Ummmm...yes. So I'm exhausted and I've been home for nearly two hours after a super long day, yet I'm sitting cross-legged in my room with my back starting to cramp up, wide awake for no good reason at 2:17am, staring at a screen.
Hooray, hooray, for our very own newly-installed wireless internet!!!
Friday, August 26, 2005
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Trains, planes, boats, and the Chinatown Bus.
I feel like I've been such a blog slacker, but we got internet installed today, so hopefully that will all change. Still, it's been long enough that I think I need to do a few updates.
Recent events, in order of occurrence:
Dad and Marg win!
Hooraaaaaay, first place! Best Daddy-Daughter race ever! Besides the race, I got to hang with my parents, Annie, Brendan, and Dan and Cedar, who are the hippest cousins ever and have a swank new condo.
Soon after being in Boston for the race, I hopped a flight to San Francisco...wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. So I get off the plane after a 6-hour flight and Brian is there to meet me. If that's not great enough, he soon hands me a piece of paper with a map on it and directions to an address downtown. He was working the next day, so he instructed me to go to the address at 11am and tell them my name. When I got there it turned out to be a spa and he had surprised me with a massage appointment! Whaaaaa...?!! I mean, really. Don't forget, the last time I saw him he organized a surprise birthday party, so pretty much all of my friends want to marry him at this point. Anyway, the entire week was lovely, not because of the surprise spa thing but because we actually got to spend time together after a ridiculous five weeks apart. The week was filled with really good meals and pretty sights, and I would have been completely devastated to leave if it weren't for the fact that I was going to be in Chicago only a week and a half later. Woot!
Now it's back to NYC and all that, getting settled, for realz. Our final roommate moved in last night! That's right, Graham arrived from Michigan around 9:30pm (and unloaded a ridiculously small amount of stuff, compared to what the rest of us brought). This morning he and I rocked out to Spanish pop in the living room. It's so nice to have him here. Also, Abbey was in town and brightened all of our lives for a few short days (and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Reefs was reunited at last).
And oh, oh, oh! I think I got a job! It's not official, but I might now have a part time position as the activities specialist (though I prefer "activities guru") at an after-school program in Brooklyn. Basically I get to decide what's fun and do it. Word. More on that as it progresses, but many thanks to the Borkins for facilitating that one.
Recent events, in order of occurrence:
Dad and Marg win!
Hooraaaaaay, first place! Best Daddy-Daughter race ever! Besides the race, I got to hang with my parents, Annie, Brendan, and Dan and Cedar, who are the hippest cousins ever and have a swank new condo.
Soon after being in Boston for the race, I hopped a flight to San Francisco...wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. So I get off the plane after a 6-hour flight and Brian is there to meet me. If that's not great enough, he soon hands me a piece of paper with a map on it and directions to an address downtown. He was working the next day, so he instructed me to go to the address at 11am and tell them my name. When I got there it turned out to be a spa and he had surprised me with a massage appointment! Whaaaaa...?!! I mean, really. Don't forget, the last time I saw him he organized a surprise birthday party, so pretty much all of my friends want to marry him at this point. Anyway, the entire week was lovely, not because of the surprise spa thing but because we actually got to spend time together after a ridiculous five weeks apart. The week was filled with really good meals and pretty sights, and I would have been completely devastated to leave if it weren't for the fact that I was going to be in Chicago only a week and a half later. Woot!
Now it's back to NYC and all that, getting settled, for realz. Our final roommate moved in last night! That's right, Graham arrived from Michigan around 9:30pm (and unloaded a ridiculously small amount of stuff, compared to what the rest of us brought). This morning he and I rocked out to Spanish pop in the living room. It's so nice to have him here. Also, Abbey was in town and brightened all of our lives for a few short days (and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Reefs was reunited at last).
And oh, oh, oh! I think I got a job! It's not official, but I might now have a part time position as the activities specialist (though I prefer "activities guru") at an after-school program in Brooklyn. Basically I get to decide what's fun and do it. Word. More on that as it progresses, but many thanks to the Borkins for facilitating that one.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Excitement!
