Read or your librarian will kick your ass...

Stolen from Middle

2009-01-27T13:41:33Z

The first seven people anywhere in the world to respond to this post will get something created by me. It will be personalized for you.

You have no clue what it's going to be.

I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

I don't normally tell people to repost, but because of the creative demands of this meme, if you don't repost within 24 hours of your comment, I must take you off the list.

Please note that I'm not known for my craftiness, so the beauty/usefulness of anything you get from me may be dubious. It will not be a cat. It might be made of cat fur, which I have in abundance.

Maybe one every THREE months...

2008-07-25T14:49:17Z

Well, the move to Philly was accomplished, and integration of my two cats into And's three cat household more successful than I had hoped. Spent a very blissful few weeks being disturbingly domestic, gardening, cooking, generally running errands and whatnot. I found it a nice way to relax after my escape from NYC. New York and I kind of broke up, and we didn't talk for a while, but now we're ok with each other. We're like friends who send Christmas and birthday cards.

The road trip has been the highlight of the summer. Some pictures are on facebook and myspace, but not all because my laptop ran out of disk space and I can't upload all our pictures! We drove from Philadelphia to Oregon in four days (intense) and then went north to Seattle and LaConner, Washington. When we came back south, we stopped in Portland, where our friend's father - a man we'd never met - gave us $220 cash and a BMW (our friend is a recent Portland-Philly transplant, so we drove his car back for him and he paid for half the gas). It was pretty sweet. Coming home it was just Anders and I, and we took our time, hitting Yellowstone, the Badlands, Devils Tower, Crazy Horse Monument, and Wall Drug along the way. I think that was my favorite part of the trip, aside from the time we spent in Ashland, OR. To camp, and hike, and be outside and together but alone was very nice.

When we came home I bought a bike, and I've been riding to the library almost every day. Am in the market for people to bike with!

Sadly, we will not be going to Burning Man, however. Three weeks on the road with gas prices the way they are cost us a lot of money, and it wouldn't be financially responsible to go this year. I've never been, but I miss it. While driving through northern Nevada, we were just on the opposite side of the mountain range that surrounds the playa...the closest I've yet come! But, with the money we get from selling our tickets we're going to start saving for next year, and go camping in Acadia for a long weekend, which will be much cheaper than flying to SF and spending a week in the desert.

Have begun applying for jobs, but am always on the lookout. If your company is hiring, let me know! To that end, it's time to stop messing about on the internet and go get some work!

One about every six months ought to do it.

2008-04-15T23:48:00Z

Since I just posted a comment on a fairly "controversial" thread concerning the dear Mr. Perry, I figured I'd better update a bit so all the slavering masses who come to tear me a new one for sticking up for him have something to sink their teeth into.

So here it is:

Still a grad-school drop out, still in NYC.But not for long.
Have quit my job, last day is May 23. Moving to Philadelphia on May 24.
No longer poly, seeing as one of my two moved back to San Fran, and I was losing interest in it anyway. Open but monogamous relationships: do they exist? Stay tuned and find out, cause that's kind of what's happening.
Along that vein, am moving in with my partner, at least until the fall, when I will have time to get my own place.

And what am I doing in between May 24 and The Fall, you ask? I'm happy to tell you.

On or around June 16, my partner Anders, our friend JessRocket, and myself will be leaving to drive to Oregon. This may also include time in California, Washington, and Wyoming (for the Rainbow Gathering).
In July I might come back and think about looking for a job.
In August, we're going to Burning Man. That's right, I'm voluntarily going to live in a tent in the desert with 50,000 other freeks for a week, and I can't wait.

Once again, I'm downsizing. So if there's anything of mine you want, let me know, cause I'm in the mood to give it away.

Um...

2007-11-09T02:55:58Z

Long time no post. So here's what happened: I walked out on my life.

I dumped my boyfriend, moved out of my apartment in Park Slope and into a loft with two room mates in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, I took a leave of absence from grad school, and I am experimenting with a polyamorous approach to dating.

Any questions?

De mortuis nil nisi bonum

2007-04-12T20:36:19Z

"Say nothing but good of the dead."

I just read about the death of Kurt Vonnegut last night here in NY. I didn't read very many of his works, but those I did I thoroughly enjoyed. EPICAC actually made me cry. The world of literature will be a sadder, less colorful place for his passing.

From today's New York Times:
"His last book, in 2005, was a collection of biographical essays, “A Man Without a Country.” It, too, was a best seller.It concludes with a poem written by Mr. Vonnegut called “Requiem,” which has these closing lines:

'When the last living thing
has died on account of us,
how poetical it would be
if Earth could say,
in a voice floating up
perhaps
from the floor
of the Grand Canyon,
“It is done.”
People did not like it here.'"

So it goes. Rest in peace, Mr. Vonnegut.

Farewell, my concubine!

2007-04-12T18:42:28Z

My bank sent me a new debit card today. I didn't ask them for one, I guess they just thought it was time. I like it because it's bright orange and kinda funky looking. But I had to have a moment of silence for my old one (which was a lovely blue) because it saw me through many a purchase... Booze, books, etc. It certainly served me well. I was very sad to have to cut it into pieces. Reminded me of Old Yeller.

Here's what's up

2007-04-05T03:47:23Z

Bad things:
~Today is the seven year anniversary of my father's passing.
~I've not been getting enough sleep lately, and so have been tired and cranky a lot in the past week.
~Although I've been going to the gym three times a week for over a month now, I haven't seen any real reduction in the giggliness of my wiggliness.
~Work is frustrating because our sales girls are annoying, lazy bitches.

