finals and the cowardly lion

i recently had the following conversation with someone who styled my hair: 

"do i look like the cowardly lion?" i asked.

"no," she replied, "you don't have orange hair."

imagine a dark-haired cowardly lion having a temper tantrum.  and on top of that, i look 15 years younger with this hairstyle and can go without makeup and still look presentable.  why the temper tantrum?

i am starting to think i am a spoiled little brat.  i had a temper tantrum because of the amount of work.  no, no, hear me out.  i don't mind doing school work (that is, after all, the reason i am here), but the misuse of a conjunction by a professor in the GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT is infuriating.  will i need to play schoolhouse rock's "conjunction junction" video in the future?  there really is a huge difference between "and" and "or".  ok, i'll stop ranting and back up.

i have two classes that are interdisciplinary that i absolutely love; i adore both professors (who i consider brilliant) and the subject is fascinating.  i have been very good about looking at the syllabi and keeping track of the work, etc.  on the syllabus for one of the professors (the global communications professor, mind you, who is a native english speaker from the state of washington) is written that we have a choice of either writing a paper, giving a presentation, or creating a project.  i, of course, chose a paper, and the other professor (computers) suggested a topic which i altered to something more stimulating to me (that professor wrote that he was looking forward to reading that paper).  along came professor #2, the native english-speaking communications professor who informed us that we had to do all three things.  now, it seems odd to me that a communications professor cannot communicate properly!  really, there is a HUGE difference between AND and OR, and you just don't make that change two weeks before a project is due.  i have been fit to be tied and have been having a temper tantrum (of a sort).  i told the sensible professor that i was having a temper tantrum (which i did by simply pouting and stomping my foot, which i'm hoping looked as adorable as i think it looked) and then had to define the term "tantrum" (which really makes it lose its effect, don't you think?), after which i stomped off.  ok, not stomped, but i did give an exasperated look as i turned on my heel and left for my next class.  (ok, there might be a bit of exaggeration here too; would my one reader who was a witness like to give his version of the events?)

meanwhile, i'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown from all of the work.  i need to alter the space-time continuum (Q, where are you?).  also, i'm so looking forward to not having to see two students in particular 5 times per week!  one of them mocks me quite often, so never seeing her again will be, well, one of the best things in the world (up there with a great lemon tart)!  

my neighborhood is getting dressed for the holidays - pictures to come (i promise).

next day:  the due date for the paper has also been changed (thank god we've been given more time)!