Hooray for Vacation!

Jeremy and I are enjoying our visit to Indianapolis. It is wonderful to spend time with family and see friends. After a long semester it is nice to recharge the batteries and remember that there are people who love us (even if I cannot multiply or do long division with decimals which I had to do in my hour of death). We can also watch IU Basketball games- hooray!

On the 27th we are headed to Alabama where we will visit more family and friends, and scandalize debutantes with my too-short ball gown. ;)

A visit to Disney World will wrap up our Christmas 2005 tour of the U.S. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt to commemorate our tour, too bad.

I have to say, I do miss our kitties, Mischa and Kona. No doubt they are living large at home, shedding on our light colored laundry, barfing on our bed, and just being cute.

Countdown to the worst hour of my life

Please say a prayer for me at 3 p.m. central time. I will be enduring the single worst hour of my LIFE.

All I really want to do is work for a nonprofit that helps people. I would prefer to spend my days giving free hugs. Apparently, my school thinks that to do this I must pass a class learning about assorted methods of quantitative analysis. (So I know how many hugs to give, plus or minus a certain amount, in order for Jane Doe to achieve her maximum utility?) Today my written final for the class lasted roughly 8 hours. If that wasn't fun enough, I have to survive an hour long oral exam for this class that includes topics as delightful as calculus, statistics, and probability. If I wasn't blessed with a mathematically gifted hubby and father-in-law I would have been dead in the water long ago.

Several classmates had their oral finals today. The one woman I bumped into who had taken it had to leave school because she couldn't stop crying.

Awesome.

You might be a redneck if...

If I continue to post blog messages in lieu of crafting conclusions (or introductions) to my research paper, and if I continue to bother Jeremy while he is working on whatever it is he does, we may both be forced to seek an alternative lifestyle as NASCAR drivers. Fear not, faithful reader, we have NASCAR names picked out already.

(My, umm, movie star name is "Kitty Shetland". Jeremy's is "Tang 19th St." )

Our driver alter-egos will be Chasity Blazer and Rusty S-10.

Vrroom vroom!

Apparently, this is what we look like...

So I'm supposed to be studying/writing/practicing a presentation/showering and instead I am googling my name for the umpteenth time. Only this time it is in the google images portion. For anyone who hasn't seen us in a while, or has never seen us because you randomly found this web page, this is what we look like:

Jeremy is, afterall, a Hoosier:



And I enjoy working out. Some might say a little too much.



Gotta go drink another "energy shake".

Of Many Things...

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a wonderful celebration with family/friends. Jeremy and I stayed here in Texas, but were thrilled to travel to San Antonio to see Katherine dance in Alabama Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker. We had a great visit and she danced beautifully.



A HUGE congratulations to Susanna & Nolan, who win this week's "Brown Prize for the Outstanding". They are outstanding models of efficient dating :) Here is a sneak peak at their wedding portrait (Susanna is on the left):



And for those of you who are shopping for Christmas gifts, or have lots of cash you need to get rid of, my Dad e-mailed me a link to this fantastic site. If your friends don't get a kick out of these gifts, you should probably find some new people to hang out with :)

How about a Nerd-Off?

Ok reader, it's your time to shine. Announcing the first ever Browntastic Nerd-Off. Here's what you need to do:

1. Accept that if you are my friend, or visit this site, you are a nerd.
2. Think of the nerdiest thing you've ever done. (Being my friend does not count.)
3. Post your nerdy thing in the comments section.

Good luck!

Family Day at the Beach

My Mom, Dad, sister and I went to Vancouver a couple of years ago. Dad was presenting at a conference for the International Thomas Merton Society, which was held at the University of British Columbia. Since Mom, lil' Sis and I needed to occupy ourselves while Dad was with fellow Mertonites, we explored the city and the campus.

After a long, hard day of vacation, Mom decided we would get popsicles and hang out on the beach. The UBC campus is gorgeous and right on the ocean. After walking along the perimeter of campus, we found a path down to the water. The trail cut very steeply through thick trees and beach-goers had to climb down hundreds and hundreds of steps to reach the bottom. When we finally emerged from the tunnel of trees, breathless, sweaty, and tired our feet happily met the sand. All I can remember next is wild, painful laughter.

My Mom had inadvertently taken my sister and me to Vancouver's only nude beach. And we were stuck there. I can't imagine the naked people really believed we were laughing with them. We were exploding with giggles AT them. Mom, who was horrified, kept telling us to look away and stare into the sand dunes, but it was just too much. My MOTHER took us to a NUDE BEACH. HAHAHAHA. Does that make us trendy?

