Random Ramblings

( The past few days, actually. )

Oh, one last thing -- I found out today that I got an "A" in my summer course. I had been worried it would be an "A-", but thankfully Andy was correct on that count when he said it would be an "A".

I received a reply to my email -- terse, but it said what I needed to hear (read?). Just to be sure I'll be printing it out before we leave for Oswego on the 28th. In the meantime, I'm getting ready to go home. Seeing the in-laws, both grandmothers, and a bonus aunt and uncle as well as the DCI finals was fun, but I'm ready to spoil some kitties.

The first time I went to Oswego I was double-majoring in education and theatre. As previously noted, I'm going back as an English major. Meanwhile, I thought it was a horrible waste to just ignore all of the theatre courses I had taken, and it ended up that my two final general education requirements were going to be met with theatre courses. In that light, I've been looking into getting a theatre double-major again, or at least a minor.

As it turns out, finishing the theatre major would require too many classes to fit into one school year. As far as I could tell a minor was doable, but I wanted to hear it from someone who is actually qualified to determine that, so I contacted the theatre department. After a few near misses with email and phone calls, the professor in charge of minors called today when I was home and awake.

We've pretty much determined that I need three upper-level courses to get the minor, and one of them I already have scheduled for this coming semester. Another was taken care of by an interpretation course I took, leaving one class. The biggest question now is what would make me the most marketable (her words) or what would be the most fun (mine). She told me how to declare the minor, so I'll do so when I get on campus. Meanwhile, the one course I was worried about is a practical experience one-credit jobber. At some point I mentioned that I'd assistant directed a play directed by the guy who's now department head. Problem solved. I just need to have an informal chat with the advisor and the department head, again when I get to Oswego this fall.

The fact that I need one course also solves a problem I'd had with the second semester; I only needed three courses for my major, but you need four to be a full-time student. What with needing exactly one theatre course, this becomes a non-issue. In other news, the course which I'm taking over the summer is a renumbered course I'd already taken. If I had been taking it strictly for theatre I would have been grumpy, but I still need it for my gen ed requirement, so it's all good.

I don't yet know my dorm assignment (the waiting is driving me nuts), but I do know that no matter which one I end up in, cats are not allowed. The first time I was in college mom took care of Thena and would drive up with her on weekends. Much as I would love to do the same with Heidi or Sean, it's just not feasible, and besides, they'll need each other while Andy's at work. So, in desperation, I sought online and found... robo-kitty. Robo-kitty looks quite real, meows, purrs, and moves its head and tail. While they originally came in three colors, they've been discontinued and the only one I could find was gray with golden-orange eyes. I had it shipped to my sister in Syracuse so she could hang on to it for me until I come in August.

While visiting Syracuse we opened up robo-kitty and put in batteries. It was a hit, and I soon realized it was a she. She was a great comfort after my last talk with my biological father. Anyway, I brought her home with me since she fit nicely in my backpack. There are some cute pictures of Heidi and Sean meeting her at our gallery.

Mom especially adored it, since she hasn't gotten a cat since Noia died (Noia was the one who always beat me up when I visited mom). I found a used white robo-kitty which Pamela and I are going to get for mom. Meanwhile, I finally came up with a name for robo-kitty.

MOLL*E, pronounced like "Molly", stands for "Meowing Oddly Life-Like Entity".

( Sample Photo )

Why yes, I did like the movie WALL*E. Why do you ask?

The subject line refers to the sum total of what I can do now with regards to college. I can't register dorm preferences until April 13th and I can't register for classes until May 4th. My adviser won't get my folder until late April. The only variable now is when the check I'm sending out tomorrow (a Saturday, so they can't attempt to deliver it on Saturday) will arrive. The check is a room deposit, so that I can put in my dorm preference on the first day possible (first minutes possible, if I can help it).

I just need to keep reminding myself that even though I can't do anything more at the moment, that the truly important stuff is done. My credits didn't expire, I was accepted, and I heard from the head of the Gen Ed department himself that I only need one course to finish up that portion of my education. Even if the courses I need for my major and minor fill up, I'll have someone who can help me figure out some alternative. And even if I don't get the dorm I want, at least I'll be back in Oswego.

Despite having marked the "Do not deliver on Saturday or holiday" box, the post office attempted delivery today. I called to see if I could schedule the redelivery myself and she apologized about the mistake, but said that USPS rules are that the recipient and only the recipient can do so. Requests for same day redelivery must be made by 2am local time, and the office is closed until 9am on Monday. I don't know if they will send someone to pick it up or if it will be delayed until Tuesday.

Unfortunately the registration cycle is started upon receipt of the deposit, and I can't do anything until they get it. In the long run one day probably will not result in the end of the world, but things like dorm room assignments are based on when the housing deposit is received, and I can't make the housing deposit until the registration process is triggered. The deadline for the housing deposit is March 27th, so I'm a little antsy about timing.

Once again I am extremely impressed with the USPS. I sent the application to Oswego on Friday via priority mail, and it arrived first thing in the morning on Monday. I'm not so impressed with the USPS email updates, however. It was just sheer jitteriness on my part which led me to check today, not any email I received.

I hope Oswego gets the transcript soonish. I faxed in the request late Thursday night/early Friday morning, and although they'll not be sending it priority, the driving time from SUNY IT to SUNY Oswego is a leisurely 2 hours or so. SUNY IT has my phone number and hasn't called to say anything was awry, so hopefully it was sent Friday or Monday.

Now I just have to wait for the letter to arrive from Oswego. Suffice it to say that between Andy and me, our mailbox is going to be closely watched until it arrives.

Actually, it arrived on Friday, but after callicrates had left his office. I compared courses taken to a printout of what courses one needs for an English major, and it looks like I'm missing up to six classes. That's jumping a bit ahead, though.

I began my next step today, calling one of the student advocacy offices. She passed me on to the registrar, who assured me that crashing and burning for two semesters wasn't the end of the world. She sent out a readmission application and information on what happens next.

In other news, the canal of one of my teeth was re-rooted today. Ibuprofen is my friend.

I called today (I waited at least 24 hours, honest) and talked to the supervisor. She said that a PIN hadn't been generated, so she did so. Due to security reasons they can't give it over the phone or email to any address outside of the oswego.edu domain (both are good precautions from my point of view), so I'll have to wait for it to arrive via snail-mail. Hilarity ensued when I realized she probably had my address of 15 years ago and I had to call back, but that was easy enough to fix. Now to find the marriage license and fax it in so my last name gets updated.