Here are some cool things going on in my life:
1. Five days until San Francisco!
2. Andrew is back in NYC! He and Susie and I played around the Village and Lower East Side yesterday. Our afternoon included a yummy vegetarian lunch at Red Bamboo, a rather long walk to find a missing backpack, a very early and extrememly inexpensive happy hour, and McFlurries. It's so exciting to have him here, and to hear about his crazy summer as a Marine chaplain.
3. I finished my first grad school class by turning in my final paper yesterday. That was exciting, and I felt like I did a pretty good job and learned a lot. Hooray.
4. I got a carpet for my room! That's really only exciting to a few people, but it's really nice that that complicated quest is over.
Now for the next month, I get to row in a race with my father, go visit Brian (holy crap, it will have been five weeks without seeing each other by the time I get there--I am soooooooo excited), and then go home for a wacky family reunion in the form of my uncle's 50th birthday, all before classes begin after Labor Day.
1. Five days until San Francisco!
2. Andrew is back in NYC! He and Susie and I played around the Village and Lower East Side yesterday. Our afternoon included a yummy vegetarian lunch at Red Bamboo, a rather long walk to find a missing backpack, a very early and extrememly inexpensive happy hour, and McFlurries. It's so exciting to have him here, and to hear about his crazy summer as a Marine chaplain.
3. I finished my first grad school class by turning in my final paper yesterday. That was exciting, and I felt like I did a pretty good job and learned a lot. Hooray.
4. I got a carpet for my room! That's really only exciting to a few people, but it's really nice that that complicated quest is over.
Now for the next month, I get to row in a race with my father, go visit Brian (holy crap, it will have been five weeks without seeing each other by the time I get there--I am soooooooo excited), and then go home for a wacky family reunion in the form of my uncle's 50th birthday, all before classes begin after Labor Day.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Take this train.
I just checked my blog to see if it had been updated. As if someone else might have done it.
Anyway, things are trucking along...I've been going to class and reading about research methods. I've been hanging out with lovely people like Zachary and Dr. Science and my sister and her boyfriend, Brendan. I've given directions to people on the subway and street. That's exciting, though I'm convinced it may have more to do with my midwestern approachability than anything that makes me look like a New Yorker. Oh, and I got hit on the head (painfully, but not at all seriously) on the subway late the other night, on purpose, by one of a group of obnoxious teenage specimens. That was awesome. It was one of the most humiliating and infuriating experiences of my life (and I blubbered about it for a while afterwards--poor Brian who answered the phone to a sniffling, sobbing me). But if that's the case, things could be a lot worse. I swore I would get angry at anyone who laughed when I told them the story, but I find myself laughing with them now...
Oh, and I registered for classes. That was exciting and nerve-wracking. So I'm all set. My saintly father arrives this weekend with all our stuff and we begin the final phase of the move.
Anyway, things are trucking along...I've been going to class and reading about research methods. I've been hanging out with lovely people like Zachary and Dr. Science and my sister and her boyfriend, Brendan. I've given directions to people on the subway and street. That's exciting, though I'm convinced it may have more to do with my midwestern approachability than anything that makes me look like a New Yorker. Oh, and I got hit on the head (painfully, but not at all seriously) on the subway late the other night, on purpose, by one of a group of obnoxious teenage specimens. That was awesome. It was one of the most humiliating and infuriating experiences of my life (and I blubbered about it for a while afterwards--poor Brian who answered the phone to a sniffling, sobbing me). But if that's the case, things could be a lot worse. I swore I would get angry at anyone who laughed when I told them the story, but I find myself laughing with them now...
Oh, and I registered for classes. That was exciting and nerve-wracking. So I'm all set. My saintly father arrives this weekend with all our stuff and we begin the final phase of the move.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Time Out!
I'm sitting across from my sister, who is all gussied up and fancy to go out tonight, and she's reading all sorts of potential cool and exciting things we could do this weekend from TimeOutNY, like a million different activities and festivals and shows, and I am trying not to sweat too much and my hair is everywhere and my clothes are hanging off of me all weird because of so much walking around in the heat with a really heavy awkward bag, and all I can think of is how relieved I am that I can go to bed soonish, but not until I wash the blackness of the day off of my filthy feet...
