I have to say, yesterday was one of the most stressful birthdays I've ever had. Not the whole thing, I suppose, but I was up late the eve of my birthday, as you probably realized if you read this yesterday, so I was tired all day. Yun Shin took me to India's Rasoi, an indian buffet, for lunch, which was a little weird in that I've never had indian food before. This is Indian indian not native american indian, in case you weren't sure. It turned out to be ok and the mango custard was especially good. That wasn't the bad part. I mean, I got to leave work early so I could pick up Hallie and get to the DMB concert. The bad part was that traffic sucked, even to get from the med school to Hilltop, and the car, which had just been in the shop that morning, decided to start shaking when we hit the jam that is always in front of the airport. I felt like I was in an E. coli shaker; those are machines that we put the bacterial cultures in so they can grow and get enough air. They're rather violent, and just imagine sitting in a car that's shaking while you're waiting the interminable wait to get to the parking lot. Whoever designed Riverport's lot should be shot. A pox on civil engineers... all of them except Billy and those who build bridges that stay intact during natural disasters. I was so afraid that the car was going to die any second. We took the toyota cause the saturn has a tendency to overheat when it's idling and the toyota was supposed to be fixed... they replaced a defective spark plug but apparently new spark plugs have a tendency to work themselves out of the engine block or wherever they are, so we effectively drove to St. Charles on only three cylinders. Gaaah. Someone just give me a chrystler sebring convertible already.

The concert was great, thank God, and Hallie seemed genuinely happy to be there, so that part at least was fine. It wasn't worth the hassle to get there and back though. The car died twice when we finally got to move out of the parking lot after waiting for a good 45 minutes without moving an inch. I ran over a beer bottle too. Stupid litterers.

To top it off, when I got home I finally got to read some of the second book I've been reading. Amazing that I didn't read anything on my birthday except what I read before I went to bed the night before. It was so good I ended up finishing the last 30 or so pages. So I'm still tired. But the book was too good.

Thank God my grandparents are on the ball and sent me a b-day card with $20 bucks. I spent it on parking and food and a tshirt. It's finally happened though; I had a birthday where I got no presents on my b-day. Not even a card. Ah well. I know I'm loved.

Posted by Jen at 3:43 PM | Permalink |

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Well, if you haven't gotten the subtle hints I've dropped the last few days, it's my birthday. I'm 22 today, and my present to myself is that I'm seeing Dave Matthews Band with Hallie. I got an impromptu birthday singing just after I brushed my teeth (of course), and my cake was a fortune cookie. My fortune was "an absent friend will visit you" or something like that, which is true, being that I haven't seen Hallie all summer. There was another fortune in the cookie... written on the same paper as sits by the phone for messages it predicted a bright future. I love my parents. It's my parakeet's birthday as well. Happy birthday Sapphire! He's 9 this year. Hard to believe I've had him since I was 13.

Need gift ideas? Look a couple entries farther down have a good one!

PS. this month's kanji character (look to the left) means beauty. Of course it does! Great word, great month.

Posted by Jen at 1:26 AM | Permalink |

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So much of The Fellowship of the Ring concerns the journeys of the main characters, whether it be quests for knowledge, duty, or self-discovery.

Do you think the characters (main and secondary) choose to go on these quests of their own free will, or are they compelled by fate and/or circumstances?

I think it's a mix. I think most of them chose to go on the quest... some were compelled. I don't like the idea of "fate is the only thing guiding our steps" but I also don't like the "I am the one entity responsible for what happens to me." I think there is a destiny for everything--everything happens for a reason--but we can do certain things to make things happen the way we want them to.

Short answer... but CsCl prep calls.

just for your info: I'm going to be 22 tomorrow. Go to Amazon.com (courtesy of the link at the bottom right of this page) and search for my wish list. "Jennifer Shew" Thanks in advance, lol.

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so I'm reading this book called Transformation, by Carol Berg. Now, if you know anything about me, you know that this excites me greatly. I don't know what it is, I guess I have a transformation fetish. There are just times when I'm reading that my imagination takes over and I can feel it, I can feel it in my bones, my body throbs, I can feel the pain or the pleasure or whatever you think it is. This book is one of them. There need to be more books like that... One day my story will be comme &ccdil;a. I swear. Forgive the ramble. I feel weird saying that though, cause it's a very private feeling, something that I've never shared with anyone other than my ex. but if you know of any good transformation stories, let me know.

