A very nice commenter sent me an e-mail expressing concern about whether i am studying hard enough, with all the blogging i do. i actually try to follow a pretty strict study schedule, and do most of my posts after i'm done for the night, or in the down time between classes.

Actually, blogging has helped me at school. My ability to write quickly, in a form that is closer to final draft quality, is directly related to the daily writing that i have been doing for almost two years as a blogger. My highest grade last semester was my writing class, i think thanks to blogging.

But, as further proof that i have been studying hard, i've decided to let you be the judge. Open the extended entry and you will find a photograph of my study space, complete with annotations. more...

Posted by: annika at 11:11 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 212 words, total size 1 kb.

1 my desk is probably twice as cluttered but 0% of its items could be labeled as evidence that I've been studying.

Posted by: Chris at February 16, 2005 05:27 AM (23bPv)

2 someone loves her some rolling rock!

Posted by: lorie at February 16, 2005 06:38 AM (PPPwU)

3 Someone seriously needs a bigger, flat-panel monitor. What is that thing? 13"? And Toad the Wet Sprocket? They haven't released an album with new music since Coil flopped in 1997. Is that the same year you purchased that monitor?

Posted by: Robbie at February 16, 2005 08:49 AM (AAqv2)

4 hmmm... where's the wine rack?

Posted by: d-rod at February 16, 2005 08:55 AM (T3c0Z)

5 Um, I love Toad too. Terrific, Annie. And thank you for your very kind gift. It has pride of place on my desk.

Posted by: Hugo at February 16, 2005 09:56 AM (Qst0d)

6 Actually, I argue that the Rolling Rock bottles, chips, etc. are evidence of good study habits. You don't have to leave your desk to take a break. Just multi-task...

Posted by: Ontario Emperor at February 16, 2005 12:26 PM (c6rOB)

7 What? No bong? Wow, school certainly has changed!

Posted by: Pursuit at February 16, 2005 01:59 PM (VqIuy)

8 "My ability to write quickly, in a form that is closer to final draft quality, is directly related to the daily writing that i have been doing for almost two years as a blogger". Absolutely right. The more you write the better writer you become. Especially when you expose your writing to a thousands of critics every day.

Posted by: Jake at February 16, 2005 03:21 PM (r/5D/)

9 Lol, I still take forever writing a paper, but blogging has helped me get used to thinking critically and putting my thoughts down. Good ole-fashioned ranting pays off :-)

Posted by: Ron (Naughtypundit) at February 16, 2005 05:30 PM (9Z7dn)

10 Ah yes, Latrobe, PA. I used to like that stuff. Actually, Genesee Cream Ale was the gargle of choice.

Posted by: Casca at February 16, 2005 08:49 PM (cdv3B)

11 It looks like a NEC 17-flatscreen. annika, trust me on this one: you don't need an LCD flatscreen. You might want, but they're waaaay overhyped. They're a great example of form over function. Look good, act crappy.

Posted by: Victor and his seventeen pet rats at February 17, 2005 11:22 AM (L3qPK)

12 i love my NEC. But i wish it didn't hog so much desk space tho.

Posted by: annika at February 17, 2005 06:58 PM (LGiAC)

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During my first year of undergrad i went out with a really sweet guy who used to smother shower me with gifts and cards all the time. It was a very profitable relationship, from a material standpoint. But ultimately, he gave me too much attention.

Recently, i found one of the many love notes this guy sent me. It's pretty nice, so before i shred it, i thought i'd publish it for all the world to see, in honor of St. Valentine's Day. My apologies to its author, though i highly doubt that this guy has even heard of a blog; he wasn't the brightest bulb i've ever been with.

Dear Annie,

I miss you very much and I really need to be with you. It's really nice knowing that you're with me not just physically, but spiritually it is truly wonderful and very fulfilling. I'm very happy to have you in my life and I want us to always love one another. You are everything to me, you are my absolute world. I will always and remain being in love with you. Youre a natural high for me - everytime I think of you. You are the most wonderful gift God has ever given to me. I'll never stop loving you Annie. Never! I sometimes wonder what I did to deserve someone as special as you. I love you and I'll never be tired of saying I do. I just hope you don't get tired of me. I love you so much, and please always remember that. I hope to be yours forever.

Love ____.

We broke up after he started calling me repeatedly at work, demanding to know "who is he?" To which i would answer, "there is no one else but you, dear." Of course i needn't mention to you that there actually was someone else. But i was younger then, and not as serious.

When we eventually broke up, my poor sweet boyfriend was very upset. Finally dumping him did not end the cards and gifts, though. But instead of giving them to me, he sent the gifts to my friends and family. The point was to make me feel guilty, i guess. i didn't really care. It was kind of weird and my friends thought it was creepy too. But they kept the gifts, lol.

Lest you think i'm too harsh, karma did catch up with me. i left the letter writer for the hottest guy, who was also quite a playa. He ended up breaking my heart terribly, and repeatedly, before i learned my lesson and moved on.

And yes, i'm probably gonna pay in karma for having posted that letter too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by: annika at 07:53 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 514 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Great post, Annie. Yes, the insecurity -- and the sincerity -- come through perfectly. I suspect I wrote some notes very much like that in my youth...

Posted by: Hugo at February 14, 2005 08:19 AM (Qst0d)

2 So are you free this weekend? We can discuss Palsgraf v. Long Island RR. (Relax, just a joke.)

Posted by: Mark at February 14, 2005 10:08 AM (Vg0tt)

3 Oooo, can we talk about International Shoe instead? That way we can maintain minimum contact, yet still talk about shoes!

Posted by: annika at February 14, 2005 10:14 AM (zAOEU)

4 Sorry, i realized that the above joke was sooo inside that only law students and lawyers who have not totally repressed all memories of first year law would recognize the reference.

Posted by: annika at February 14, 2005 10:32 AM (zAOEU)

5 C'mon Annie: No one who as suffered through law school could ever forget the trauma of Palsgraf. Just don't ask us to discuss it. Regarding the note: it is no wonder the guy is gone. Leo the Lip once said "Nice guys don't win ball games". He was right. But, since I have nothing to lose, I'll take a chance and wish you "Happy V-Day". Go have a red beer and dream of your first big paycheck as a lawyer.

Posted by: shelly at February 14, 2005 11:07 AM (+7VNs)

6 Shudder. "You are everything to me, you are my absolute world." If there's anything that I can impart to my daughter, it's that boys are not everything, and don't drop everything for a guy. But she won't listen, because she is Young and Wise. Way of the world...

Posted by: Ontario Emperor at February 14, 2005 02:45 PM (v9NCH)

7 I love you and I'll never be tired of saying I do. I just hope you don't get tired of me. I look at lines like those as jinxes. The way I look at it, when someone says to me "I just hope you don't get tired of me," they're basically telling me that eventually, I WILL get tired of them. No good. Happy Valentine's Day!

Posted by: Amy Bo Bamy at February 14, 2005 03:16 PM (RpVKX)

8 face forward annie dearest

Posted by: betsy trotter at February 15, 2005 04:26 AM (6SqAS)

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