Good things:
~Easter is coming, which means I get to see my mom. It will be the first time she and Toxic's family spend any real amount of time together.
~I'll be in Italy from May 24 - June 17. Mostly in Florence, but I'm going to spend a weekend in Rome with my class and another weekend in Assisi visiting Toxic's brother Mike, who is a Franciscan Friar at the cathedral there (yes, really).
~I was able to get into both of the classes I want to take in the fall (Conservation& Preservation and Management of Archives).
~We're going to Maine for a week in mid-August, which makes me indescribably happy.
~I can sleep until 9:30 tomorrow morning, which is three whole hours later than usual.

Good Night!

Et tu, Brute!

2007-03-15T19:00:39Z

Beware the Ides of March!

Brutal.

2007-03-07T18:12:54Z

I think Danielle and Joe especially will get a kick out of this.

If I had known eight years ago that this would exist now, I would totally have stuck with ballet.

This gallery of photos is particularly impressive.

And I just realized that they performed with Opeth...but I missed it. :(

Long Time Comin'

2007-03-06T05:19:59Z

I know, I know, it's been a while. But I've just beed really freakin' busy! Between work, school, volunteering, and now the gym (three times a week for at least an hour!) life's pretty full.
Good things:
1.Since Toxic and I have found a nice, reasonably priced, not filled with beautiful people gym, I feel less like a slowly inflating balloon.
2. This month I will finally pay off the rest of my credit card balance from the Christmas season
3. Once that's done, I can start saving some money for a vacation this summer (Tess and I are thinking Montreal)
4. I've been spending more time with Jonny L and the "Brooklyn crew" (as I call them) as well as with my school friends, which makes me feel like I really have a life here.

Bad things:
1. My advisor screwed me over by allowing me to register for a class I didn't have the prereqs for, which (because the class didn't begin meeting until nearly midterm) resulted in me having to drop without being able to add something else instead, and now Pratt doesn't want to refund the cost of the course because this happened after the drop/add period.
2. Toxic's oldest friend and our close neighbor, Dan , who Toxic reconnected with when we moved to Park Slope, just took a new job and moved to Seattle.
3. I have very little free time during the week, and soon I will have to give up our movie evenings to write papers.
4. Toxic is currently on a business trip to Philly for the week, so I'm home alone. :(

Other than that, nothing much else is new. My mom's coming to visit on Wednesday, and I'm very excited. My cousin and his partner also visited for the first time this weekend. I hope they come back when there's less going on (there was a birthday party on the Upper West Side Friday) so they can see more of NY and I can spend more time with them.

Oh, and because I no longer have that one class (which met on weekends) I can now go see Steel Magnolias at Moravian. Any other takers? I think I'll go to the Saturday evening performance.

Time for bed!

Goal For The Week

2007-02-13T04:55:42Z

My goal for this week is to get down to New York Sports Club on 9th St. at 5th Ave. and check it out. Toxic and I have decided that we're going to team up and lose some pounds. Here's why I want to:

In the past 10 months I have quit smoking, moved to a city where I walk everywhere and generally am much more active than I used to be, stopped taking hormone-affecting medication, started taking a daily women's multi-vitamin, have made a concious effort to get the proper amount of calcium in my diet each day, switched to a high fiber heart healthy cereal, began to take a more adult interest in looking nice and mature for work each day, began volunteering (both of which I believe immeasurably raise one's happiness and well-being level), eaten more vegetables, and tried my hardest to avoid unhealthy foods (but because I love dessert so much, this has been tough).

And I somehow gained ten pounds. What a screw job, huh?

Toxic also has quit smoking and begun to eat more healthy foods (today he informed me that he's giving up soda, which means I am too).

So we decided that since neither of us can jog (bad knees) and we can't afford bikes right now (and where would we keep them? there's already two bikes in the hall which belong to our neighbors and never get used) that perhaps we should join a gym. I have no idea what's happened to me since I moved to NY...this past summer I was jogging every day, until my knees and shins gave out and I couldn't walk for three days. Then I switched to power-walking interspersed with short sprints (there's a Scandinavian word for that, but I can't remember it). Tess and I were talking about this phenomenon today at work. Back in high school and also I guess college, people exercised so they could look good and fit in. But now that we're getting older, we're doing it to feel more healthy and to generally invest in our well-being. I want to live a long time, and I want my honey to live a long time, and so we do these things. It makes me happy but it also amazes me. I feel so grown up, to be thinking ahead to my future health, and that's odd.

I know one of the reasons we both gained at least some weight has got to be the quitting smoking. One day I was down on myself for gaining so much, and my mom told me that when she quit 40 years ago she didn't change anything else and automatically gained ten pounds. Price you pay for a longer life, I guess. When you don't smoke, you're body's not working as hard to clean out all the shit in your lungs, so you gain weight.

So that's my goal for the week, and the explanation, lest you old friends think I've finally gone off my rocker. I'm not sure if we'll join the gym yet, but I'd like to see what they have to offer and how much it will cost. I know that if I pay for it and have Toxic to go with me and badger me, I'll stick to it much better than I would on my own (who am I kidding, I wouldn't do it at all on my own). When it gets warmer and lighter in the evenings, Tess and I are going to walk in the park after work.

Plans, plans, plans. I'll keep you posted on my new healthy-self regimen!

Fabulous Birthday Weekend

2007-02-07T04:10:00Z

Last night Toxic and I got home frm Vermont, and for the first time since we moved to the city, I was disappointed to return. Even the sight of Manhattan from the Verrazano Bridge couldn’t cheer me. It was just such a great weekend.

