I thought of you on May thirty-last, really truly! I hope you had a grand celebration with luxurious cake and good times.
There's something on my bookshelf that I procured on the side of the road last summer that has been waiting for your birthday. Hopefully it will make it to the post office soon...
A real update will be coming eventually. Laura's post was "positive change", and hopefully mine could be titled the same. But it will probably be something more like "The reality of being soon-to-be-unemployed is less frightening when instead you focus on: moving apartments, running a week long Vacation Bible School, coordinating a summer day camp, visiting a graduated brother (hopefully) and wedding madness, before trying to get a job."
The next month in a half will be insane. But we shall be reunited! Please let us have at least one moment in green t-shirt-ed glory.
Cristina, your blog still rocks. Please go be a screen writer. I will watch your shows/movies. I promise.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Positive Changes
Wow. So, my life has been changing! My job…which I’d been waiting to be actually hired for had gotten increasingly depressing over the past months, and I found myself missing school a lot, just to have something to do. Too much free time is definitely not healthy for me. I still need deadlines. The job hit a low point some time in March when I was at work until 11pm on a Friday night. Then I finally decided that I hat my job and it was time to get out. So the exciting news, some of which may have been previously relayed to you…Last November, when I was contemplating not applying for my current job and thinking it would be over in January, I applied to Kaplan Test Prep to teach the LSAT. They invited me to audition, and continued updating me with the possibilities for times to do that. I finally replied at the end of March explaining that my stupid hours did not allow for me to attend any audition sessions, and we set up an interview. I passed and began teacher training at the beginning of April to see if I had the potential to become “an excellent Kaplan teacher.” So for the last month I’ve immersed myself in LSAT material and learning to teach it. This is rather out of my comfort zone. And although some of the Kaplan material is corny and overly optimistic, it’s a good challenge for me. Also this job will allow me to feel that I am helping people, rather than acting as a minion to the abhorrent earth-destroying auto industry. Also I still love the LSAT. So I graduated from teacher-training last night, and begin teaching my first class July 8. So that’s my goal for quitting my current job. The other factor allowing this change (since teaching is very part time) is our church! In February Pastor Jim approached Keith asking if he wanted to work with the kids, there being a job opening in July. The next week their youth leader/kids program coordinator fell and broke her femur. So Keith and I started leading youth group almost immediately (assisted by another couple and Jim). We’ll take this job officially in July. Compensation is to live in the youth center- a house across from the church. We share a kitchen and living room with the youth and have our own apartment (sans kitchen) upstairs. The basement is fully equipped with ping-pong, foosball and bumper pool tables. So as of August Keith and I will no longer have to pay rent or utilities!!! The other job opening is a 15hr/wk position coordinating the kids programs. I am somewhat under-qualified for the job not actually having worked with kids before, but I figure all the stuff that baffles me I can throw at Keith. He would probably be the better candidate for the job, but he still has 17 credit hours to accumulate. So, by taking this position, we are (thus far, loosely) committing to another 2 years in Ithaca. Which should work out, as I may take on more responsibilities at Kaplan, and I can still work extra jobs through the temp agency. Keith is still working at CIT, but he got into a lab and he start shadowing people this summer, and hopefully he’ll be able to keep working and get paid ones he graduates in January. So hopefully a year and a half of research will get him into a grad program somewhere, and I’ll try to start law school in 2010. Of course, if he gets into this one program in London…I’ll happily put it off another year.
Keith and I are leaving tonight to go to PA to see his parents. His mom’s birthday is tomorrow. The first week of June, we’re going to Charleston to see my family. July 4 I’ll be in Elkhart for a wedding. Then that weekend we’ll be spending near Peoria with Keith’s family. I’ve been looking at google maps and plotting a pit stop in Chicago on the way out there. So Chicago folks, what’s July 5 late morning-early afternoon look like? Then 2 weeks later I’ll be there for the July 19th festivities, and hope to stay for a couple days after. I shouldn’t need to be back in Ithaca until Thursday.
And that's that.
Peace.
Keith and I are leaving tonight to go to PA to see his parents. His mom’s birthday is tomorrow. The first week of June, we’re going to Charleston to see my family. July 4 I’ll be in Elkhart for a wedding. Then that weekend we’ll be spending near Peoria with Keith’s family. I’ve been looking at google maps and plotting a pit stop in Chicago on the way out there. So Chicago folks, what’s July 5 late morning-early afternoon look like? Then 2 weeks later I’ll be there for the July 19th festivities, and hope to stay for a couple days after. I shouldn’t need to be back in Ithaca until Thursday.
