With My Freeze Ray I Will Stop--

So much to do.

I have to write my essay/writing sample (hmm... that came out "smaple" the first time I typed it - sounds like an abomination of a candy.)/whatever-you-want-to-call-it, and having changed focus rather impressively a couple of weeks ago means I also need to do a lot of reading for it. Anyone want to go over semiotics with me? I'm struggling to remember much beyond the basics.

The writing sample has to be done in the next week or two so that it, along with my statement of purpose (also unwritten) can be handed off to my recommenders, since I'm asking for letters from people from whom I've only taken one class. Supporting materials, in this instance, are key. (An aside: I just adore the helpful people who tell me how the would never possibly consent to write a letter of recommendation after such a short acquaintance, and no school worth its salt will even look at such a letter. You're so helpful. Some of us have been out of school a while, and can't afford the $1,200/quarter that no financial aid will cover to take several years' worth of classes with the same person, not to mention the time that we have to squeeze in around the edges of our jobs. But thanks for that, sneering 22-year-old grad student.)

So, after the writing sample goes to my dear readers for review, I whack out a statement of purpose, do rewrites on both, and drop off recommendation forms just in time to take the GRE Subject Test on October 18. And I'm still appallingly ignorant when it comes to American literature and anything past WWI. So that ought to be a hoot. I'm cramming names and dates; we'll see how much good it does me. I've taken the practice test and done okay, but I could stand to improve.

Once the test is over with, I start filling out applications, and I have no idea how much time that will take. Everything is due at various points in December, and from there it's three months of waiting around for replies, as I understand it.

Oh, and somewhere in there I'm supposed to be orchestrating a book group, and going to Oregon Flock & Fiber, and dealing with the hagim, and having a kick-ass, zombified Halloween, and seeing my sister when she's out here, and there's these two guys, one big and one little, who keep hanging around wanting something...

And just think: if I hadn't decided on this school business, I could be knitting right now.