Thursday Toxic and I got a little bit of a late start (2 pm instead of 1) but managed to make it to Stratton Mountain, where my Aunt Sharon lives, by around 6:30. My mom and Don were already there, and Sharon’s very sweet Italian beau, Franco, had dinner almost ready. I showed Toxic around the house, which had changed a lot since I was last there fgive years ago. Newly remodeled bathroom and kitchen, which were totally gorgeous. I told my mom that when Toxic and I get a house and she needs inspiration for a house warming gift, she should just talk to Sharon. We all sat down to dinner together. Franco had made Cornish hens with garlic mashed potatoes and string beans. It was delicious. After dinner we had cake and coffee, and I opened my gifts. Mom got me a really rad pair of green Keen sneakers, a couple books and a very lovely bracelet. She also managed to find a watch pendant necklace for $3 at an antique store. I’ve been wanting one. All it needed was a new battery! Don brought me a t-shirt, a bookmark and a skull tchotchke from Brazil, where he was recently for his son’s wedding. Sharon and Franco gave me some cash and two free lift tickets, which was greatly, greatly appreciated, since lift tickets are rather dear. Toxic had given me his gift already. The main part was the couch, which was a Christmas/Birthday gift. But for the actual occasion, he bought me a membership to the Guggenheim. Now we can go to Art After Dark and listen to live music while looking at art! After presents, we had some coffee and watched Pirates of the Caribbean; Dead Man’s Chest until we were all tired.

Friday we got up early and all had breakfast. Franco made pancakes with bacon and sausage, and some really bitchin’ coffee. After we ate, we got ready to hit the mountain. My mom and Don were going down into the valley to cross country ski. Sharon and Franco and Toxic and I went over to the base lodge, where Toxic was able to rent a pair of ski blades (Solomons…probably nicer than mine Line ones, and certainly newer, but not nearly as brutal). We went first to the bunny slope, since Toxic hadn’t had a pair of skis on his feet in about ten years, and had had knee surgery besides. I re-taught him how to ski, and it must be a testament to my teaching skill that he picked it up again quickly, and didn’t injure himself all weekend. Once he was comfortable with the easy slopes, we moved on to bigger things. We even took the gondola to the summit to enjoy the nice long run down. I told him about my first time on that gondola. I was maybe five or six, and I was terrified of it. It goes really fast, all the way to the top, which to a six year old looks about as far away as the moon, and scarily steep and covered with snow. But my dad decreed that I was going to go on the gondola with him, my mother, my aunt, and the guy she was dating at the time. A big family trip to the top. I cried the whole way up. But when we got up there, I found that the summit was actually big enough to be nearly flat for a long stretch, before it started to slope down enough to ski. The adults went slogging along, but I was too short to keep up. So my dad made me stand in front of him and picked me up underneath the arms, and skied along with me dangling in front of him. Which was great, until my 250 pound, six-foot-five father tripped and fell, landing right on top of me. I guilted him about it for the rest of our trip. But I’ve not been scared of the gondola since. Anyway, we stayed until the mountain closed that day at four (they don’t do night skiing at Stratton). At which point we went back to Sharon and Franco’s house and got ready for dinner. Sharon gave me some jewelry that her ex husband had given her and she didn’t want any more. She said, “I always thought this was particularly garish, but you can have the stones reset!”. I realized that I’m Sharon’s only niece. Her only brother’s only child. Which I guess makes our relationship special. When I was younger, I have to admit I didn’t like Sharon very much. And I don’t think she liked me much either. But as I get older I appreciate her more and more. My mom was pointing out all her good qualities: she’s very knowledgeable about a wide range of things, she can talk to anyone, she’s got a great sense of humor, she’s adventurous and always up for anything. She’s very much like my dad was in all those things. My mom’s theory is that Sharon likes me so much because I’m also very like my father. People used to mistake me for Sharon’s daughter, and it doesn’t surprise me to think about it now. Aaaanyway, it started snowing while we were getting ready, and by the time we left for dinner at 6:15, there was two inches on the ground. We went to this neat restaurant called the Red Fox Inn, which is in the middle of nowhere inside a big old barn. I had a killer (no pun intended, Danielle) rack of lamb with mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, beets and veggies. And then some űber-rich flourless chocolate torte. By the time we left, there was nearly six inches of snow on the ground and it was still going. It was really beautiful. But Toxic’s car couldn’t make it back up the mountain access road, so we had to leave it at the bottom. Once we were all safe inside, we had some vodka tonics and watched Little Miss Sunshine.

Saturday we had to have breakfast on the fly, because the last piece of Sharon and Franco’s kitchen was due to arrive between 9:30 and 10. The last piece being a 700 pound, $5000 slab of marble countertop. It’s a good thing we all stayed, because without Don and Franco’s help, they men never could have gotten it down. Once it was in place, Toxic and I left for the mountain. Sharon and Franco were staying home to put the kitchen back in order, so we got to use Sharon’s VIP parking pass and park right under the lodge. She also gave us coupons for our tickets, which made them $20 apiece instead of a billion (and by a billion, I mean 80). The mountain was more crowded since it was a weekend, but even so it wasn’t too bad. We did a few runs at the front, then made our way over to the Sunbowl, on the other side of the mountain. The Sunbowl’s usually less crowded because the trails are smaller and more difficult, and it’s kind of a pain to get to. And there was hardly anyone there, it was nice. We stayed over there until Toxic’s knee started to feel tired, and we decided to call it a day. But we got in a few more nice runs in making our way back to the main lodge. I was really sad to leave, but by the time we actually did the mountain was closing anyway. Saturday night Franco cooked again, making pasta with shrimp, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, tomatoes, and a bunch of other yummy stuff. For dessert we had some very tasty apple pie with Ben and Jerry’s vanilla ice cream. After dinner we started to watch The Breakup, but Sharon and Franco went to bed early because Sharon had to work on Sunday. I was really touched that she agreed to work a Sunday to have off on Friday for my birthday. While my mom and Don watched the breakup, Toxic and I spent about twenty minutes soaking in Sharon’s Jacuzzi, then went to bed.