And that's that.
Peace.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Single Best Reason to Visit my Apartment
I realize I come in second to these two. I'm okay with that.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
In Praise of Recipes and Lack of Writing Skills
Approve: Cristina’s new blog.
Disapprove: My lack of posting on this blog, and my lack of seeing Cristina.
Disapprove: My kitchen; it’s mice and the lack of dancing. Maybe I could train the mice to dance with me? To be honest, most of my cooking recently has been in Eric’s kitchen and I SERIOUSLY approve of that kitchen. It’s a little small for dancing, but I proved yesterday that my choreography is creative enough.
Approve: Cooking adventures
1)Basil Coconut Chicken Curry
I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever actually followed an epicurious recipe. If the results promise to be like this, I will definitely do it again. Shamelessly copied:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon tumeric
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs (you can use breasts, but the thighs are more flavorful)
1 large red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
2 Tbsp olive oil or grapeseed oil
1 14-oz can coconut milk
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
Hot cooked rice
In a small bowl, mix together the salt, ground coriander, cumin, ground cloves, cinnamon, ground cardamom, black pepper, chili powder, and tumeric. Set aside.
Rinse chicken, pat dry. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Put into a bowl and sprinkle the spice mix over all the pieces. Coat well and let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.
In a large skillet heat 1 Tbsp oil on medium high heat. Add the onions and jalapeños and cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Remove the onions, peppers and garlic from the pan and put into a medium sized bowl. Set aside. Use the same pan for the next step.
Add 1 Tbsp oil to the skillet and heat on medium high heat. Add one half of the chicken pieces, spreading them out on the pan so they are not crowded. Brown for a few minutes on each side. When the chicken pieces are cooked through, and no pink remains, remove from pan, add to the bowl with the onions. Cook the second batch of chicken pieces the same way. Remove from pan, add to bowl with onions.
Add the coconut milk, minus a couple tablespoons, to the skillet. In a small bowl, mix the remaining coconut with the corn starch to dissolve the corn starch. Add the corn startch mixture back to the skillet with the coconut milk. Cook on medium heat and stir till thick and bubbly. Mix in the worcestershire sauce. Add chicken mixture, basil, and ginger. Cook 2 minutes more to cook through.
2) A batch of Magic Apartment Pasta Salad.
3) A four layer vegan chocolate cake with fudge cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting. And decorated with black eyed susans piped out of ziplock bags. I finally got round cake pans, and I learned to split layers for double the filling possibilities.
4) Citrus Fruit Salad of GLORY
I’ve made this one twice, so I’ve already included several changes. I’m copying without feeling too bad.
2 large ruby pink grapefruits
3 oranges
5 kiwis
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Put the honey, lime, and cardamom in a sauce pan and heat it until it simmers, then put it in a bowl and let it cool until it’s room temperature.
Peel and chop the fruit really well so there isn’t much membrane. Put it in a bowl.
Pour the sauce onto the fruit and chill it in the refrigerator. Try to wait until it’s cold to eat it.
Approve: Hosting Mr.Coley’s birthday party, giving him a rather successful haircut, and learning to play a new board game, Carcassonne.
Disapprove: Itching for a whole day after getting hair everywhere. Is this the life of barbers and beauticians? I’ve never paid for my own haircut, but when I finally do, I will tip well.
Approve: A successful Sunday school class. While teaching the Golden Rule the class kicked each other and bickered making for some great real-life examples, it was actually effective!
Approve: Deciding to go bra shopping in order to feel grown up and wear fewer tanktops under shirts.
Further Approval: Finding the best fitting bra of my life, it was on sale, and I got two.
Disapprove: I was focused on the fit, upon arriving home I found that my bra of choice appears to be a “Teen Bra” by the brand “Personal Identity.” Now, I don’t feel all that grown up sometimes, but I know who I am, with or without a bra. Seriously, Sears!
Approve: Ice Cream Sandwiches. Nothing argues with Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Approve: Chatting with other Save-A-Lot fans. I miss our grocery trips so much!
Disapprove: Realizing that Hyde Park is the only really walkable neighborhood on the Southside, and HPP is mad expensive.
Approve: Making my best batch of playdough ever.
Approve: Dental insurance in five months minus four days.
Disapprove: Chewed up inner cheeks from unintentionally overzealous wisdom teeth.
