, and to the Admissions staff and Bob Groven, who were thoughtful enough to bring me on as a sort-of "opener" for the second year in a row. I really had a blast doing it!

That's all for now. I'll leave you with these. They're taped to the back of my desk/bookshelf, where I now do homework (I read that you should save your bed for strictly relaxing activities--that way, you'll subconsciously associate your bed with relaxation and fall asleep faster). Call the quotes cheesy or whatever you want, but I like them. And kudos to Lars Christiansen for the fire quote. He said it the Monday before Mitch and I broke up, and I just felt like it was something I needed to hear.

OMG WUT, LIFE IS AWESOME

2011-01-22T23:31:00.001-06:00

That's pretty much how I feel.

Winter break was awesome. Remember that one heartfelt, almost painful post, "I'm a Cylon?" Well, I pretended that whole last semester didn't happen, and had the most amazing winter break ever. What did I do? A whole lotta nothin' (and by "nothin'," I mean playing video games, reading, and eating) for a few weeks, and then I partied in NYC for a few days.

You don't even know how jealous you should be of my winter break.

Here are some pics:

Check out all this sweet stuff I got with Christmas money/gift cards! LOOK AT ALL THOSE BOOKS! And yes, that is a Kingdom Heart shirt.

The Slytherin scarf Mitch's sister, Kristi, crocheted for me.

The totally gorgeous dress I got to wear for my sister's wedding (more wedding pics to follow).

Heck yes. Leftover angel food cake from our dinner with Kristen, Mark, and Harper.

You know this is the coolest shirt you've ever seen.

I got it at Nintendo World in Rockefeller Center.

I played a crap-ton of video games. Especially Birth by Sleep, informally known (at least, chronologically) as Kingdom Hearts 0.

I went to Video Games Live for the second time in a year (thanks for coming to Minneapolis so often, Tommy Tallarico!). And thanks, Tony, for coming with!

The grass-growing kit I got in my stocking. The grass is already dead. I am so bad with plants, I killed grass.

You bet your money I got Zelda underpants for Christmas.

I also got these for Christmas.

Losing my shit in Nintendo World.

Barnabee, my Pillow Pet, in the NYC subway.

The Manhattan Penthouse, top floor, where my sister got married. The Empire State Building was in clear view from the penthouse's windows.

Mitch, Evan, Cherish, and me, at the wedding.
BTW, their cake was made by a cake-maker with a reality show. So they filmed parts of the wedding. I had/got to sign a release form so I could also be on TV. WICKED.

Me, Mitch, my sister Aimee, my brother-in-law Ryan, my cousin's friend, and my cousin Hillary, at a bar in Union Square.

So, yeah. Be jealous of my winter break. Be very jealous.

Things I like - 1/2/11 edition

2011-01-02T22:40:00.001-06:00

Enjoy~

Isn't this gorgeous?

From labellefairy's Etsy shop.

I think I was a burlesque dancer in a previous life.

From olgaitaly's Etsy shop.

Having to look for red patent leather heels to wear to my sister Cherish's wedding (I'm a bridesmaid!) has gotten me obsessed with red patent leather heels.

Jessica Simpson Disa, from Zappos.

THESE.

From ZooShoo.

Sora. Necklace. OMG.

From Hot Topic.

I legit have the back for this dress.

From Threadsence.

I'm currently crazy about peacocks. Even though I'm terrified of the actual, live birds.

From Threadsence.

I'm not usually a blue-kind-of-girl, but this ring is pretty bitchin'.

From Yves Saint Laurent.

I am so a fan of chunky necklaces.

From Threadsence.

I'm a Cylon.

2010-12-30T23:43:00.011-06:00

Or, at least, that's what my high school band director called me. I've always had a knack, you see, for doing a ridiculous number of things at once, and doing them relatively well - much like a robot - thus, his suspicion at my being a Battlestar Galactica Cylon.

I don't mean to brag, because I don't believe I can do a ridiculous number of things at once, and do them well, because of some innate talent or intellect. It's through blood, sweat, and occasionally tears, alone, that I get so much shit done.

Want to know what I did this semester?
I:

x Edited and submitted my URGO paper on gender and sexuality in yaoi and yuri manga to the Central States Communication Association for inclusion in their 2011 conference.

x Paneled twice at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Kansas City. The first panel was on Augsburg's HON 130 Liberating Letters course, a first-year Honors humanities course. The second panel was on Student Created Learning Experiences (I created one in Spring 2009).

x Sat in on two different grad-level classes at the U of M. The first was COMM 8210 - Seminar: Selected Topics in U.S. Electronic Media, with Dr. Edward Schiappa, and the second was COMM 5211 - Critical Media Studies: Theory and Methods, with Dr. Mary Vavrus. I also met independently with Dr. Schiappa and Dr. Gilbert Rodman.

x Participated in Augsburg's Homecoming as part of the Homecoming Court.

x Applied for the nationally-competitive Critical Language Scholarship in Kyoto, Japan, administered by the U.S. Department of State.

x Hand-made my Halloween costume (with the help of my lovely friend, Erica).

x Applied for the extremely competitive Communication Studies Graduate Program at the University of Minnesota. Last year, the department accepted only seven new students. This year, it may be only five.

x Dealt with the death of my grandmother, Pearl Marie.

x Created my second SCLE, or Student Created Learning Experience. I'll be studying Kanji (Japanese characters adapted from Chinese) next semester: Sixty characters (in addition to those learned in my regular Japanese classes) in four and a half weeks.

x Created job application profiles at three high-profile companies (not telling where!).

x Met the Guerrilla Girl, Frida Kahlo, part of the group of famous feminist artists.

x Worked twenty hours a week, and found my replacement for Homemade (I bet you can't wait to find out who it is!), who'll take over for me this May when I graduate.

x Maintained my cumulative 4.0 GPA.

x Wrote a nearly forty-page international relations thesis on Japanese and international child pornography laws.

I feel like this list doesn't even do this semester justice. If it's any indication as to how close the last four months came to pushing me over the deep end, I frequently had nightmares about getting bad grades (Hermione, much?) or about not getting into grad school. I thought of little else besides class and work. I rarely saw my friends. I was crabby nearly every day.

Most people who know me know that I like school. I legitimately enjoy going to class, and I generally don't mind doing homework (when I was a kid, I used to ask my teachers for extra homework before summer break so I wouldn't get bored). But this semester was one of the hardest four months of my life. They weren't bad (how could a semester be bad, when it includes a free trip to KC, a risque piercing, and puking in a candy bowl while wearing a tutu?), but they were, pardon my French, hard as fuck.