Sunday we slept in a little bit and then had a light breakfast. Sharon had traded with some one to have Friday off, so she was at work. We said our goodbyes to Franco and then went to the mountain, where Sharon works in a ski shop, to say goodbye to her. She gave me her employee discount on a bunch of super-warm Smartwool socks and a hat with headphones built into the earflaps. It’s really nifty. For the first time in a long time, I told Sharon I love her. I hope she realizes that I really do love her, I don’t just use her for her house.

Once we had bid fair well to Sharon we followed my mom and Don to Manchester, where we ate lunch and did some shopping. There’s a bunch of high-end outlet stores in Manchester. I managed to stay away from J. Crew, but I tried on some things in Banana Republic. Unfortunately, the dress I tried there made me look like a fat horrible cow, which depressed me and spoiled the rest of the shopping trip. I wasn’t even able to enjoy the bookstore, which had been remodeled since the last time I was there, and was even more interesting. I want to go back and spend some proper time browsing there, of fretting about why I move to New York, instantly start getting more exercise just from walking, and gain ten pounds. When my mom had had her fill, she and Don headed for home, while Toxic and I went to EMS in an attempt to salvage my mood. Nothing puts me back in a good mood like outdoor gear, especially when it’s on sale. I got a really cute and warm fleece vest hoody and a humongous backpack that matches the bag I bought at the beginning of last summer. It’s big enough for me to use as an overnight pack, which is what I needed it for. And it was on sale for only $20!!

Sunday when we finally got home we had pizza and watched the rest of Pirate of the Caribbean, and then went to sleep. I was happy to get home, but I really miss Vermont. I wish we lived closer, and that I had a schedule more conducive to taking ski weekends. I had such a nice time with my mom and my aunt and every one. I have to send them all thank-you cards.

Monday was back to the grind, work as usual. Although the boss is finally getting serious, and asked Tess and I to answer the phone instead of letting people leave voicemails and calling them back. And he said we shouldn’t run errands together anymore. We’ll see how long that lasts. Supposedly he’s going to talk to me about expanding my duties on Wednesday or Friday, but we’ll see if he remembers.

Today I went to RFB&D in the morning and read for the first time. It was really awesome, even though I don’t like the sound of my recorded voice. Being in a soundproof room is very strange. You don’t realize how much of your voice is made up of its own echo, until the echo is taken away. The woman who was listening to me read said I was doing an excellent job. I’m very excited to go next week and see what kind of book I’ll be reading. Today is was a college vocabulary textbook that seemed more geared towards 7^th graders. I didn’t know they still taught vocab in college!

Tomorrow is another day at work, and then Thursday at the terrible, horrible, very bad, no good library, which I’m trying not to think about. This coming weekend, another birthday celebration for my city crew!

All in al, a really excellent birthday weekend. Yay Birthday!

Birthday!

2007-01-31T04:47:22Z

In case anyone forgot, the national holiday that is my birthday is on Thursday. Yay, birthday! I love birthdays - mine and other people's. When I met Evan, and discovered he didn't like his birthday, I had to make a physical effort to not make birthday madness. Last year for Toxic's birthday I treated him to one night in a swank hotel and a filet mignon dinner (he ended up ordering a huge hamburger, but he could have had filet mignon if he wanted!).

I've only ever had one really shitty birthday. My seventeenth. Which was oddly also one of the better ones, because I got my driver's license that day. Strange how that works out.

Aaaanyway, I just wanted to let everyone know because I'm really excited. I'll be away for the weekend following my birthday, but in case anyone wanted to throw me a surprise party, I don't have plans for Saturday the 10th...

Meme

2007-01-30T17:52:05Z

Swiped this from Evan, because I am desperately trying to avoid reading the most tear-jerkingly mind numbingly boring and terribly written textbook ever.

1. Is your second toe longer than your first?
Yes. And it means I'm smart.

2. Do you have a favorite type of pen?
Black, roller-ball (not ball point), preferably gel ink, medium or fine point.

3. Look at your calendar for March 14, what are you doing?
Who knows? It's the Wednesday during my spring break, so I could be anywhere.

4. What color are your toenails usually?
Pink?

5. What was the last thing you highlighted?
Probably something in my reading from when I was in college.

6. What color are your bedroom curtains?
Cream.

7. What color are the seats in your car?
Well, they were beige when it was new. Now they're kinda mottled, ten years in. But I hardly ever see my car anymore. :(

8. Have you ever had a black and white cat?
I currently have a black AND a white cat. Well, Seamus is mostly white.

9. What is the last thing you put a stamp on?
A postcard to my mom that I bought at MoMA on Saturday.

10. Do you know anyone who lives in Wyoming?
Thankfully, no. Because if I did I might have to visit them.

11. Why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time?
Probably to get some food or beer at a bodega somewhere.

12. Who is the last baby that you held?
Molly, Toxic's niece!

13. Do you know of any twins with rhyming names?
Actually, I kinda do. My cousins are Irish twins (born less than a year apart) and their names are Shane and Duane. And my aunt didn't even do it on purpose.

14. Do you like Cinnamon toothpaste?
No.

15. What kind of car were you driving 2 years ago?
My dark blue, 1999 Volkswagen Beetle!

16. Pick one: Miami Hurricanes or Florida Gators.
Meh. I guess the Hurricanes since that's what Evan picked. Although I saw them get their asses handed to them by the Flyers last year.

