ESL Mania en la AADL

Took a trip to the grand ol' Ann Arbor District Library on Tuesday for the first time to actually study (as opposed to hang out Matilda Style and read like old times or just pop in and grab whatever I might have on hold) and it was fairly successful. At least for a little bit. Just so you're aware, since I definitely wasn't, Tuesdays at 6:00 in the AADL equals the ESL Brigade Takeover of the Third Floor. This was quite the spectacle to see, and don't get me wrong, it was very cool to see so many younger people helping out with the multitude of Spanish speakers that need assistance in the english department, but doesn't exactly make for a quiet study area.

I was doing pretty darn well if I do say so myself until one distinct little sentence floated into my ear hole. Now, had the Virginian not looked up at me on the verge of bursting out in laughter, I probably would have been able to hold it together somewhat...but I feel a little better about myself because as the days have passed, I'm pretty much 110% convinced that anyone with even a minimal sense of humor would laugh at the following in the same or a similar situation:

"Take off your clothes, but leave your shorts on."

Mmmm okay, looking at it now I'm not nearly as convinced that the majority of humans would find that hilarious...but considering it just arose out of practically nothing made it that much better. There were a few other additional winning statements including, but not limited to:

• "I only crossed my legs for like a second, but then it fell asleep!"
• "Yeah, at this concert in Detroit they even felt under your bra."
• "Pregnant."
• "Salazar?! That's my name!!"

Hopefully there is a soul out there that is moderately entertained by such bilingual nonsense. I never quite understood why we learned some of the things we did in Spanish...such as 'pilotar una avioneta' (yes, to fly a single engine plane)...but apparently Spanish isn't the only language that teaches things someone will never use in real life...English does it too!

In other news...

• I have reinstated my presence on the world of Twitter. Attending all of these communications speaking events has convinced me it's a bit of a necessity. Besides, finals are creeping up at a rapid speed and it'll give me one more internet outlet to procrastinate. Necessary? Not at all, but it's going to be fine.
• Allergies are a bit crazy today...probably shouldn't be sitting outside on the porch, but I can't help but take advantage of the weather while it's possible...ya never do know with this crazy state surrounded by lakes. Haven't yet broken my record of...I think seventeen sneezes in a row from years past...I only let about nine fly this morning. One of which was a hicc-eeze. Sneeze and hiccup at the same time (don't try this at home, it's not the most comfortable way to start off the day).
• Street cleaners are practically taking over the downtown area lately. I acknowledge that I used to be mildly obsessed with street cleaners when I was younger and got some weird thrill from driving behind them at a snail pace watching those giant bristly spinners do their job...but I've come to wonder...why in the world do they exist?! Why must we "clean the street?" Its not like it sparkles after they blow by at 5 m.p.h., nor do we (or I suppose, I) plan on eating off of the asphalt any time soon, it's definitely not thorough...it leaves about four measly lines of wetness, they're really quite noisy, they hold up traffic, and the street doesn't even look different post-cleansing. I'm legitimately curious about this, so perhaps I shall Google it!
• Waking up at the butt crack of dawn to deliver the parentals to the airport definitely wasn't at the top of my voluntary to-do list, but the task was completed with success.
• Big Brother Skeletor is competing in the triathlon nationals with his gaggle of U of Illinois comrades this weekend in the great state of Texas...so good luck to all of them! Hopefully they pull out a great success, because as we all full well know, everything's bigger in Texas! That was dumb. I apologize. I seriously couldn't come up with anything better.
• Finally, I smell either Blimpy Burger in all its glory or someone is grilling hamburgers right now and I can't even pretend like I'm not jealous of some stranger's impending red meat consumption...

That is all! Enjoy this glorious Spring day to all my fellow Ann Arborites and T.G.I.F. to the rest of the blog reading community!

Slate Hands

My hands have smelled like those stupid "slates" (otherwise known as mini chalkboards) that we used to have to use in elementary school and then erase with an old sock that you had brought from home all day today. I'm not sure what the issue is...perhaps it's my nose, although the fact that I'm sneezing every three minutes makes that kind of hard to believe. I feel as if that would allow different smells to be filtered through, but anyvays. Yes, I have washed them multiple times, I've used Purell, hand creme, you name it, I've tried it. So odd how that happens. Hopefully it's just a 24 hour stage. I also suppose I shouldn't be obsessively smelling my hands all day...that's a little odd now that I've written an entire paragraph on the matter.

Headed back to Slauson earlier today after a lovely week off due to the AAPS Spring Break. I have to say, the week break was kind of cruel because it made the return visit that much worse. I had tasted life without crazy middle schoolers and I sure liked it. Oh well, a week and a half more and we shall be home free from Golden Bear Land. The usual characters appeared for a lovely hour of swimming up and down that pool that has really deteriorated since my day. It's also possible that I just didn't care to notice the quality of the facilities when I was 11 years old, but I'm gonna go ahead and say it has fallen apart. Although I was pleasantly surprised to see that the giant millipede was no longer dead on the bottom of the pool (and that there wouldn't be any crying sixth graders feeling ill because it was in their lane...I kid you not, this really happened. Actual tears). There also weren't any dumb comments about me not being in a cast anymore...it only took four weeks for those to cease! Bahaha unreal. They're entertaining, and also a new level of irritating. The good news is that most of the time they're swimming, and can't hear the slew of comments I pass off to my fellow coaches...

I am free from the Paratransit Van!! Rejoice! I can now pretty much successfully make it to all of my classes. A couple of em' I really have to slow down for after about twelve minutes, but for the most part I'm darn satisfied. Physical therapy is going just swell! I was praised today for my crossfrictioning of the scar site...Star Patient right here. Hahaha so sad. One would think that after nine years of PT, I would have the drill down. Well folks, looks like I finally do!

But alas it has reached the midnight hour, and this little piggy must hit the hay. Onward to the second to last Tuesday of class! Holy woah!

Hyperactivity. My Apologies.

Developmental psych. Psych 250. We're nearing the end of the semester, so obviously we're nearing the end of the lifespan which means the elderly are taking over the Powerpoints! Oooh and boy is it grand. But also sad. Especially since apparently you start losing memory capacity when you turn TWENTY. That's just not even fair. Slash makes me feel actually old for being twenty instead of fake old simply for no longer being a teenager.

Anyways, we had to watch a bunch of little video clips where it showed these old people attempting memory tasks and it was just so painful to watch. Lists of words they had to repeat back and just couldn't. Oooh golly I don't want to get old. How frustrating is that going to be?! Ay yi yi and this one man was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Sad stuff I tell ya, sad stuff indeed.

In other news!! I received fantastical news today and I am going to see Owl City in concert with Magman and friends on the 29th! So exciting! The perfect end of finals treat if I do say so myself. :) Oh my oh my oh my. I am just so freaking hyper and excited for some slightly unknown reason!

OH and did ya'll hear the thunder this morning?! Talk about a great way to start the day! And it was super warm...albeit rainy, but I mean. Can't have everything! AND I walked to my second class, and all the way home today! Holy Moses there ARE a lot of reasons to be happy. AND THE TREES. Are finally sprouting leaves. And flowers. And it smells glorious. And I DON'T EVEN KNOW. This isn't even an entertaining post I'm just overly excitedddd currentlyyy!

Happy Hump Day Everyoneeee