So, to all who stuck by me this semester, despite my crabbiness, my crazy Halloween shenanigans, and my general lack of concern for what you were doing because I had so much crap of my own to think about, thank you.
Thank you:

Mitch Billings, Alan Juell, Erica Malloy, Alex Bischoff, Renee Van Siclen, Andrew Fox, Katelyn Johnson, Ben Skoglund, Becki Iverson, Sam Smith, Colin Stanhill, Katie Lawson, Kristen Chamberlain, Wes Ellenwood, Joe Underhill, David Lapakko, Carly Lassegard, Joe Funk, Tony Thompson, Brian Cronin, Katie Cink, Steve Buran, Mom, Bob, Greg McLain, Jake Steffen, Sherie, Craig, Kristi Billings, Taryn Brown, Cassie Morrison, all my Twitter followers, and countless others who deserve their names here,

for supporting me unconditionally, never telling me to shut up when I complained and vented and screamed and kicked things, letting me make a fool of myself while wearing a tutu, holding my hand while I got a hole punched in my face, not being mad when I bailed on the Tron: Legacy midnight premiere, not being mad when I bailed on everything else, listening to my worries about not being able to keep my 4.0 (I know, I know, I'm Hermione Granger), not calling me a "bitch" when I got so crabby I threw my books, taking me to the Tea Garden for the first time, not getting on my case for never doing the dishes or making dinner or for leaving my laundry in the dryer, helping me laugh off setbacks, giving me money for groceries so I could eat well and not get sick, taking me to St. Martin's Table for lunch when I was sad,

and for everything else. Thank you.

Ninja bread cookie cutters and a Piranha Plant scarf

2010-12-08T17:04:00.000-06:00

Today, my friend and I exchanged Christmas gifts. She got me these "ninja bread" cookie cutters:

And I got her a PIRANHA PLANT SCARF! You know you're jealous. Admit it.

If you, too, want a Piranha Plant scarf, go HERE.

Cross-posted at 1UP.com.

Things I like - 12/3 edition

2010-12-03T21:36:00.001-06:00

Enjoy~

Legend of Zelda Boss Key chest. I want it/to put things in it.

From underreign's Etsy shop.

Rilakkuma oven mitt, to go along with my Rilakkuma apron (which I won in a claw machine in a Tokyo arcade).

From YESASIA and ShopKawaii.

SHINee desk calendar, so I can look at beautiful Korean men every day.

From YESASIA.

This. Mew!

From Strapya World.

These Shiba Inu ornaments, so Per can be represented on our Christmas tree.

From PaperDemonJewelry's Etsy shop.

This tee. Because I heart Snape ("After all this time, Severus?" "Always.").

From evietees' Etsy shop.

The Disillusionment of Draco Malfoy (and His Accomplice Hermione Granger).

It's a Harry Potter fanfic about Draco and Hermione kicking ass together. GET OVER IT; I AM NOT ASHAMED.

Don't be sad, Draco! Everyone knows you're not really evil. Your dad, however, is a different story...

From Hot Topic.

Butterfly hair clip. Isn't it just darling?

From MonkeySeeAndMonkeyDo's Etsy shop.

I am 100% confident in my ability to rock this dress at a glam holiday party. Erica, this must happen.

From Forever 21.

Me wearing ridiculous/awesome things.

2010-12-02T18:29:00.000-06:00

Cross-posted at 1UP.com.

Over the last few days, I have bought a number of ridiculously adorable things on the cheap (thanks, Black Friday!). Seriously. Ridiculous. Adorable. Ridiculously adorable.

It's a dog. It's a hat. It's a DOG HAT. From My Pillow Pets.

Also, YES. I realize I've already blogged about this. GET OVER IT.

How to Train Your Dragon jammies. You know you're jealous.

Also, yes. These are from the little boys' section at Walmart.

Mario snuggie. MARIO SNUGGIE. YES, THIS IS A MARIO SNUGGIE.

You know you want it. Don't deny it.

Me in an adorable dog hat

2010-11-30T22:23:00.000-06:00

You read right. It's me. In an adorable dog hat. ADORABLE, RIGHT?

From My Pillow Pets.

Dramione is love.

2010-11-28T03:21:00.000-06:00

New desktop.

Yes, I ship Draco x Hermione.

Don't judge me.

From http://crystalled-roses.net/.

TSDF

2010-11-27T22:11:00.003-06:00

Today, Taryn and Cassie and I (TSDF) got together for the first time in too long.

We:

1. Ate at the Drive In. Tuna melt + chive fries = best meal EVER.

This is Taryn.

From left to right: Taryn, Cassie, me.

2. Watched a crap-ton of Harry Potter-related videos on YouTube.

From left to right: Me, Taryn, Cassie.

3. Re-watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1/talked about how we'll hate seeing what seem like needless deaths (such as [SPOILERS IN WHITE] Colin Creevey, Fred Weasley, and Tonks) in Part 2.

4. Ate homemade macaroni and cheese. Thanks, Mom!

Like any other time, our day together seemed too short, but we're getting together again over winter break to have a Harry Potter marathon.

Heart TSDF.

Yeto's Superb Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Soup!

2010-11-27T01:03:00.000-06:00

Tonight, my mom and I (note: my mom is also a gamer) tried The Geeky Chef's recipe for Yeto's Superb Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Soup, inspired by the soup Yeto the Yeti makes for his wife Yeta in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

It came out all right; it looks a little bit like banana smoothie, actually. It tastes similar to broccoli and cheese soup, but much richer. Our verdict? While Yeto's Superb Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Soup isn't bad, it's much too, well, much to eat on its own. We suggest pairing it with an otherwise full meal. Maybe with some steak and strawberries?

Things I am thankful for

2010-11-25T20:56:00.001-06:00

Poor Thanksgiving. This year, more than any other year, the cozy little holiday has been eclipsed by the Christmas frenzy. But don't worry, Thanksgiving, I remembered you.
Here's what I've been thankful for in the year 2010:

The supportive professors and other staff at Augsburg College. Seriously. Without them, where would I be? Just a few months ago, the Vice President of Student Affairs wrote (on my Facebook wall) that she was sorry she couldn't make it to my summer URGO research presentation, and that she'd love for me to send her a link of the video. My summer URGO research was on PORN (basically). How cool is that?

Kristen and I. :)

My health. This semester has been the busiest, and most stressful, time of my life. There was a span of couple weeks during which I got no more than three hours of sleep a night. Three. Knock on wood, I haven't been sick yet. I'm sure part of the reason I haven't succumbed to some sort of terrible/inconvenient illness yet is because I've been eating so well that I'm poor all the time. Oh well. It's worth it! Not to mention, my body hasn't rejected my anti-eyebrow piercing, which is further proof that my immune system is doing well, despite the stresses I've been putting on it.

Go go gadget IMMUNE SYSTEM!

Dinners with Alex, Erica, Renee, Aidan, etc. at Hard Times, Jimmy John's, and Nabo. These reprieves from work and homework have done more to keep me sane over the course of this semester than I think my friends realize.

From left to right: Erica, Alex, me. At the URGO banquet.

