I should be studying, I know. Instead I had to hunt for the DNA Scarf pattern. See, Daysies has become hooked on fiber (which is entirely my fault! Whee!) and she called me with fiber questions. So we were going through sites, and you know how it is … one thing leads to another, and before you know it I saw that some other blogger was knitting this scarf.

Now I can focus on knitting a double helix while I study for my Biology test. See, completely appropriate. I wasn’t goofing off at all.

(There are a lot of links to other patterns at Knitting Pattern Central. There is even a page just for the scarves. Daily Knitter has free patterns also.)

I have a feeling that the complete downpour of rain is going to really cut into the number of trick-or-treaters that we are going to get at our door.

This is probably a good thing, since I have a Biology test tomorrow and I want to see all the kids in their costumes.

After listening to this, I can totally understand Ross & Rachel singing “Baby Got Back” to their baby on Friends.

Even if you hated Friends, you MUST listen to that song. Baby Got Back!

(Jonathan Coulton has a lot of other music - check it out! Give the Ikea song a whirl!)

Update: I think that his science songs will be my study guide for Tuesday’s Biology test which includes the chapter on Cell Division … he has a song on DNA! Woot! Haploid & Diploid cells, genomes and … oh! Such great stuff! (The mp3s are over at the Popular Science site, in their article on “The Future of the Human Body: the Soundtrack.”

It is freezing cold in my Biology class! It isn’t that cold outside - well, it is cold for us because it is in the 60s and we’re still getting used to it not being in the 90s - but it is so cold in my class I’ve decided to use the sock I am knitting to keep my hands warm! It looks like a deformed wrist warmer with a heel in the palm of my hand!

See, knitting truly has perks!

On a positive note, our Biology test was moved to Tuesday. Yeah! I’m caught up on my reading, so that will give me more time to review and study.

Late night thoughts…

It’s going to be another one of those weeks. My algebra test that was supposed to be last Thursday was moved to this Tuesday. That was great because it gave me a chance to really understand quadratic equations, but it also means that I have another week with two tests because my second Biology test is on Thursday.

Biology is getting better, but I still prefer Chemistry - I don’t like having to memorize so many definitions and things like that.

Just because I understand quadratic equations doesn’t mean I have to like them.

The Astros have lost two games, but … well, it’s ok. There are still 5 more games to go. Hopefully coming home to play on Tuesday will help. (No, Mike didn’t watch either game, so we can’t blame him for it.)

I didn’t get my Chemistry test back last Wednesday after all. She needed more time to grade it because she wanted to make sure she gave partial credit for work and things like that. She did point out that there were about 150 points on the test, so the huge mistake that I made with the metal activity table may not have hurt me quite as much as I thought.

On a really positive note she gave me a lot of encouragement to pursue the honor society scholarships. She also reinforced my feeling that I was making the right choice with the Pharmacy degree. (I can do it!)

It is 52 degrees outside right now. After a sweltering hot summer, 52 is a bit nippy. I’ll need to remember to put a sweatshirt and shoes on when I take the dog out. Our high tomorrow is supposed to be about 69. It has been a long time coming, but I am so ready for cooler weather!

It is late, I’m rambling, tired after doing so many Algebra problems … I think that means it is time to go to bed.

I never thought I would see this day, but it has finally happened…

THE ASTROS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!! WE WON! WE WON!!! WE ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES! WHOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Yes, Mike was not allowed near the TV tonight. At one point, he did cross through the living room at around 9 pm, with the TV paused. I think that was when the Cardinals scored their one and only run tonight.

THE ASTROS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!! THE ASTROS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!

Fine. It’s not Maryland Sheep & Wool. It’s not Rhinebeck. But it should still be fun, right? So who wants to have a meetup at the Kid ‘N Ewe and Llamas Too 2005 sheep & wool festival in Boerne, Texas? Huh? Huh? It is coming up - November 4th - 6th - and my non-blogging knitting mentor Katy & I will be heading over from Houston on Friday for a visit to the festival on Saturday. Is anyone else going?