Approve: Finishing all the W-2 forms at Strive. I wrote out over 50 forms on paper where you have to push super hard because you're making six carbon copies. And, the calluses from the endeavor are gone.
Approve: Eric surprised me after work one day by revealing that he had called nearly all of the restaurants in Greektown to inquire about catering.
Double Approve: I think we found our wedding food.
Triple Approve: It tastes like my Yiayia's cooking. Get excited!
Approve: Keeping my room clean for a week.
Disapprove: The desire to make by bed when I wake up… it’s freaking me out. Have I morphed into someone else?
Approve: Indigo Girls, Little Perennials, http://youtube.com/watch?v=wrMaK2uMXbE, I know you all miss my music. Okay, maybe not.
Additional Youtube approval: Clips of Square One TV! Looking at the show again, Mary, I'm not surprised you found it scary back in the day. There's a haunted house music video about probability and it's really really freaky. I guess I have a selective memory. My favorite is "8% of My Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDqrW85RECE&NR=1, and my family still quotes "Less Than Zero" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0-DCA5uJg&feature=related
Approve: Brunch in Pierce!
Disapprove: Awkward. Very awkward.
Approve: Attending a very fun baby shower. We puff painted onesies. Now, I know I may be the only obnoxious baby lover in the MA, but I also know that none of us can pass up puff paint, so I'm sure you understand. It was a second baby so everyone was supposed to bring diapers.
Disapprove: Not buying diapers because the Ida Noyes building manager (who I know from IV coordinating AND wedding coordinating) was in the diaper aisle with me and it was way too weird.
Further Disapproval: Feeling like a chicken on account of failing in said diaper purchase.
Approve: Hot lemon water. Sasparilla root tea.
Disapprove: Being asked questions about “my friends” and having to explain that most of them moved away. (Cristina, I will get off my butt and up to the northside soon. AND, in the future I plan to have a job, instead of jobs, where I don’t work every day of the week and I can stay out late(ish)) ☺
Approve: I have intentions to call all of you soon.
Approve: Paper for wedding invitations comes in the mail tomorrow.
Disapprove: None of you have sent me your addresses yet. Yes, if I really searched I could probably find Cristina and Laura's. But really this is just saying that I think ya'll should email. That's not to say I'm not way behind in the land of email and phone calls.
Disapprove: I'm exhausted.
Approve: I'm going to bed.
Disapprove: My lack of posting on this blog, and my lack of seeing Cristina.
Disapprove: My kitchen; it’s mice and the lack of dancing. Maybe I could train the mice to dance with me? To be honest, most of my cooking recently has been in Eric’s kitchen and I SERIOUSLY approve of that kitchen. It’s a little small for dancing, but I proved yesterday that my choreography is creative enough.
Approve: Cooking adventures
1)Basil Coconut Chicken Curry
I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever actually followed an epicurious recipe. If the results promise to be like this, I will definitely do it again. Shamelessly copied:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon tumeric
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken thighs (you can use breasts, but the thighs are more flavorful)
1 large red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
2 Tbsp olive oil or grapeseed oil
1 14-oz can coconut milk
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh ginger
Hot cooked rice
In a small bowl, mix together the salt, ground coriander, cumin, ground cloves, cinnamon, ground cardamom, black pepper, chili powder, and tumeric. Set aside.
Rinse chicken, pat dry. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Put into a bowl and sprinkle the spice mix over all the pieces. Coat well and let sit for 30 minutes at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours.
In a large skillet heat 1 Tbsp oil on medium high heat. Add the onions and jalapeños and cook for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Remove the onions, peppers and garlic from the pan and put into a medium sized bowl. Set aside. Use the same pan for the next step.
Add 1 Tbsp oil to the skillet and heat on medium high heat. Add one half of the chicken pieces, spreading them out on the pan so they are not crowded. Brown for a few minutes on each side. When the chicken pieces are cooked through, and no pink remains, remove from pan, add to the bowl with the onions. Cook the second batch of chicken pieces the same way. Remove from pan, add to bowl with onions.
Add the coconut milk, minus a couple tablespoons, to the skillet. In a small bowl, mix the remaining coconut with the corn starch to dissolve the corn starch. Add the corn startch mixture back to the skillet with the coconut milk. Cook on medium heat and stir till thick and bubbly. Mix in the worcestershire sauce. Add chicken mixture, basil, and ginger. Cook 2 minutes more to cook through.
2) A batch of Magic Apartment Pasta Salad.