My dog, Per. I don't think anyone in my life is more excited to see me every evening when I come home from school/work. He whines, wags his tail furiously, and gives me hugs. Literally. He jumps up on his hind legs and puts his front legs on my shoulders. It's the cutest thing I've ever seen. I'd wager that most evenings, I'm coming home harassed and tired, but the minute I step through the door and Per greets me, well, jeez. I can't help but smile.

What have you been thankful for?
Happy Thanksgiving, loves.

Hilarious literal take on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer (video)

2010-11-22T20:15:00.000-06:00

‎"Roll a flashing plant under a happy tree.
Now it’s a dead tree.
Slingshots make bats disappear!
Use a whip to tear out people’s hearts.
Then eat them.
...Stab a scorpion in the eye-claw!"

From Tobuscus.

November (so far) in pictures

2010-11-22T20:03:00.002-06:00

Enjoy~

My family's cat, Ernie, was fascinated by my mom's new aquarium. He kept pawing at the glass where the fish were.

Since the International Relations Keystone is starting to utterly destroy me and the other students taking it, we've decided to bring baked goods and other comfort foods to each class period. I baked oatmeal raisin cookies. They were a big hit. :)

Kristen and I showed up wearing basically identical outfits one day. Seriously. We were both wearing jeans, brown boots, long sleeved mustard yellow shirts, and a necklace. I was missing the scarf, but we still did pretty well for not planning it.

Saw this at the grocery store. Thought of Kyo (HEART! Kyon-Kyon!) from Fruits Basket.

I came home from one of my night classes to find hot lefse waiting for me. Mitch is THE BEST.

A slightly Myspace-esque pic of me on the ACTC bus. I was definitely dressed like a badass that day. Leopard print, leather, and bright red lipstick? My clothes, together with my piercings, made me your grandma's worst nightmare.

Aren't these the cutest monkey socks you've ever seen? From Claire's. Don't judge me.

Mitch woke me up on the car ride to Milaca so I could see this gem of a truck. Ah, the US of A.

It snowed!

Per's unsure face. He actually loves the snow. I like to kick some powder up in the air and watch him try to pounce on it.

The most ginormous pancakes I've ever tried to eat. From the Bad Waitress, where my friend Greg and I had breakfast.

I think this picture puts them in better perspective. They were literally bigger than my head. Ridiculous.

Ping pong out in the lobby. The table belongs to my roommate Tony. Some crabby lady walked by and told us to stop playing in the lobby, but she was a bitch and had no authority to tell us to get out of a common area, so we ignored her.

On to Thanksgiving, yo!

My dog likes the Rock Band drumsticks

2010-11-22T19:24:00.000-06:00

He also gnawed on them for a while. And he bit the guitar. And my shirt. And my leg. He was goofy tonight. :D

Okami is love.

2010-11-20T11:50:00.000-06:00

New desktop. From Anime Paper.

First impressions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

2010-11-19T20:50:00.007-06:00

Last night, Mitch, Alan, Lily, Mitch's friend, and I all went to Rosedale for the midnight premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

At Perkins before heading to the theater.

Hyped up on Red Bull, playing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone trivia.

I can't speak for Mitch's friend, but the rest of us have been Harry Potter fans since the books first started coming out in the U.S. more than a decade ago. We've grown up with the books (and the movies). The release of the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was the first nail in the coffin of our childhood.

I actually LOVE LOVE LOVE the Italian cover. I heart Snape and Lily.

The release of part 1 of the Deathly Hallows movie means the coffin is almost nailed shut. It's pretty depressing to think about, ya know?

Anyway, here are my first impressions of the film.

The film moves fast. I anticipate people who've read the entire Harry Potter series, more than any other group (even those who've read a few, but not all, of the books), will be able to appreciate this film. That isn't to say that people who haven't read the books won't enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, only that I'm guessing it'll be a trial keeping up. There is no - I repeat, no - re-introduction of any of the terms, characters, or events. Don't know what a Horcrux is? What about the importance of the locket? Who is Kreacher, Mad Eye Moody, and Fleur Delacour? Don't know? Then maybe you should get crackin' on the books or Wiki the hell outta that shit.

HORCRUX (click only if you're prepared for spoilers) D:

Holy crap, Nazi imagery. People have been saying the Second Wizarding War (essentially, the plot of the entire series) resembles World War II (or, in the very least, that the Dark Witches and Wizards resemble the Nazis) since the books originally came out. But Director David Yates took this resemblance to the extreme in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, dressing corrupt Ministry officials in uniforms and red armbands, and designing propaganda like it's straight out of the 1940s. The script, too, stays true to the books, in that Dark Witches and Wizards often speak of needing to keep the "magical bloodline" pure, etc. Rather than coming off annoying and too in-your-face, this imagery adds to the film in a lot of ways.

These are Nazis. OK, not exactly, but pretty much. Note the sculpture in the background: It's motto is "magic is might," and it's of Muggles being crushed under a witch and a wizard sitting on a throne.

This is not a movie made for kids. I've said the same thing about the last four movies, but I mean it more every time. The longest reprieve between scary/violent images is probably no more than a few minutes. There is a lot of blood, a lot of death, a lot of corruption, and a little bit of sexy time. It is a very mature film. Don't let the fact that the main characters are supposed to be only seventeen-years-old fool you.

Hermione casting enchantments with bloody hands. She'd just finished healing Ron's wounds (he had chunks of his arm tore out during an Apparating accident).

In general, I'd say Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was scripted and directed with a well-read audience in mind. It won't be impossible for people who've never read the books/children to enjoy the film, but it might be harder than it has been with previous installments like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

GO SEE IT.

Cast of Harry Potter speaking American

2010-11-17T22:52:00.001-06:00

You read right. Here's the cast of the Harry Potter movies (Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Tom Felton speaking "American." Laugh as they say "Olive Garden," "Boo-yah," and "Glenn Beck."

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Thanks goes to my bff Taryn for showing me this video.

I need these Zelda underpants

2010-11-16T17:14:00.001-06:00

You read right. Legend of Zelda underpants. Legend of Zelda boy briefs, to be exact.
I need these.

It's a pair of underpants. With a Legend of Zelda logo on the butt. What more could you ask for?

"Ride the competition" - Milaca football team's advertising fail

2010-11-13T13:09:00.001-06:00

The Milaca High School football team has made it to the Minnesota state tournament for the first time ever (or so I hear, correct me if I'm wrong). Regardless, nobody can remember a time when the football team made it to state, so I guess that's as good as never having gone.

Anyway, the team had a multi-page advert of sorts in the Mille Lacs County Times, our hometown newspaper. It featured player bios, stats, and other things I can see people who care about football caring about.

But what really struck me about the advert was what it said when folded in half (which is how the advert comes originally in the Mille Lacs County Times).

Here's the advert's full cover. Nothing wrong with it, right? Looks good, pack pride, rah rah, yada yada yada.

Now here's the advert folded in half, as one would see it when first opening the paper.

DEAR LORD, WHAT? We need to...ride...the competition?

