Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Zoot Suit Riot
So, it's like way early and I'm awake because the coffee is keeping me up, although I did sleep for a while. I've been messing around on my precious for an hour or two.

This weekend has been unmomentous, to borrow a word. I've worked on Chem, and mostly procrastinated working on Chem. I had my orientation yesterday. I start on Wendesday,

I'll have to miss Smallville tear rolls down cheek . So I have to do chem, and go learn how to milk cows. Now I'm rambling. So off to do chem, or make my website more presentable.

Love, Gretel

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Soooooooooo,

With the onset of the cold Guitar man has been strangely absent. But since he has continued in his Antichrist ways I choose not to care.

Yesterday was pretty slow. We have a guest speaker in AniNut. He has a very thick accent which made it difficult to take notes and do the crossword puzzle at the same time.

Tuan skipped Chem again to talk to me. I personally cross-stiched during Chem. I don't need to take notes so it just makes it easier, but I do get a lot of weird looks.

I got a 90 on my Ani. Nut test. Looks like that's my score of choice. I assume I beat David again b/c he wouldn't show me his test. Lol; it'd almost make me feel better if he did better than me.

Agh; I just must not be in a writing mood cuz I can't write anything in a sensical manner.

Man I haven't written anything for a week.

Ummmmmmmmmm, k. So Saturday I went walking with Tuan, Colin and Ashley. It was uber cold and I'm sure parts of me fell of and are frozen somewhere in Maple Grove. I got a job. And I got sushi with Lizzy-pi. My fortune told me to go back and buy the one with sequins. My car died several times. The 20th was apparently a good day.

Idk; that's all I can puke out right now.

Love Miss Gretel Vaughn

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Soooo, to borrow a word, church today was unmomentous. But I did get a thought or two out of it. And I actually knew all the worship songs today.

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It's a beautiful day in the neighberhood so I'll try to get outside.

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Other than that, nothing much to report. I slept most of yesterday and then woke to do some Chemistry, set-up, talk on the phone... and get out of the house for a while and go back to sleep. Real exciting stuff.

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More chem to do to day, and maybe a more heartfelt entry later.

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Love Gretel

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By the Light of a Blood Red Sun
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Joesph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
I should have known I was in for something when the sun shone dull and red in the sky. I had a brief moment of dissonance looking at it, until I figured it was the sun and not the moon. It was eerie.

Not long after I discovered that Guitar Man was the Antichrist. And that worshipping him for five seconds would get you a free CD. I chose that time to move and lie in the grass and soak up some sunlight. Daily dose of Vitamin D you know.

The day was otherwise uneventful, other than sitting next to a smart alec in Chem and learning how to make molten iron. Then I got to sit with all the boys in the back of the bus.

That's about all, a rather slow Friday.

Oh, and according to Guitarman, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a banana, peel that sucker man. Tastes pretty good.

Siiigh

Gretel

The Weirdness Attraction Factor
Mood:  flirty
Now Playing: Sheryl Crow -Anything But Down
Wow. I am a bad dancer. Time to stop dancing in front of the mirror.

Other than that, let's see. Relevant pieces of news. Brother Jed is gone. I almost got beat up at the bus stop. No seriously. I went on rounds in the Large Animal Hospital. If you could call it that.

Ummmmmmmm. I had a Chemistry Test. I got 90.5 on Ani . Nut. It seems to be my curse, cuz that's what I got on my first lab. I don't know how chem went. I could find out I guess. *mills online*

*finds random words of wisdom* Life goes on after a test.

Eighty Percent. Awwww Maaaan. I had hoped to do better than that. :'( Oh well. Life goes on I guess.

I met a staple of U of MN folklore today. The Jazz Man was my bus driver today. I'm not sure what he was playing though. I was a little disturbed at his break in composure and personified over-all coolness, when he started freaking out about having to stop at this one light, because apparently he hates stopping there.

I also ran into the Man With The Robot Voice again.

Anyway; I've decided that weirdness trails me. It folllowing in make wake like a hound dog on a scent.

Today while walking home from the bus, I was absorbed in my music and even singing along, as the streets appeared deserted. Suddenly I hear a crunch of leaves behind me and whirl around to look down into the wide-eyed face of a little girl who had been following me. I said hi, and asked if I could help her with something. She thought I was part of some family she knew and asked if I knew Summer or Rachel. Anyway I wasn't THE ONE and I continued on my way.