17. Last time you went to Six Flags?
High school?

18. Do you have any wallpaper in your house/apartment?
Nope.

19. Closest thing to you that is yellow?
Post Its.

20. Last person to give you a business card?
Tess.

21. Who is the last person you wrote a check to?
My credit card company.

22. Closest framed picture to you?
My diploma.

23. Last time you had someone cook for you?
Last night my honey made me pizza and asparagus.

24. You ever applied for welfare?
Thankfully, no.

25. How many emails do you have?
None, I just checked.

26. Last time you received flowers from someone?
A couple months ago.

27. Do you think the sanctity of marriage is meant for only a man & woman?
That's absurd.

28. Do you bite your nails?
Only if I have a hang nail that's really annoying and I can't find a pair of nail clippers. But never if I'm on the subway or out in the city, because it's filthy.

29. Do you play air guitar?
My air guitar is so good, it might as well be real.

30. Do you take anything in your coffee?
Milk or cream and a little bit of sugar, on the rare occasions when I drink coffee.

31. Do you have any Willow Tree figurines?
I don't even know what they are.

32. What is your high school's rival mascot?
It was a tiger.

33. Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?
No, but I really want to. Great date idea.

34. Last time you used hand sanitizer?
Saturday.

35. Would you like to learn to play the drums?
Once again, my air drums are so good they might as well be real.

36. What color are the blinds in your living room?
There aren't any. There's Victorian-era built in shutters that are white.

37. What is in your inbox at work?
Probably some really strange request from my boss.

38. Last thing you read in the newspaper?
Saddam Swings! (I don't read the newspaper very often)

39. What was the last pageant you attended?
Does Vespers count?

40. What is the last place you bought pizza from?
Some place down on 5th ave.

41. Have you ever worn a crown?
I have a wide array of crowns that I wear for state functions. Sometimes my good pal Lizzy II comes over and borrows one for one of HER state functions.

42. What is the last thing you stapled?
Paper.

43. Did you ever drink Clear Pepsi?
Blech x 2. Pepsi + clear = gross on both fronts.

44. Are you ticklish?
Only when I'm in a good mood.

45. Last time you saw fireworks?
New Year's Eve.

46. Last time you had a Krispy Kreme donut?
At some rest stop in PA about six months ago?

47. Who is the last person that sent you a text message that you actually responded to?
Lea.

48. Last time you parked under a carport?
I don't believe I've ever done.

49. Do you have a black dog?
Nope.

50. Do you have any pickles in your fridge?
Not a one.

51. Are you an aunt or uncle?
Well, kind of. Toxic's nieces and nephews have started calling me Aunt Christine, which makes me really happy.

52. Who has the prettiest eyes that you know of?
Tough one. Toxic's are the bluest I've ever seen aside from my mom's and dad's. My Aunt Christine's are green though, which is just beautiful.

53. Last time you saw a semi truck?
Nearly mowing me down on Lexington Ave. yesterday.

54. Do you remember Ugly Kid Joe?
Can't say I do.

55. Do you have a little black dress?
I do! But I need a new one, I'm getting tired of the old one.

Busy Bee

2007-01-22T05:26:53Z

First week of class and work is over and done. There are some things I’m really pleased with, and some things I’m not happy with at all.

The new job is great. Working with Tess is a lot of fun, and there’s never a dull moment. There’s always something for me to do, often running an errand for the boss, which means I get to take walks in the middle of the day, which is nice. And if there’s nothing for me to do, Tess is apt to tell me to “hang out for a little bit. Download some new wallpaper”. On Fridays the boss buys lunch, which is totally sweet.

Working at Pratt’s library for that four hours a week really sucks though. I got there on Thursday and my first thought was, “Why did I agree to come back here?” I could have been working another full day at the publishing company, instead of four piddly hours, or better yet I could have had a whole day off during the week in which to get homework done. I like being able to do no work on the weekends. But I’m stuck there now. To add to the shit factor of that job, for the first two hours I’m on the reference desk with the librarian I can’t stand. This guy is a complete douchebag. I hate the way he looks, the way he talks, the way he treats patrons. He speaks to them as if they’re idiots; really talking down to them. Granted, half the time the people who come to the desk are idiots, but that doesn’t mean you can treat them as such. So I think my modus operandi for the first half of my shift will be to find pressing needs to be elsewhere, which won’t be hard. The periodicals always need straightening, and there’s certainly always carts that need to be shelved because there’s no institutional organization or supervision at Pratt, so books go unshelved for weeks since the undergrad employees won’t do anything unless you order them to. For the second two hours of my shift, I’m on the desk with Kevin, who is a really nice Canadian guy. He also happens to be a superbly friendly and attentive librarian, and his voice is nice to listen to, so I like hanging around with him for a couple hours. The poor guy. He moved to NYC from Vancouver to take this job, and I think now that he’s seen the terrible wasteland that is Pratt’s undergrad library he’s horrified at what he’s done.

I sometimes am embarrassed (make that all the time) by how bad the undergrad library is. The SILS (school of information and library science) department is a lot better, although recently they did refuse to give tenure to a really gifted professor, for reasons unknown. Fear not, however, the quality of my education at Pratt is fine. It’s the quality of my employment there that blows.