And that, my friends, is bad editing/hilarious.

Things I like - 11/13 edition

2010-11-13T00:09:00.002-06:00

Enjoy, nerds~

Classy Slytherin bracelet, FTW.

From AzureeAlice's Etsy shop.

I have to be honest with you. This crest is from Twilight. It's the Cullen crest. I can't help it, no matter how bad the books are, the crest is still sleek looking.

Also from AzureeAlice's Etsy shop.

I will marry whoever can prove to me they own these and will wear them at our wedding.

From dedalo's Etsy shop.

Yoshi!

From NerdGold's Etsy shop.

DO WANT. ATTACHED TO A STRING AROUND MY NECK.

From Octomama's Etsy shop.

Sex, violence, and the supernatural in Ukiyo-e? It's like the author put this art book together especially for me.

Dream Spectres: Extreme Ukiyo-e: Sex, Blood, and the Supernatural, by Jack Hunter.

Why yes, my dog is the cutest dog ever

2010-11-10T10:25:00.000-06:00

He's adorable when he's sleeping, he's adorable when he's awake (he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for...oh wait. That's a Christmas song).

He was legitimately sleeping when I took this picture.

Snuggling with my jammies. Per wuvs his mommy.

Passed on out Mitch's pillows after a crazy weekend up in Milaca.

Sweepin' on a blankie on the floor.

And to prove he does more than sleep:

Playing with his elephant toy, "Mr. Elephant."

He loooooves empty paper towel rolls. LOVES THEM.

Shadow of the Colossus is love.

2010-11-09T10:22:00.000-06:00

New desktop. Image found here, artist unknown.

This picture just about sums up my Halloween.

2010-11-08T22:35:00.001-06:00

Don't ask me what we were doing. All I can say is, almost immediately after this photo was taken, Erica (on the right, dressed as Pikachu) became fascinated with my nylons, and Paul (on the left, dressed as Doctor Who) bit my leg.

My favorite J-pop and K-pop videos (post 1 of 2)

2010-11-07T01:47:00.001-05:00

It's about time I compiled a list of my favorite Japanese and Korean music videos, don't ya think? I've been posting them randomly for the last year or so. Now there'll be one (cough cough, two, actually) posts containing them ALL! You're welcome.
~

SHINee's newest release, "Hello." It's not their greatest piece of music (in fact, it's pretty standard/bland), and they've danced better, but SHINee almost never disappoints me in terms of fashion, and this time is no different.

SHINee's "Ring Ding Dong."

The choreography in this video is amazing. Seriously.

I hate the cheesy wings at the end, though. And I could do with about half the brooding stares.

Still LOVE IT (all I want to do is pet their hairrrrr). FYI, all the men in my dreams look like this.

Namie Amuro's live performance of "Hide and Seek."

All other women can only aspire to be this sexy.

Namie Amuro's "Wild."

1:30-1:40 is epic.

Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry."

I heart them. That is all.

Super Junior's "No Other."

This is the most ridiculously adorable thing I have ever seen (letmehaveyourbabies) EVER.

Girls' Generation, in "Oh!"

I like to think that I'm almost as peppy as they are.

I'll compile post #2 another day. I don't want to clog up my blog so much that it takes several minutes to load.

Heart.

Things I like - 11/7 edition

2010-11-07T01:12:00.000-05:00

Enjoy~

Amaterasu (Okami) as a human, imagined by Priscillia of deviantART

Adorable dress, amirite?

From AsiaJam.

This sweater (you know I love bows)...

...but in pink.

Also from AsiaJam.

Ruffle lace shorts? YES PLZ.

I totally have leg warmers to go with these shorts.

From YesStyle.

I heart floral prints.

Nightgown also from YesStyle.

Skunk fur mittens. These are the coolest things I have ever seen.
From CalfDr's Etsy shop.
FYI, he's the same guy who made my coyote fur mittens. He's awesome and local. Buy things from him.

Rabbit fur earmuffs.
From takesainmyheart's Etsy shop.

This belt/dress combo (bows!).
From CutieCode.

Meeting Guerrilla Girl Frida Kahlo

2010-11-05T21:00:00.000-05:00

Tonight, I met Guerrilla Girl Frida Kahlo.

The Guerrilla Girls are a group of feminists based out of New York. They've been around since the 80s, challenging prominent museums to recognize the contributions of women (and women of color) and include more of their work in their exhibits and general collections. The women who comprise the Guerrilla Girls all wear gorilla masks out in public (when they're doing work for the Girls) and take the names of dead female artists.

The Guerrilla Girl who goes by the name Frida Kahlo came to Augsburg today and spoke to a large crowd in Foss Chapel. After the presentation and Q&A, she was available for book signing/photos.

I asked her a question during the Q&A. I wanted to know why, if the Guerrilla Girls espouse LGBT rights, they haven't done more poster campaigns demanding fair representation of LGBT artists. I think I offended Frida a little, who told me to check out their book Bitches, Bimbos and Ballbreakers (a book about female stereotypes, which I have read, for my Legend of Zelda research last year). I apologized when I met her personally at the book signing. I think it went well.

I'm not the world's staunchest defender of the Guerrilla Girls (their books contain multiple spelling/grammatical errors, and aren't really written for people already relatively well-versed in gender/feminist studies), but I appreciate their hard work. Apparently all of them have day jobs, and just do Guerrilla Girls stuff on the side. Who else can say they've become internationally famous feminists in their spare time?

The crowd filling into the chapel.

P.S. Sorry about the super crappy quality of these pics. Usually, my phone's camera works well (enough), but the lighting in Foss has always given me trouble (even on my real camera), and almost all the pictures I've ever taken here have turned out extremely poorly. Don't judge me.

My bestie Alan up front, pretending to be one of the Guerrilla Girls in a skit.

Me with Frida after she signed my book.

October in pictures

2010-11-03T23:40:00.005-05:00

Minus the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference, which I covered here, in "Interesting meatloaf: Quotes and pictures from the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference."

Driving through Milaca.

Mommy made us waffles! I heart my parents.

Sitting in bed, watching Saturday morning cartoons.

I spent some time outside, enjoying the fall colors.

I took Per out to the woods. He acted like a dumb-ass.

My heart is here.

My supervisor and friend, Carrie Carroll, has two daughters. They made me hair bows. HAIR BOWS! You know how much I love hair bows.

And Deb Hutterer, Executive Director of Faith in the City (her mailbox is in the Comm. Studies office), gave me a bag of candy! I ate all the fruits snacks in about five minutes. People at Augsburg are so nice to me. ^^

I made my friend, Jake, gingerbread cookies (per request) for his birthday (which is today). Can you find the dead gingerbread man?

Speaking of Jake, he took me on an adventure to a wooded area near the river (that's the Mississippi River, for all you non-Minneapolis folk). We climbed down a cliff-type-thing to get to the trails. It was epic. I cut my hand on a sharp rock, but it wasn't anything a Hello Kitty bandage couldn't fix.