I was highly distraught that I couldn't leave after my test in "Horse in Your Backyard" which only took me TEN minutes and I had to wait for AN HOUR for everyone else to finish so we could go on to another part of the class. But we went down to the Large Animal hospital and measured horses and predicted their weight. I got to help measure. And I met Hercules, and that horse just makes you smile.

Plus I think he made the bus gods smile on me too. :) Which is always a good good good thing. :)

Love Gretel

The ENTRY of the CENTURY
Mood:  accident prone
Now Playing: Margaritaville- Jimmy Buffet
What a crazy weekend this is turning out to be. SERIOUSLY. It's like I woke up in a different Matrix, one in which nothing acts quite normally.

Why so weird you ask? I'll tell you

Okay, so yesterday, I had my Animal Nutrition test. Nothing weird there. The day starts out normally. Maybe I should I have gotten a clue when David was acting all out of it, lol.

Fast forward to pre-Chemistry: I was innocently sitting outside Smith Hall, indiscriminately reading my book, and passing the time. Guitar-man was there. He has been gone the past week; so I was worried. But for some strange reason- He actually sounded GOOD. Listening to him made me smile, and I didn't even put my headphones on to cover up the noise.

A while later I see Mr. Preacher man. I first became aquainted with Mr. Preacher on Wendesday. He was standing in the middle of a grassy square in Northup Mall preaching to seemingly no one in general. For a while I thought he was practicing a Shakespearan solioqy until I heard, You think you can get away with it. Your MOM might not see you. Your DAD might not see you. But there IS SOMEONE who sees you. GOD SEES what YOU do! After I came out of Chem that day he had a bigger crowd around, and a bunch of people standing next to him recording the whole thing or something. I was like oh man, Preacher Man's back..... when Guitar Man stopped playing and said, Hey Brother Jed, what's happening?

*gasp!* Preacher Man?! Guitar Man?! Connected?!?!?

I returned to my book, slightly disturbed, when two scraggely looking dudes come out of Smith Hall, and go up to Guitar Man and are playing something with him.

So, still innocently sitting, reading, Scraggly Guy #1, comes up to me, and starts talking to me.

I'm just a lonely guy. I'm Anthony. Oh No *nods* What's your name *sighs* Crapola Gretel Greta? No, Gretel, like Hansel and Gretel. Oh. *insert incoherent stuff about Hansel and Gretel* *tries to remain aloof and intent on reading book* *more incoherent stuff from #1* You have really pretty hair. I came over here because of your hair. Please please go away Oh, thanks. *weak smile, in the background Brother Jed starts preachin'* You have pretty hair. It's such a pretty color. Thanks for letting me look at you. *cries inside*

*enter Scraggly Guy #2, Scraggly Guy #1 goes over and starts talking to #2 about Jed, #1 remarks to #2 that I have really pretty hair, then goes to join Jed* *soon #2 comes over and starts complaining the #1 was waaay drunk, but oh well, he's just a light-weight, but #2 was only half drunk, monologue continues as I barely glance up from my book* That guy playing guitar thinks he's so hot. I showed him how to play a couple songs and he gave me a dollar. I used to be a reallygood bass player once upon a time. I had a band going and stuff. I'm even in a picture in one of those buildings. I'm a piece of history. But now I'm just a drunk. *starts rolling a joint and holds up bag of tobacco* I'm smoking POT, if you hold it up to a mirror. *the bag has TOP written on it, I just nod* The security guys'll bust me for this, but I ain't hurting nobody. *he glances over to Brother Jed & Co* Man that guy *referring to #1* is helping preach. He's showing off his devil tattoo. *I glance over and #1 is showing some asst. preacher his tattoo on his shoulder. Jed watches with approval as Asst. Preacher asks #1 "Why do you want to be on Satan's side? I wouldn't want to be paired with the DevIL. etc etc.* This guy handed me a paper, I can't see it though. I saw a movie in Coffman the other night. It was stupid, but kind of funny *shows me a nail file with MEAN GIRLS written on it* That's the movie. *he looks at Guitar man* I know all the old songs. You know Name that Tune? I could name them all. The 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s. I hear a song and I know it in a few bars. *goes over to Guitar man and requests the Rolling Stones* Yeah I know all those songs. I don't need to major in music. I could probably be the teacher. Say what are you reading? It's called "Vet in the Wild" It's about a veterinarian who works in zoos. *slight pause while he figures this out* Oh, so are you over in that school where they cut apart animals? *incoherent stuff about treatment of animals* I used to know I guy who worked over there. I wonder if that guy would give me another dollar if I showed him how to play something else. I played bass, but my fingers don't work very well anymore. I played really well. . . *at this time a growing trickle of students start flowing out of Smith Hall, I stop listening and start looking for Tuan, finally I see him and he sees me and gives me that "haha the bums got you" smile, I tell #2 that I have to go and ran to Tuan*

So I was SAVED by Tuan, who laughed at my story and predicament. Chem proceeded without too much incident. I sat next to my Chem partner on the far front side of the hall, for a change of view and someone to talk to. We were right up front where all the action is when there's a experiment. Luckily TWO things exploded with loud noises unexpectedly and made me jump out of my chair and my heart raced.