3) A four layer vegan chocolate cake with fudge cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting. And decorated with black eyed susans piped out of ziplock bags. I finally got round cake pans, and I learned to split layers for double the filling possibilities.
4) Citrus Fruit Salad of GLORY
I’ve made this one twice, so I’ve already included several changes. I’m copying without feeling too bad.
2 large ruby pink grapefruits
3 oranges
5 kiwis
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Put the honey, lime, and cardamom in a sauce pan and heat it until it simmers, then put it in a bowl and let it cool until it’s room temperature.
Peel and chop the fruit really well so there isn’t much membrane. Put it in a bowl.
Pour the sauce onto the fruit and chill it in the refrigerator. Try to wait until it’s cold to eat it.
Approve: Hosting Mr.Coley’s birthday party, giving him a rather successful haircut, and learning to play a new board game, Carcassonne.
Disapprove: Itching for a whole day after getting hair everywhere. Is this the life of barbers and beauticians? I’ve never paid for my own haircut, but when I finally do, I will tip well.
Approve: A successful Sunday school class. While teaching the Golden Rule the class kicked each other and bickered making for some great real-life examples, it was actually effective!
Approve: Deciding to go bra shopping in order to feel grown up and wear fewer tanktops under shirts.
Further Approval: Finding the best fitting bra of my life, it was on sale, and I got two.
Disapprove: I was focused on the fit, upon arriving home I found that my bra of choice appears to be a “Teen Bra” by the brand “Personal Identity.” Now, I don’t feel all that grown up sometimes, but I know who I am, with or without a bra. Seriously, Sears!
Approve: Ice Cream Sandwiches. Nothing argues with Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Approve: Chatting with other Save-A-Lot fans. I miss our grocery trips so much!
Disapprove: Realizing that Hyde Park is the only really walkable neighborhood on the Southside, and HPP is mad expensive.
Approve: Making my best batch of playdough ever.
Approve: Dental insurance in five months minus four days.
Disapprove: Chewed up inner cheeks from unintentionally overzealous wisdom teeth.
Approve: Finishing all the W-2 forms at Strive. I wrote out over 50 forms on paper where you have to push super hard because you're making six carbon copies. And, the calluses from the endeavor are gone.
Approve: Eric surprised me after work one day by revealing that he had called nearly all of the restaurants in Greektown to inquire about catering.
Double Approve: I think we found our wedding food.
Triple Approve: It tastes like my Yiayia's cooking. Get excited!
Approve: Keeping my room clean for a week.
Disapprove: The desire to make by bed when I wake up… it’s freaking me out. Have I morphed into someone else?
Approve: Indigo Girls, Little Perennials, http://youtube.com/watch?v=wrMaK2uMXbE, I know you all miss my music. Okay, maybe not.
Additional Youtube approval: Clips of Square One TV! Looking at the show again, Mary, I'm not surprised you found it scary back in the day. There's a haunted house music video about probability and it's really really freaky. I guess I have a selective memory. My favorite is "8% of My Love" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDqrW85RECE&NR=1, and my family still quotes "Less Than Zero" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0-DCA5uJg&feature=related
Approve: Brunch in Pierce!
Disapprove: Awkward. Very awkward.
Approve: Attending a very fun baby shower. We puff painted onesies. Now, I know I may be the only obnoxious baby lover in the MA, but I also know that none of us can pass up puff paint, so I'm sure you understand. It was a second baby so everyone was supposed to bring diapers.
Disapprove: Not buying diapers because the Ida Noyes building manager (who I know from IV coordinating AND wedding coordinating) was in the diaper aisle with me and it was way too weird.
Further Disapproval: Feeling like a chicken on account of failing in said diaper purchase.
Approve: Hot lemon water. Sasparilla root tea.
Disapprove: Being asked questions about “my friends” and having to explain that most of them moved away. (Cristina, I will get off my butt and up to the northside soon. AND, in the future I plan to have a job, instead of jobs, where I don’t work every day of the week and I can stay out late(ish)) ☺
Approve: I have intentions to call all of you soon.
Approve: Paper for wedding invitations comes in the mail tomorrow.
Disapprove: None of you have sent me your addresses yet. Yes, if I really searched I could probably find Cristina and Laura's. But really this is just saying that I think ya'll should email. That's not to say I'm not way behind in the land of email and phone calls.
Disapprove: I'm exhausted.