Kingdom Hearts Silly Bandz? WUT?

Note the pet hair (curse you, Per!).

Per in his new Halloween costume. I think it's actually a pair of doggie pajamas, but he doesn't know that.

Per snuggling in the middle of the couch pillows, a fleece blanket, and Mitch's shirt. He really could not have picked a worse spot (all that fur, ugh!).

I've been carrying my Pokewalker around. I do so much walking, I figured it was about time for me to take advantage of this extremely nerdy pedometer that came with my HeartGold cartridge. Wanna know how it works? Well, I transfer one of the Pokemon from my HeartGold file to the Pokewalker via WiFi. The Pokemon shows up in my Pokewalker, and with each step I take, the Pokemon collects "watts." After I have x number of watts saved up, I can use the "dowsing machine" and look for items, or I can try to catch wild Pokemon in the grass. I can even play with other people's Pokemon, stored in their Pokewalkers! Baller, I know.

Guess who's going to Video Games Live again? Guess.

Answer: This girl. And check out my seat! Second row! That's even better than my seat last year (in the fifth row).

October rocked. Fer real.

Things I like - 11/3 edition

2010-11-03T22:53:00.001-05:00

Enjoy these bomb-diggity cat/fox-related Etsy finds~

Kitties!

From 3crows' Etsy shop.

I think this is totally fantastic. Love black cats.

From AlisaPaints' Etsy shop.

This is fabric. Fabric!

Did you know that my second favorite animal is the red fox?

From mummysam's Etsy shop.

Mmm red fox fur headband. My head would be so full of warm/win.

From reFurbished's Etsy shop.

Liam, The Sleepy Woodland Fox.

From sleepyking's Etsy shop.

My comment published in Out Magazine

2010-11-03T00:13:00.000-05:00

You read right: A comment I sent to Out Magazine, in response to the article "W4M4M," written by Cintra Wilson, was published in Out's current (November 2010) issue! Hot damn!

Kia, a friend of mine who works in Augsburg's library, saw me in the Comm. Studies office today, and came to tell me the good news. I rushed over to Lindell to see for myself. Sure enough, there I was!

Enjoy~

sweeeeeeet

Things I like - 11/1 (and 11/2) edition

2010-11-02T00:14:00.003-05:00

Enjoy~

Mugs with animal faces. And tops!

From Japanese Gift Market.

A hand-stamped bracelet. Mischief managed!

From MadamePoindextra's Etsy shop.

WHY is this not hanging somewhere in my apartment already?

From soadypopdesign's Etsy shop.

My favorite Potter Puppet Pals sketch. LOLWUT SAXOPHONE.

A Potter Puppet Pals sketch I haven't seen? With DRACO?

A rabbit ear hoodie by South Korean brand Sechuna.

From AsiaJam.

A red fox? With onigiri? Two of my favorite things!

From Cute Plush.

I need this partly because I hate the way my phone sounds when it vibrates against my wood nightstand and partly because I totally heart Yuki Sohma (Fruits Basket).

From 3.99 Anime Shop, which may or may not be based out of China and therefore a little sketch.

HEART.

Screenshot from the Fruits Basket anime.

Ta-da! My anti-eyebrow piercing!

2010-10-31T20:10:00.004-05:00

After a crrrraaazzyyy 30th and a morning spent shoveling food and water into my mouth, I headed over to St. Sabrina's (where I got my nose piercing, two years ago) in Uptown with my friend Jake (heart!) to get a metal bar jammed under my skin.

It sounds a lot more painful than it actually is. When I got my nose pierced, I was SUPER jittery. Not this time! It probably helped that Jake was squeezing my hand. :)
Anyway, Nate, my piercer, inserted the metal bar (a flat one) under my skin, and attached two studs to each end.

This type of piercing's a little bit more risky than some other kinds (like nostril piercings) because there's a higher chance of rejection (your body saying, "NOPE! Take it out!" and flipping a shit/infections), and migration (when the piercing starts movin' around), but it should be OK. I'm going back to St. Sabrina's in a month so Nate can make sure the piercing's not doing anything crazy.

In the meantime, I'm diggin' it. It's a little sore, but honestly, the canker sore on the left side of my mouth is more sore than the piercing. I'm guessing that'll change once I start applying a paper towel soaked in saline solution to it. Nate said it's common for people with this kind of piercing to get a black eye, too. Bad-ass!

Did someone bite me? - Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T12:48:00.000-05:00

It was epic. That's all I can say.

Erica makin' stuff in the ceramics studio

My giant Bellossom tutu

I was Bellossom!

This is the actual Pokemon Bellossom.

My friend Erica as Pikachu.

Pikachu!

Erica playing Space Channel 5.

Bella! Bellossom!

Carly and Alex.

Me and Ali F.

ohemgeee it's Link.

BAHAHA ABU

Roxas is love.

2010-10-30T12:21:00.000-05:00

New desktop. Image from Anime Paper.

Mew, I choose you!

2010-10-30T11:41:00.001-05:00

Today, I received my first "event" Mew. I've been playing the Pokemon games since 1998, and the only Mew I've had are ones I've cheated/hacked into my game via the Mew Glitch and my beloved Action Replay. So finally being able to log into the Nintendo Wi-Fi and get a bona fide Mew is kind of a big deal for me.

Mew transferred from the Nintendo Wi-Fi Mystery Gift to my system.

Mew transferred to my party at the Lavender Town Poke Mart.

Mewr so vain!

ME TOO, MEW

Things I like - 10/29 edition

2010-10-29T13:25:00.004-05:00

It's been a while:

Adorable Link/Zelda necklaces...

THAT KISS! There are MAGNETS in their faces! :O

From NeliaTenlion's Etsy shop.

I'm not sure how much I like that the Poe Sisters have been given ridiculous hourglass figures, but I do like the idea of them looking more like women and less like amorphous blobs. Here's the direct link to the image.

Amaterasu (Okami) dangling necklace charm FTW.

Also from NeliaTenlion's Etsy shop.

Woodcut-style LoZ ring.

From LiyoLab's Etsy shop.

From Wet Seal.

Also from Wet Seal.

From Forever 21.

Greatest thing in the history of things. It's a bandage...FOR YOUR MOUTH!

Anti-eyebrow piercings. I'm getting mine at St. Sabrina's (with Nate, who also pierced my nose) on Sunday! Apparently, there's a higher risk of rejection with this kind of piercing, since, you know, there's actually a bar of some sort inserted into your skin, but I did pretty well combating infection in my nose ring, so I think I can tackle keeping this one healthy, too. Wish me luck!

Interesting meatloaf: Quotes and pictures from the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference

2010-10-29T12:34:00.002-05:00

Enjoy.

