Alright. Okay. I'm in Montana. But I'm not in my dorm--yet. There is still some time left before that.
I drove about a quarter of the way to Montana. And it was scary, because dad purposefully had me drive a ridiculous pass full of twists, turns, steep cliffs, broken-down cars, and construction. We stopped to have lunch at this little restaurant that mum and dad like. But for some reason, it took them about an hour to get our food to us. It was a buncha little things, and I think the ultimate ending is that we might never go there again. When you're racing against time to get somewhere before, say, midnight, an hour-and-a-half for a meal is a huge setback.
Today we visited Grandma. We went out to the park and fed ducks, drove around the town for a bit, and bought her new clothes at the mall. We're celebrating her 88th birthday. She is so old! And she still has quite a bit of life left in her. She's supremely proud of me for going to MSU--She couldn't stop smiling when we told her our trip out was to drop me off at college.
We also went to a toy store. I freakin' love that toy store. I want to go back and buy everything and play with it all forever. It's not a stupid toystore like Toys R Us, it is a real toystore that puts out the toys so you can play with them. And they are novel toys, that are interesting and nifty and keen in all the ways a plastic stroller with Hannah Montana on it is not. I bought some sea monkies, because I am desperate to have a pet in my dorm. Hopefully I can take care of these guys, because fish and plants don't always work so well with me. Dad and I were looking for the librarian action figure (with amazing sushing action!) but they were sold out. Seriously, sold out. Because this is a thing people buy. We nearly bought the revenging unicorn instead, but it was impaling people instead of fluffy animals.
Professor Layton 2 was supposed to come out today. Game Stop, WalMart, and Target did not have it in. And it confused everybody that knew what they were doing because the release date was today. But the guy at Game Stop told me to check back tomorrow after 1pm, because they will almost certainly have it then. I trust him more than the guy at WalMart, so I will be returning there tomorrow. I am determined to buy this game at the soonest possible moment in an effort to show Japan that yes, people want to play this game series.
Also: My Reader was a godsend during the long car ride.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Cardo Bardo
Sunday is the big day. All of my favorite things will be in boxes in the van, and we will begin the 14 hour drive to Montana. Monday and Tuesday we will be visiting grandma in Great Falls, and Wednesday we will be in Bozeman. After helping me move in, mum and dad will leave and go to Yellowstone Park. They'll check in on me Friday, and then they are gone for good.
So I was looking in at what the internet connection in the dorms will be like, and found this FAQ page:
http://www.montana.edu/resnet/faq.php
Buncha nazis. What really got me was the last question about Skype. I'm really just hoping that they don't want me using Skype to call people on the phone. I guess if I'm wrong about that, I will find out because I plan to use Skype anyways. And if they come knockin' on my door then I will feign ignorance and start crying about how I just wanted to talk to my mum/boyfriend/best friend. And then continue to use Skype after they've left.
I guess if they cast some magic spell that physically keeps me from using Skype, then I will start looking into renting an apartment.
I started reading The Da Vinci Code. I really wish I hadn't. What is with poorly written books becoming best sellers? But I can forgive the stupid writing mistakes, because I guess you have to be really picky to catch them. (Things like a silhouette leering, or describing a man's eyes when he is a couple hundred yards away.) But the way it insulted my intelligence just caused me to stop. Every other paragraph is some sort of explanation. Explaining the plot, explaining an art peice, explaining why French people ask questions sometimes. At one point they describe a king's affinity for Egyptian art. And then they go on to talk about how he is responsible for bringing so much Egyptian art into France, and what his people thought about him and his interests. It wasn't at all relevant to the story. It was just the author showing off that he did a bit of research.
Not to mention that the main character is really pretentious.
So I started reading Anthem by Ayne Rand. I was only 6 pages into it when I realized I loved it. This book is good. And I can't wait to continue reading it.
