Toast » itchy

poison ivy

Natalia — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 23:07:40 +0000

I’ve got poison ivy or more formerly “urushiol-induced contact dermatitis” for the first time in years. Hypothesis: touched it some time during my various forays into the woods (Capital Crescent, Great Falls), and then scratched my two massive welt bug bites on the back of my arm. Now I have lesions all over. Gross!

There is nothing left to do before I go to school but pack, think about classes, and do practice logic games in my workbook.

beryl

Natalia — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 14:03:59 +0000

With a bit of work, I have now got Edgy Eft, fglrx, XGL and Beryl to function. I even figured out how to get Beryl to use Metacity themes instead of the crappy Emerald ones it comes with.

I didn’t think I was one to be especially blown away by eye candy, but Beryl is pretty awesome. Specifically: the Expose-like Scale feature, the 3D desktop cube, the improved window switcher. Even the wobbly windows have grown on me. Every time I move a window I get a goofy smile on my face. I also have a urgent desire to show off the effects to all of my friends. Now if only I could get that cat hair out of the side of my screen…

Yesterday McComas and I took apart my bike as much as we could. The only things left in the frame now are the pedals and the big gears, and a bit from the gear shifters that I couldn’t pop out. It is in a very sorry, half-sanded state.

My hands were dry yesterday after taking a shower so I slathering Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream all over them. I woke up today with a rash. Little red speckles.

busy bee

Natalia — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 14:57:35 +0000

I have now shopped all the classes that I was considering: Human Factors, Moral Metatheory, Nature of Morality, Shaping of World Views, Pragmatism, and Political Psychology. Pragmatism and Political Psychology meet at the same time. Originally I assumed that I did not get into Political Psychology, but I got an email yesterday that spaces had opened up. I have to choose which class to go to tomorrow, which will most likely be the class that I will stick with.

Reasons to take Pragmatism:

It is a straightforward philosophy lecture class. I know exactly what to expect.
I do not have stress out about preparing discussion questions before every meeting.
I have no background in Pragmatism and I would like to learn about it.
Jessie might take it. I have never taken a class with her and I would like to.
Pragmatism is an established field, unlike political psychology. (In fact, I probably would have been better off taking Political Psychology at GWU, where there is a graduate certificate program in the subject, and there is an undergraduate course in political psychology isn’t being taught for first time this year.)

Reasons to take Political Psychology:

It complements my other classes in political science and my interest in psychology.
I am already taking two other straight philosophy classes (Nature of Morality and Moral Metatheory) and another very philosophical class (Shaping of World Views).
I didn’t take any political science last semester.

Either way, the one I choose will be a fifth class, which means I could always decide to drop it or another class later on during the semester. The plan is to pore over the syllabus and books for each class this afternoon, and also read the entire Wikipedia entry on Pragmatism. Times like these I wish I had more friends who were philosophy or political science majors.

Needless to say I am a bit overwhelmed at them moment. My eczema has flared up but is under control for now.

Peter has been very sick for the past week. The guess is that he has Hepatitis A, although yesterday he tested negative. If he tests positive I think his roommate and I will get vaccinated. Luckily I am well over any symptoms of mono. I still have to get my blood tested again in a few weeks to see how my liver is doing, but unlike Peter my hepatitis (Epstein-Barr) has been mild and not caused me any abdominal pain.

my eczema is vicious

Natalia — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:19:55 +0000

(The back of my left knee is swollen.) But I have produced half of a paper with many hours to go, so life is okay.

progress

Natalia — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:32:44 +0000

I have written about 7 and a half pages of my paper due tomorrow at 4:30 pm. I plan to finish it up in the morning and then spend the rest of the day and possibly night on my PL131 paper, also 8 pages. I chose a prompt, so I have made some progress. Can vaguely conceive of how I will produce enough pages of writing. Wish I had finished tomorrow’s paper tonight, but oh well. At least it will be done in time. Eczema has flared up again, I think partly because it is winter (except it is 54F out right now…) and mostly because I am stressed out. I start scratching my arms without thinking while I’m hacking away at essays. I bought a huge bottle of Eucerin “Clinically proven effective for very dry, sensitive skin” Original Moisturizing Lotion which purports to relieve dry skin associated with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. I also am sporting a smattering of pimples on the lower left side of my face. Perhaps to do with how I am sleeping? It makes me looked slightly diseased but I kind of feel that way what with the lack of sleep, stress and itchy scaley skin, so it is appropriate. Bed time. Here’s hoping I have more energy and enthusiasm tomorrow morning.

jerk

Natalia — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:41:23 +0000

A guy walked into me on Thayer St and I was wearing Birkenstocks because I have been trying to avoid wearing socks and shoes because they irritate my swollen ankle and he stepped on my foot and bent the nail on my big toe in half to make a 90 degree angle.