And all that sounds bad, but really it's quite good. For example:
Washington Square
Also, here's an interesting thing!! Check out MediaKid.org for some really interesting perspectives on media and kids. Sooo great, Cedar!
And all that sounds bad, but really it's quite good. For example:
Washington Square
This is the view from the study lounge where I spent several hours today and yesterday!
Also, here's an interesting thing!! Check out MediaKid.org for some really interesting perspectives on media and kids. Sooo great, Cedar!
Damn hot!
I am sitting in Annie's adorable but sweltering kitchen, drinking coffee and psyching myself up for a day of work. Not the kind of work where you get paid, but the kind of work where you read for many hours and then type for many hours.
Do I have a paper and a monologue due tomorrow? Yes.
Did I arrive at 1am on Monday? Also yes.
It's not that bad, just fast-paced because the class I'm in is only for an intensive 3 weeks. It's exciting to actually, finally be doing this, and to be sitting in class and actually contributing. (Really! I raised my hand and talked yesterday and even provoked a follow-up question from the professor!) And I certainly have time for the work, it's not like I'm doing anything else except experiencing a new city, but whatever! Plenty of time for that, right?
Also: Thank goodness for Dr. Science! Man, was I happy to see him, finally!
Do I have a paper and a monologue due tomorrow? Yes.
Did I arrive at 1am on Monday? Also yes.
It's not that bad, just fast-paced because the class I'm in is only for an intensive 3 weeks. It's exciting to actually, finally be doing this, and to be sitting in class and actually contributing. (Really! I raised my hand and talked yesterday and even provoked a follow-up question from the professor!) And I certainly have time for the work, it's not like I'm doing anything else except experiencing a new city, but whatever! Plenty of time for that, right?
Also: Thank goodness for Dr. Science! Man, was I happy to see him, finally!
Friday, July 15, 2005
Life updates.
So the big thing is, I'm moving to New York on Sunday. I can't even begin to address the weirdness of that transition, so I'll just leave it at that and update when I get there.
Last weekend Brian came into town for my birthday, and managed to plan and pull off a complete surprise birthday dinner for me, even when he did all the planning from way out in San Francisco. He even got my high school friends there! It was SO much fun, and I just kept looking at him in disbelief the whole night. The best part was that I never suspected a thing, even when I knew he had talked to at least two of my friends on the phone, I just believed the crap they fed me as excuses. I love surprises!
I'm so lucky.
Last weekend Brian came into town for my birthday, and managed to plan and pull off a complete surprise birthday dinner for me, even when he did all the planning from way out in San Francisco. He even got my high school friends there! It was SO much fun, and I just kept looking at him in disbelief the whole night. The best part was that I never suspected a thing, even when I knew he had talked to at least two of my friends on the phone, I just believed the crap they fed me as excuses. I love surprises!
I'm so lucky.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Almost famous.
On the way back from getting a drink around the corner, Taylor and I walked down Thomas Street (the block parallel to my street), because there have been all kinds of movie trucks there for the past two days. It turns out they're filming only at night, and we saw Will Farrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal rehearsing a scene for "Stranger Than Fiction." It was cool to see-- apparently Dustin Hoffman is in the film too. The presence of this kind of production is ridiculous though, they just descend on a three-block radius with like 25 massive trucks and trailers, and then they use a positively minute space where they create some sort of environment for the scenes to take place.
So it seems to be quite the movie season in Chicago these days...Abbey and I walked past a set for the Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn film downtown this afternoon too. Then we walked into the Apple store and Abbey kept pretending she was Jennifer Aniston's assistant, and that she was there to buy "Jen" an iPod.
In other news, Brian comes into town in 24 hours, and I couldn't be more excited.
So it seems to be quite the movie season in Chicago these days...Abbey and I walked past a set for the Jennifer Aniston/Vince Vaughn film downtown this afternoon too. Then we walked into the Apple store and Abbey kept pretending she was Jennifer Aniston's assistant, and that she was there to buy "Jen" an iPod.