Approve: I'm going to bed.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Ankle Update
So...I've been meaning to post all week, but now that there is a wonderful vegan mocha cake warming in my oven, for the wonderful occasion of, well...I really wanted to make a cake...now I'm ready to post. So...almost two weeks ago, Keith came home with a Pretty Awesome Ankle Brace. I worked all last week with a severe limp, but at least I could make it up and down the stairs. This week my limp was barely noticeable, except right after I stood up until I got used to walking on it correctly, or right after I inevitably banged it on something. I was never this uncoordinated in my previous (read: unmarried) life. I think Keith has somehow cursed me with his generally risky behavior and indifference to pain. So the first week I had my co-worker put together my Honda skid for me everyday (which involves moving and stacking either 21 or 28 boxes each weighing between 4 and 28 lbs. and putting labels on them). But other than being at least twice as slow as normal and having at least 5 people (I really think it was maybe closer to ten, but i didn't keep track...) I'd never spoken to before around the plant ask me what had happened and make all sorts of awkward comments to me, work wasn't so bad. I think yesterday I was nearly at normal speed. Every once and a while I step the wrong way and am reminded of why I should slow down. When not at work I've been trying to keep off of it.
Keith and I have been spending more time at Acacia so far than last semester. This mostly includes eating dinner and watching Jeopardy. Also we watched the super bowl there, which, by the way, was FANTASTIC! Especially since I watched football almost every week this fall and developed a serious hate for the New England Patriots (the NY Giants beat them in a HUGE upset, ruining their drive for a perfect season. yay!). Also, I live in New York now, so I can be happy for them. Also we stayed really late Tuesday watching election results. It was super fun, cuz everyone watching was rooting for Obama, and I really appreciated not being in school, as everyone else there would periodically groan about all the work they were putting off, and i could think fondly on my days of procrastination in college. And laugh at their misery. Bwa ha ha ha ha!!! yay for evil laughs. and the great movies containing them.
Coming up next: My parents are coming to visit next weekend. The writer's strike is maybe ending soon? (Please? I need more Office!) And Keith and I might go to the Acacia Valentine Formal on Saturday (although i fear footwear may become an issue, perhaps even a deciding factor, my poor ankle).
I was so glad to hear from all of you. You make me happy.
Keith and I have been spending more time at Acacia so far than last semester. This mostly includes eating dinner and watching Jeopardy. Also we watched the super bowl there, which, by the way, was FANTASTIC! Especially since I watched football almost every week this fall and developed a serious hate for the New England Patriots (the NY Giants beat them in a HUGE upset, ruining their drive for a perfect season. yay!). Also, I live in New York now, so I can be happy for them. Also we stayed really late Tuesday watching election results. It was super fun, cuz everyone watching was rooting for Obama, and I really appreciated not being in school, as everyone else there would periodically groan about all the work they were putting off, and i could think fondly on my days of procrastination in college. And laugh at their misery. Bwa ha ha ha ha!!! yay for evil laughs. and the great movies containing them.
Coming up next: My parents are coming to visit next weekend. The writer's strike is maybe ending soon? (Please? I need more Office!) And Keith and I might go to the Acacia Valentine Formal on Saturday (although i fear footwear may become an issue, perhaps even a deciding factor, my poor ankle).
I was so glad to hear from all of you. You make me happy.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
You're playing with my heart! (My update with the overuse of "I" and useless information.)
Happy Birthday Cristina! I’m sorry I am lame and missed it. We really ought to celebrate. Perhaps with fudge? Hmmm… or mocha cake…
I’m also lame and I haven’t updated. Things have been busy around here, but I’m still walking (I did fall not so gracefully on the way to work today when I slipped on a political sign that was buried under the snow, no injury though). River, how's your ankle?
An update? Let’s see…
At church I’ve been working on planning the “Easter Eggstravaganza” event and trying to prepare Sunday school through March so I don’t have to work on it during Eggstravaganza madness. At Strive I’ve been interviewing and scheduling people like crazy, and now that it's back into the groove of things I'm back to research and sending letters. On Fridays I volunteer at St.Martin de Porres House of Hope in the preschool class where we have tea parties, eat ramen, (try to) take naps, and need a lot of help in the bathroom. Hopefully this odd amalgamation of a living is helping me to break the gentle curve of societal norms, as it is a most worthy goal.
This Wednesday my small group at church had a Super Bowl themed pot-luck. It was delicious, but there weren’t any margaritas. I don’t think any small appliances got up and went hiding. There was a crock-pot in action though, and I didn’t check for it at the end of the evening.
