Cough-syrup fun

Yes- you did read the title correctly. I said cough syrup fun.
You know, as children, we were generally made to take one of two kinds of medicine, liquid or chewable. Apparently, we weren't trusted to swallow things.
The most notorious of the liquid offenders is, of course, Cough Syrup. Because it really isn't replaced by anything once you get older.
Sure you can pop cough drops like it's going out of style, but for the serious long term relief, there's no real substitute.
This fact doesn't bother me in the slightest. I never had a problem with cough syrup as a child, and as a immature adult, I don't have much trouble with coughing.
This is not the case for everyone, of course. For one, my sister Evil Glare hates cough syrup with a passion usually reserved for genocide.
So, apparently, does Fruit Bat.
Now, you wouldn't really know, because she hasn't really posted, but the dear FB has had a rather bad cough for the past five days or so. After a particularly rough night, she went to the free clinic on campus today.
It's either a cold or really bad allergies, but that part doesn't really matter because the treatment is the same- COUGH SYRUP.
Now, FB informed me that she really hated cough syrup- to the point of vomiting as a child. I didn't think it was actually true until it was time for her to take it. (No, she didn't vomit.)
First, she mocked the bottle, trying to read what dose she ought to take, and nearly not taking it because "It's two teaspoons and I don't have anything to measure with." No, the cap did not have a nifty measuring thing on the inside.
Then, opening the bottle, gouging at the protective seal with a pair of craft scissors, stabbing into the liquid itself "It's BLOOD!!" and claiming that her scissors were now "tainted."
Finally, after smelling it and nearly losing it right then, she managed to pour a little into a mug.
Assuming the position by the sink, mug in one hand, treat of root beer float as a reward in the other, she stood, counting to three.
One...
Two...
Three...
And held the mug away from her face.
At this point I was getting nervous- I should be here for this, but my class starts soon. So does Fruit Bat's for that matter.
"Take it because Vulpecula's going to be late for class." she coached herself.
"Take it because a TIME PARANOID Vulpecula's going to be late for class." I corrected.
One...
Two...
Three...
Mug got too close, she smelled it and pushed it away from her face.
"Sorry. That's not enough. Wait! I got it!"
Without telling me what the magic thought was, FB started the ritual once more.
One...
Two...
Three...
And down went the cough syrup. In went the ice cream- which smeared on her face in her eagerness to get rid of the taste and consistency of the syrup.
I laughed the whole way to class.
She just told me what the thought was. Some long-time readers might remember a puppy we dubbed Gaara. Well, Gaara's a dog now, and a mal-treated one at that. He and a little corgi are confined to a small run in the backyard of their house. Neither dog is neutered, and it's doubtful that they've had any shots, neither wears a collar, even though they frequently escape. Their run has no shelter for them to go to in the hot part of the day, and their water would be deemed disgusting by a sewer rat.
Anyway, today someone from the humane society was going to come around to check on them- and FB told herself that if she didn't take her medicine, no one would come.
Something completely unrelated...
Ah well, I at least had fun today.

Where's the weekend?

FB and I discussed this only yesterday- we both feel as though this week has been longer than normal. Of course, we were discussing this in relation to the lack of call-backs for our applications. *SIGH* Anyway, here's the rundown on my classes. I'm taking two art classes this semester, Drawing 1 & 2. Apparently, you don't have to take drawing 1 to get into drawing 2, which makes no sense whatsoever to me. My drawing 2 class is first in the day, and we're learning gesture drawing, which apparently translates to "how to draw without outlines" its a major pain, and I keep feeling like I'm doing it wrong! My drawing 1 class is after lunch, and is much bigger. The professor set up a still life for us to draw (to see where we are artistically) and if I was sitting, all I could see was the back of the person in front of me's head. As interesting a drawing as that would have been, it wasn't the assignment, so I stood. I might have complained about those classes, but I really think that they're fun, the first one is just frustrating because it's something I don't know- which is the point of the class, as I often remind myself. My other classes are an English class- which I already love, my professor is HYSTERICAL. He was testing our definitions of things like critique, perception and truth, and for perception it went something like... "A piece of literature means whatever the reader thinks it means." and you had to say whether the statement was true or false and explain. When people kept arguing for true, the teacher told us that Poe's Tell-tale heart was about the secret life of bullfrogs. lol. I have a Government class with a lot of people from honors, but I'm reserving judgment for the moment- I mean, the teacher gives the notes orally, and seems to get sidetracked, so it's hard to TAKE notes, but the sidetracked information seems valuable, and I feel like I'm learning. The last class is a computer one, Graphic Design, which is not at all how I thought that it would be. I thought we'd be doing things in photoshop and stuff like that... instead we're making letterheads, business cards, envelopes, resumes... things like that. We're working with corelDRAW, which I have never worked with before. So yeah, it's a little intimidating, especially when I consider that I'm the only non-design major in the class. However, I shall prevail, I shall get a good grade, and possibly learn something that may be of use to me later. I'll never know unless I learn it, will I? Another self-made Kenshin motivational poster today- my opinion exactly.