Thank you, May, for your email. I'm glad you like it. And I will finish it, if nothing for nothing else than to say I have a completed novel. And you'll be the first to get a signed copy If anyone is very interested in reading the next unfinished chapter, please let me know.

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odd facts constantly reminding me of Orli:

Everyday on the way to work we pass a florist called "Always in Bloom";

I'm reading a book by William Boyd. The actor Billy Boyd is in LotR with Orli;

I was listening to a cd I made, and a song from the soundtrack of "Deep Impact" was on it; Elijah Wood was in that movie, but also in LotR with Orli;

I'm learning to sew because of Legolas, Orli's character...

Too bad I won't ever meet him!

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So I tried to start sewing the cloak last night. We brought up the portable sewing machine (which is a bit of an oxymoron, being that if you actually tried to port that thing anywhere you'd probably end up with a hernia) but we had to wind a new bobbin for the thread, which turned out to be wound the wrong way, then the machine decided to not work. So made for a rather frustrating night. My mom said that the machine had done that twice before, once the night before halloween when she was trying to make a costume for me, and once before my aunt's wedding when she was trying to fix my flower girl dress. So, I suppose it's good that I have a year to do this thing. Hopefully it will work tonight. Sigh. If it doesn't, there is another portable sewing machine, and if all else fails we use the super-duper machine in the art room. Sigh. I wouldn't be able to watch tv back there, at least not for now.

I think we're taking the dvd/vcr/tv back, it's not quite what we want. But doing that will be a pain. Grr. Although when we do we'd be able to move the dvd/vcr player from room to room so I can watch LotR whenever I want! Yay! lol.

I wrote more of my Roswell fic last night. Man, it would be so good if I could only finish it! Came up with another idea for my novel too. Too bad I'm not independently wealthy so I can't just do nothing but write it. Although I know if I did that I would be bored out of my mind. I suppose it will work out somehow. I really want to put up an excerpt of the new stuff to see if you guys like it, but that would mean I'd have to transfer it from the laptop, blah blah. Someday grasshopper.

Lunchtime!

Posted by Jen at 2:26 PM | Permalink |

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Now that you've seen the latest edition of the Two Towers preview:

What are you most looking forward to in The Two Towers? More Legolas. Helm's Deep sequence.

Which character (new or continuing) do you particularly want to see in a

prominent role? You have to ask? Legolas. Also, Eowyn looks interesting.

Have you heard anything that makes you think you might have a problem with

the film? Unless you count having to wait till December, no... I mean, the Helm's Deep sequence is supposed to be 50 minutes long! Whoohoo!

I do so hope someone will watch it with me on opening night. I don't want to go alone.

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(just give me one)

day of mine

don't wanna go through it this time

pulled two different ways

like ordinary days

just want one day of mine

no waiting in line

a day to be free

can I be me?

Someday I might make a song out of that. Admittedly and shamelessly based off Vanessa Carlton's Ordinary Day.

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I really feel like I need more time in the day. I so want to write more of my novel and my friend gave me some good ideas for how to tie some things up in my Roswell story so I want to get into that too. And if ever there is time, hah! I'd try to write that elf-transformation story. Gaah. And I want to get to the fabric stores so I can see if anyone has dupioni silk in a silver-blue color so we don't have to special order it. It would be nice if I could just get some fabric and start sewing! I want to start on it while I still have that "ideal", when I know exactly what I want to do even if I'm not quite sure how I'm gonna get there, and while I'm still interested. Not that I think I'll be un-interested soon, given that my friends going to Comicon would probably be mad at me if I didn't finish the costume, but I know how easy it is for my interests to get buried under loads of real-life crap.

Did I ever tell you how much I love to sing? I thought it was wonderful how last weekend during the bike ride we were able to sing and yell as loud as we wanted, cause all that was around was corn. Or soybeans. There's one of my dreams for you, to get up on a good, acoustically perfect stage and sing my heart out with an orchestral accompaniment. Not necessarily in front of an audience, mind you. Just the stage. Here at work I bring my headphones so doing mini-preps aren't quite so boring, but I just have to hum, or something. It's hard not to sing quietly. God I miss theater.

I am no hero, oh, that's for sure... DMB rocks.

yeah, so, the title. glimmers of a Roswell story idea from my friend Deidre and that U2 song was playing. I read the best Rosfic last night (aside from my own, of course. Hey, no one ever said I was too modest.) It's called All You Wanted and it's by Kath7, not that that will help you or anything. Ask me and I'll send it to you.

