Ah, College Republicans…I just don’t understand you.

So, I started an account on Facebook – seemed like the thing to do, being that I’m a “student” and all. I figure it’s an easy way to stay up-to-date on the interests of my more youthful counterparts at this lovely university.

Little did I know how frightening Facebook can be.

UNC is well known for being a pretty liberal university. I’ve heard more than one person say that Chapel Hill/Carrboro is the only place in the state of North Carolina they could tolerate or enjoy living, because it is the only place that truly has a Democratic majority. Not that this area is perfect by any means, but, having grown up primarily on the coast in a county where the two largest industries were tourism and commercial fishing and people judged you by your church-going habits and the color of your bleach-blonde hair, and having lived in the lovely city of Charlotte for several years, which is, as I said, lovely, but not exactly known for having accepting and open-minded residents, coming home to Chapel Hill five years ago (this month!) was a breath of fresh air.

However, occasionally I am reminded that there is a Republican minority alive and well in Chapel Hill, particularly at UNC. I’m all about free speech, really – I was a journalism major, after all – so I’m happy that they are here to remind me of exactly why I’m a Democrat.

For example – from the Facebook announcement regarding the UNC College Republicans kickoff:

“got to make sure my schedule is clear but i really dont want to miss a chance to meet people who dont give me lectures about diversity“

How sad. I mean, I recognize that people don’t like being lectured to, but the fact that people are “lecturing” to this young woman about diversity, or at least that she perceives them to be doing so, likely means that she’s not very accepting of diversity. If someone were talking to me about diversity, I would call it a discussion, not a lecture.

Also, from the UNC College Republicans Facebook page comes this gem:

Does anyone want to play “catch an illegal immigrant?”

with this link: http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/02/27/D8NIC2JO0.html

and a comment saying that the College Republicans should hold such an event at the Pit (a large “free speech” gathering place on north campus outside of the student union, for you non-Carolina folks). Another member of the group follows with, “I’m Down…tell me when and where.”

I have tried many times to see things from their perspective, to try to imagine what kind of fear they must harbor – perhaps about losing their way of life? – to express such hatred toward those who are different from them. In a way I do understand, because I have the same fear about this country becoming even less accepting of those who are different than we already are, more exclusive and less inclusive, an even more unwelcome place unless you are a certain type of person.

What I can’t understand is how anyone can think that’s okay.

Seriously, I may never sleep again.

I had my first lab on Tuesday night. It was good, and somewhat amusing, as the TA had introduced himself as Mr. G* and asked that we, the students, not call him by his first name, likely because he’s only about 23 years old and needs to differentiate himself from the undergrads he’s teaching. Anyway, at one point I had asked him a question and we chatted a bit and I told him what I’m doing and where I work, etc. etc., and later he comes back to me and says, “By the way – you can call me Chris. You don’t have to call me Mr. G*. Please, call me Chris.”

It was quite cute. It was nice that he recognized that it would feel awkward for me to call him Mr. G*, but in a way, it makes me feel a bit old. :-0

Anyway, lab is Tuesday evenings from 6-10 p.m., through early November.  I will have to leave work early to run home, take the dogs out, get my car, go back to campus, park, and walk to class…

…

Chorus begins again this Monday evening and lasts until 9:30 p.m. I’m looking forward to a new semester with a new director, but, at the same time, the thought of two nights in a row of not being home and then not getting to bed until after 10 p.m. makes me tired. Very very tired.

…

I’m probably going to be taking a photography class for work beginning next week, on Thursday nights from 6-8. Fortunately, it only lasts for 6 weeks, and it counts as work time since it is a job-related course. Oh, and it’s local (in Carrboro).

…

We had our first Chemistry quiz in class yesterday (Wednesday), and I wasn’t as prepared as I should have been. I had a feeling she was going to give us a quiz, and fortunately the material wasn’t all that difficult, but I blanked on one question, remembering how to do it after I had already turned in my paper. So, sometime in between my classes and chorus, I have to remember that I HAVE TO STUDY. Frequently. Regularly. Often.

…

Of course, I also need to fit in spending time with friends, visiting family once in a while, doing work-related stuff that sometimes involves my staying after hours, and, last but certainly not least, loving on and playing with my fur babies.

So sleep? Eh. It’s overrated anyway.

