It is quite a lovely day. I started off waking up late. Finals ended yesterday, and one of my professors actually read, graded, and pretty much gave me a cookie within hours of dropping the paper off in his mailbox. (The cookie was a map! which is in my folder in the MAPSS Lounge, which is coincidentally shared by CIR and Geography(CIR=Center for International Relations, I think).

Anyway. I went for breakfast today(out!) to this place nearby called maravillas. It was terrible. Soggy migas with Rice and beans? and with icky thin/doughy not-on-the-comal tortillas. Oh well. Hit the library after that then came back home for some intense cleaning. Oh but before coming home, I went to the weekend coffee shop and did some reading and caffeinated(did I mention the coffee wasn't taht great, either?) So i came back and Then did the magnificent cleaning. Mostly reorganizing the desk which had gotten completely utterly, terribly out of control this quarter. I even organized(most) of my thesis articles, maps, and notes! (they are labeled!)

So cleaning was followed by dinner, which wasn't enough, because I'm hungry again, although I suppose it was technically lunch...... but technically I got up around lunch time... Anyway. Reading got done, I think. So I had already figured out how to make personalized maps on Googlemaps(and was able to plot protest occurances that were reported by the Tribune... BUT I just read(i got a book all about hacking google maps!) and I might be able to figure out some way-cooler way of doing this and Most Improtantly... Printing/converting to PDF format so that I include it in the final product. SO, after somereading, I was able to finish working ona shirt I had been working on, I painted it a few weeks ago, and needed to adjust the collar--boat necks, my favorite!, and also the shirt was a little to long and the design hung at a weird spot. I'll take photos of these, I guess...



Wow, the desk really doesn't look as neat as I thought it does. I'l post the shirt, though. It still nees some work on the colar, I had to adjust the sleeves. It took a surprisingly short amount of time... I was very please with my progress.

It's nice outside

Well. It is late on Sunday night, I still have quite a lot to write, but I am taking a break to update.

The snow is gone and the weather is perfect for bicycle riding.... to and from the library. I am glad to be able to bicycle without my hands going numb from the cold(this is why I haven't ridden in quite a while), but I do miss the snow a little bit.

I bought a fan for my window(one of the ones that sits in the windowsill with two fans and they can blow in and out at the same time... because summer is coming up soon--- although peopel that have lived up here have said... well, not really, the lake is still 30 some degrees. So, we'll see, I will update you on how quickly I begin to complain about heat.

Hopefully not soon! In the mean time, I will take full advantage of saving time and enjoying the air by riding the bicycle, Maxine, everywhere that is bicyclable.

So, who doesn't like photographs?? (no one).

This is a VERY old photograph(well, not that old, from like January), just for you (mom and dad):

I am going to add some completely unrelated photographs because it is WTUL's Marathon!! and I am excited for them, and miss the radio station(luckily we Can listen online at http://www.wtulneworleans.com.

(a very old photograph circa Spring 2007)





This snow is gone.... :(



This is Inside Harper Library, not a frequent study spot... I usually go to Regenstein which is much more drab and much less majestic.
Harper from the central reading room looking towards the West



This is actually a recent photograph of a manhole cover in Pilsen. I had to go do some supplementary field work there this past weekend, a march and rally went through the neighborhood and ended up at a little weird plaza/island thing. Photographs and possible analysis forthcoming!

Tree Identification

Well, Ben identified the tree quite a long time ago, I just forgot to note it in here, and soon after it was identified, I saw the tree everywhere! It is popularly called the burning bush.

From this website:
Burning Bush

(aka Winged Euonymus or Spindle Tree)
Euonymus alata "Compactus"

Mature Height: 6-10 ft. for 'Compactus' (other varieties can get much larger)
Growth Rate: Moderate
Soil: Average, well-drained
Light Requirements: Sun/partial shade
Foliage: Medium green 1" to 3" in. long leaves, turning to vibrant red in the fall