At non-work I field phone calls and emails from concerned family members who spend all day looking at wedding dresses online and fretting about hotels in July. I take Natural Family Planning class (fertility awareness is turning out to be pretty cool, although I’m still figuring it out, and figuring what we’ll decide when conception is a real possibility). I go to sleep about the same time my roommates come home. I diligently work on pre-marital counseling homework. I write recommendations and take phone calls regarding Sunday school teachers and Strive employees who want to go do other things. I have a new love for national holidays and teacher development days (not tutoring!). I eat a lot of fried potatoes and pasta (but not together). I cook with the Magic Apartment Cookbook. I listen to of third grade horror stories and try to be encouraging (this week some of Eric’s kids trashed the art room on their way back from piano class, who does that!?!???!!!!) I sleep under a down comforter, down sleeping bag, two blankets, two shirts, pants and a skirt. I wish my roommates would agree to turning the heat up. I waste my time following the primaries, and watching/reading stuff on the internet. (Like freaky stories about “reborn dolls” http://www.aolvideoblog.com/2008/01/08/my-fake-baby/ and important frightening things like “wombs for rent” in India: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/12/27/surrogate_mothers/. ) I’m enjoying a new Hyde Park Produce (although, with the Coop closed, it’s terribly busy). I’m anticipating a new café, a specialty import store, and a Treasure Island grocery coming to HP. I’m becoming a better dishwasher on account of my current roomies. I’m trying to apply for jobs next year, but feeling overwhelmed by current employment.
And mostly, I miss you all madly. I heartily approve of movements towards Chicago for everyone. I want to hear more about the life of a shipping director on crutches, the mafia neighbors and all that occurs in NYC…
Also, I need everyone’s current address. (I wish I were sending something unexpected and exciting, but it’s just for the sake of an invitation that will be sent a long time from now. However, if you email me your address soon, I might just send you something exciting.)
Double also, I finally fixed my profile. Turns out I never was an accountant in Afghanistan.
I’m also lame and I haven’t updated. Things have been busy around here, but I’m still walking (I did fall not so gracefully on the way to work today when I slipped on a political sign that was buried under the snow, no injury though). River, how's your ankle?
An update? Let’s see…
At church I’ve been working on planning the “Easter Eggstravaganza” event and trying to prepare Sunday school through March so I don’t have to work on it during Eggstravaganza madness. At Strive I’ve been interviewing and scheduling people like crazy, and now that it's back into the groove of things I'm back to research and sending letters. On Fridays I volunteer at St.Martin de Porres House of Hope in the preschool class where we have tea parties, eat ramen, (try to) take naps, and need a lot of help in the bathroom. Hopefully this odd amalgamation of a living is helping me to break the gentle curve of societal norms, as it is a most worthy goal.
This Wednesday my small group at church had a Super Bowl themed pot-luck. It was delicious, but there weren’t any margaritas. I don’t think any small appliances got up and went hiding. There was a crock-pot in action though, and I didn’t check for it at the end of the evening.
At non-work I field phone calls and emails from concerned family members who spend all day looking at wedding dresses online and fretting about hotels in July. I take Natural Family Planning class (fertility awareness is turning out to be pretty cool, although I’m still figuring it out, and figuring what we’ll decide when conception is a real possibility). I go to sleep about the same time my roommates come home. I diligently work on pre-marital counseling homework. I write recommendations and take phone calls regarding Sunday school teachers and Strive employees who want to go do other things. I have a new love for national holidays and teacher development days (not tutoring!). I eat a lot of fried potatoes and pasta (but not together). I cook with the Magic Apartment Cookbook. I listen to of third grade horror stories and try to be encouraging (this week some of Eric’s kids trashed the art room on their way back from piano class, who does that!?!???!!!!) I sleep under a down comforter, down sleeping bag, two blankets, two shirts, pants and a skirt. I wish my roommates would agree to turning the heat up. I waste my time following the primaries, and watching/reading stuff on the internet. (Like freaky stories about “reborn dolls” http://www.aolvideoblog.com/2008/01/08/my-fake-baby/ and important frightening things like “wombs for rent” in India: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/12/27/surrogate_mothers/. ) I’m enjoying a new Hyde Park Produce (although, with the Coop closed, it’s terribly busy). I’m anticipating a new café, a specialty import store, and a Treasure Island grocery coming to HP. I’m becoming a better dishwasher on account of my current roomies. I’m trying to apply for jobs next year, but feeling overwhelmed by current employment.