My classes (the two that I’ve had so far; the third doesn’t meet until Feb. 24 and only meets five times – 9am to 6pm on Feb. 24 and 25, Mar. 24 and 25, and April 14) are looking good. Cataloging seems like it will be predictably and reassuringly dull. Basically I think I’ll be learning the Dewey Decimal system. Not just how to find things in it (I re-taught myself that when I realized Pratt’s library still operates on it) but how to read it. Each decimal stands for a different section of whatever topic you’re in. That’s what you get when a crackpot anti-Semite decides that all human knowledge can be divided into only ten categories. I’m not find of Melville Dewey. But the class won’t be too bad. The second, Principles of Records Management, comes at a very opportune time. I can already tell that my new boss is the most unorganized person I’ve ever met. His whole life is scattered, right down to his personal belongings scattered about the three apartments we’re currently using as office space. One of my jobs will be to organize the company records, so this records management course is in the nick of time.

I was going to include a bit about my weekend, which was spent going to PA for Danielle’s birthday party. But it’s really late and I have to get up early tomorrow. Highlights were girl talk, sushi, Danielle and I both getting each other beeswax for our birthdays (last time got together we talked about how we both miss the smell of beeswax at Vespers) and getting to meet her Scranton friend Amanda. Oh, and the sexy party of course.

Nighty night.

A Week of Firsts

2007-01-16T16:34:26Z

Yesterday was my first day at my new job. It went pretty well. I spent the whole day creating member biographies, which basically means I put their information into our database and make usernames and passwords for them so they can use said database. It's the kind of thing that would be pretty boring, if I didn't have Tess to talk to while doing it.

Tess is technically my boss, but I've known her for about 17 years. We grew up together. My desk faces hers, so it's easy for us to gossip while working. The office was really dead yesterday. Normally, there would be me and Tess, three or four sales people, the creepy computer guy, and Sousa. I don't know what Sousa does. He's a tall jolly Hispanic guy who I only met once. But since yesterday was MLK day, work was optional. So for most of the day it was me and Tess, and Rebekah, one of the salesgirls. She seemed really nice. I felt bad for her, because she's not very good on the phone, and she works on commission. One of the other salesgirls came in for about three hours and sold three subscriptions.

I have to admit I'm a little bothered by what we're doing. It's not telemarketing, but it's not not telemarketing. Well, I don't do any of that. Basically, this is how it goes. Somehow, the company gets ahold of the names of a few thousand realtors from all over the world. They're the ones who are going to be in the book, Who's Who in Real Estate. The sales people then call all of these people to get their biography: area of expertise, industry awards or honors, etc. But in the process of getting that info, they try to sell them a copy of the book. If they buy a "membership", their biography is included in the book for multiple years (5 years or for their lifetime, depending on how much money they spend). If they don't buy a membership, they still go in the book, but only for this current edition.

On one hand, I don't like listening to the sales people trying to be pushy and sell, sell, sell. But there are a couple things on the other hand that mitigate this. One, these are realtors. They're certainly guilty of being pushy to make a sale. Two, (and more importantly) the book does provide a service as far as networking goes. I think what really bothered me yesterday was the second salesgirl, Denise. She's really funny, and very nice, but when she's on the phone with potential members, she does this weird Jekyll and Hyde thing. Her phone voice is really great. She sounds very friendly and professional. But if her pitch isn't going well, she'll put the phone on mute so the person on the other end can't hear her, and then start calling them a cunt, or a fucking whore, or a fat ugly bastard or something equally terrible. The first time she did it, I was idly listening while typing, and I hear "Ok ma'am, now what would you call the highlight of your career? Lick my ass, bitch!" I looked at Tess, who was calmly putting together welcome packets as if this was normal. Apparently it is, Denise does it all the time. It makes me uncomfortable to hear people badmouthed like that, without them even knowing, while they're going on about the awards they've received and what their hobbies are. I've met some pretty oily realtors in my life, and I get uncomfortable when they do their realtor thing, but I don't think anyone deserves to be called a fag because they like to garden. I guess Denise is just the kind of person I would enjoy joking with, but wouldn't trust behind my back. I'll have to learn to tune her out. Other than that, the day went fine. I'm just doing office stuff and editorial tasks, so I'm not sucking the blood out of anyone.

Today is my first day of classes for the semester. I have cataloging this afternoon. I think this might be the most challenging course I'll have to take. According to a friend of mine, cataloging was the only MLS course he got less than an A in when he was in school. But I have some friends who took the course with the same professor last semester, so if I need to beg some tutoring I can.

Earlier this week (well actually late last week, but within the last seven days) I did my first stint of volunteering for RFB&D (Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic). It was really cool. The organization records textbooks and other print material for the use of those who are blind or have print disorders like dyslexia. Unlike books on tape, RFB&D books can be navigated by section, chapter, or page, and any illustrations, footnotes, glossaries, etc. are recorded as well. If there's a picture, the reader describes it in detail. It's quite cool. I decided to volunteer there, because two of my very good friends have severe dyslexia, and used RFB&D throughout their high school years. Now they're both in excellent colleges (Lehigh and Moravian!). Their father was telling me about RFB&D, he reads for them now as a way to give back. So I decided I'd do it too. I get to feel like I'm doing good things for others, just by reading a book!

Incidentally, RFB&D has recording studios all over the US. If there's one near you, you should check it out. They're very friendly and flexible, and they only ask for two hours a week of your time. Go here: www.rfbd.org.

So that's my week of firsts. I have to go do some reading before class...the textbook is really, really boring. I hope I do well this semester. I'm taking real classes now, not just introductory ones (well, two real ones and one final introductory one) and I hope the workload doesn't overwhelm me, now that I have a real work/volunteer schedule.

C.

Cool or worrisome?

2007-01-11T16:50:03Z

Today I read an article on American Libraries Direct about the Washington office of the ALA , which has created a cyber version of itself in Second Life.