So I was looking in at what the internet connection in the dorms will be like, and found this FAQ page:
http://www.montana.edu/resnet/faq.php
Buncha nazis. What really got me was the last question about Skype. I'm really just hoping that they don't want me using Skype to call people on the phone. I guess if I'm wrong about that, I will find out because I plan to use Skype anyways. And if they come knockin' on my door then I will feign ignorance and start crying about how I just wanted to talk to my mum/boyfriend/best friend. And then continue to use Skype after they've left.
I guess if they cast some magic spell that physically keeps me from using Skype, then I will start looking into renting an apartment.
I started reading The Da Vinci Code. I really wish I hadn't. What is with poorly written books becoming best sellers? But I can forgive the stupid writing mistakes, because I guess you have to be really picky to catch them. (Things like a silhouette leering, or describing a man's eyes when he is a couple hundred yards away.) But the way it insulted my intelligence just caused me to stop. Every other paragraph is some sort of explanation. Explaining the plot, explaining an art peice, explaining why French people ask questions sometimes. At one point they describe a king's affinity for Egyptian art. And then they go on to talk about how he is responsible for bringing so much Egyptian art into France, and what his people thought about him and his interests. It wasn't at all relevant to the story. It was just the author showing off that he did a bit of research.
Not to mention that the main character is really pretentious.
So I started reading Anthem by Ayne Rand. I was only 6 pages into it when I realized I loved it. This book is good. And I can't wait to continue reading it.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Movie Screen
Tomorrow is my last day here, and I will probably spend it putting my last things into boxes and lying around. Then Sunday morning I put everything into the van and drive away. My new life starts Wednesday. I said my last goodbyes, and I'm wishing I could have a conversation with someone that didn't feel so final. I'd be excited for college if I weren't so depressed about everything I'm leaving behind.
I made a visit to the oral surgeon's today. Dad wanted to talk to him about the teeth he should be building sometime here in the next year or so. Let me give you a quick rundown of my dental history first:
When I was in gradeschool, I think about 3rd or 4th grade (maybe even 2nd), they extracted two of my permanent molars in my bottom jaw. These molars were coming in in a motion similar to that of a jumping whale. They were pushing down the teeth in front of them, as well as pushing them forward. Leaving these molars in would have caused seriously crooked teeth, bone atrophy in my jaw and gums, as well as the destruction of quite a few teeth. Pulling them out also risked bone atrophy and meant the teeth would have to be rebuilt when I was an adult, but was still a much better choice.
When I was in junior high, about 8th grade, they extracted two more molars, but this time in my upper jaw, directly above the other missing molars. These molars were baby teeth that would not fall out, and were blocking the growth of adult molars. Only two of the four teeth came in, so I am also missing two molars in my upper jaw.
They gave me an archwire on my lower jaw to keep the gaps open. I outgrew this (it was painful) so they gave me a retainer to tide me over until I could get braces. The braces kept gaps open as well as opened up some gaps and turned around some backwards teeth.
I am an adult now, so it is time for the braces to come off and for the fake teeth to be rebuilt. The surgeon pointed out that the bone in my lower gums had atrophied after all these years, so the teeth there can not be rebuilt. Apparantly, the average person has six to eight milimeters of bone-gums stuff, and I only had three milimeters where it mattered. There is a fix: They can graft some bone onto the area, and then start the implants.
The bone for these grafts will come from much farther back in my jaw, where the bone is much thicker. The procedure is incredibly painful. The surgeon said it was much worse than having all four wisdom teeth extracted at once. Dad pointed out that I had a very high pain tolerance, and the surgeon just smiled and asked if I found that out through sports injuries.
Five to six months after the grafts have healed (but not much later or they will atrophy again), the posts for my fake teeth can me implanted. While these are healing for four to five months I can not chew on them at all, and I will have to be on a soft diet. Then caps will be placed on the posts, and I will be all done forever.
Total cost of tooth extraction (counting wisdom tooth): ~$800
Cost of braces: ~$5,000
Cost of bone graft: ~$8,000
Cost of dental implants: ~$5,000
There are also misc expenses for things like post-op checkups and dental appliances.
