Unpacking vs. Reading

[eredien]

So, I'm at the library. I have 6 back issues of PC Magazine (my parents have tentatively suggested leaving my computer at home for them (this is a sign of the apocalypse)and me getting a new computer, so I must do my research), vol. 60 of Transmetropolitian (I still can't find issue 59, so I gave in to entropy and temptation and ordered collected volume 9 too. From my independent comic book store.), Bujold's The Curse of Chalion, and Carey's Kushiel's Dart. Also put The Miocene Arrow on hold--that's the second in the series of novels that begins with Souls in the Great Machine (how are you liking that, Rush-That-Speaks? Have you started reading it yet?) and features dueling librarians.
This is a lot of reading. I am happy. I can read novels again.

Also, the characters from the stairwyck story have been rambling on in my head loudly for the past half-day, insisting that more of their story be written, and insisting that "rooves" is the correct plural of "roof", no matter the OED's proclivities. This is good.

I dropped my diploma off to be framed and mounted at a place that promised they'd be "obsessive" about not losing it.
And got drawing pen refills after looking for them for two years.

Shrek 2 is marvelous, just as good as the original. I love Pixar. They've wanted to make me go to the movies again. And my dad says he'll take me to the new King Arthur movie.

There are two bad things. One is merely sad, and one is downright annoying.

1.) My sister apparently has carpral tunnel syndrome or some other form of RSI (she didn't know the word exactly in German). I wish I would have been there because I would have recognized it and helped her. Advice? I don't know how she got it, because she certainly can't have been doing too much typing for school. I am also a little worried about her because she is stubborn and got this before even going into college. It'll flare up next year, I just know it.

2.) My parents want me to get a job here for maybe 1-2 years. I told them, "I don't want to work in this area." They agreed with that, but then told me that I had no source of income (like I didn't know that!) and implied they were worried that I'd "slough off" [sic]. I don't think I got through four years of BMC by slacking off, thank you. I also tried to tell them, "wouldn't it be a better use of my time to search for jobs in the area where I want to live?" They brought up the "but it'll only be a short-term thing, honey" excuse again.

So, in effect, they heard, but didn't listen, as they always do. I was enjoying being home until a half-day ago.
*little rays of annoyance shooting out at parents*

As I see it I have two choices:

I can tell them, "well, gee, I have friends who'll spot me rent and I really only planned to be here for two or three months anyway so go away and I'm going to look for jobs in Boston only--thanks?"

I can tell them nothing about the previous and then only search for jobs in Boston anyway and then just tell them when I find one and leave a week or so later.

The drawbacks to position two: if I don't get a job offer, I'm screwed when they find out I wasn't looking in the area and really do start to need money.

The drawback to position one: oh, that will be a nice little fight immediately; I can see it now.

Note that none of these choices actually involve getting a job in this area for a year or two. Some of their advice is good. This particular piece isn't.

Off to actually eat the lunch that has been sitting in my car for an hour, and go to the bank and clean the hallway and start my awful unpacking.

Oh, a music video idea: the two Kill Bill movies. Sheryl Crow's "The First Cut is the Deepest."

Sorry.

Tomorrow is a memorial service/family party for my grandfather, who died about a year ago. Oddly, I'm kind of looking forward to that.

Comments

[gallian.livejournal.com]

re: rsi -- dvorak keyboard. i've bearly heard a peep from mine since i switched sophomore year, and my wrists die if try to use querty.

re: job hunt. talk to me or weirdquark? i'll be home all day tomorrow and have free cell phone minutes and need breaks from packing my apartment, so email me your phone number? (if you don't have my regular email, you can use dots between each of my names, and the alum email addy)

gallian.

[weirdquark]

Oh, yeah, talk to me or gallian. We were discussing jobs for people moving up and think you'd be good in human services which needs people. Like a lot. Pay isn't great, but with sharing expenses with a roommate it's enough to make rent. gallian gave me a link for you, so next time we're both online, poke me. You should still talk to gallian, since she knows more about what's out there. But I have a link with jobs.

Hey

[skadi.livejournal.com]

C,

This is Sarah from down the hall (the blond girl who lives with Dustin). Now that you're all out and graduated, can I friend you so I can kinda sorta keep in touch with you? Please?

Good luck with your summer plans. I can't imagine it. Leaving the Mawr ... it still terrifies me. Real world scawy.

Re: Hey

[eredien]

Sure, friend me! And poke me until I put you on my list. :)

It seems scary now, and it some ways it is, but it's best to leave when senior year comes. The vast amount of work they throw at you prepares you halfway for it. The traditions prepare you another 1/4, and the rest you do on your own.

[emerald-scales.livejournal.com]

er...

if yer getting a new computer, I suggest avoiding the name brands, and places like CompUSA/Circuit city. They tend to be pricey for what you get.
I stick to the smaller computer stores (less "national" and non-uber-chainstore) when it comes to the actual machine, and you have a better chance of getting what you want over getting what they have.

CompUSA (http://www.compusa.com) is good for add-ons while EBX (http://www.ebgames.com) is good for mostly non-business software. For other kinds of software, try BestBuy (http://www.bestbuy.com)

You also have to consider what it is you want to do with the computer. Many stores will try selling you more than you actually need.

[eredien]

I know enough about computers to go into a store knowing what I want or want to look at; it's a good technique because then you can ask the salespeople very picky questions and see the looks on their faces.

Although I don't do that too often, because it's kind of mean. But that way they realize they can't sell me extra stuff I don't want or need.

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't started Souls in the Great Machine yet; I haven't had any brain, so I've been going to the bookstore and reading the kind of children's book that blurs into all the other children's books until you're not exactly sure who did what or wrote what or saved what, but you know there were four children... I'm hoping to spend some time this evening actually *reading*.

You should come here for three weeks! And look after our cats! And then you will not be where you are and can look for a job without people pestering you about it.

I am so looking forward to Shrek 2.

My personal 'Kill Bill' music video song nomination: 'Bitch'.

Love,
Lila

[eredien]

Oh, that's a good one too.

A suggestion: my favorite children's book, and my favorite book as a child, was Eleanor Estes' The Alley. It's probably massively out-of-print, but I have a copy I will let you read if you want. It's an odd little children's book, filled with things that are scary and not scary and are actually scary but do not seem so at the time.
It may not be your cup of tea; but it's the only book about children (and also the only one written from a child's point of view) that I've ever read that doesn't try to make things funny (as even Coraline tried to do) or sentamentalize things, and just shows things as they are. It's about children on a particular Brooklyn street living their lives.

Very plain, but it's never left me.

I think it influenced my ideas about death and why evil exists in the world, but it's not about those things. I reread it every so often and realize how much of myself, and my idea of myself, is both reflected and was shaped by this book and get a little thoughtful.

[rabidfangurl.livejournal.com]

You could come visit me! Maybe before you go off to cat sit?

(Also, warning: The Miocene Arrow has a beginning that is equally as off-putting as Souls in terms of WTF? value. All will become clear in time.)

(P.S. I want your Transmet, dammit!)