In other news, Brian comes into town in 24 hours, and I couldn't be more excited.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
There's even a solarium.
Holy crap, we found an apartment in New York. More importantly, the owners of that apartment let us have it!
Considering all the possibilities, our search was relatively short and painless. Except for all the pain, and by that I mean the 95-degree weather with 100% humidity, and my constant anxiety. But it's all done now, and we will be living in a charming, well-located place in Astoria. More to come later.
I will now be regressing and moving in with my parents for a couple of weeks. Thank god.
Considering all the possibilities, our search was relatively short and painless. Except for all the pain, and by that I mean the 95-degree weather with 100% humidity, and my constant anxiety. But it's all done now, and we will be living in a charming, well-located place in Astoria. More to come later.
I will now be regressing and moving in with my parents for a couple of weeks. Thank god.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
My trip.
So I had pretty spotty internet access, AND I was enjoying the lovely California sights, so I neglected to post travel updates as they happened. Oh well.
I did get some cool pictures though, so those will follow...
PCH beautiful vista #1 of 1000
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
After leaving L.A. and getting on Highway 1, we saw a whole lotta this, which is freaking amazing to prairie-raised midwesterners like us. You know what ELSE is amazing to us?
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
Seals!!! That's right, I think we saw this after we left Santa Barbara, but maybe just before. Either way, we just pulled over to what looked like a beautiful place to see the ocean, and what do we encounter? About 50 elephant seals on the beach. The males were actually fighting to gain access to the females for mating, while the lady seals just sunned themselves lazily on the beach.
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
Freakin' SEALS, man!!
After all this excitement, we drove from Santa Barbara to Monterey, rode bikes, saw more seals and ocean (neither of which EVER get old), ate as many crepes as possible, then drove to our final destination: the Bay Area. Too bad we both had to go back to reality. Those 10 days were damn near perfect.
I did get some cool pictures though, so those will follow...
PCH beautiful vista #1 of 1000
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
After leaving L.A. and getting on Highway 1, we saw a whole lotta this, which is freaking amazing to prairie-raised midwesterners like us. You know what ELSE is amazing to us?
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
Seals!!! That's right, I think we saw this after we left Santa Barbara, but maybe just before. Either way, we just pulled over to what looked like a beautiful place to see the ocean, and what do we encounter? About 50 elephant seals on the beach. The males were actually fighting to gain access to the females for mating, while the lady seals just sunned themselves lazily on the beach.
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
Freakin' SEALS, man!!
After all this excitement, we drove from Santa Barbara to Monterey, rode bikes, saw more seals and ocean (neither of which EVER get old), ate as many crepes as possible, then drove to our final destination: the Bay Area. Too bad we both had to go back to reality. Those 10 days were damn near perfect.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Death by Peacock
I may or may not have been attacked by this peacock just seconds after this photo was taken.
San Diego was lovely. We visited the zoo and Balboa Park, saw some very large aircraft carriers, explored the beach in La Jolla, and hung out with my dear friend Erica.
Now we're in L.A. We were planning on just driving through, but Santa Monica was really nice, so we decided to stay a night. Contrary to what everyone ever has said, I really dig L.A. so far. On top of everything, we got to stay for free in a ridiculously beautiful hotel, which is a long story, but my dad is here on business so we lucked out, big time! Last night we ate at Eurochow, a place that looks like it sounds. I think the most notable culinary delight of the evening, however, were the $1 homemade ice cream-cookie sandwiches at Didi Riese in Westwood. Wtf?!! Why isn't this everywhere?
We're going to the beach now.
Mmmm...gluttony...
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
San Diego was lovely. We visited the zoo and Balboa Park, saw some very large aircraft carriers, explored the beach in La Jolla, and hung out with my dear friend Erica.
Now we're in L.A. We were planning on just driving through, but Santa Monica was really nice, so we decided to stay a night. Contrary to what everyone ever has said, I really dig L.A. so far. On top of everything, we got to stay for free in a ridiculously beautiful hotel, which is a long story, but my dad is here on business so we lucked out, big time! Last night we ate at Eurochow, a place that looks like it sounds. I think the most notable culinary delight of the evening, however, were the $1 homemade ice cream-cookie sandwiches at Didi Riese in Westwood. Wtf?!! Why isn't this everywhere?