"Compared to her, the price of her brother's braces will be a drop in the bucket."
- My original dentist
Really, I just can't wait until I can do things like chew normally, and when brushing and flossing will be all I have to worry about. Despite it all, though, my teeth have always looked nice and straight.
2010 is going to be such a shitty year for me...
I made a visit to the oral surgeon's today. Dad wanted to talk to him about the teeth he should be building sometime here in the next year or so. Let me give you a quick rundown of my dental history first:
When I was in gradeschool, I think about 3rd or 4th grade (maybe even 2nd), they extracted two of my permanent molars in my bottom jaw. These molars were coming in in a motion similar to that of a jumping whale. They were pushing down the teeth in front of them, as well as pushing them forward. Leaving these molars in would have caused seriously crooked teeth, bone atrophy in my jaw and gums, as well as the destruction of quite a few teeth. Pulling them out also risked bone atrophy and meant the teeth would have to be rebuilt when I was an adult, but was still a much better choice.
When I was in junior high, about 8th grade, they extracted two more molars, but this time in my upper jaw, directly above the other missing molars. These molars were baby teeth that would not fall out, and were blocking the growth of adult molars. Only two of the four teeth came in, so I am also missing two molars in my upper jaw.
They gave me an archwire on my lower jaw to keep the gaps open. I outgrew this (it was painful) so they gave me a retainer to tide me over until I could get braces. The braces kept gaps open as well as opened up some gaps and turned around some backwards teeth.
I am an adult now, so it is time for the braces to come off and for the fake teeth to be rebuilt. The surgeon pointed out that the bone in my lower gums had atrophied after all these years, so the teeth there can not be rebuilt. Apparantly, the average person has six to eight milimeters of bone-gums stuff, and I only had three milimeters where it mattered. There is a fix: They can graft some bone onto the area, and then start the implants.
The bone for these grafts will come from much farther back in my jaw, where the bone is much thicker. The procedure is incredibly painful. The surgeon said it was much worse than having all four wisdom teeth extracted at once. Dad pointed out that I had a very high pain tolerance, and the surgeon just smiled and asked if I found that out through sports injuries.
Five to six months after the grafts have healed (but not much later or they will atrophy again), the posts for my fake teeth can me implanted. While these are healing for four to five months I can not chew on them at all, and I will have to be on a soft diet. Then caps will be placed on the posts, and I will be all done forever.
Total cost of tooth extraction (counting wisdom tooth): ~$800
Cost of braces: ~$5,000
Cost of bone graft: ~$8,000
Cost of dental implants: ~$5,000
There are also misc expenses for things like post-op checkups and dental appliances.
"Compared to her, the price of her brother's braces will be a drop in the bucket."
- My original dentist
Really, I just can't wait until I can do things like chew normally, and when brushing and flossing will be all I have to worry about. Despite it all, though, my teeth have always looked nice and straight.
2010 is going to be such a shitty year for me...
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sang Real
Do you think it would be at all possible to find someone willing to publish Ubiquity? Like, as a book? I was just thinking about how much time I've put into this, and how much money I could have made if I was being paid minimum wage to write Ubiquity.
Hah, it's a hopeless dream. It's not like I'm Anne Frank, or something.
I'm updating early today because I will be gone all evening. Apparently, the water park last week wasn't my last chance to hang out with friends before I leave. So tonight we're going to the drive in to see District 9 and The Ugly Truth. I'm used to going to the drive in as a last-second idea, but Louis wanted to plan ahead and fuss a lot. So fuss we did. Louis is in charge of sound, popcorn, and drinks, I'm in charge of the cooler, seating, and transportation, and Sarah is in charge of being awesome. I forget why we didn't decide to give her any tasks to do.
It's always odd trying to do a group outing with my friends. They'll suggest a group thing, and I agree, and then they realize that we have no mutual friends. I've never been one to befriend someone simply because they're friends with my friend. (Friend friend friend.) But this time, there's a really obvious mutual friend between the three of us, but nobody even mentioned his name. We just don't want to hang out with him.
