x = Fail!

Well, I passed the vocabulary part of the GRE, but the math is a different story. First of all, the test was done on a computer and I was not allowed to skip questions and go back to them. Since the test was timed it freaked me out to spend too much time on one problem.

Also, before the whole test they have you do a tutorial on HOW TO USE THE MOUSE. It taught you how to hold the mouse, how the little arrow moves with the mouse, and how the buttons work.

Seriously. They expect me to know geometry but not how to use a mouse. Something is really flawed here. They should have made it computer literacy instead of math and I would have been fine.

The good thing is the lady at the graduate department had already told me the GRE wasn't a big deal. She said they look a lot more at your GPA in the last 6o units you took, and teacher recommendations. I look good in both of those and my writing samples were good as well.

So, it should be fine anyway. The communications department really doesn't care how good at math I am. And I can always retake the stupid test, but I don't see the point since I already tried. I'll find out in about a month if I got in the program, so everyone keep your fingers crossed for me.

The GRE

Sorry I haven't been blogging the last few days, but I have been studying for the GRE. That is the exam everyone has to take to get into the Masters program. I take it tomorrow evening. The problem has been that there is math on it. There is algebra, which I haven't taken in 10 years, and wasn't good at it to begin with, and geometry, which I have never taken. Luckily they do provide study guides, so I have been learning and re-learning math. I also have a friend who is helping me out with her wide math knowledge.

The verbal part also looks hard because the vocabulary is a bit rough. But that is nothing compared to the math.

Stupid math. Anyway, writing this blog is what I am doing to take a break because my head hurts, but I can't keep taking breaks, so off I go to the world of geometry again.

Addresses

I need addresses for invitations! Please e-mail them to me:

valerine1234@yahoo.com

I have yours, mom, of course. But you also have ones I need, but I'll talk to you about that later.

Thanks!

Overhauling the yard over here too

JJ and I have decided to completely overhaul our yard. Funny that Sarah is as well, I guess it is the season. Our neighbors, Allen and Jodi, are the yard people. Their perfectly manicured lawn and bushes are the envy of the neighborhood. Everyone knows it. JJ and I have simply maintained the lawn, and cut some bushes when they got ridiculous. So, it was never terrible, but thanks to the Yard Kings next door, it always looked like it was in comparison.

The above pictures are of the walkways leading up to our front doors. The top one is Allen and Jodie's. Note the carefully wound hose and pretty white rocks. Their bushes are small, but healthy and quite nice. Now look at ours. There appears to be two hoses haphazardly sprawled on the ground. And.... what is that? Oh! A tire! I have no idea why that tire is there. I don't even know what car it goes to.

So this week JJ and I have done a lot of work. I raked, seeded, weeded and fertilized the lawn. JJ pruned the bushes in the front and put in new bark. I wish I had thought to take more "before pictures", but I didn't. Within the next couple weeks, expect a blog showing the beauty of our front and backyard! It shall be done!

I actually had a longer, more descriptive blog planned about my toiling in the yard this week, but I did not get off of work until after 11 tonight because we were busy, and I am beat! So, I will update about this, not that anyone is really that interested, but it is what is going on.

My Life: The Sitcom

I had a strange realization today. In sitcoms, movies and books families are often portrayed in a very stereotypical way. The dad is goofy yet lovable, always trying to fix things around the house, never calling a professional, and it always ends in disaster. The men never get freaked out over details, like wedding plans, the woman is always dealing with details, like cleaning. The men are sloppy. The women are always overstressed and overly concerned with communication. You know the stereotype I mean. There are lots of examples.

Today I realized that there is a reason for these silly stereotypes.

They are true.

I went to take a shower and did the typical 5 minute set-up and it occurred to me right then. What set-up you ask? Well, about a year ago our shower dripped. It drove me insane. I hated the dripping. The interval was so perfect. I just know exactly when each drip would happen and lying awake listening to it was enough to drive a person (if that person is me anyway) right over the edge.

So my dear JJ decided to fix the shower. The husband of a woman he worked with was a plumber and offered his assistance, but JJ in his great wisdom informed them that "plumbing was easy" and he didn't need any help.

Surely you can see where this story is going. When JJ finished the first "fixing" the shower not only dripped far worse than it had before, but had no water pressure. I took to taking showers in Lilly's bathtub, which looked like a Barbie snuff film.

A week and $150 later, JJ again "fixed" the shower. Another week of disembodied Barbie heads staring at me.

The next weekend he tried again. This time he admitted that plumbing indeed was not easy, but would in no way admit it to his plumber friend (I understand that). This time the results were great.... for a few months.

Now the shower takes a special set-up. It has two knobs, one to turn it on, and the other to adjust temperature.... in theory. Ours actually has two knobs that do both. In order to turn it on you use the proper turn-on knob. Then you spin the temperature knob around until it gets lukewarm (the direction depends on the day). After that you turn the on/off knob toward "off" and it gets hot. But if you turn it too far you lose your water pressure. Now when you are done taking a shower, you turn both handles, but the temperature one is the one you have to pull over to stop the water completely, so it is pretty much ass-backward.

It is a minor inconvenience, one that I have become accustomed to, and it works. But today it happened right after I was trying to deal with getting wedding invitations done. JJ has been acting like the "typical" male about wedding plans lately. So when I called him at work (he wasn't busy, I asked first), I just wanted to confirm the time of the wedding, and make sure he didn't care what invitations I picked. He didn't. "I don't care what you do for the wedding, just as long as you're there," he says.

So you see, my life is a sitcom now. I am not sure what to think of that. I pick-up JJ's dirty socks, over-stress about wedding plans (I hate acting like a girl) and roll my eyes when I have to jiggle the handle to make sure the toilet stops running (he fixed that too).

But all in all, the moral of all of this is that JJ tries to be handy around the house (the shower doesn't drip anymore), he wants me to show up for the wedding and you know, there have been a lot less socks laying on the floor lately. At least it is a happy sitcom.

Movies

I really like a good movie. But for some reason I just can't make myself sit down and watch one. Once I am watching it it's fine, but I never want to make the 2 hour commitment (scary that I am getting married).

Some movies I can watch over and over again like Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Princess Bride, Snatch, Back to the Future, 40 Year Old Virgin....

But to watch a new movie is a pain. I even get impatient having to hear a song I don't know. I think I just hate change. What movies are the most re-watchable for you guys?

What my name means

Monica put up a neat link to a site where you put in your name and it tells you what it means. Some of mine is right on, some isn't, and some of it is identical to Mary's, which is funny since we're sisters (yes Charise).

What Valerie Means

You are very hyper. You never slow down, even when it's killing you. You're the type of person who can be a workaholic during the day... and still have the energy to party all night. Your energy is definitely a magnet for those around you. People are addicted to your vibe. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?