"I feel sad for the millions of people who're going to die, but global warming's looking pretty good to me." -Bob
"I got hit in the head with a shovel." –Katie
"And my sister once bit through her tongue." –David
"Stretching the muslins." "Do you also burn the Qur'an?" -David and Bob
"It's not really a problem to break someone's knee." –Katie
"I usually don't quote myself." –me
"Why did I think you had two kids with you last year at the Honors banquet?" "You were on acid?" -David and Bob
"I worked at a summer camp. And I had a machete." –David
"You should've let us know you were coming into town." -Local on the bus
"Did you know that Greek people taste like pineapple?" –Bob
"I still think there are people willing to hang a wench." -Bob
"Ours will look cool - they're from Staples." –David
"I've been infatuated with lots of people, and I've never wanted pictures of their crap." –Bob
"I kinda want to shoot him." –David
"I'm more than willing to have interesting meatloaf." –Bob
"Wonder twin powers activate!" –Bob
"I'm Osama Bin Laden!" -Bob, as he stabs a small American flag with a steak knife
"It's a Renaissance Tourette's syndrome." -Bob
"Get yer geek cred on." –Bob
"My two current subscriptions are Popular Mechanics and Lego Magazine." –David
"Tiny Tim is a thing in my family." –Bob
"We abuse Tiny Tim." –Bob
"The blue lights BLINDED YOU!" –Bob
"It's like a massage for my hands!" "We look like a cult." -Bob and Katie, rubbing the table
"Your mom has to gesture really big." –Bob
"Your mom is gross." "Your grandma is gross." "Your dog is gross." "Leave the dog out of this." -Bob, David, and Katie
"WHOM DO YOU SERVE?" "SARUMANNNNN" -Bob and David
"My butt doesn't fit in it." –Bob
"It makes me look big-breasted." –Bob
"MREOW MEOW MREOW" –Bob
"I know a lot about Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh." -Bob

No stepping on the wing of the plane!

Lolita, my handmade sock creature (Mommy made her for me!), looking apprehensively out the plane window.

The outside of the Hotel Phillips, where we stayed.

Dawn, a seventy-five-year-old statue in the Hotel Phillips lobby.

Our hotel room (I shared a room with Katie). It was massive/awesome, and the beds were super comfortable.

My conference name tag.

It doesn't look that crowded, but the bus we took to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art was packed. It took fifteen minutes to squeeze everyone on.

One of several giant birdies, created by Claes Oldenburg (the same man who created the "Spoonbridge and Cherry" sculpture at the Walker in Minneapolis) on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

"Standing Figures (Thirty Figures)," AKA ZOMBEEZ.

"Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself Atop Lenin's Head" AKA WUTTHEHELL

The single most beautiful art exhibit I've ever seen. The statue, Guanyin of the Southern Sea, depicts Guanyin, a bodhisattva associated with compassion. He's seated in front of an absolutely massive wall, taken from a real Chinese monastery. On each side of the giant room are statues of "attendants." I spent fifteen+ minutes in awe. Fucking awe.

Bison meatloaf at Ted's Montana Grill (owned by Ted Turner). I wasn't a fan (and I love meatloaf!). It tasted kind of like pickles...in a bad way.

This yummy Kahlua brownie more than made up for the weird-ass bison meatloaf.

Giant skanky cowgirls in the Power and Light District. I can't like it.

Lolita pooped after a day of panels, poster sessions, presentations, and good food.

We paneled twice: Once for the Honors humanities course, Liberating Letters, and once for Student Created Learning Experiences (SCLE), the Honors program independent study program. Both the panels went SO well! After our SCLE panel, a professor from Texas came up to me and asked if it'd be all right if she emailed me - she might consider using some of my research in her classes! Whether or not she actually emails me is beside the point - the fact that she's thinking about it means a lot.

NCHC shirt ftw.

From our last night in KC. We sat at a Gordon Biersch in the Power and Light District for four hours, eating, drinking beer (mine tasted like banana!), and chatting. It was fantastic.

Arcaninez on my desktopz

2010-10-28T00:05:00.000-05:00

He is my fav, after all.

Dear October. WTF.

2010-10-26T00:05:00.003-05:00

October 2010 will go down in the history books as the month that finally gave Ali Rapp a run for her money.

It hasn't all been bad, per say. Only, incredibly, ridiculously, ball-bustingly, busy. And not the usual kind of "Jeez, I really have a lot of homework" busy. I mean, so far this October, I've:

x Edited and submitted my URGO paper on sexuality in manga to the Central States Communication Association for inclusion in their 2011 conference.

x Begun research for what will be the longest paper of my undergraduate career: my international relations thesis (50-60 pages). I'll be writing about international child pornography laws.
x Paneled twice at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Kansas City. The first panel was on Augsburg's HON 130 Liberating Letters course, a first-year Honors humanities course. The second panel was on Student Created Learning Experiences (I created one in Spring 2009).

x Stayed up for approximately thirty-eight hours for what was my first real regular-school-weekday-all-nighter (all-nighters spent foruming and playing Kingdom Hearts in high school don't count).
x Sat in on not one, but two different grad classes at the U of M. The first was COMM 8210 - Seminar: Selected Topics in U.S. Electronic Media, with Dr. Edward Schiappa, and the second was COMM 5211 - Critical Media Studies: Theory and Methods, with Dr. Mary Vavrus.
x Began the extremely time-consuming process of applying for graduate school and the Critical Language Scholarship. I'm about 2/5 of the way done with both of them (the essays are what I have left, and they'll take the most time).

x Participated in Augsburg's Homecoming as part of the Homecoming Court.

From left to right: Me, Alex, and JK.

x Straight-up forgot to do an assignment (a Japanese Kanji worksheet) for the first time ever in college.

SO YEAH. Pretty fucking busy. But the really rich part is, OCTOBER'S NOT DONE YET. Here's what I have left to do:

x Finish my handmade Halloween costume. I'm going as the Pokemon Bellossom.

x Finish both my grad school app and my Critical Language Scholarship app.
x Write the first ten pages of my international relations thesis.
x Complete my Modern China midterm.

Chiang Kai-shek, leader of China from the late 1920s til' the late 1940s.

x Take a Kanji (Japanese) quiz.

(みち (michi) - "way" or "road.")

x Present what I learned at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference to the Augsburg Honors Council.
x Meet with Dr. Gil Rodman, a professor at the U of M, to discuss the U's program (hopefully, as well as other things, like research!).
x Go to my friend Greg's class with him/enjoy tea, etc. together.
x Catch up on the Japanese assignments I missed while at the conference in Kansas City.

Keep in mind, I've been, and will continue to do, all this while working twenty hours a week and going to my (four) classes.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M DOING IT.

Paneling at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference!

2010-10-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

GUESS WHAT.

I'll be paneling at this year's National Collegiate Honors Council Conference (October 20th to the 24th)! Bob Groven, the Director of Augsburg's Honors Program, put together a panel on Student Created Learning Experiences (SCLEs), and being that I've created one before (they're sort of like independent studies for honors program students, but everything, including the application process and curriculum, is a bit more complex), I was one of the students picked to go!