I can't decide whether I think that's a hip and sensible use of a new technology that's sweeping the nation, helping to bring library services to users where they are; or whether I find it a worrisome deviation from what the true purpose of a library should be, and an unnecessary encouragement of a possibly unhealthy and addictive escapist game.

Maybe both?

In the same AL Direct, I found a link to this NY Times article about Second Life and distance learning. Once I had a conversation with Bonnie Falla about distance learning programs. She took a distance learning course once, and told me that the success of a distance learning program relies largely upon the program and interface the school uses. Maybe Second Life is a valid option?

New Job!

2007-01-10T19:39:11Z

Today I was hired as an editorial assistant (I don't really have a job title, but that's close) at Monclair Publishing in Manhattan. One of my oldest friends happens to be the editor in chief, and she needed a new assistant. So I'm it.

Pratt library was screwing me as far as hours were concerned. I told them that I wanted to work more than the 10 hours/week they gave me last semester. I understand that they need to try to accommodate everyone, but what they offered me was unacceptable. 8 hours a week. Four of which I refuse to work, because they're at night, which is the only time during the week I get to see Toxic.

I'm still working four hours a week at Pratt, just so I can keep it on my resume, but I'll be spending three days a week at Montclair, where I know that I will like my boss because I grew up with her, and where I know she won't give me any shit.

Whee, well-paying non-bullshit work!

To celebrate, I'm going to see if I can find a pair of comfortable, flat, non-sneaker work shoes. The only dress code requirement at my new office is no t-shirts and no sneakers (but even that is ill-enforced - when I went for my interview this morning, two of the sales girls were wearing t-shirts and sweatpants).

Off I go!

It's Always a Planet to Me...

2007-01-09T21:47:50Z

Poor Pluto. It had a rough year. From planet status it was downgraded to that of "dwarf planet" because some other little interlopers had the nerve to appear in the galaxy and get rowdy enough to warrant their own classification. And before Pluto knew what was happening, it too was lumped together with the glorified meteors and comets. Trans-Neptunian objects, my foot.

Well, cheer up Pluto. Not only will I always think of you as a planet, you inspired the American Dialect Society's Word of the Year!

"to Pluto/be Plutoed: to demote or devalue someone or something, as happened to the former planet Pluto when the General Assembly of the International Astronimical Union decided Pluto no longer met its definition of a planet."

I imagine Pluto sadly moving all its intergalactic office supplies into the storage closet in the celestial basement, right next to Milton and the Swingline stapler.

For the BBC article on the Pluto-inspired word:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6240055.stm

For the American Dialect Society press release and honorable mentions:
http://www.americandialect.org/
(notables include "murse" or man-purse; "lancing" - the forced outing of a closeted gay celebrity, after Lance Bass; and Fed-Ex, or Kevin Federline)

Happy New Year?

2007-01-02T17:24:29Z

My New Year's Eve left something to be desired, due to the fact that about four hours before the partying should have begun, I came down with a horrendous case of either food poisoning or a 24 hour bug. I made it to one party, at Matt Smyth's house, so that I could see everyone and say hello. But then I had to come home, where I spent the rest of the evening worshipping at the porcelain altar. I made Toxic go out though. An old friend of his had come to visit from Virginia, and I A) didn't want to ruin his night and B) would have been embarassed for a near-stranger to see me in such a state.

Silver lining: At mignight, when I was lying in bed feeling nauseous and sorry for myself, I heard loud booming from outside. I looked out the window but couldn't see anything. Ao I put on a coat and shoes and dragged my sorry ass to the corner, where I was treated to a great view of a huge fireworks display being launched from the park. Twenty feet from my front door, a perfect viewing spot. Next year, I want to have a party here so we can watch fireworks.

I didn't make any New Year's resolutions, but there are some things I want to work on, now that I think about it.
#1 NOT get violently ill on New Year's Eve.
#2 Continue to work hard at school.
#3 Make more money so I can rely more on myself and less on my mother for things like rent.
#4 Continue to work on being more patient and calm during stressful moments and arguments.
#5 Is private, but very important.

Toxic had to go back to work today, after having the week between Christmas and New Year's off. I really miss having him around. :( Thankfully, my mom's coming our to visit for Thursday and Friday, so we can pal around together. I'm taking her to see the Bodies Exhibition, which she'll be fascinated by.

Must go run errands. Happy 2007, everyone.
C.

Break stuff

2006-12-28T17:52:26Z

I really like being able to sit at home all day with Toxic, even though he has to study for most of the day. Christmas was good. We saw my father's side of td his he family on Christmas Eve. I think the high point was when my cousin Duane's parental authority was clotheslined by his angelic looking six year old daughter. He was trying to corral his four children (ages 10,8,6 and 4) to leave, and his three daughters appeared with their shoes on but unbuckled.
Duane (to Lilah): Tie your shoes!
Lilah: No! (And she ran off in the other direction, smiling brightly and giggling.)
Me: Clearly, Duane, you are a figure of authority in their world.
Duane: (to me, with an embarassed look on his face) You know, she only did that because she knows I won't beat her in front of other people!

Christmas Day got off to a hectic start. I got up and opened my stocking (as a kid I was allowed to open my stocking before my parents were awake - their way of keeping me amused so they could sleep in for another half hour or so while the stocking contents kept me busy). Once Toxic and my mom and Don were awake and alive (of course, Don had been up since 5 am) we opened presents. Then my aunt and her boyfriend came over, and we opened some more presents. Then Toxic and I got in the car and drove to PA to see his parents.

