in which I find more time sinks

About 2 months ago I started playing World of Warcraft. It was a terrific way to avoid thinking about certain guys but it was also, predictably, disastrous for exam preparation (Regulation exam? April 17, 2010 deadline for passing the other 3 parts? what exams?). Well, my time ran out about 1.5 weeks ago and I miss playing my tall, graceful, sprightly night elf druidess Morwaen ever so much. I want to hop back on and get Moonkin form and level her up to 80 and find good gear and kick the Horde’s collective butts. I want to get back on and play before the landscape gets torn up with the release of Cataclysm. I want to buy more time but I know this is not a good idea, because (HELLO) I need to pass 3 parts before my FAR credit expires next April, and I have no self control as far as limiting my time on WoW.

So I started playing Mafia Wars. The nice thing about MW is you’re limited to how much time you spend playing because you run out of energy fairly quickly.

I still miss WoW.

To ease the pangs I read Druid leveling guides and watch The Guild. I can’t get this song out of my head.

pretty much perfect

time sink

Over the past week, I’ve been obsessively playing Plants vs. Zombies (thanks mim!). Ironically, I think its     helping me study by providing an outlet for those feelings of frustration and impatience. There’s nothing quite like seeing  a pat of butter freeze a zombie in its tracks, or a whole line of them being blown up by a red jalapeno in a fiery blaze. Its really satisfying. The theme song at the end is super cute too! I love this game! It didn’t take too long to beat the adventure mode.  When I’m done writing this I’ll probably try to beat the Whack-A-Zombie mini-game and tend the zen garden.

I never knew zombies could be so cute…

what dreams may come

Lyrics translated by K. Wyse

I can feel
I’m like a galloping deer, longing for the dark hours of the night
Stopping at the shore of your heart, drinking from the river of insomnia
Painfully thinking of you, accustomed to not sleeping; to avoid being hunted by loneliness.

My feelings
Are like that final page in the novel that suddenly ended.
I don’t want to acknowledge (our) fated love has already been exhausted of gut feelings
Forcing myself (to) turn back time
Wishing that beautiful dream will forever leave broken hearts far behind.

I hold you
I kiss you
I smile/laugh through the tears
I never realised memories could be so vivid
You are still in my eyes releasing floodgates
Love isn’t something that can be extinguished with absence

I’ve lost you
I’ve lost madness
I’ve no regrets
As soon as I cry, the whole world sheds tears for me
In the cold of the desperate loneliness of no you
I close my two eyes
Use (my) tears to feel
Your embrace

nesting bug

Suzi’s Columbus, Ohio L.E.S. Meets Le Marais studio submitted to ApartmentTherapy.com’s Small Cool 2008 Contest. This room is just so incredibly beautiful and eclectic. I love that ornate mirror, velvety sofa, and natural coffee table. *sigh* That wall is a very pretty shade of yellow, it makes me think of lemon chiffon cake. I like that chandilier and that rug too. The amazing thing is that despite the disparate pieces, everything looks perfect together. This is eclectic at its best.

let’s get organized

My latest purchase from etsy:

In touch clutch in Folklore from downstairsDesigns, comes with a Sharpie pen. I’m really excited about this!

I also bought this:

Linen Snap Pouch in Goldfish Bag. Very cute!

I love this kind of stuff, cute and crafty and unique.

crunch

Yesterday I finally scheduled my test for Auditing for May 9 at 12:30 in Bethesda. The freaking thing cost $249! Its 5 grueling hours of multiple choice, simulations, and research. Its still better than doing an actual audit though. I’d rather take a math class than go on another audit. Blah. I’d better get my butt in gear and study hard the rest of the year to pass the rest of the exam. I’d really rather not have to take FAR again.

winter reading

Kaplan Schweser Auditing and Attestation Study Guide- I really like Kaplan CPA’s study program, especially since I passed FAR! Right now I’m getting killed on Internal Control multiple choice questions but as long as I learn from those mistakes, I’ll be fine.

Trophy House, Anne Bernays- Domestic turn-off-your-brain reading. The main character is a middle aged children’s illustrator who has an affair with her editor. This was like eavesdropping on a conversation between a couple middle aged WASP biddies.

Mirror Dance, Lois Mcmaster Bujold- Wow. This was one of those books that you never want to end. The characterization is amazing, especially Mark’s. I think Bujold captured perfectly what someone in his position must go through. I really loved watching Mark forge his own separate identity from Miles. This is really Mark’s book, although Cordelia nearly steals the spotlight.

Cordelia’s Honor, Lois Mcmaster Bujold- Speaking of Cordelia, I’m almost ready to set up an altar to her in my room. What a very extraordinary person. I haven’t quite finished reading Barrayar yet. After reading Shards of Honor I started thinking of uterine replicators as an excellent alternative to pregnancy, then remind myself that there are none in the real world. And Sergeant Bothari’s name and image have been burned into my brain. I wonder how much research Bujold did into military and Russian culture to make her books so convincing. She makes everything intriguing.

wailing

Well, it turns out I’m more in need of cripple soup than my dear friend W, because I’ve been sneezing and coughing and blowing my nose like nobody’s business for about 2 weeks. When I finally went to the doctor on Monday he diagnosed me with Whooping Cough. “Whooping Cough?!” I said, “I thought only kids got that.” W thinks I should get a second opinion. See another doctor, any other doctor. It’s probably only bronchitis, although usually when I get that I do a lot more coughing. Anyway, I’m on antibiotics. I don’t think I’ve *ever* been this congested in my life. Yuck!

Let’s see, what else can I wail about… Oh yes, entering payroll gives me the heebie jeebies!

cripple soup

Adapted from care2’s Grandma’s Healing Soup recipe.

1/2 small bag baby carrots, sliced
white part of leek, halved and sliced
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, diced
5 chicken thighs, skin removed
olive oil
seasoned salt
curly leaf parsley, roughly chopped

-Saute vegetables in olive oil for about 5 minutes, add about 8 cups of water, bring to boil then simmer
-Season chicken thighs, pan fry in olive oil until slightly browned, separate meat from bones, add both to soup, bring to boil, simmer
-Add chopped parsley to soup, season to taste with salt and pepper
-Serve to cripple/invalid/convalescent in your acquaintance