I was finally free and headed to the bus. Brother Jed was still out there with a larger crowd. No sign of the scraggly guys, and guitar man played on. On Fridays, I always see Devil Kid waiting for the 152 while I wait for the 114. He was pacing around like usual. I sighed inside. The sun came out just then and I thought that finally things were as they should be when I noticed that Devil Kid wasn't wearing his sunglasses. I felt a minor dissonance within at being able to see Devil Kid's eyes. He didn't seem nearly so mysterious anymore. But I didn't have much time to think about this as the 114A arrived.

I wasn't really paying attention to the route when I looked up in response to a disturbance in the force. We weren't were we should be. In alarm I feared that I had gotten on the wrong bus, when I realized the Mr. Metro Transit was taking the route BACKWARDS. Siiiiiiigh. So uber distressed I saw my beloved 17C pass by and feared that I would have to wait even LONGER to get home on my early day. No fear though. As we finally got to the uptown transit center I saw a 17C sitting there and I ran up and knocked on the door. The bus driver gave me a dirty look but let me on

I made it to Dakota and was merrily walking down the street, listening to some music when I hear a plop behind me. Almost fearing to turn around by this point, I see a squirrel in the middle of the road. He had fallen about 35ft from a tree with a sickening splat, but managed to hobble away to the far side of the road. Poor little guy. I made it home without further incident, except almost falling down the hill on those stupid non-steps in my super-chick boots.

Anyway, I ended up just killing time most of Friday night. I called Wilson, which was good, and ended up crying about that stupid but lovable squirrel.

This morning I was going to look up some stuff online and it wouldn't detect a dial-tone. So I try repluggig everything. Still no go. I check the kitchen phone. Nothing. I had to spend and entire day without outside contact. I spent a lot of time working on my puzzle, playing violin, attempting to do Chemistry. I went to my Starbucks homework haven, but realized that I forgot a calculator so that didn't last long. On the way home I saw another strange sight:

There's nothing quite so mysterious and almost sexy as a man walking out of a park with a bullwhip. In his other hand swings a jacket. But is he dressed like a buckaroo? Hardly. His clothes resemble more. . . modern disco clothing. But nothing of good quality. Nor good color choices. The question still remains. What was he doing there. Where is he going now? What was he whipping? Was it just to hear the sound of his own whip? Or does he just carry it? Why would anyone have a whip in St. Louis Park? Siiiiigh, I'll never know. And that's what makes it stick in my mind, ever tormenting me. WHY? WHY DID SHE TAKE THE RADIO!?!?!?

Upon returning from my second chem study attempt I found a working phone. I excitedly began to check my e-mail - DISCONNECTED!- The line was back out!!!! Long story short- It works now. I spent some time with Liz and later with Mike (and got attacked by a fuzzy caterpillar). My car is being jumpy and that's all I have to say.

Love Gretel

Mood:  happy
Now Playing: My Own Worst Enemy - Lit
Ray-rul is forcing me to make an obligatory blog entry. Now she claims that she is indeed not forcing me, but rather that my complaints are slanted. Nonetheless, I am still happy (note above)although this is happy #2 and not happy #1, although the differences between the two have yet to be determined.

Anyway..... Yesterday I had school *waves little flag* and then went to Bethel with Colin to visit Liz and Katie and watch Spiderman II. Some dude hung from a tree and tried to be Spiderman. But from my angle it wasn't especially successful.

The atmosphere was rather loud and not conducive to enjoying movies. However there was a large abundance of acorns to throw around. We chose the bumpiest, most uncomfortable section of the hill to set up our blanket on. Oh well; it worked out in the end.

Colin and I attempted to watch Taxi Driver. It was uber boring. I wouldn't recommendend.

Today I drove up to Grand Forks. Ray-rul and I walked around and saw some of the Grand Forks on parade. We also saw the sugar beet trucks a-flying down the road, but we knew better than to try to race them down the river.