Well, that didn’t take long

Today was the second day of Chem 101. I really think the class is going to be a good one – this prof knows her stuff and knows how to explain it in an easy-to-understand way. She’s enthusiastic and, truth be told, funny and entertaining. Not that it’s the prof’s job to be funny and entertaining, but it never hurts, especially when you’re teaching a course that many students are taking as a prerequisite requirement for something else – a means to an end, if you will – and thus aren’t that thrilled to be in the class in the first place. It also helps when that class happens to be held at 8 a.m.

As for the frosh … well, let’s just say I underestimated my little friends. I thought they’d try to continue the “perfect student” facade for at least another week before it all fell apart, but I was quite wrong. Miss matchy-matchy bookbag and pencil case was in shorts and a tee-shirt today, without all the jewelry she wore on Wednesday. There were still a large number of eager beavers who were already in the classroom (sitting in the dark) when I arrived at 15 ’til 8, but there were also a larger number of seats empty already, which the prof pointed out once class started.

There was also one cell phone interruption in class today, which irritates the ever-loving hell out of me. I wasn’t able to give the phone owner the glare of hatred and death, however, as the phone didn’t ring long enough for me to pinpoint who owned it…ah well.

So, it didn’t take us long to settle right in to the normal semester routine. These freshmen learn quickly, I suppose.

Let’s play…

Spot The Freshmen! The Hottest and Hippest New Game Around Campus!

Apart from the “deer caught in the headlights” look that most new frosh on campus have these first few days, what are some other ways it’s easy to tell who’s a frosh and who’s not?

A freshman:

• Brings the 15lb. Chemistry textbook (or, better yet, the entire text pack, including solutions manual) to class on the first day.
• Asks if we will need to bring books to class.
• Has nicely coiffed hair and perfectly manicured nails, despite having Chem 101 at 8 a.m.
• Is so happy to no longer have a high school dress code, wears short shorts and skimpy tops.
• Attempts to write down every word the prof says, despite the prof having put her lecture slides online well in advance of the first class.
• Tries really really hard to look cool while managing to merely look scared shitless.
• Actually arrives in class prior to 8 a.m.
• Actually waits until class is over to leave class.
• Actually turns off cell phone when prompted to do so.
• Actually tries to look as though she is paying attention to the prof.
• Looks surprised when the prof uses the word “pissed” during the lecture.
• Has a new bookbag with embroidered name and matching pencil case.

Hee hee. I just love new students.

…

My first chem 101 class was good. Prof seems nice – enthusiastic and animated at 8 a.m. Impressive.

First day

Today is the first day of classes at UNC-Chapel Hill for the fall 2007 semester. I had a chiropractor appointment this morning and forgot that my appointment meant I would be riding the bus at the height of the busy time, as classes that begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday are popular and my bus ride coincided with the last possible bus that would get you to campus in time for a 9:30 a.m. class…

Fortunately, thanks to a slight change in the bus route, I had a seat and didn’t have to stand up. Of course, the bus was completely full only two stops later.

My first class is tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. My instructor has already posted the first lecture slides and the syllabus online.

The University of Never-ending Construction

Students come back this weekend at UNC, otherwise known as the University of Never-ending Construction. I had to take some pics of the addition to my department’s building today for the grad student orientation we’re doing this Friday and Monday. The new building is going to be named for the founder of the department I work for, thanks to an anonymous donation from an alum. Here are some ultra-exciting construction photos.

I also managed to snap a shot of one of the new Chapel Hill Transit buses, which, I have to say, are a grand improvement over the old buses! Not only are they more attractive (which I think they are, at least), but they are more rider-friendly, especially for people who have trouble walking and people in wheelchairs. They don’t have steps up when you first get on the bus, and they have a fold out ramp for wheelchairs that makes it so much faster and easier for those in wheelchairs to board and exit the bus, and to have a safe bus ride. Toward the back of the bus, there are steps with seats that sit higher, I guess to make room for the engine? And there are signal pulls rather than push-tapes that are accessible from any seat/standing position in the bus. Anyway, I think these are tax dollars well spent, considering how many folks in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, like myself, rely on the bus system almost daily.

Honk.

overwhelmed

I’m feeling very overwhelmed right now. Work stuff, primarily, but also chorus stuff that I don’t have time to keep up with and feel guilty about, home stuff that should have been done a long time ago and still isn’t, not spending enough time with my pets, getting ready to start classes, never having enough money, worried about my grandmother’s health and the health of my little dog Penny.