I bought Amber her birthday present today (Micheal's was selling Halloween stuff; it was the perfect opportunity) and I was hoping to stop by and give it to her, but her mother was busy being in the hospital. She said she'd text me when the family crisis was finished up. It made me sad, though, to think that the last time I'm going to see her for a while will be when I'm just stopping by to give her stuff. The last time I saw RaeLynn she was sitting at a Japanese restaurant. I'll be lucky to see her over winter break.
... I miss these people already.
Hah, it's a hopeless dream. It's not like I'm Anne Frank, or something.
I'm updating early today because I will be gone all evening. Apparently, the water park last week wasn't my last chance to hang out with friends before I leave. So tonight we're going to the drive in to see District 9 and The Ugly Truth. I'm used to going to the drive in as a last-second idea, but Louis wanted to plan ahead and fuss a lot. So fuss we did. Louis is in charge of sound, popcorn, and drinks, I'm in charge of the cooler, seating, and transportation, and Sarah is in charge of being awesome. I forget why we didn't decide to give her any tasks to do.
It's always odd trying to do a group outing with my friends. They'll suggest a group thing, and I agree, and then they realize that we have no mutual friends. I've never been one to befriend someone simply because they're friends with my friend. (Friend friend friend.) But this time, there's a really obvious mutual friend between the three of us, but nobody even mentioned his name. We just don't want to hang out with him.
I bought Amber her birthday present today (Micheal's was selling Halloween stuff; it was the perfect opportunity) and I was hoping to stop by and give it to her, but her mother was busy being in the hospital. She said she'd text me when the family crisis was finished up. It made me sad, though, to think that the last time I'm going to see her for a while will be when I'm just stopping by to give her stuff. The last time I saw RaeLynn she was sitting at a Japanese restaurant. I'll be lucky to see her over winter break.
... I miss these people already.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Really Know
My mum already had a webcam, but neither of us liked it, so I pushed my old one off on her. I set everything up for her and got her a Skype account, so now we can voice and webcam whenever she wants. She can also see how obscenely late I stay up at night. Whatever. Anything to make my moving out easier on her.
I woke up early this morning to my parents fighting. It was disturbing, since mum was really yelling, and she never yells like that. As they moved around the room I could pick up snippets of what they were saying. Apparantly dad will have two business trips, one this week and one the week after next. This upset mum greatly, because she really needs the support while her last child moves out. Also, it seems Billy will be visiting during dad's second trip, and mum doesn't want him to miss that.
Personally, I'm a bit sad that dad's gone so close to such a big event in my life. He's missed so many piano recitals and orchestra concerts because of his business trips. At least he'll be here for this, but I won't get to have him impart his packing wisdom on me.
I've finally started attempting to get manga on my Sony Reader. Because I'm on a Mac, any manga conversion software is useless. But I can use Automator to make a series of image files into a PDF, which I can then read on my Reader. It's a process, and the PDF files are huge compared to normal ebooks. Not to mention that PDFs are slow to load on the Reader, and I have to use it in landscape mode to read the text. It's all read-able, though, and I prefer it to staring at a computer screen.
But I expect that in a year or so, these problems will be dealt with by clever programmers.
I woke up early this morning to my parents fighting. It was disturbing, since mum was really yelling, and she never yells like that. As they moved around the room I could pick up snippets of what they were saying. Apparantly dad will have two business trips, one this week and one the week after next. This upset mum greatly, because she really needs the support while her last child moves out. Also, it seems Billy will be visiting during dad's second trip, and mum doesn't want him to miss that.
Personally, I'm a bit sad that dad's gone so close to such a big event in my life. He's missed so many piano recitals and orchestra concerts because of his business trips. At least he'll be here for this, but I won't get to have him impart his packing wisdom on me.
I've finally started attempting to get manga on my Sony Reader. Because I'm on a Mac, any manga conversion software is useless. But I can use Automator to make a series of image files into a PDF, which I can then read on my Reader. It's a process, and the PDF files are huge compared to normal ebooks. Not to mention that PDFs are slow to load on the Reader, and I have to use it in landscape mode to read the text. It's all read-able, though, and I prefer it to staring at a computer screen.