Posted by Jen at 5:34 PM | Permalink |

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Now that you've had the DVD for a while, what did you think of it? Did what you saw on the DVD in any way change or alter your perceptions of the film?
Did it hold up for you on the small screen?
How many times have you watched it?
Did you do anything special to commemorate its release?

Well, I just saw it this weekend, and since we finally got a dvd player at home, I can watch it as much as I want in the future, yay! I have to admit that it has so much better quality than the VHS, but I'm glad I have that one too cause it can be used in all tvs in the house. Here's to the "art room" which now will have a tv/vcr! I don't think anything changed with the way I think of the film, I still love it, and am still amazed at how long it takes Legolas to get on-screen Luckily with this new screen (which is technically the same size as the previous one) is just a little wider so the widescreen is not so squished. And the new tv has better sound too. I've seen the video once and the dvd once, hopefully will watch it again soon (while I'm making my costume, I hope). And y'all know that I spent and hour and a half (or so) outside Best Buy on the 5th of August, waiting for midnight (it was still90 degrees out, even at 11 pm) getting my free tshirt and FotR poster, and I got the VHS at 12:09 am. I actually got the dvd two days later, even though I wasn't expecting to get it for another week. It was very exciting I have LotR stuff now! lol. And Lammy sent me a Gandalf postcard she got from Comicon.

Won't it be cool when we get together next year? Whoohoo!

PS. You can look at the Ring Thing site here.

Posted by Jen at 10:59 AM | Permalink |

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I'm actually entertaining the idea of getting to bed on a different night than when I wake up, I'm so tired. 32-mile bike rides after a two-month hiatus tend to do that to you. I am going to hurt so much tomorrow.

At least I got to see the LotR dvd and we (finally!) got a dvd/vcr/tv. Yay! Let's hope it works...

Posted by Jen at 10:57 PM | Permalink |

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today was...odd.

Work wasn't horrible, I did two mini-preps and listened to Josh Groban (and tried to avoid singing out loud) and Lord of the Rings. We had pizza at journal club (God I will hate it when I have to actually do that) cause it's SueMin's last week and my last month, and I didn't burn myself with phenol. I even did a search for elf ears (see the other blog for that one). So work wasn't the problem.

And I have all this LotR stuff, and I'm about to make a Legolas outfit. I hope. So that shouldn't be getting me down.

I was going to stop by Johnnie Brock's Dungeon (a costume rental place) to see about their selection of prosthetic ears and blond wigs, but Dad was driving, so no dice. But that wasn't a *big* deal, I can go later. I'm gonna try to go there, Music Folk to get my guitar repaired, and the fabric store to start getting fabric for my costume. Should I be especially ambitious and make an elven dress as well as a Lego outfit?

Oh, and get my mom to Best Buy so I can get a dvd player. I really want to see LotR on dvd! I will probably watch it with Sarah first though.

But when I got home after work, all I wanted to do was curl up with a fantasy and read. It almost got me to the point where I wanted to write some of mine (and I really need to) but I just couldn't get the oomph. We went out to eat for dinner, and I just had to bring the book along, even though I rarely do that anymore. I just felt sad and lonely and generally melancholic, as Meg so aptly put it. I don't know why. It was just one of those nights when you really miss having friends. Offline ones, anyway.

And does anyone else get those random, I-wanna-be-a-rock-star moments? This particular moment of insanity brought on by, what else, the movie Rock Star, premiering on cable this weekend. Would that I was independently wealthy so I could be such and write when I wanted to and have DSL.

But it doesn't get you friends. sigh.

Posted by Jen at 1:12 AM | Permalink |

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In honor of people moving this week's topic is about weblogs. (Next week will be about the DVD

again, of course.) How long have you had a weblog? Do you have more than one? If so, how do you divide what you write in them? How did you decide which program or service to use, and are you happy with it? Bonus question for those who care to share: What's your philosophy of blogging? Every thought that crosses your mind? Only very selected items? Somewhere in between?

I've had this blog/site/collection of ramblings since April 24, 2002, incidentally my parents' 26th anniversary. My other blog, Aspire II is really the original Aspire, as it was started back in Nov of 2001, just when classes were starting to get hectic, Thanksgiving and the annual trip down south to Richland to visit the grandparents were right around the corner, and I was really starting to get excited for Lord of the Rings. Aspire II uses Blogger, because it's free and I'm lazy. This one uses Greymatter, which I'm very happy with. Both have their idiosyncrasies, but then again, so do I. I try to write regularly... my record for this blog was last week, I think, when I blogged almost the entire week in a row. Then I went to the John Mayer concert and didn't get back until the next day, lol. I have no idea what my record is on AII.