After we stopped screaming with laughter long enough to recover from our trek down to the beach, we started back up the 1.4 billion steps to the land where people wear pants. The worst part was that everyone descending the staircase thought we were returning from an afternoon with our family buns in the sun.

Goblet of Fiery Goodness

Just returned from HP4.

Two magical thumbs way up. Best one yet, in my opinion. Well worth the wait.

As if finally getting to see the movie wasn't good enough, I got to sit next to a pirate. AND I got to have a butterbeer during the film with my Hogwarts themed dinner.

For anyone visiting Austin a trip to the Alamo Drafthouse would really complete your experience. That and seeing Mr. Leslie, our homeless cross-dressing mayoral candidate.

In honor of students/teachers everywhere...

I present this collection entitled "End of Semester". Enjoy.

Introducing....

the Brown Prize for the Outstanding!

Each week we will post one thing that is outstanding. Or two things. We'll see how it goes. Nominations will be accepted. The only requirement is that your nomination should be outstanding.

This week's winner in the category of Outstanding Way to Waste Time is: The Name Visualizer. Curious as to what 2004's most popular name was? Eager to know the popularity of your name over the past century? Go on, give it a whirl!

On a different note completely, WHO IS EXCITED FOR HARRY?!! WHOOO!!!!!

Who Says Historical Figures Don't Ride the Bus?

I sat next to a Confederate Soldier on the bus yesterday.

Just thought you should know.

He looked warm under all that wool.

Never Have I Been This Proud...

...to be from Alabama!

This article from the Birmingham News captures the idea that life is a seamless garment and should be protected from conception to natural death.

After all, Jesus was both an unexpected arrival and a victim of the death penalty. Kudos to the Birmingham News editorial staff!

Clarification

The previous post is NOT for those of you dating the "Mother of God". I just want to be very clear about this. M.O.G. = Man of God.

What NOT to do when dating a M. O. G.

It has been brought to my attention that the majority of my 1.5 readers have a thing for dating preachers. Because I am the paragon of wisdom and appropriateness in all situations, I have some advice for you.

By avoiding THESE TEN THINGS, your relationship will grow at the speed of invasive clams in North American riverbeds. (that means REALLY QUICKLY)

1. Compare your new squeeze to an invasive, predatory clam
2. Forget to change out of your Hooters uniform before escorting him to the congregation's monthly potluck (also note, "Hot Wings" are not an appropriate covered dish)
3. Let it be known that you once incorporated yourself into the nursing home's glowing plastic nativity scene by "pretending" to pass out with an empty box of wine under your arm, and the soft glow of plastic baby Jesus on your face*
4. If your name is, oh, Lusanna, have your friends call you "Boozanna" or "Boozie" for short **
5. Refer to him as "Fr. So-and-So" (that might be a little weird)
6. Introduce him to your pet adder, Beelzebub
7. Purchase that Hello Kitty themed "Paws off my Preacher!" tube top/hot pant set***
8. Just avoid discussing Chaucer altogether- preachers never like bawdy things, even if they are funny
9. Dress as your favorite Bible Hero for EVERY date - I assure you he will still be impressed if Mary Magdalene and Noah only appear semi-monthly
10. Introduce him to your husband

* Photo available upon request
** Name has been changed to protect Susanna
*** Jeremy said you can borrow his

St. Christopher is Our Homey

It has been an exciting week for the Brown family vehicular fleet!

The Taurus got to ride on a tow truck Tuesday. According to Roger, the world's most honest mechanic, (Motormania on 620 for anyone in Austin) it qualifies as totaled. The rear subframe mounts (??) quit without two weeks notice. What does this mean, you ask? The engine and transmission are dangling like Christmas tree ornaments from the frame of the car, and steering is no longer an option.

Fortunately, the car fell apart at the best possible location. Jeremy was at a calm four way stop next to a bar near campus when the bottom dropped out. He had just left the interstate where such an occurrence would have been much, much, much more dangerous.

Much to our relief, Ford issued a recall for the parts in question!

We are looking forward to a happy reunion with Taurus in the coming week. Until then, it's only a 6 mile run to campus.

Maintaining your unemployment streak

One of my favorite professors shared with my class examples of how NOT to present yourself for an interview. Enjoy :)

• "She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the
music at the same time."

• "Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office
a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece."

• "Candidate asked me if I would put on a suit jacket to insure that
the offer I had made was formal."

• "Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle."

• "... said he was so well qualified that if he didn't get the job, it
would prove the company's management was incompetent."

• "... stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application."

• "... asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel
executive was qualified to judge him."

• "... announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat
a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office."

• "Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial
vice president."

• "Stated that, if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty
by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm."