But I expect that in a year or so, these problems will be dealt with by clever programmers.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Preface
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I don't like packing. I don't mind it when I'm packing for a vacation, but right now I'm packing so that I can live my life somewhere else. I just don't like it. I packed a few precious things into this little bag that used to belong to my grandmother, and it made me intensely sad. There are some things I really want to take with me, but are too valuable to risk losing. But at the same time, I can't bear to leave them behind. It's such a predicament.
Oh well. I'll be back to visit in just a couple months. I suppose I can grab anything I've been missing then.
So my mum and I have been trying to open up alternate means of communication so that we can stay in touch while I'm away. She never turns on her cellphone, so texting is right out. We're both on the computer a lot, so I guess the internet seems to be the most natural thing. She started a Twitter and a Facebook, and I've made sure that she has my email. She's made some great strides these past few months adapting to social networking technology. Which is more than I can say about myself; I've never really liked social networking sites.
I've been meaning to ask her if she has a webcam. When Billy was moving out, I remember that she was planning to get one as a way to keep in touch with him. But that plan fell through, as Billy never really intended to keep in touch. If she doesn't have one, I thought I'd give her my old one, and set it up for her, along with a Skype account. Or, if she does have one, just get her a Skype account, I guess. I'm sure she'd love webcamming with me.
My mum, being the sweet person that she is, just emailed me the numerology compatibility report for Griffin and me. She used to do the horoscopes for her school newspaper, so I guess she's into that sort of thing. I found it pretty accurate when identifying our different personalities, but it was a bit odd when actually talking about our compatibility. Here's the link, if you're interested. I hope the link doesn't break.
Oh well. I'll be back to visit in just a couple months. I suppose I can grab anything I've been missing then.
So my mum and I have been trying to open up alternate means of communication so that we can stay in touch while I'm away. She never turns on her cellphone, so texting is right out. We're both on the computer a lot, so I guess the internet seems to be the most natural thing. She started a Twitter and a Facebook, and I've made sure that she has my email. She's made some great strides these past few months adapting to social networking technology. Which is more than I can say about myself; I've never really liked social networking sites.
I've been meaning to ask her if she has a webcam. When Billy was moving out, I remember that she was planning to get one as a way to keep in touch with him. But that plan fell through, as Billy never really intended to keep in touch. If she doesn't have one, I thought I'd give her my old one, and set it up for her, along with a Skype account. Or, if she does have one, just get her a Skype account, I guess. I'm sure she'd love webcamming with me.
My mum, being the sweet person that she is, just emailed me the numerology compatibility report for Griffin and me. She used to do the horoscopes for her school newspaper, so I guess she's into that sort of thing. I found it pretty accurate when identifying our different personalities, but it was a bit odd when actually talking about our compatibility. Here's the link, if you're interested. I hope the link doesn't break.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Point Taken
Yesterday I went to Seattle with the family, had dinner at a really nice restaurant, and saw Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea. Cute movie, strange in some places, though. It had the hints of the Miyazaki whimsy, but mostly it felt like Miyazaki's last gasp before he gets Alzheimer's.
Then just a few minutes ago, we went and saw District 9. Great movie. I don't know what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. It was amazing how much action there was, and yet they were able to put in a pretty good storyline. I liked how they built up the main character so that you hated him, and then by the end of the movie you sympathized with him. They left a lot of really huge plot holes, though. Like, really big holes. That I'm pretty sure I will bring up one day to someone like Craig, who will then explain it to me like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
I spent a few hours today planning for what classes I would like to sign up for first semester. (I suppose I should say Fall 09 Semester.) When I talk to people, they seem surprised that I'm signing up so late. And after seeing how many classes are filled, I can understand.