I write whatever I want to. I try to put in interesting things, links that have caught my eye, but basically it's my place to express myself, and typing is a helluva lot quicker than writing it all out (although I'd like to have a use for the lovely LotR journal that Alex gave me...) Besides, all you fine people get to discover far too much information about me that you'd ever want.

See what I mean? Ramblings.

Posted by Jen at 12:10 AM | Permalink |

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Even as I'm contemplating changing my Legolas layout for a really John Mayer one, I am getting inundated with LotR Stuff. Not that that's a bad thing. I got the FotR dvd and the Art of LotR:FotR today, and my dad brought back home the LotR:FotR publicity cd. And I went to JoAnn Fabrics and bought some patterns to make a Legolas outfit for next year's Comincon. And maybe a renaissance faire or two. Although my mom thinks I should make a dress like Galadriel's instead. I'm for the comfort of leggings. Any thoughts?

So I have a year to make the costume(s?) and learn how to play guitar. Oh, and learn tagalong.

but, I am one step closer to getting a dvd player. This weekend is Preferred Customer weekend at Best Buy, so hopefully I'll be getting one... *crosses fingers* I can't wait to see the dvd!

I'm insane, I know.

Posted by Jen at 11:10 PM | Permalink |

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I went to Best Buy and bought the VHS of LotR:FotR. Stood in line for a little over an hour, but I got a really cool tshirt and the FotR one-sheet movie poster. So I'm happy, and I know what I'm watching tomorrow night

Now all I need is a Legolas stand-up and I'll be set, lol. I am seriously entertaining the thought of trying to make a Legolas costume for Halloween. Not that I'd be going to any parties or anything, but at least I'd have a reason to wear the ears.

I really want to learn how to play guitar. And I miss the piano.

Posted by Jen at 1:52 AM | Permalink |

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So if you listened to this radio program between 8 and 9 am and heard 2 John Mayer songs back to back (No Such Thing and Your Body is a Wonderland, of course) you could call in and win tix to see him in Raleigh NC. You had to be caller 98 though. Of course I am caller 92. Sigh. At least I got through.

Posted by Jen at 10:13 AM | Permalink |

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The Prayer

I pray you'll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer

As we go our way

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your Grace

To a place where we'll be safe

La luce che to dai

I pray we'll find your light

Nel cuore restero

And hold it in our hearts

A ricordarchi che

When stars go out each night

L'eterna stella sei

Nella mia preghiera

Let this be our prayer

Quanta fede c'e

When shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe.

Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza

Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza

Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino

Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai

We ask that life be kind

E'il desiderio che

And watch us from above

Ognuno trovi amore

We hope each soul will find

Intorno e dentro a se

Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer

Let this be our prayer

Just like every child

Just like every child

Needs to find a place,

Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe

E la fede che

Hai acceso in noi

Sento che ci salvera

(Josh Groban sings this and it is beautiful.)

Posted by Jen at 12:58 AM | Permalink

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Just got back from the John Mayer concert. OMB it was sooooo good. And I even got an autograph! And a picture of me smiling standing next to him as he signed a cd for me. lol. Never took me for a groupie, huh? I just wish I could have gone with someone. There were actually hundreds of cute guys there, but most of them were attached to a girl. Sigh.

I taped it, so I have a (sort of crappy) copy of what he sang. He sang some oldies but goodies, lol, but some new ones. I can't wait till he makes a new cd. They rereleased his first one, and I got that and a t-shirt.

For once, the song I wanted played got played, and was the last of the regular set. If you haven't gotten the John Mayer cd (room for squares) what's wrong with you? You must get it. Or at least download "3x5", which is my favorite song, I think. Except for "Love Song for No One" which is of course the anthem for my life.

Martin Sexton was the opener, he played acoustic guitar and was pretty good. Never heard of him before, but might want to check out the website now that I've heard him. This was his last night on JM's tour. He came back out later to do a song with JM.

Guster was next. How good are they! I'll have to get those cds now too. I liked everything they played. Too bad they didn't play the song that I really like of theirs (the only one I really know, anyway) "Two Points for Honesty." But I really enjoyed what they played, and the drummer was this whacky guy who played with his hands, not drumsticks. It was kind of cool, really.