We're going to the beach now.
Mmmm...gluttony...
Originally uploaded by Margusie.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
California looks like my kitchen!
You may remember (or not), that yours truly was supposed to be in California as of this morning. Tragically, I am not. Before I explain, however, I just have to put this out there: did YOU know that United flies out of any Chicago airport other than O'Hare? No, that's right, you didn't. Thank you.
FYI, for the last month, the annoyingly-marketed "Ted" (as IF I want the lame United Junior airline to pretend it's my "friend") has been flying out of Midway Airport. But neither of us knew that until, of course, we were at O'Hare at 5:30 am. Thank goodness for my father, who saved our lives by chauffering and feeding us throughout the harrowing beginning of this ordeal, and for Brian's parents, who helped us immensely when we were getting new flights. Long story short, after waiting two more hours we discovered that we are not cool enough to merit standby, so we thumbed our noses, went home, and got tickets to San Diego on Southwest. We love them.
So the hopefully exciting stories that will come out of this trip have yet to begin. Our plans changed--for the better, we're convinced--because we're now starting in San Diego instead of trying to get there and back from the Bay area. I'll post pictures and news soon.
FYI, for the last month, the annoyingly-marketed "Ted" (as IF I want the lame United Junior airline to pretend it's my "friend") has been flying out of Midway Airport. But neither of us knew that until, of course, we were at O'Hare at 5:30 am. Thank goodness for my father, who saved our lives by chauffering and feeding us throughout the harrowing beginning of this ordeal, and for Brian's parents, who helped us immensely when we were getting new flights. Long story short, after waiting two more hours we discovered that we are not cool enough to merit standby, so we thumbed our noses, went home, and got tickets to San Diego on Southwest. We love them.
So the hopefully exciting stories that will come out of this trip have yet to begin. Our plans changed--for the better, we're convinced--because we're now starting in San Diego instead of trying to get there and back from the Bay area. I'll post pictures and news soon.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Everybody just keeps trying to feed me...
Today is supposed to be my last day at work. I should be free right now.
So what the crap am I still doing here?
Eh, well. I guess I can't complain-- lunch on the bosses, well-wishers, it's not a bad distraction from the horrifically boring task of sorting through my millions of computer files...I'm going to miss these people, they're ridiculously nice.
So what the crap am I still doing here?
Eh, well. I guess I can't complain-- lunch on the bosses, well-wishers, it's not a bad distraction from the horrifically boring task of sorting through my millions of computer files...I'm going to miss these people, they're ridiculously nice.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Por fin!
Today is my last full day of work, meaning it's the last day I will have to go to both of my jobs in one day. Tomorrow "all" I have is a sure-to-be chaotic field trip, for which we will ferry 65 screaming children to Navy Pier. At least my mom is coming with. Then next week I have two short days at the hospital, which I plan to spend cleaning out my office (and by cleaning I mean absconding with office supplies), deleting all evidence of my copious web activity from the computer, happily handing other people my files, and getting taken out to lunch.
One of the last things I had to do at the hospital was complete a self-evaluation for my boss, a terrible exercise for which I had to balance my perceptions of their perceptions of how I was as an employee with what I know to be reality. (For example, they think I was busy much of the time, I know that really wasn't the case. Same with my punctuality. No one really noticed that I was usually late to work, but that doesn't mean I can be sure that they would say I "consistently exceeded expectations" in that category.) I had to make sure to give myself a good score, but not too good. I'm not too worried-- I know I did a pretty good job, and besides, I'm convinced that my boss thinks I'm great simply because I find her hilarious (I do), and our meetings have always consisted of at least an extra hour of her storytelling. Ahhh...I'll miss this place. But only a little.
It's my last full day of work and the sun is shining!
So, who wants to get a drink with me tonight?