If nothing else, Brooks Farm will be there. For over 8 months, I have wanted to see their yarns in person. Now I will finally have a chance! Yeah!

I really wish I had graphics software on this computer, I would totally make a button for the festival. Anyone care to hook me up? Please? I neeeeeed a button.

The Algebra test has been moved to next Tuesday since so many of us were completely lost yesterday on how to do quadratic equations. That means I can watch the Astros game tonight! (Alone, because Mike will NOT be allowed near the TV.) As an added perk, I might even get to finish my Trekking XXL 100 sock! I turned the heel during the game on Monday, and now I’m zooming down the final stretch towards the toe. I had a dentist appointment on Monday and I was actually bummed that they got me in and out of the office so fast - I didn’t have any time to knit!

The perk of sock knitting, of course, is the portability. I keep it in my purse at all times - you never know when you might need some entertainment. (Plus my giant 200 lb Biology book would be a bit much to lug around all the time - a sock is much lighter!) Also, it is strange but the itty-bitty needles don’t cause me so many issues with my hands - not like the large needles do. Lately, it is all about the hands, but that is a story that will have to wait for later. I’m off to find out how I did on my Chemistry test!

I’m so sorry, Houston. It is all Mike’s fault that the Astros lost last night.

I love baseball, but I don’t watch it as much as I used to. How could I not tune in last night to see the Astros finally make it to the World Series? All the karma of the universe pointed to last night being our night. It was a home game. 45 years ago yesterday the Colt 45 became the Houston Astros. The White Sox finally made it to the World Series after not going for 40+ years. It was going to be our night.

So I tuned in while Mike & Jason were at the Scout meeting. We had already scored our first run before they got home. I paused the game for a little bit while I talked to Jason before he went to bed. We watched a few minutes of the game together, no longer in “real time” but about 20 minutes back. Yeah! We’re winning! Mike sits down to watch the game with me, and the Cardinals score two runs. Gah! But then they showed a commercial for whatis-it.com and Mike went into the study to look it up. While he was gone, the Astros scored again thanks to Berkman. It was awesome! We were in the lead! Our fabulous closer was coming in to take care of business - his record is great - and it was going to be all over. After 45 years, the Astros would be heading to the big game.

Thanks to being able to skip commercials, I was about 8 minutes behind “real time” on the game. The ninth inning was starting, and I called Mike out into the living room.

Me: You have to see this!
Mike: What?
Me: We’re about to WIN THE GAME! We’re going to go to the World Series!
Mike: Oh, I had better leave the room. I can’t watch; I always jinx my team.
Me: GAH!!! GET OUT! Get out of here! Quick! NOW!!! (Yes, I do actually say “gah!” in real life.)

Two outs, two strikes … we were just ONE STRIKE away from going to the World Series. But then we hit that 8 minute mark. We were at the point in the game that was taking place when Mike & I had that little exchange. And wouldn’t you know it?

The freakin’ Cardinals won the game. They came up from behind and snatched that victory out of nowhere.

And really, its all Mike’s fault. I’m so sorry, Houston.

(Wednesday is game 6, and he is banned from being anywhere near the television. He can’t listen to it on the radio. He can’t check the score on the internet. He will not stop them from going to the World Series. Damn it, this year is our year. Well, our year and White Sox’s year. But it is our year, damn it!)

I should be studying for my Chemistry test tomorrow, or reading my Biology book. Or learning about quadratic equations, which I need to get a grasp of by Thursday for my Algebra test.

Instead, I’ve been clearing out the blogroll. First I removed some blogs that I know are dead and gone. Then I went through all of the “A” and “B” blogs (alphabetically) and cleaned out the dead sites or changed URLs as needed. I will continue over the next few weeks; then I know there are other sites I need to add.

It is always such a delimna for me - I have sites I link to that I no longer read. But I still hesitate to remove the links for silly sentimental reasons. How crazy is that? I have to admit though that with my new and improved “purge it if you don’t need it” attitude at home, it is making it easier for me to purge the links. It still makes me sappy though. Things change, and I don’t always like that fact.

Go Rice!

Originally uploaded by bpc.

We even got to go on the field!