And then John came out. He played for a good two hours. Three songs in his encore. All the songs I like. I am so happy.

I just wish I'd stayed a little longer afterwards. I happened to be parked on the side of the Fox where the stage door is, and there was a crowd gathered on the sidewalk when I went by, so I said what the hell and waited. It was probably about a half hour or so, and this B&D security guy came over to us and said JM wasn't going to sign anything and all of you who've been here before ought to know that when he's going to do a signing there's something organized. But hardly anyone left. I just figured, hey, he has to go to his tour bus sometime, might as well get a picture. he did eventually come out, and the B&D guys made us get in a single file line and get out the stuff we wanted him to sign. He couldn't pause for personal pics, but if you could get someone else to snap a pic while he was signing you could get one. So that's why I'll be smiling in the pic and he'll be looking down. Ah well. I stood next to a celebrity. I moved on to my car, and drove back by where he was, and he was still signing. I think if I'd stuck around I might have been able to get a more personal pic, but such is my life.

Did I ever mention how I wanted to be a rock star? I would love doing concerts like that. Don't think I'd ever make it to the following he has, though. Ah well. A girl can dream.

My parents must have thought I was gone too long, though, cause when I pulled in the driveway, my dad pulled in just behind me. Admittedly, I did get a little lost on the way home, but it was kind of fun. I was listening to the tape of the concert. I had told them that there were two openers, and I didn't know how late I'd be, but when I pulled in at 1:25 am that must have been too late. My dad had been out cruising, and was going to go back to the area to see if my car was there. If it was and I wasn't in it they were going to call the police. They were especially worried cause there have been a couple of kidnappings recently. But he didn't get too far, and followed me home, lol. I love my parents.

So, anyone want to start a band? I already have a song written. And man, do I want to learn how to play guitar. Please teach me.

It's late. Good night. Palaam, mahal ko si John Mayer.

Posted by Jen at 2:32 AM | Permalink |

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but I act like it. I just spent two days of pay at Borders. But I think it's all worth it. Well, sort of. Now I doubly have to get a dvd player cause the new DMB cd comes with an extra DVD full of extra stuff. I miss ethernet more than ever now, cause most of the cds I got have extra internet stuff... maybe dsl, someday...

My haul: DMB, Busted Stuff. Goo Goo Dolls, Gutterflower. Josh Groban, self-titled. Spiderman, soundtrack & score. And a Legolas starter deck for the Lord of the Rings TCG. Not that I'd ever play, but if I somehow get back in touch with Jess I bet she would.

Got my Legolas poster today, from the company in Germany. I love the internet. I just wish it was faster here at home...

and because the a/c on the station wagon is still not working, we have a courtesy car from the shop, a Ford Taurus, or one of the bug cars, as I used to call them. It's rather different to start than our other cars, and the shift is on the steering column instead of at the right hand. And wonder of all wonders, you can't drive with the emergency brake on! Like it's supposed to be, lol.

A little John Mayer for you, because I get to see him in two days

cause I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life
am I living it right?

Posted by Jen at 12:36 AM | Permalink |

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So I was just staring out the window, waiting for some cells, when I see this pigeon alight on the parking garage next door. So I stared at it and started thinking, come to me, little birdie and the like.

And wouldn't you know it, the bird didn't move an inch. It looked at me for a good long time though.

However, I started looking out the window in the first place because I had never seen the metrolink crossing closed so the train could go through.

And wouldn't you know it, the gates were going down at that instant.

So I guess I'm neutrally telepathic, eh?

I bought the LotR dvd today. And the Art of LotR. What a deal. Got free shipping and everything. Haven't seen my lovely digital content yet though. And my buying spree is not done yet, for I have to go back to Borders, where of course the two cds that I wanted to get at Target are on sale. There, instead of at Target. Grr. At least my dad is nice and drives me. Dave Matthews, here I come. I still need a dvd player though.

Won't it suck if I have to pay for parking? ew.

God I love this song. Kiss the Rain by Billie Meyers. I remember when I was going out with Chris and we started to have problems, I listened to this single for hours. I wrote out all lyrics. It was perfect for what was happening with us at that time.

I miss a boyfriend. I find it supremely ironic that this lab has only two guys, and they're both married. Why are there no cute scientists?

Geez, what a rant. I'll shut up now.

Posted by Jen at 5:03 PM | Permalink |

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