I know that was probably a run-on sentence, but, honestly, I can’t bring myself to go back and read it right now. Not that I could process it anyway.

I’m not sleeping either. Took some chlor-trimeton last night (4 hour kind) to help me get to sleep, and it did help, I think, but then I woke up at 3 a.m. and didn’t get back to sleep until around 5 a.m. Was WIDE awake. My brain chemistry is shifting again. I wish it would just leave well enough alone.

Trying to focus on good things – my wonderful animals, good friends, my grandmother, the fact that I take clean water for granted after listening to a story on NPR about Jordan and how they have almost no water.

Next week – next week will be better. This weekend I will get to unwind a bit with friends on Saturday, and then classes start next week. The pre-semester rush will be over. I will have a chance to shift my focus a bit.

Cross your fingers.

Hodge podge

I was feeling a bit more rested this morning, and I suspect it’s due to the fact that I consumed no dairy products last night. Which is an interesting thing – I don’t know that I’ve ever thought that dairy might contribute to my fatigue, but I realize that it’s not much of a stretch. I’ll keep experimenting and see. But, man oh man, I sure would hate to have to give up ice cream completely. Especially now that I’ve gotten my nifty gelato machine from Freecycle. It’s one of the kind that self-freezes – you just add the ingredients and turn it on. Very very cool, and something I could never imagine paying for – it’s a definite luxury.

…

I’m trying out new kitty litter. I’ve tried just about everything on the market, but haven’t really been satisfied with any of them. The best I’ve found for odor control is Arm & Hammer Multi-cat Scoopable. But I hate that it’s clay scoopable litter and, while not extremely dusty, still dustier than I would like. Plus, it’s not flushable, which makes it harder for me, as I tend to be lazy about scooping when I have to take a bag of waste out to the dumpster.

Anyway, I was looking for homemade litter box ideas online and ran across a webpage where the guy was talking about using chicken feed crumbles as cat litter. There’s a brand of litter that I’ve never tried called World’s Best, and it’s made from corn. I haven’t tried it because it’s fairly expensive – about $1/lb for something your cat’s gonna shit in. But chicken feed crumbles are nearly the same thing, but for about $.25/lb. Much better. I paid $13 for a 50 lb. bag of Purina “Layena” chicken feed crumbles. Not to mention that 50 lbs of chicken feed crumbles is a LOT of kitty litter. It’s lighter weight than scoopable clay litter, so 50 lbs of crumbles goes farther than 50 lbs of scoopable clay.

And…it’s scoopable – clumps quite as well as the scoopable clay stuff did. Better for your kitties – no nasty silica dust for them to breathe in. Safer for dogs who occasionally get “snacks” from the litter box – no intestinal obstruction. Flushable! Controls odor quite well. So far so good.

The only initial problem I had was that Felix seemed to think it was food, not litter, at first. Silly cat.

…

Found these cute pics on my camera. A kitty pile (or, as a friend described it, a pile of pussies…)

For reference, these are my “wild cats” – the former ferals I rescued last summer. The Black & White Tux is Felix, the Gray Tabby is Xander, The Calico-Tabby is Piper and the Tortie is Bella. All from the same litter. My sweet babies.

Running around like a chicken with my head chopped off.

Work is crazy-busy right now, with the beginning of another semester just around the corner. We have our graduate student orientation on the 17th and 20th, then classes start on the 21st. Fortunately, I can rest a bit on the 21st as my class doesn’t start until the 22nd. Then I’m afraid I shall never rest again.

I’m not sleeping so well these days, though I can’t pinpoint an exact reason why. I’m going to bed early, but can’t ever seem to get enough sleep. I’m hoping this is just a phase, but I see my doc on Friday and will discuss it with him then. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not indicative of any larger issue. I may need a med tweak, but, jeez, I sure hate to mess with my brain chemistry unless it becomes absolutely necessary. One little nudge could send things the wrong way, and I don’t have time to go through that again.

Anyway, in the meantime, I’m trying to get a reasonable amount of sleep, even if it doesn’t feel like enough to me. Eight to nine hours a night at least, in the hopes that I will feel more energetic soon. At the very least, I know that less sleep isn’t a good thing for me right now, so getting the 8-9 hours a night, though it may not seem to make things much better, certainly isn’t going to make things worse.

Well, back to the grindstone. I’m just waiting for August 21.