Most of his siblings had been there Christmas Eve, but we got to see his sisters Kate and Mary, and his brother John. (Catholic family = Tom Sr. and Mary and their kids Tom Jr., Joseph, Michael, Katherine, John, Mary and Matthew). It was actually really nice. We had a KILLER meal - turkey and all the fixins, and then just hung out. It was possible the most low-key evening I ever spent with his family. His mom didn't even try to take our picture! I played chess with his sister Mary (she won) and then Toxic played his brother in law Jim while Mary, Kate, his mom and I played Scrabble. It was really wholesome. So much so that I'm tempted to make fun of it, but I really enjoyed myself so I won't.

The day after Christmas I went with my mom to the doctor, and on the way back we stopped at the mall, where my favorite store had some killer deals on clothes I wanted. Later that evening, Toxic and I came home to Brooklyn, where we're catsitting for the week. Other than having to go check on my friend's kittne every day, we've been doing a whole lot of nothing. We did go to Manhattan for sushi last night though, and on the way home stopped to see the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. It was really nice.

I'll miss Toxic when he has to go back to work next week. :(

Happy New Year and such,
C.

Yay!

2006-12-22T19:30:25Z

Title announced for book 7:

"Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows"!

Ridiculously excited. There's not even a release date yet.

Poll: Who thinks Rowling will bitch out and let Harry Live? Who thinks he'll have to die as a martyr to the cause of good vs. evil?

On the one hand, I want him to live (and happily ever after, at that) because I like him, but on the other, his death would certainly be meaningful, and it would basically change the way children's and young adult literature is written. I know Mike McCartney has extremely well thought out points to make on each side of the issue, but he's harder to get ahold of than an eel in a barrel of canola oil, so I rely on everyone else for some stimulating Potteresque debate.

C.

In the words of 343 Guilty Spark...

2006-12-22T04:31:31Z

"I am a genuis. Ha ha ha ha!"

Ok, it was a Halo joke, but I couldn't resist. Grades for the semester are in.
Intro to Information Professions: A
Reference Services and Sources: A
Information Technologies (the worst class in the world): A

With all those As under my belt, I am ready for next semester. But first I'd like to veg out and get fat eating Christmas cookies for a few weeks, a process I've already commenced.

In the past week, I have baked more cookies than in the past five years combined. And what's more, I actually enjoyed it. It's a good feeling to give people yummies and watch them enjoy. And I'm not really getting fat. I just go through girly phases where I suffer from dissatisfaction with my appearance, but I think dieting is ridiculous and unhealthy for mind and body, and I already get more exercise just walking around my daily life than I did before moving to NY. So usually when this girly "does this make me look fat?" mood hits, I bitch about myself a bit and then lie down until it passes. Who was it that said, "Whenever I feel the urge to exercise, I lie down until it passes"? Wise words.

Aaanyway, I'm happy about my grades and excited to see various sides of both our families for Christmas.

Tomorrow Middle is coming out, and we're going to make something to bring to Jon's party. Then get dolled up in our Christmas finery and head out to Williamsburg for some Holly Jolliness. Saturday is a gathering at Tess and Nathan's, where I'll probably see some people from high school that I haven't run across in about two years.

I have to go find the FHQWGADS (or however you spell it) Strong Bad email to show Toxic. He's never seen it.
Happy Holidays, all.

What I ruminated on last night

2006-12-14T03:36:44Z

WARNING! Pseudo-sappy personal reflection post ahead.

Last night as I was trying to fall asleep (I ate a coffee-toffee cookie bar that wired me) I was thinking about life. I thought how very quaint my life is now. Certainly not what I might have expected. His and hers vitamins in the bathroom and all that. But it satisfies me and makes me very happy. And that lead me to a very clear, concise thought:

I am very blessed.

Not in the religious sense, but in the 'damn, I'm lucky' sense. In all my life, there has been only one true mar to happiness; the death of my father when he was only 54 and I 16. But even that, in the end, has resulted in some silver lining. The inheritance my father left behind has enabled my mother to live comfortably in a house renovated to her exact desires, and has allowed me to get (and continue with) a top notch education, without owing a single cent to anyone. That's a huge gift. Certainly, I would give back every year of college and do anything to have my father back and have him live to a ripe old age, but with what he left behind my mother and I have done things he would be very happy about.

I have wonderful friends who are fun and supportive and intelligent. I have a boyfriend I adore. I live in a beautiful apartment in a wonderful, safe neighborhood. When I thought about all this last night, I thought how thankful I am for it all. And how maybe I don't make that known often enough.

I could easily have ended up another home-town failure like many of the people I went to high school with. I could have handled my father's death differently and allowed it to dictate the tenor of the rest of my life. In a way I have allowed that, but fortunately it only served to make me want to succeed, not to turn to drugs or alcohol (at least not permanently...there was a time when I abused certain materials but it was always - I think - more recreational than theraputic, but it may have been subconcious). Regardless, I overcame that period remarkably quickly and easily. I guess I have a risilient personality. My grieving for my dad was somewhat delayed, but I did eventually do it (freshman year of college). And yet, going back to my original point, I was fortunate enough to wind up here, instead of failing at life. It wasn't a concious effort to get where I am, it just seems that I was, well, blessed.

I'm not a religious person. I think everyone who knows me well knows that. But I think that I do believe in guardian angels. I have no other way to explain the peculiar combination of luck, drive, and serendipity that have created my world. I'm just glad that they did. I don't take my life for granted, which is another thing I'm thankful for. I know enough to know that I am fortunate.

More Scandinavian Goodness

2006-12-13T18:24:30Z

Bork! Bork! Bork!

Hooray for the first Swede in space, Christer Fuglesang!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6172325.stm

Today's just a banner day for promoting Scandic countries... Come on Finland and Norway!