The conference is in Kansas City, Missouri this year. And I don't have to pay a dime to go! How sweet is that?

I'll keep you updated on how it goes, yeah? I'm sure I'll take plenty of pictures during the trip...

I'm attracted to Tom Felton with blood on his face

2010-09-29T23:14:00.000-05:00

You read that right.

But SERIOUSLY. How is this NOT the greatest thing you've ever seen? Also, it's a little hot. And by a little, I mean a lot.

Don't judge me.

September (so far) in pictures

2010-09-22T09:10:00.001-05:00

I'm in love with leg warmers. I have a charcoal pair and an ivory pair. So far...

My Metro Transit pass holder. Now that I have unlimited rides on the Twin Cities' light rail/bus system (a card like this is $150/semester at Augsburg), I take public transportation evvvverrrywhuuurr. I didn't have to pay for a parking permit at Augsburg, and I rarely have to buy gas (it takes about $45 to fill up my tank). I've gotten in shape from all the walking, too. Win-win, yo. From Made of Aloha, on Etsy.

I rocked this sweet Vulpix temporary tattoo the other day. Have I told you my plan? If I get into grad school, I'm buying myself a tattoo. Probably of a Deku Scrub. Bomb-diggity.

Duh, Per is still adorable.

I went downtown to tell my friend (Phil Kollar, in da house) "happy birthday," and stopped by a small flower shop, Urban Garden, on the way back to the light rail. Who woulda thunk that the owner is an Augsburg weekend college grad? Small world.

My sister, Cherish, and I went out to Little T's for a late dinner (vegetarian tacos not pictured, as they were in my belly).

Little T's sets out crayons on each table so people can color on the huge white paper tablecloths they use. I drew me and my seeeeeeester.

My grandma.

My sister called me just as HIS 323 was starting Wednesday night, to tell me my grandma, who'd been in a nursing home for several months had died a few hours earlier. I sat through class anyway, figuring it'd at least keep my mind off things.

THEN, on Thursday, my mom emailed me to tell me my step-dad was in the hospital (with his billionth kidney stone). He's fine now, but it was just one more thing on a long list of stressful things to happen last week.

Kristen, my friend (and faculty adviser), took me out to lunch at St. Martin's Table to cheer me up. She's the best.

Other than what's pictured here, most of my September's been spent working on the massive amounts of homework I already have. I somehow have to find time to apply for grad school, the Critical Language Scholarship, and this year's Central States Communication Association conference. Yiiiikkkessssss.

COM 352 - Looking for sex in all the wrong places

2010-09-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

This is a bit late, but enjoy the quotes I furtively recorded during last semester's COM 352 (Persuasion) class:

"Part of my job is to grow people." -Professor (whose name I'm omitting to spare him the shame of some of these quotes).
"Who's that handsome man at the front of the room?" -Student
"This woman was so darn friendly - she just kept touching us." -Professor
"Men are impulsive. Liz knows." -Student "WHAT?" -Other student
"Our competitors are testing red slimy pops." -Stupid guy in supermarket video
"Some people even used the word 'horny.'" -Professor
"Since you're the birthday girl, we'll let you look at the orgy first." -Professor
"My lapel says, 'Jump off the Lake Street Bridge!'" -Professor
"You've got a pickle thing going on there...I'll let you be." -Professor
"We'll be studying Josh's body language." -Professor
"Love that word - 'arouse.'" -Professor
"There's just songs in my heart today...trying to get them out. Maybe there's a drug I can take." -Professor
"Heaven forbid we be dependent on anything, like those A-rabs." -Professor
What's Marxism? -Student
"That's an excellent choice of food." -Student
"Waitron." -Professor
"If you don't show up to class on Wednesday, you'll contract AIDS and die." -Professor
"I want POWER!" -Professor
"We need to have our egos stroked." -Professor
"We all need someone to love. The Snuggle Bear, Ronald McDonald..." -Professor
"Sex doesn't always sell. It depends on how you do it." -Professor
"I hope I get a lingering illness." -Professor
"No one looks at that and says, 'Oh jeez, I can have sex with all those girls?'" -Professor
"Do I need help?" -Student "You need many help." -Other student
"We need to be independent of those A-rabs." -Professor
"It's death day here. I'm having a theme." -Professor
"I love windpants! Swish swish swish..." -Student
"Who just got airbagged?" -Professor
"You can drive to Japan and back." -Professor "Nooooo..." -Student
"Groups can make riskier decisions than individuals." -Professor "So individuals don't feel responsible for their decisions when they're in a group?" -Student "So we should just have dictators?" -Other student "That's the lesson learned from [Professor]." -Other student
"I was going to say 'erect,' but that's the wrong word." -Professor
"I want my ear pierced. I want my...something else pierced." -Professor
"None of you have kids, right?" -Professor "Not that I know of." -Student
"It brought out the best of us, and blah blah blah." -Professor
"What would I do without you? I'd manage." -Professor, to a student
"There was a crusty old guy sitting across the way." -Professor
"I think I'm having a stroke." -Professor
"Give her an Amish smock or something." -Professor
"You should sit around and contemplate your navel sometimes." -Professor
"Climax sounds good for reasons...well...let's not go there." -Professor
"Auggies are...anorexic." -Professor, on Augsburg's marketing campaign
"What you hope to get is penetration...[giggle]." -Professor
"In the penetration stage...what happens in the penetration stage?" -Professor
"How would you measure happiness?" -Professor "Smiles-per-hour." -Student
"Throw some puppies at 'em." -Student
"Get outta my head, Garth!" -Professor
"I don't want you to be premature." -Professor
"I just got the sudden urge to take off my shirt." -Student
"Seattle? Oregon's a pretty progressive state!" -Student "Except Seattle's in Washington." -Other student
"Look at your 'p' and you'll be fine." -Professor
"I do all kinds of inappropriate things all the time." -Professor
"I tried waffling, but I didn't enjoy it." -Professor
"You can check him out, too, if you want." -Professor, about an adjunct applicant
"What I was a wee lad..." -Professor
"If I had a screwdriver, I could build you a beautiful cabinet, or I could gouge your eyes out." -Professor
"When you get old, you put your feet up and reminisce about the past...'I'm ready to go now.'" -Professor
"It's really hard to rip off an ATM nowadays." -Student
"Maybe you could play strip ethics." -Professor
"If you get rid of that stutter and get a little plastic surgery..." -Professor
"Let Kristen use her PowerPoints...Just wait a minute, I have to go out and feed my horse." -Professor
"I've been talking to myself a lot lately." -Professor
"I was a little more interested in [this girl] because we shared the same birthday." -Student
"Low-balling...that sounds awful." -Professor
"I have my first roadside sobriety test this summer...more on that later." -Professor
"All Jews should know this." -Professor
"WhatEVER." -Professor, with serious attitude
"We gotta find a way to make this guy's ball part of our marketing strategy." -Professor
"Adopt the ball." -Marketing video
"Laundry detergent is pretty much laundry detergent." -Professor "Wellll..." -Student
"HUGO! Hehehe." -Professor
"Heather, you're looking for sex in all the wrong places." -Professor
"I'm not here to offend you." -Professor

10 things I've learned over the summer

2010-09-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

It's fun to talk about sexuality and porn.
Braces can do impressive things.
I'm terrible at math (wait, I already knew that).
The word "rhubarb" is hard for Japanese to say.
I miss Uptown.
The world is full of extremely generous and selfless people.
I love fashion.
Fruits Basket is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Onigiri is awesomely convenient and filling.
I'm very, very lucky.