I don’t like that right now I am:

irrate
lazy
unreasonably resentful (is being resentful ever reasonable?)
antsy and claustrophobic
bored
itchy
lonely even though I am around people almost the whole time

swankles

Natalia — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:53:08 +0000

The evening we got back from Amherst I was subject to a rapid-fire attack by an insect that bites. I assumed it was a mosquito at the time. Since then, the four bites around my left ankle have caused the whole area to swell up. The bites behind my thigh are possibly similarly swollen, but it is less of a constant bother because it is not around a joint. I feel like and old woman with fat ankles who tottles along everywhere. I have taken some antihistimines and applied hydrocortisone, but the bites (hives at this point? welts?) have not gone completely yet. Crossing my fingers for tomorrow.

I have reached the point in the semester in which a productivity system like Getting Things Done looks very comforting. I would like to have a Hipster PDA but I am not sure exactly how you use it. Now might be a good time to find out. I think I could be just as productive without index cards, but I like having the structure of something that other people do, and maybe it will make me more excited completing my work. Maybe this is just another distraction.

eetch

Natalia — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 02:38:45 +0000

I am itchy from head to toe. Toe, literally. I have bug bites on:

My lower back (four, two so close to each other they almost make one mega bite)
Thighs (both sides)
Knees (both sides, or possibly on the back it is eczema)
Shins
Heel (yes, the bottom of my foot)
Back of my ankle
Two toes on the same foot (luckily not the same foot as the heel bite)

My ears itch in a tickleish way when I clean or brush by them. Both ears, because I got my other ear pierced yesterday with Maya. I went to a a piercing place this time. It was very expensive but based on my previous experience with mall retail store piercings, worth it. I got two holes, bringing the current hole total to three, and total holes pierced to 6 (one hole closed up after infection troubles, was repierced, got infected again, closed up, and then I let the other ear go too).

I have been spending my days listening to music, listening to NPR and C-SPAN, reading, trying to find the perfect pair of jeans on eBay, trying to find some new underwear that fits all my criteria (any color but white or pink, hipster or bikini, comes in a three pack, said pack cost $10 or under, are not the same pack of Hanes that I got previously which got hole-y too fast).

I got my camera!

Natalia — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:08:56 +0000

My Digital Rebel came yesterday! I’m so excited. I love it. It’s nothing like using our miniscule Nikon Coolpix 5900; it feels solid like a real camera. It’s fun to use. I shot 21 photos yesterday, trying it out — that’s almost a whole roll of film! As usual, I threw out most of them…but I love the ones that turned out right.

My stung toe is really itchy.

Today is a busy day. I have a doctor’s appointment, I have some work to do on the Voices Together website, I have to walk Shaggy and I’m supposed to meet Brittney and some other people downtown at the National Gallery. I want to bring my camera but I am sort of afraid because it looks like it’s going to rain…but I really want to take more portraits.

it stings

Natalia — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 14:24:18 +0000

I got a wasp bite on my toe yesterday while walking Shaggy. I forgot how much those hurt. I think it’s a bit worse being on my toe because I am constantly putting pressure on the swollen area everytime I stand or walk.

My camera arrived at Ma’s house last night. I haven’t gone over there yet. I’m going to go to Penn Camera today with Mike to buy a CompactFlash memory card (my heart says 512mb but my wallet says 256mb) and a nifty Zing SLR Cover, because the canvas/foam case I have for my film Canon Rebel is bulky and usually stays at home gathering dust. Mike needs to a buy case too, he bought a few days ago so he can take photos at Amherst. He got a really snappy looking Sony Cybershot. Hopefully this will mean actual photos on his Flickr page soon.

I’m finally getting around to listen to a bunch of music I got from Katie a few weeks ago. So far I’m enjoying the Weakerthans, the Rosebuds and Sebadoh. I haven’t heard new music for a really long time.