Monday, August 23, 2010

$267.60



From top to bottom:

An Introduction to Old Norse by E. V. Gordon - For learning Old Norse, of course, from the illustrious Anatoly Liberman. This was the single most expensive book here. New, it costs about a hundred dollars. I got the used copy for around $65.

Prisma's Abridged English-Swedish and Swedish-English Dictionary - I'm starting Swedish this fall. Huzzah! Or whatever they say in Swedish, which I will soon be able to tell you.

The Oxford History of Medieval Europe by George Holmes - One of the main texts for the class I'm helping teach.

Agricola and Germania by Tacitus - I have this already, but mine is in a side by side Latin / German - this is an English translation that I will need for the class I'm helping teach.

The Nibelungenlied - I have this too, but in a side by side Middle High German / Modern German text. I'll need this English one for the class I'm helping teach.

The Life of Charlemagne by Einhard - Another one for the class I'm helping teach. I know I had a copy of this, but I have no idea where it is, and I think it was a different translation anyway.

An Introduction to Middle Dutch by Colette M. van Kerckvoorde - For learning Middle Dutch, once again from the infamous Professor Liberman.

På svenska! by Ulla Göransson and Mai Parada - This is the main text for the Swedish class. The blue one seems to be the actual textbook; the grey one is a grammar guide, and the green is a workbook.

Europe Between the Oceans: 9000 BC-AD 1000 by Barry Cunliffe - For an anthropology course I'm taking on the beginnings of civilization in western Europe.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Housing upgrades.

So, with nothing better to do over the summer, I've had some time to do a few projects around the apartment. Previously, I tended to leave my apartments austere and empty, save a few (or a great many) empty bottles and pizza boxes. My goal this time was to make it look like somebody actually lives here.



This is what the living room looked like previously. Not awful, but the couch really irritated me.



This is what it looks like currently. I painted some frames orange and put some silly prints in them, and I put a slipcover on the couch and made some pillow covers and curtains. I don't think I like the orange one - with the black it looks a bit home-made and Halloween-y. I want something to tie it in with the orange picture frames though. A different shade, maybe? I dunno. Work in progress.



I also put some pictures over the table, so I'd have something to look at while chopping stuff up. Yes, there are two empty frames - I put them up because it looked weird without those two, but I haven't decided what I want in them yet. Ignore the mess on the table. I'm in the middle of making some really kickass potato-carrot soup.



The bedroom previously. Big empty wall. Very depressing.



The bedroom now. Pictures on wall. Much improved, I think. The stein on the bedside table thingy is for plant watering purposes only. Not shown: Bruce snoozing on the end of the bed.

That's the end of my semi-finished projects. I'm in the middle of a couple sewing things. I'm trying to make a few little bags to get practice putting in zippers. Once I feel better about that, who knows - maybe something more complicated and scary.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Poor Bruce.



I'm planning on going to visit Noah in CA over Labor Day weekend. Alas, it's the first time I've ever tried to make a trip while having a pet who needs to be fed regularly. So, with much trepidation, I made a call today to a boarding place to see what can be arranged. The phone conversation itself was a bit of a trial - the lady on the other end just couldn't seem to believe that Bruce is called Bruce, so I had to spell it out twice. Still, the matter was eventually arranged, and Bruce will be staying here for five days in the beginning of September. It seems to be a rather nice place (can't have poor toothless Bruce languishing in some grungy cage where he can't stretch out for a good nap), but I'll bet he'll still be pretty traumatized.

Ah well. It's a good trial run for when I'll be gone for two weeks over Christmas. Hopefully it works out.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Guess what.



I assure you I do have more than three fingers on that hand.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Just a brief comment...

...to note that the weather has finally cooled down! I could actually utilize a blanket last night, and did not wake up completely dehydrated in a pool of sweat. Hallelujah.



Bruce is also pleased with the weather, though he tries his best not to show it.