Corny math joke of the day

"Cartesian is so square. Polar is cooler!"

Since I've finally figured out this whole site feed business, I have an Atom feed now. So if you're in Firefox (horay for free browsers) you get a cute little orange square on your status bar. Doesn't that make it all worth it?

Swing

Oireachtas is over. I can breathe.

My legs dangle from a seat's rubber edge. I can't remember when I started pumping, rising and falling, when my stomach first turned with the thrill of velocity, when my heart's beating slowed at the abrupt apex. Am I to realize the climb and fall repeat ad infinitum? My consciousness is nowhere and everywhere, in the blur of green and blue and brown, in the almost simultaneous horror and glee. I feel I should stop - no, I can't. I won't. Reddish sunlight splashes on my face. Falling backward, I my stomach suddenly screams, I am helpless. Oscillating at gravity's mercy, a human pendulum, weak legs kicking at fate. Swing. Color returns to my fingers as their grip loosens. Swing. Legs pump in unison, hurtling above translucent blades bathed in orange glow, floating on rosy clouds in the low horizon.

Progress report

Another Art Club day.

Chicago Autumn Feis

NAFC bans use of digital cameras during dance competitions, so I decided to do things "court artist" style.

Second place in Prelims! Unbelievable. I can't help being skeptical after learning that my fourth place at Great Lakes Feis was probably a mix-up. But this time I think it's actually legitimate.

The awards were unusual. There were six of us in my competition, and all of us received prizes. (Usually, only half the competitors get placed.) I got a nice porcelain plate, and some other people got glass Christmas ornaments. Only the first place winner was given something resembling a trophy.

Inky experiment

I overdid the heavy outlines a bit trying to cover up mistakes. This was inked over a light pencil sketch, but I still managed to make the anatomy rather horrific. Horay for Art Club.

A wonderful seven hours of sleep seemed to be becoming the norm, but then this week was more like five. I'm unusually energetic from adrenaline and hyperness. On the other hand, melancholy streaks have hit as well. This has definitely happened to me before, but I just can't remember when...

The serious crunch for Oireachtas began this week when I realized November is here and the last feis of the season is this Saturday.

Thinking...

• It's a bad year to be seventeen.


• Obama is my hero.


• Due to the election madness, this story was apparently drowned out in the media. The whole thing is grisly and sad on many different levels. Being a Vincent Van Gogh fan, I somehow can't get it off my mind.

Random heads

Drawing during class? Oh no, not I.