It took me about an hour and a half just to grok what needed to be done to fulfill graduation requirements. It then took me thirty seconds to realize that if I take two requirement classes a semester, I will have met all of my requirements by the end of first semester Junior year, leaving me with three semester's worth of time to focus on whatever major I choose. That's all I needed to know, and I had my classes picked out before long. And it pisses me off that most of my time was spent figuring out something that should be blatantly obvious. How to graduate shouldn't be a secret.
Anyways, I am definitely taking four classes my first semester, and I'm considering a fifth, but I can't find any classes interesting enough to me to take on the extra work. I wanted to take a chem class, but they are all full, and I was going to take a bio class, but they requisite a chem class. Every art class ever (except Web Design, hah!) is overstuffed, and pretty much every music class requires you to be a music major. The only viable subject for me to take is math.
Fuck mathematics.
These are the classes I want:
US 101 - University Seminar (required my first year, it's a reading class I think)
JPNS 101 - Elementary Japanese I (I don't feel like talking my way into level 2 or 3)
MB 110CS - Intro to Biotechnology
Anth 101D - Anthropology & The Human Experience
I didn't really want that Anthropology class, but they lied when they said History of Japan was offered this semester, and the Mythologies class is full. In fact, I don't need that Anthropology class, because I'll be taking Japanese II next semester. They both count for a D-credit, but oddly enough Japanese I does not. Maybe I'll look into fulfilling a humanities credit instead...
I need to start packing tomorrow. I really don't want to. I've been putting it off, and now it's getting to be too late. At least I spent today picking my classes, which is important. But the idea of packing away my important things is a bit unbearable. I just don't like the idea of returning and a bunch of my stuff is gone, because mum cleaned my room. I'd rather leave knowing that it's all safe here.
Then just a few minutes ago, we went and saw District 9. Great movie. I don't know what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it very much. It was amazing how much action there was, and yet they were able to put in a pretty good storyline. I liked how they built up the main character so that you hated him, and then by the end of the movie you sympathized with him. They left a lot of really huge plot holes, though. Like, really big holes. That I'm pretty sure I will bring up one day to someone like Craig, who will then explain it to me like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
I spent a few hours today planning for what classes I would like to sign up for first semester. (I suppose I should say Fall 09 Semester.) When I talk to people, they seem surprised that I'm signing up so late. And after seeing how many classes are filled, I can understand.
It took me about an hour and a half just to grok what needed to be done to fulfill graduation requirements. It then took me thirty seconds to realize that if I take two requirement classes a semester, I will have met all of my requirements by the end of first semester Junior year, leaving me with three semester's worth of time to focus on whatever major I choose. That's all I needed to know, and I had my classes picked out before long. And it pisses me off that most of my time was spent figuring out something that should be blatantly obvious. How to graduate shouldn't be a secret.
Anyways, I am definitely taking four classes my first semester, and I'm considering a fifth, but I can't find any classes interesting enough to me to take on the extra work. I wanted to take a chem class, but they are all full, and I was going to take a bio class, but they requisite a chem class. Every art class ever (except Web Design, hah!) is overstuffed, and pretty much every music class requires you to be a music major. The only viable subject for me to take is math.
Fuck mathematics.
These are the classes I want:
US 101 - University Seminar (required my first year, it's a reading class I think)
JPNS 101 - Elementary Japanese I (I don't feel like talking my way into level 2 or 3)
MB 110CS - Intro to Biotechnology
Anth 101D - Anthropology & The Human Experience
I didn't really want that Anthropology class, but they lied when they said History of Japan was offered this semester, and the Mythologies class is full. In fact, I don't need that Anthropology class, because I'll be taking Japanese II next semester. They both count for a D-credit, but oddly enough Japanese I does not. Maybe I'll look into fulfilling a humanities credit instead...
I need to start packing tomorrow. I really don't want to. I've been putting it off, and now it's getting to be too late. At least I spent today picking my classes, which is important. But the idea of packing away my important things is a bit unbearable. I just don't like the idea of returning and a bunch of my stuff is gone, because mum cleaned my room. I'd rather leave knowing that it's all safe here.
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