And mostly, I miss you all madly. I heartily approve of movements towards Chicago for everyone. I want to hear more about the life of a shipping director on crutches, the mafia neighbors and all that occurs in NYC…
Also, I need everyone’s current address. (I wish I were sending something unexpected and exciting, but it’s just for the sake of an invitation that will be sent a long time from now. However, if you email me your address soon, I might just send you something exciting.)
Double also, I finally fixed my profile. Turns out I never was an accountant in Afghanistan.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Oops I did it again
I'm posting again! Within a week of my last one! What's happening? Also, I should be slapped for my Britney quote, but that's for another time. I've made the executive decision (over myself) to create my own personal blog.
This is not a secession from this blog, and I hope that it does not spark a civil war amongst us. I will still post here just as sporadically as before! I just have a lot of random things to say and rarely have people to say them to these days. So this new, shiny page will house my word vomit. I've set it up, but have not posted yet; I probably will before the day is over. I will let ya'll know the url and probably post it on facebook or something.
Thank you Laura for your comments and appreciating the xkcd! It sums up my life at this exact moment in time. (I think it's telling you to come visit Chicago, FYI). Also, I'm sorry that you are currently lame. I hope that you're feeling better now. I raise my insulated coffee cup (made from potatoes[!]) to your proclamation to break "the gentle curves of societal norms!"
How are you Mary and you Lizzy?
To all--hopefully soon you will be bored by my inane ramblings in what will probably be stream (flood?) of consciousness writing. My inner monologues are not for the faint of heart.
This is not a secession from this blog, and I hope that it does not spark a civil war amongst us. I will still post here just as sporadically as before! I just have a lot of random things to say and rarely have people to say them to these days. So this new, shiny page will house my word vomit. I've set it up, but have not posted yet; I probably will before the day is over. I will let ya'll know the url and probably post it on facebook or something.
Thank you Laura for your comments and appreciating the xkcd! It sums up my life at this exact moment in time. (I think it's telling you to come visit Chicago, FYI). Also, I'm sorry that you are currently lame. I hope that you're feeling better now. I raise my insulated coffee cup (made from potatoes[!]) to your proclamation to break "the gentle curves of societal norms!"
How are you Mary and you Lizzy?
To all--hopefully soon you will be bored by my inane ramblings in what will probably be stream (flood?) of consciousness writing. My inner monologues are not for the faint of heart.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
So...
le sigh. Keith and I just got home from Pennsylvania. So...Happy Belated Birthday Cristina! I've had an...exciting week. Wednesday morning Keith's grandma passed away. (Not unexpectedly) So I informed my boss and co-worker that I would not be at work on Friday. Then Wednesday evening as I got to Acacia to eat dinner, I fell down the stairs and sprained my ankle. So I spent Thursday on my couch with my foot elevated feeling stupid (and maybe also watching Firefly). I spent the weekend on crutches or propped up in remote corners of rooms full of Keith's relatives or lounging in the backseat of the car as Keith made the 6 hour drive there and back. Now I'm trying desperately to figure out what I could possibly do with my ankle so that I can go to work tomorrow, since my job is impossible if I'm on crutches and there has been no miraculous healing thus far.
So now that I've sent Keith off to CVS in search of a Super Awesome Ankle Brace...I'm just trying not to mope and be frustrated that I can't even unpack or wash all of the dishes that we left from last week. erg.
So after reading Cristina's post and the xkcd, I'm trying to see this situation as a perhaps much needed wake up call from the routine I'd been attempting to pursue this week. Last week was rush week, when had my job been more flexible, I would have gone to Chicago. Instead I was frustrated as I finally understood all of the stereotypes of wives not wanting their husbands to "go out with the guys". Monday (or maybe Sunday?) knowing it would be a late night i stayed home and let Keith have the car, so I wouldn't have to worry about him. that didn't work out so well, when I woke up at 4:45 am and he still wasn't in bed. Luckily he was home by that time and just downstairs, but I decided the rest of the week it would be better if I stayed up and went and picked him up when he was ready to come home. Friday night I finally rented Stardust. Soooo good. I cannot believe it took me this long to watch this movie. Then Saturday Keith was finally free and I made him watch it with me. Then Sunday Keith was busy again, but Claire was back in Ithaca, and I went to a meeting with her for a group of people who are starting an "intentional community" on a goat farm about a half hour from Ithaca. It's kind of a christian commune in a (mostly) not creepy way.