School

Yes, that place of wonder and dread has pulled us to it once more. Or, yeah, the fruit bat and fox are back at college now. Fruit Bat and I are now dorm-mates! This will doubtless make the blog a bit strange, as we now see each other with far greater frequency, but since this blog is more for the benefit of family and friends back home, our posts should still come with the same unerring irregularity. It feels so strange to be back, it's our second year, older, wiser, and knowledgeable about such important things as which doors to open, and what days are best for laundry. The Bat and I didn't start to feel nervous until we were driving down the road to the school, about three blocks away, and then it suddenly hit us- that we were BACK. Sometimes I wonder if "Fruit Bat" shouldn't be "Pack Rat"- she brought most of her stuff with her, as I type, secure and done with unpacking, she moves things around on her desk, trying to find places for it all. She says she wants to make the place more homey- and it certainly is, we have posters on all the walls and a tv, truly impressive, I hardly recognize the old place. Within moments, we will travel downstairs to try and find out where parking permits are sold, then maybe we'll get dinner. I'm not sure if jobhunting starts today or tomorrow- as it's five now, I'm inclined toward tomorrow... but a job will be gotten!

English Saddle? Jumping?

Those are the two questions that I'm asking myself right now. Should I buy an English saddle? How hard is learning how to jump with horses going to be?

In December I plan on taking lessons out at Spiritwood. They teach English riding so I'm considering just getting an English saddle. The owner is going to teach me how to jump only I won't be able to use Ariel for that. Unfortunately, Ariel is not built for jumping. Most Arabs aren't. I will however be using Ariel to strengthen my leg muscles so that I am ready to jump. The owner said that she was going to have me stand up and forward in the stirrups for the first couple of weeks to build up my leg muscles. Ouch! That's going to be painful! It'll be worth it though. I can't wait!

I hope that the saddle will be a Christmas present.

I'd also like to say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY VULPECULA!!!!!!!

Brothers: Can't live with them, can't live without them.

If you have brothers then you know very well how terribly annoying they can be. Sadly, my older brother and I don't really get along. Every time I'm right he says that the conversation is over and won't let me finish. If I try to he starts yelling at me or leaves the room.

Now if he's right, that's a completely different story. The conversation is NEVER over until HE says so and if I try to leave he gets angry. If I do manage to escape, he'll bring the subject up again later or find my mom or dad and tattle-tale. He's 21! Who does that? Certainly not me!

Anyhow, I'm sitting in my room blaring Linkin Park because I'm furious at him! We have gotten into two arguments today and I've been right both times, which has made him mad at me. It's over silly things too! I merely asked who kept leaving crumbs in all the boxes, bags, and containers in the pantry and fridge. My younger brother said it wasn't him and my older brother told me to get over it. I simply asked him to stop leaving practically empty containers and what not for everyone to throw away. He started yelling at me and told me that the conversation was over, and to go away. Needless to say, I got angry and yelled back. Yes, I'm ashamed of yelling at him. I normally do NOT yell when I get upset but he succeeded in causing me to.

*sigh* I don't understand it. I do love him but he's such a frustrating person! Ugh! Okay, that's the end of my venting...I hope....

the fruits of wisdom

If you guessed that this was about wisdom teeth, then you're right. Monday I participated in a study that removed all 4 of my wisdom teeth and gave me some experimental medication. In the interest of not revealing anything I shouldn't, I'm not mentioning anything else about it- except that it is now two days after my surgery, and my sister says that I look like a lego person because my cheeks are so swollen. I can barely open my mouth, and chewing is a fond memory. Mom found an icepack that i can actually strap to my face, so that's what I'm wearing- I can't wait for the swelling to go down. My gums don't hurt too much, but the swelling makes everything worse.
Bleh.

vacation

Well, it was a couple of weeks ago, but I went on vacation!
Every year my family absconds from our domestic life in texas to trade it for a semi-rustic life in colorado. We go up to the rocky mountain national park and live there for a week or two- preferably two. Why is it semi-rustic? Because although we stay in a cabin which has electricity, there is no cell phone service, usually no dishwasher, and no tv. I consider these to be a very good thing for these golden weeks of the year- I've been known to get angry if one of my siblings should happen to find cell phone service and spend their time texting.
Anyway, I was going to wait to post about it until I could get my pictures of the trip from my dad, but the pictures are not forthcoming.
Weather was perfect- 60 degrees Farenhieght. Which is quite the dramatic change from texas, let me assure you. We met my aunt, uncle and two cousins up there- they live in Illinois, so we hardly ever see them. We went on hikes to Bear Lake (which is like five feet from the parking lot, and so does not count as a hike in my book) Nymph lake, Dream lake, and Emerald lake. By the time that we got up to Dream we were walking on SNOW. Of course, many impromtu snowball fights and sledding ensued. As a side note- Dream is a long lake, you hit it, and walk alongside it for quite a ways. Mom and I have theorized that the lake is shaped roughly like a crescent moon, thus prompting the name Dream.
Nymph lake wasn't quite as pretty this year, generally, it's covered in lily pads with yellow flowers, but this year it was a bit too cold for them. T_T
We also hiked to Alberta Falls, Copeland Falls, Calypso Cascades, and Ouzel Falls.
We went white-water rafting on the Cache La Pouder river- which I love. I've been adicted to rafting since the first year that we did it- there is little so exhilirating. And it's not at all like a roller coaster- in a roller coaster you just sit there and scream- on the river, there are NO passengers, you're on the raft? You WORK. We always eat lunch at the same place when we get through- and we can't figure out if the food there is any good, or if we're just too hungry to care.
It's an interesting effect, you get off the river soaked to the bone and shivering, change into warm clothes, eat a filling meal, and its as if someone knocks you over the back of the head- we always fall asleep on the car ride back to the cabin.
A lot more than this happened- but it's sort of a pain to explain without pictures.
And so, I finish with this comment,
My shoes have been higher than you will EVER be on drugs.