why don't I just go to bed when I'm tired?

[raven]

Just got an email in my Herald inbox, that begins as follows.

Women of Balliol.

As you may have noticed, our college is full of men.

Is it wrong that I find this hysterically funny? I don't know why. It just is. I think I may be overtired. I was writing a horrible essay on anomalous monism last night until about four, sprawled on Claire's floor nursing a philosophy headache (which tend to involve clutching at my head and yelling about lawlike relations), and I was woken up again at eight by, of all people, my chemistry teacher at school, Mrs Colvin. Who wanted to know if I'd come back to school in June and give a talk on Oxford entrance, colleges and general life. I'm happy to do it, but a little intrigued as to how I'm going to explain how to choose a college to apply to. I was originally going to apply to Corpus, and then New. I arrived at a New open day a little early and lingered in their quad in the sunshine; following a which a walking tour in Balliol t-shirts swept me up and away for ice-cream.

I applied to my college because it gave me ice-cream. (And it's good for PPE.) Still, I fear I may not be the person to give advice on this. Anyway! Yes, I was woken up at eight, napped a bit more, ran round like a madwoman and went to a tute where I was assured I had not completely misunderstood anomalous monism, merely got the details wrong. (At least, I think. I was asleep.) I didn't wake up until a very nice lunch at Univ with kuteki, who put up with my significant lack of being-compos-mentis. (And, apparently, grammar.)

The funny thing is, going back to Merchants' do this talk will be quite fun, but there's no one left that I know now quackaquacka and eternalwings have gone. Which strikes me as peculiar, because I started my LJ in the first place because all the cool kids at school had them. (For "cool", read "gothy-alternative-fic-reading-types".) And I think I still have quite a few LJ friends who came with me from Merchants', but essentially, all that's gone. And I don't think I'm sorry. I like it so much better here.

(For people who haven't been with me for donkey's years: Merchant Taylors' is the secondary school I went to up north. It's a fairly good school, but given to wanky-pretension and has had four headmistresses in two years.)

Anyway, again! I went home, took a nap, this made no difference, I tried to do work, failed, went five hundred miles up the Cowley Road to have dinner with chiasmata, who now lives in a very pretty house with lots of bright colours. And I should have gone to bed ages ago, because I have to get up and go to London tomorrow and I don't think my brain can take another night without sleep.

Actually, I blame Many Nights Without Sleep for the breathtaking triviality of this post. There was a point to it originally, I'm sure; I just can't remember what. Er, in sum: I am busy, exhausted, overworked, and I actually don't want to go to London tomorrow and amuse Shubhra, but I must, and I'm sure it will be fun, and oh, my, I'm tired.

Okay, fuck it, there needs to be a point to this before I press the post button. Here, have the contents of my tabs.

Keys, by blue_meridian.
SG-1 fic, humour, Daniel-centric, no spoilers that I can see. I haven't finished it, but am at present finding it utterly charming.

From the New York Times, Bush is planning to veto the Matthew Shepard Act. Urgh. I agree with those who argue that society can't punish a person for what's in their head, but in this case I don't think the motive for the veto is pure noble liberal thought.

The BBC have received a tape about the whereabouts of Alan Johnston; I was working for the BBC when this whole thing started, and there was a real sense of panic even then.

And one of use, perhaps, to narahttbbs's thesis: Going to school isn't compulsory!

Of course I have Facebook open in my tabs! Specifically a picture of me blowing bubbles at the ball.

Okay. Now I can go to bed. I think. Maybe I am suffering from sleep-deprivation.

Comments

[icepixie]

Dude, go to sleep.

I applied to my college because it gave me ice-cream.

Hey, I went to my college because it gave me money. (Well, that and the English program and the small and personalness of it and the location in the middle of nowhere. But I had three colleges like that which let me in, and I basically chose the one with the most financial aid.)

BTW, I just requested to add you on Facebook. Hope that's cool.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I should, shouldn't I?

Oh, that's who it is! *g* That is indeed cool.

[gamesiplay.livejournal.com]

I skimmed this comment before I noticed the username, and I laughed and thought to myself, Gee, that sounds like my experience.

And then I saw who it was.

:D

[icepixie]

Ahahahaha! Yay financial aid. *g*

[kismeteve.livejournal.com]

I think ice cream is a perfectly acceptable reason to apply to a college.

*nods wisely*

(I just added you on facebook, if that's ok. I forget I'm actually on it until people mention the thing.)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*nodnod* YES IT IS.

That's fine! I always forget about it, too.

