Happy Halloween! We are enjoying a full moon on this haunted night for the first time in 46 years, or so I heard on the radio this morning. No trick-or-treaters have come by the apartment so far so the big bag of Tootsie Rolls on the table is being eaten by me. Don't ya just love holidays?
10/31/2001 10:26:33 PM

A couple of changes. First, a new color scheme! I knew that if I made it a Christmas theme I wouldn't remember to replace it for months so instead I used basic red, white, and blue. Patriotic and timeless. Second, I just posted a new diary entry. Enjoy!
10/29/2001 11:17:08 PM

The only thing that reminded me to set my clocks back an hour for daylight savings time was the "Charlie Brown" comic strip in the newspaper this morning. Although embarrassed that I had forgotten about it, I suddenly felt less lazy since it was only 9 AM instead of 10 AM at the time.
10/28/2001 12:38:25 PM

Check out the newest "TV Guide" for news about the upcoming Harry Potter movie. I wonder when I should start trying to buy a ticket for the movie's opening day?
10/24/2001 12:02:59 AM

As Hal said of the Atlanta Braves when I told him they lost the National League penant race to the Arizona Diamondbacks, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride." When you're a Braves fan you have gotten used to "almost" by now.
10/22/2001 10:31:14 AM

"Hey Lauren, I thought you said you weren't going to update your diary webpage again until December."
I lied. My testing experience yesterday was so eventful I thought I should share it with everyone. One weight has just been lifted from my shoulders but I'm sure several others will assume its burden. Now where did I put those graduate school applications?
10/21/2001 07:36:57 PM

Well, at least my GRE scores won't keep me from getting into graduate school. It's a long story, which I intend to write down for a future diary entry, but I did much better than I expected on the test. So out of a possible 800 points here's the verdict (remember engineering programs will only be looking at the first two sections):
Quantitative - 790
Analytic - 780
Verbal - 610
10/21/2001 03:18:14 PM

In an attempt to ignore the butterflies in my stomach this morning I am working on my webpage. I put my mood indicator on this page since it is the only one I have updated recently. I expect to start posting lengthy diary entries after I leave California in a couple of months. Until then I'll continue to update this page. Right now it's time for me to start getting ready to leave for my test. Wish me luck!
10/20/2001 12:38:18 PM

Since I will undoubtedly be too nervous to write a comprehendable post in the morning I will get it out of the way tonight. At this time tomorrow I will either be celebrating or trying to forget my performance on the GRE. Until then I'll leave you with one of the more memorable vocabulary words that I learned while preparing for the test:

tarantism (n) - a medical condition in which the patient has an uncontrollable urge to dance; dance mania
10/20/2001 01:30:43 AM

"Are we allowed to squish alien creatures?"
"If they're in your sleeping bag!"
Quote from "Enterprise" episode "Strange New World"
10/13/2001 10:56:42 PM

One week until I take the GRE. My plan between then and now is to take practice tests and study vocabulary. Assuming my scores are acceptable, as soon as the test is over I have to start applying to grad schools. I hope to at least visit USC and UCLA this week since I have contacts there. "So much to do - so little time." (Cliche but true.)
10/13/2001 05:40:54 PM

What I've learned from Dan: "Hakuna Potato. It means no potatoes for the rest of your days!"

(This motto emerged as we were listening to the Lion King Broadway soundtrack yesterday and "Hakuna Matata" just wasn't good enough. By the way, I am making a list of other things I have learned from Dan so be on the lookout for more pearls of wisdom.)
10/7/2001 02:08:04 AM

I can't believe it's October. There's a little fall carnival on the corner of PCH and Studebaker and a lady at the Disney Store asked me if I was going to be Tinkerbell for Halloween. The weather tells you it's fall too. The past two days could pass for winter in Florida. I have so many plans for the rest of my time in California that I hope there's enough time between now and December 16th for me to get through them all!
10/6/2001 08:43:06 PM