Home!

I am back in Baltimore in my own home about to head off to my OWN bed.

Spidge is asleep on my suitcase and I’m not too happy about having to move her.  She has claws. . . and she USES them.

The trip to Missouri with Grant and his parents and brother was super fun.  I really liked meeting everyone and driving around in the golf cart.  I even miss the weather down there.  Weird, but true.

Something about not having the pressures of home makes things so much better.  I do like having my own room again though.  I hope I sleep well tonight. . .oh boy yes.

More later, right now I just need SLEEP!

Item 1 of 9 returned

Of all the papers I do not have back yet (4 papers, 1 CANOCO assignment, 2 exams, 1 Experimental Design single page write up and 1 Case Study) only the Case Study has been returned.  This was handed in at the beginning of January on the 8th? I think that’s it.  We got it back today.

WHERE ARE THE REST OF MY PAPERS!!!  Everything, except the CANOCO and 2 exams are well overdue.  Some of them by 2 months, some by over 3.

Newcastle University AFRD Department, prepare to feel my wrath.  I understand the 20 day grading.  I’ll even give you a month to grade it if there’s been a lot of trouble with things.  But the total lack of email responses, or shovings off from professors when they are questioned about the location/progress of our assignments is just plain unprofessional.  Be rude, just give me my damn paper.  And I really hope you don’t expect me hand in an assignment that is 50% of my grade before having received a SINGLE paper back from you (the one who graded 2 of my non-returned papers).  Degree Programme Director or not, you will learn to have a mild bit of respect for your students.  Detest me all you want, this 2 month wait time is inexcusable.

And I’m not the only one willing to talk about this either.  Three of us are not british, nor do we hold to the idea that our stuff will just magically fall into our laps.  No, we will come after you until you give us our papers.  This term, day 21 hits, the emails begin.  I’ll be nice enough, but EVERY DAY you shall receive and email asking where my paper is and when I can pick it up. Do not think even for a moment that “oh you got a [grade]” will appease me. I WANT THE FEEDBACK!  How do we improve our writing and our analysis skills if no one tells us right from wrong in what we’ve done??

Can you tell I’m pissed?

I’ve really got a distrustful view of this university and I’m sure they’ll be glad to be rid of me come September.  I can’t wait for our surveys of the course come out.  BWAHAHAHA

I wonder how much of this happens every year?  I wonder how many people actually complain.  This year there is at least 3 of us.

Iorek Byrnison attacks!

Nothing quite compares to the hilarity of this.

 

There is an assumption that polar bears are the only animal to actively hunt humans (besides other humans).  This is not true.  They do not select humans as a choice food source, they just happen to wander into view of one and anything a polar bear sees it views of as food.

 

From the link above I quote: 

a large (700-800) pound polar bear was seen approaching the sub. For about 40 minutes, the bear loitered around the subs rear rudder. It took a bite out of the rudder and, finding it inedible, stayed around the area of broken ice around the rudder for a while, apparently thinking a seal (the bears favorite food) might use it as an air hole. The bear finally left when he heard the noise of an approaching helicopter. When an officer first looked around outside via the  periscope, he noted that his sub was being stalked by a hostile polar bear. . .The damage was said to be minor. . . It wasn’t designed as a polar bear snack, but that’s how life is sometimes.

still up

Amazingly, I am still awake, and not feeling tired. . this is bad.

I am helping mom with figuring out life.  This is misery since for some reason her google maps.

All worked out, it’s almost 3:30.

UGH!!!

Just changed

I have just changed my picture and format.

The picture was taken at a farm we went to during our “induction week.” We stood about in the freezing cold listening to a guy talk about the agriculture plots (organic vs standard) that they run etc etc etc.

The cows were really quite funny, but I like these two the best since it looks almost like one cow with two heads.

The silver bird awaits

At least, I think British Airways still has planes that are silver.  Maybe they’re white now.

So I have one back up to 45.? lbs and nothing else will fit in the darn thing.  The other bag is posing quite the problem due to a lack of space.  Seriously.  I only have 27 lbs of stuff in it, and I have a limit of 51.  I NEED to get more in that bag.  So I think I’ll have to take a trip up to REI and get a duffle bag (not the cheapest place, but since Sunny Surplus is gone, there we go) that will hold the rest of my crap that I can fit.  The frame pack will have to travel as a “shipped item” along with everything else I need to have sent.  School supplies, my ONE textbook, etc.  I’m even thinking of waiting to ship my graphing calculator.  I love that darn thing.  It’s so great.  A huge amount of my pens will have to wait as well.  And yes I did whittle down that monstrous amount of pens to something a bit more. . . eye popping, less jaw dropping.  Or perhaps it is the other way around.

Anyways, I am up and about and starting to get all jittery because things aren’t done that NEED to be done.

Good news: I found my GBPs from my trip over there a few years ago so that’s going to be REMARKABLY helpful.  I’ll be treating Grant to lunch with some of that money.  Or breakfast or whatever meal we manage to come across upon arriving at Heathrow.  For all I know it will be just a bottle of water and an energy bar.

Here marks the day I cut back on my soda intake.  Hello fresh fruit and healthier eating.

Grant mentioned something I need to do: have the cookbook shipped.  I am fairly certain I shall have to leave Vincent Price’s cookbook here, but perhaps that Joy of Cooking book shall make it’s way to my flat.  Along with the recipes for  cobbler and the cookies my mom makes that are DIVINE!  Anything that involves vanilla extract. . seriously.

So off to get showered and then errand running. I still have notebooks, notecards, bank run, and a quick run to the dentist to have my “records” printed out to say what has been done recently, etc.  At least I already have my immunization record printed out.   It’s fun to look at the list and remember getting a few of those.  I was LITTLE.  There was one I got when I was 4.  I still remember that horrid thing.  Man did it hurt!

But yes, Winston woke me up to let him outside, my dad is home reading the paper and now I need to jump off to tying up loose ends.   I am not sure how I will deal with losing Winston.  This is the last day I’ll probably see him.  *sniff*

And last night, Spidge lay on my chest for about 10+ minutes.  It was amazing. Purring and happy as can be. It was very sweet.  I shall treasure that moment for quite some time.  If I closed my eyes I could almost imagine it was Kitty, except he kneaded an awful lot, and she just lay there purring.  All the same, very nice to feel like the cat doesn’t despise me.