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

I agree with those who argue that society can't punish a person for what's in their head
well yes, it can as a relevant factor to a crime committed. the extension of not considering what's in suspects' head is no consideration of motive in court and the abolition of the manslaughter/murder distinction; it's not a radical break from precedent. someone who punches someone else too hard in a fight and breaks their neck is a different killer (eg) to someone who systematically haunts a gay neighbourhood to pick people off, and deserves to be treated as such.

/rant

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

ps. re: subject - the same reason I don't do work until I'm tired and then stay up all night? :(

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

pps. What did the powers on high consider the aim of alerting you to the number of men in your college?

[foreverdirt.livejournal.com]

Take a wild guess from:

a) But don't worry. Statistically, very few of them are likely to be rapists.

b) Which is why lesbian speed dating is for you.

c) So come for a girly night out with pole-dancing classes, Ann Summers, and pretty, shiny jewelry for your kitten-like soul.

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

They're all so fascinating, but I'll have to go with c).

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Katy ftw!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

That's a fair point, yep yep. I have a fear of contravening pure liberal thought here - the thought that the crime is the violence, not the opinion - rather than clearly recognising the motive within the right context.

Er, I am still very tired and probably mangling Mill, don't mind me.

[ra-sar.livejournal.com]

PhD icon FTW!

[the-acrobat.livejournal.com]

Agreed!

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Heeee!

[the-acrobat.livejournal.com]

why don't I just go to bed when I'm tired?

I ask myself this question all the time, too.

Hmph. My school never offered me ice-cream. Do you think it's too late to reject them?

Also, that picture of you is adorable.

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*groan* And now I'm falling-over tired, and I can't go to bed, I have to work!

It might be a little late, yes. (And besides, you owe me thesis-advisor-slash. *g*)

And thank you. :P

[ressie-noldo.livejournal.com]

I applied to my college because it gave me ice-cream.


This is clearly a sensible and logical reason! (My college list was based almost entirely on 'Richard Feynman went here or worked here, and I fangirl Richard Feynman', so I really can't talk.)


Also, I have, erm, add-requested you on Facebook, just so you know. :D

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Indeed yes. Both reasons are very logical.

So I saw, and wow, you're pretty. *g*

[emily-shore.livejournal.com]

Going to school isn't compulsory!

I spotted that article just a couple of minutes ago. It is very interesting, actually, to track the history of the compulsory education laws in Britain and to see the way in which a little bit of room has always been left for home education. (Unlike the situation in the US.) And yes, I should mention this in my thesis. I've added it to my "thesis thoughts" list.

*sigh*

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

I like how I now can't read anything without having mental alerts about my friends' theses. :P

[chiasmata]

Ahahahaha. There are MEN! In your COLLEGE! (Seriously, I found that one hilarious as well.)

Lovely to see you yesterday :)

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

*giggling* It's hilarious and I don't know why and I think my brain is brooooooooken....

(Lovely to see you, too!)

[tmpe5t.livejournal.com]

"As you may have noticed, our college is full of men."

I'm also intrigued, is it: "look out, they're coming over here and stealing our jobs/women/hobnobs/shoes, they're a blodey menace!" or is it a "Please give one of these poor neglected creatures a home" (complete with Julian Clary going: "...and this week, the one who wasn't good eneough at flyball and will have to be out down is..."?

Enquiring and slightly disturbed minds want to know...

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Heh. Nothing so off-the-wall. It's merely an advert for a night out organised by the women's officers. Catchy opening, though. :)

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

On an entirely random note, my sister's boyfriend goes to the boys school of Merchants. He is not exactly Oxford material (he is, to be honest, material for a beating by me and my stomping boots but that is not the point of this) but, you know, there's a vague connections, right? On the off-chance you do see him, a swift kick to the nether regions will get you a pint from my Dad. Ahem.

I did not pick a college, for obvious reasons, but I think the reasons for choosing universities are all equally random. Not as interesting as ice cream, but, well, it all comes down to where you feel happiest, right? I am probably talking bollocks.

Why, exactly, is your college full of men anyway?

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think I knew this! What's his name, again? *grins* I approve of your dad.

My college is full of men because they admitted my year in a 70/30 ratio. Which is horrifying. And the email is something to do with an initiative from the women's officers (involving pole-dancing lessons). Sigh.

ps. That icon - and related incident - never stops being HYSTERICALLY FUNNY. ahahahaha.

[hathy-col.livejournal.com]

His name is Mark, or as my mum has begun referring to him in an increasingly exasperated tone of voice, "that bloody boy!"

Someone from the house next door ran into our house last night. Because Sarah never, ever, ever locks the door, and all the houses look indentical, someone charged into the house, ran up the stairs, then stoppd, ran out again, and then charged next door and stayed there laughing very loudly at about 11pm. Not as good as The Wine Incident, but still. I have the most odd neighbours.