So then Monday Keith started classes, and I found myself rejoicing at being able to get the pattern for what this semester will be like. And now Keith has returned with said ankle brace---yet to be determined if it is Super Awesome--so maybe I can go to work tomorrow after all.
So the point is I miss you guys like crazy, and the bright point of the weekend was when people asked what we're doing after Keith graduates. I said, "I want to go to Chicago because that's where my friends are." (No offense Mary! As soon as I can walk again I'm going to figure out when we can get back to NYC!) And thank you Cristina for your post. Here's to breaking "the gentle curves of societal norms."
So now that I've sent Keith off to CVS in search of a Super Awesome Ankle Brace...I'm just trying not to mope and be frustrated that I can't even unpack or wash all of the dishes that we left from last week. erg.
So after reading Cristina's post and the xkcd, I'm trying to see this situation as a perhaps much needed wake up call from the routine I'd been attempting to pursue this week. Last week was rush week, when had my job been more flexible, I would have gone to Chicago. Instead I was frustrated as I finally understood all of the stereotypes of wives not wanting their husbands to "go out with the guys". Monday (or maybe Sunday?) knowing it would be a late night i stayed home and let Keith have the car, so I wouldn't have to worry about him. that didn't work out so well, when I woke up at 4:45 am and he still wasn't in bed. Luckily he was home by that time and just downstairs, but I decided the rest of the week it would be better if I stayed up and went and picked him up when he was ready to come home. Friday night I finally rented Stardust. Soooo good. I cannot believe it took me this long to watch this movie. Then Saturday Keith was finally free and I made him watch it with me. Then Sunday Keith was busy again, but Claire was back in Ithaca, and I went to a meeting with her for a group of people who are starting an "intentional community" on a goat farm about a half hour from Ithaca. It's kind of a christian commune in a (mostly) not creepy way.
So then Monday Keith started classes, and I found myself rejoicing at being able to get the pattern for what this semester will be like. And now Keith has returned with said ankle brace---yet to be determined if it is Super Awesome--so maybe I can go to work tomorrow after all.
So the point is I miss you guys like crazy, and the bright point of the weekend was when people asked what we're doing after Keith graduates. I said, "I want to go to Chicago because that's where my friends are." (No offense Mary! As soon as I can walk again I'm going to figure out when we can get back to NYC!) And thank you Cristina for your post. Here's to breaking "the gentle curves of societal norms."
Friday, January 25, 2008
http://xkcd.com/137/
Things that I am currently thinking about:
Words that I dislike, yet feel compelled to use in everyday speech (in varying degrees of usage frequency): "discombobulate," "literally," "stick-to-it-ive-ness," "melange," "like," "cornucopia," "uber," and "totally."
Crushes on fictional characters: Jim Halpert (was there any doubt?), Wash (see Jim Halpert), Eisenheim (Edward Norton in The Illusionist), Hector (I always root for the underdog), and Batman (seriously, who wouldn't?)
Main characters in my screenplay: Patrick & Becky Collins. I'm actually a lot more like Patrick than Becky.
Current screenplay length: Roughly 30 pages.
Songs on repeat in my iPod during the past two morning bus rides: "Rebellion (Lies)"-Arcade Fire, "Such Great Heights"-The Postal Service, "Telescope Eyes" & "Marvelous Things"-Eisley, and "Sounds Like a Personal Problem"-Ghost of the Robot.
Currently reading: Self-Made Man by Norah Vincent.
Also, it's very cold outside.
Words that I dislike, yet feel compelled to use in everyday speech (in varying degrees of usage frequency): "discombobulate," "literally," "stick-to-it-ive-ness," "melange," "like," "cornucopia," "uber," and "totally."
Crushes on fictional characters: Jim Halpert (was there any doubt?), Wash (see Jim Halpert), Eisenheim (Edward Norton in The Illusionist), Hector (I always root for the underdog), and Batman (seriously, who wouldn't?)
Main characters in my screenplay: Patrick & Becky Collins. I'm actually a lot more like Patrick than Becky.
Current screenplay length: Roughly 30 pages.
Songs on repeat in my iPod during the past two morning bus rides: "Rebellion (Lies)"-Arcade Fire, "Such Great Heights"-The Postal Service, "Telescope Eyes" & "Marvelous Things"-Eisley, and "Sounds Like a Personal Problem"-Ghost of the Robot.
Currently reading: Self-Made Man by Norah Vincent.
Also, it's very cold outside.
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