• "Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering
specific interview questions."

• "... wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had
to call the police."

• "When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started
tap dancing around my office."

• "... had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him."

• "... bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be
highly thought of by the company because I was given such a
thick carpet."

• "... pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of
me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him."

• "Said he wasn't interested because the position paid too much."

• "During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's
brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had
to
leave for another interview."

• "A telephone call came in for the job applicant. It was from his
wife.
His side of the conversation went like this: "Which company? When
do I start? What's the salary?" I said, "I assume you're not
interested
in conducting the interview any further." He promptly responded,
"I am as long as you'll pay me more." "I didn't hire him, but later
found
out there was no other job offer. It was a scam to get a higher
offer."

• "An applicant came in wearing only one shoe. She explained that
the other shoe was stolen off her foot in the bus."

• "His attaché [case] opened when he picked it up and the contents
spilled, revealing ladies' undergarments and assorted makeup and
perfume."

• "He came to the interview on a moped and left it in the reception
area. He didn't want it to get stolen, and stated that he would
require indoor parking for the moped."

• "He took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot
powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was
putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use
the powder four times a day, and this was the time."

• "Candidate said he really didn't want a job, but the unemployment
office needed proof that he was looking for one."

• "He whistled when the interviewer was talking."

• "... asked who the lovely babe was, pointing to the picture on my
desk. When I said it was my wife, he asked if she was home now
and wanted my phone number. I called security."

• "Pointing to a black case he carried into my office, he said that if
he
was not hired, the bomb would go off. Disbelieving, I began to state

why he would never be hired and that I was going to call the police.

He then reached down to the case, flipped a switch and ran. No
one was injured, but I did need to get a new desk."

• "... asked if I wanted some cocaine before starting the interview."

Something to chew on

One of the things I have come to appreciate is healthy discussion. Whether you are discussing religion, politics, literature, or pizza toppings, I find it important to realize the value of new perspectives. This belief seems logical to me, but lately I'm not sure everyone sees it this way.

While I AM planning to become Leader of the Free World, I think it will be helpful to listen to those who disagree with me from time to time because there is value in each voice. Who knows, I might learn something from someone else!

On that note: Hooray for the Church! This refreshing article made me feel good.

H. E. Butts

Have you ever gone to the grocery store and used your debit card? After you swipe the card it always asks "Is this amount OK?" Last night I had an overpowering urge to yell "NO! IT IS NOT OK! I WILL ONLY PAY HALF!" Note to self: Do not ever really do this.

Perhaps it was the late hour, but on our way into the store we had an odd experience. A very large (plush toy?) pig stuck its face out of the window of a passing SUV and oinked at us. So, I guess you could say Jeremy and I were victims of a drive by oinking...

Why I love Austin

Last night Jeremy and I saw Nickel Creek at a place called Stubb's Bar-B-Q. How fantastic is that? In Texas is it totally normal for a barbeque pit to double as a wicked cool live music venue. The verdict is still out on what truly made the show so darn good: the free bag of chips we got with our beefy barbeque sandwiches or the band's great cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic".

To counter the effects of the beefy bar-b-q, we trotted along the Greenbelt today. As usual, Jeremy found a creature in the bush, but said creature was a little too fast and slithered away. We did catch a rock climber, but he protested when we tried to shove him in a jar. (We poked holes in the lid! I don't know why he wouldn't come with us.)

Our next stop this weekend will be at ARCH. It is the homeless shelter/resource center for Austin. They sponsor an art show featuring art work made by a number of homeless men and women here. Proceeds benefit the artists.

Since it is still in the eighties here our windows are open. The cats are loving it!

Time to clean out the snake cage, and since I am the designated holder of Abbey while her cage is cleaned, I must now fulfill my duty.

Things I have learned this week

1. We should not go to a free market economy for the sale of kidneys and other major organs, nor should I raise this issue in my economics class
2. I am getting old- my knees hurt when I run
3. I love being married
4. I have an empathetic nature that could prevent me from becoming a statistician. (Hooray!)
5. When I cross campus at breakneck speed in the rain, I smell like soggy bichon-frises.
6. 48 cupcakes cannot be stored in our townhouse. We have nowhere to put them.
7. If you are quiet enough, people think anything you say is funny
8. Voting brings a sense of empowerment
9. Children dressed in halloween costumes = cute
10. Animals dressed in halloween costumes = questionable

Trucker Bombs

Just thought I'd give a shout out to all my homies.

Umm.. Is this thing on?

Well, here is an attempt at keeping folks updated on our whereabouts and goings on. Don't want to think of myself as a "blogger" but since I have a nifty new Powermac G4, I might as well use it?