We went to the art musuem to check out the oddly painted trees. Or large sticks, stumps, and other wooden swinging items. There was also a large board with several cow mandibles (no maxillas, sorry guys) cemented caudal side up. I had to examine to make sure they weren't horses. One was rather questionable, but was indeed bovine.

Inside was another story. The main exhibit consisted of creepy bleached book looking things. We quickly moved on to the upper story. That was much more interesting with arrays of strangely arranged cloth bits and pieces and paraphenalia and also some "found object" buffalo head representations.

The Eternal Flame was out.

Rachel blames the wind.

I blame Cortez.

Anyway. We got some food and went to SuperTarget. Then we went on a mission for Homies. I started my own homie collection with the horrible purple Joker girl and also the Mariachi Pedro. He's pretty cool. Not as cool as Tortuga. But he'll do. I donated creepy purple girl to Rachel's future Homie chess set cause.

Much dissapointed, when we both got Purples, we returned and got some water and I attempted to do Chemistry. But I fell asleep. Rachel poked me with her cold finger and wondered if I was going to do anymore. I told her no.

Then we walked up some stairs and opened a door. This door led up the hallway to Rachel's room. There was no one inside. No one but Homies. Staring in the darkness. *skitter* Huh? *shadows flicker* OH NO! GREMLINNNNNNNNNNNNSSS!!

Love Gretel

The Man in Black
Mood:  bright
So as I was waiting for the bus today I saw Devil Kid. However, this time he was not pacing around but rather leaning complacently against the garbage can. What does this mean? I don't know.

However, it occured to me, as I was listening to The Gunslinger by Stephen King on the bus, that Devil Kid is not Devil Kid at all, but the Man in Black. The one the Gunslinger is following across the desert. But not Johnny Cash's "Man In Black." Wouldn't do to confuse the two.

So I made a friend in Animal Nutrition. We are both left-handed and take a front row seat in our education. He's also in my Chem class, but sits way up at the front. I'm still debating whether I want to be that close to the action.

Tuan found me waiting for Chemistry this morning. He woke me up in time for my class so that was fun.

You never notice know how many blind people are in a city until you ride the bus.

Love Gretel

P.S. Crinoline to Calico is the best book I've ever read. Even better than Cousin William.

Chaos in order
Mood:  amorous
Now Playing: Groovy Kind of Love
The morning was rather uneventful. I almost made it the whooooole way to the U which my cappuchino safely in its cup, despite Colin's jostlely methods of driving. But two blocks from the parking lot, my coffee finally found freedom.

OH! And Jane recognized me as we were getting on the bus!

Lab went okay. Except it went late and I missed the early bus. Jessie and I had horses from hell. One didn't want to be palpated and ran back to her stall and stepped on my foot. The other freaked out when Jess tried to get her. Sooooo, we joined another group instead.

I decided to take the 6 home instead of waiting an hour for the 114. Never again. That's the bus from hell. Aaaaaand the batteries died on my cd player. But it did give me time to entertain daydreams.

Oh and on the way home from the bus some kids were singing a scategorical song which got stuck in my head. I was most distraught. So for all of you out there. . . " be a ***edited*-- I realized that the lyric I was going to put on could be horribly misintrepreted so I censored it*** your hand."

Anyway; that's about all, my chem book came, so I feel much relaxed.

Love Gr-goyle.

Chem Time
Mood:  silly
Now Playing: Lay You Down - Conway Twitty
Yeah for another day of education.

I still couldn't sleep after relaxing and hanging out with Colin in the park last night. (Even after satisfying my usual late night cravings for bananas and some form of bread!) So I read Cousin William which I got from the Magrath Library earlier (one of the only things in that library under PS). It's like the best book I've ever read. Everyone should rush out immediately and find it. If you don't do that, well there's always the Esperantan film Incubus starring none other than William Shatner.

Let's see Animal Nutrition, interesting, however it was less than eventful.

Chem was also a non factor. I could write more about the guitar man, who is the sprinkles on my Chem donut , then about Chem. Although I did plan out my elemental room, complete with killer crabs, while trying to drown out the "likes," "totallys," "reallys," "no ways," and other such expressions from the freshman girls next to me.

Anyway, Chem lab, was much more interactive. My partner Nick and I rocked the lab, and were out of there in time for me to catch the express. Unfortunately there was no Devil Kid today. He's the filling of my bus donut .

So until next time:

Love Gretel