Truth.

New purchase: Coyote fur mittens

2010-09-01T20:54:00.001-05:00

I bought these mittens from a Minnesota trapper who makes his own fur mittens (and other accessories, like handbags and iPod/cellphone holders). He's got a shop on Etsy, and what, with his great story (he's really in-tune with nature, and is concerned with helping the animal populations in his area stay healthy), and great prices (not to mention, fur mittens are much more affordable than fur coats, which often cost several thousand dollars), what's not to love?

Note: I do not endorse inhumanely hunting for sport, and neither does the trapper I bought my mittens from. Just as I'm not against eating meat (though I choose to eat vegetarian meals most of the time), I'm also not against the use of fur or leather in clothing, etc. My family has always eaten meat and worn fur and leather, and yet respect nature absolutely. I'm a bit more liberal than my parents on these issues (that is, my parents hunt and eat a lot of meat, whereas I do not hunt, and I encourage people to reduce their meat intake), but I believe one can be a meat-eater and a fur/leather-wearer and still be an environmentalist and an advocate for animal rights. The two positions are not mutually exclusive.

Aren't they beautiful? I can't wait. My hands are going to be sooo waarrm this winter!

Osgood Family Picnic & Aimee's Wedding

2010-08-29T21:34:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, most of the Osgood family got together for a picnic at my aunt and uncle's house. They have a MASSIVE water garden. It was sweeeeet.

Me (right), Aimee (center), and Cherish (left). The three Rapp sisters.

My sister, Aimee.

Me (left) and my cousin Lauren (right).

My aunt and uncle's water garden #1.

My aunt and uncle's water garden #2.

My aunt and uncle's water garden #3.

My aunt and uncle's gazebo.

The cake my cousin's beautiful wife made for the picnic.

Then, this Saturday, my sister (Aimee) and her husband (of 10 years) finally had a wedding. She looked GORGEOUS.

My wonderful parents.

My sister, Cherish, and her boyfriend, Evan.

Me and my fiance, Mitch.

Me (right), my sister Aimee (center), my sister Cherish (left), and my brother-in-law, Ryan (front).

Me (right), my mom Denice (back), my sister Aimee (center), and my sister Cherish (left).

Me (right), my sister Aimee (center), and my sister Cherish (left). Check out Aimee's dress! She ordered it online and it ended up fitting her beautifully without any alterations. She's a perfect size 2!

The Osgood family (minus a few cousins and my Aunt Pam and Uncle Bruce).

New purchase: Japanese sweater dress

2010-08-27T22:24:00.000-05:00

I plan on rockin' it at this year's Velkommen Jul. Look for it, yo!

Behold, a new layout!

2010-08-27T20:10:00.000-05:00

I went from this:

To THIS:

Things I like 8/27 edition

2010-08-27T16:55:00.000-05:00

From Strapya World

Given out with ADV's 10th Anniversary Special Edition of Evangelion. I lol-ed hard.

From Forever 21

Is this not the most amazing thing you've ever seen? From Taeliac's shop on Etsy.

Kaworu (Evangelion 2.0 figure). So awesome.

No, I Am a Cat.

リラックマについてスピーチ (Speech about Relax Bear)

My Ten-Minute Foray into the Ocarina of Time Minecraft Remake

My Research Identity

Thoughts on my bigger captive bead nostril ring, customer service

Carl the cat, boyfriand, Minecraft, and other things

My Desk at UMN

Humbert's New Saucer

What does my weekend say about me?

Grad school, nbd.

I HAZ A HAMSTER

Neighborhood cats, reading on lawns, internships, and other things

Holy crap. I spoke at graduation. (And other news).

Help me pick a new mug/fill the gaping hole in my heart where my old mug used to be

Holy shit (Part 1)

Chicago + random pics

It Looks Like a Wiener with Teeth - Pics from My Weekend

Things I like - 3/4/11 edition

Dreams do come true, yo

Some much-deserved updates for my lovely friends

OMG WUT, LIFE IS AWESOME

Things I like - 1/2/11 edition

I'm a Cylon.

Ninja bread cookie cutters and a Piranha Plant scarf

Things I like - 12/3 edition

Me wearing ridiculous/awesome things.

Me in an adorable dog hat

Dramione is love.

TSDF

Yeto's Superb Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Soup!

Things I am thankful for

Hilarious literal take on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword trailer (video)

‎"Roll a flashing plant under a happy tree.Now it’s a dead tree.Slingshots make bats disappear!Use a whip to tear out people’s hearts.Then eat them....Stab a scorpion in the eye-claw!"

From Tobuscus.

November (so far) in pictures

My dog likes the Rock Band drumsticks

Okami is love.

First impressions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Cast of Harry Potter speaking American

I need these Zelda underpants

"Ride the competition" - Milaca football team's advertising fail

Things I like - 11/13 edition

More videos of Per, my ridiculously adorable dog

Why yes, my dog is the cutest dog ever

Shadow of the Colossus is love.

This picture just about sums up my Halloween.

My favorite J-pop and K-pop videos (post 1 of 2)

Things I like - 11/7 edition

Meeting Guerrilla Girl Frida Kahlo

October in pictures

Things I like - 11/3 edition

My comment published in Out Magazine

Things I like - 11/1 (and 11/2) edition

Ta-da! My anti-eyebrow piercing!

Did someone bite me? - Halloween 2010

Roxas is love.

Mew, I choose you!

Things I like - 10/29 edition

Interesting meatloaf: Quotes and pictures from the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference

Arcaninez on my desktopz

Dear October. WTF.

Paneling at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference!

I'm attracted to Tom Felton with blood on his face

September (so far) in pictures

COM 352 - Looking for sex in all the wrong places

10 things I've learned over the summer

New purchase: Coyote fur mittens

Osgood Family Picnic & Aimee's Wedding

New purchase: Japanese sweater dress

Behold, a new layout!

Things I like 8/27 edition

‎"Roll a flashing plant under a happy tree.
Now it’s a dead tree.
Slingshots make bats disappear!
Use a whip to tear out people’s hearts.
Then eat them.
...Stab a scorpion in the eye-claw!"