One of the last things I had to do at the hospital was complete a self-evaluation for my boss, a terrible exercise for which I had to balance my perceptions of their perceptions of how I was as an employee with what I know to be reality. (For example, they think I was busy much of the time, I know that really wasn't the case. Same with my punctuality. No one really noticed that I was usually late to work, but that doesn't mean I can be sure that they would say I "consistently exceeded expectations" in that category.) I had to make sure to give myself a good score, but not too good. I'm not too worried-- I know I did a pretty good job, and besides, I'm convinced that my boss thinks I'm great simply because I find her hilarious (I do), and our meetings have always consisted of at least an extra hour of her storytelling. Ahhh...I'll miss this place. But only a little.
It's my last full day of work and the sun is shining!
So, who wants to get a drink with me tonight?
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Nothing much.
Seriously, anyone know where I could get my shine fixed?
I haven't had the drive to post anything super edgy lately, in case anyone hasn't noticed...
Here are some little things that are making today very nice:
1. Pushing the snooze button 4 times, then resetting the alarm for 20 more minutes.
2. Warm weather, even if it rains.
3. Pretty pictures here.
4. Realizing I only have 8 days left of work.
5. Planning for a trip to California and Baja!!
6. Two words: Mango smoothie.
Monday, May 16, 2005
T minus 14 days.
Yikes! I haven't posted in a while.
Last weekend was fantastically fun-- we spent it running around New York. My sister once again secured her title as the Best Host Ever. She not only let us stay in her lovely apartment and cooked us more than one fantastic meal, but she had a spread of cheese, fruit, and wine waiting for us upon our arrival. At midnight. Brian just about passed out. Anyway, we had tons of fun, saw my friends and his friends, the new MoMA (beautiful), my soon-to-be new school, and pretty much ate the whole time. The mark of a great weekend.
Brewin' it up in Union Square...
This weekend was normal and fun, though I'm ready for it to be consistently warm. Yar. The good news is, TODAY begins my second to last week of work. And we all know the last week doesn't count, so basically this is my last week! Crap, I'm late for work.
Last weekend was fantastically fun-- we spent it running around New York. My sister once again secured her title as the Best Host Ever. She not only let us stay in her lovely apartment and cooked us more than one fantastic meal, but she had a spread of cheese, fruit, and wine waiting for us upon our arrival. At midnight. Brian just about passed out. Anyway, we had tons of fun, saw my friends and his friends, the new MoMA (beautiful), my soon-to-be new school, and pretty much ate the whole time. The mark of a great weekend.
Brewin' it up in Union Square...
This weekend was normal and fun, though I'm ready for it to be consistently warm. Yar. The good news is, TODAY begins my second to last week of work. And we all know the last week doesn't count, so basically this is my last week! Crap, I'm late for work.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Good times.
Oh, that wacky East Quad! SO much time spent there (and as a slacker employee in the Benz Library), I do miss it so...
Thanks to ATF for the article!
Thanks to ATF for the article!
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Fix up, look sharp.
Let it be known that the drama subsided (in my head) about 15 minutes after that last post. It must have helped! Hooray for blogs.
I feel like it's the weekend, as I do every day that I don't have to work at the after-school program. It's not that it's a bad job at all--it's actually quite fun, and when I'm not there I do miss the kids (most of them), but a one-day break from the mental and physical energy needed to do that job is like a tropical vacation sometimes.
That's all, really. No great theme today (as if there ever is). I'm reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and liking it. I like it so much, in fact, that I read it for a bit too long at my desk today. Why is that so much more naughty than reading a million blogs on the internet? I don't know.
Also, we're going to see Dizzee Rascal this weekend at the Double Door. Hooray!
I feel like it's the weekend, as I do every day that I don't have to work at the after-school program. It's not that it's a bad job at all--it's actually quite fun, and when I'm not there I do miss the kids (most of them), but a one-day break from the mental and physical energy needed to do that job is like a tropical vacation sometimes.
That's all, really. No great theme today (as if there ever is). I'm reading A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and liking it. I like it so much, in fact, that I read it for a bit too long at my desk today. Why is that so much more naughty than reading a million blogs on the internet? I don't know.
Also, we're going to see Dizzee Rascal this weekend at the Double Door. Hooray!
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