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[Nov. 1st, 2005|03:06 pm] |
Here's to not updating this in months. In short, my trip out West was great, I had a decent month in ann arbor in June, I did indeed go to China and have a great time, I am now back at Michigan struggling to maintain a sense of time, relativity, balance, sanity, and happiness. I have relatively few good things to say about the semester so far, except that it's more than half over. I spend my time doing the following things:
1) Taking 5 classes: Linguistics, Statistics, Biology, History, and an American Cultures independent study... let's get a hoorah for a diverse education.
2) Working at Couzens Dining Hall
3) My extracurricular life: leader of a conversation group for international graduate students, member of Alternative Weekends--I go to Detroit for one weekend out of every month to spend time/lead educational activities with adolescent girls who have been taken away from their homes due to either abuse or neglect.
4) Eating chocolate: no food group looks appealing anymore unless it involves chocolate.
I have to squeeze in a nap before work at 4:30, so I'm going to abandon the writing until later when my American Cultures homework is done.... |
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[Jun. 9th, 2005|01:51 pm] |
I HATE YOU LIVE JOURNAL.
i just wrote a HUGE thing about my whole road trip and everything and POOF, it was just deleted. |
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[May. 23rd, 2005|03:50 pm] |
idaho here i come! im almost all packed...departure tomorrow is 6am. so far the itinerary looks something like this
Tuesday, May 24: drive to Chicago, dinner on Northwestern campus, continue driving through the night
Wednesday, May 25: keep driving until we reach South Dakota. set up camp somewhere in the afternoon. on the way maybe see things like the Corn Palace, Wall Drugs, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Devil's Tower, the Black Hills. camp somewhere around here.
Thursday, May 26: drive through to Glacier National Park, Montana. set up camp.
Friday, May 27: Ten mile hike to 8,000 ft. summit. hopefully.
Saturday, May 28: Another hike, in the northern corner of the park.
Sunday, May 29: Drive south to Grand Teton National Park. maybe see Yellowstone National Park on the way. camp in the Tetons. call Mel and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Monday, May 30: Drive to Rocky Mountain National Park. camp here.
Tuesday, May 31: Drive to Ann Arbor. Call Allison and say HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
Wednesday, June 1st: Arrive in Ann Arbor at an ungodly hour of the morning. this is where i get off. the rest drive home to b-lo.
This is all incredibly optimistic to me, but everyone else seems to have faith that this is going to work out. I think we will be doing a hell of a lot more driving than we think. As long as I make it back alive and not completely pennyless, I figure I'll be doing ok. It should be pretty awesome to see places I remember seeing when I was 7--I hopefully will be able to appreciate it a little more this time around. On the other hand, the ten mile hike that apparently involves a wade through a stream of waist-deep glacier run-off should not be awesome. We will be on a steady diet of poptarts, swedish fish, raemen noodles, and gatorade. This summer is going to be one to remember probably.
Besides the trip, I have been busy rinsing out my mouth with warm salt water and reading David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day," which is hilarious. I have also been playing with a syringe full of water, contemplating the advantages and disadvantages of a public education, reassessing my opinions on abortion and affirmative action, sleeping for twelve hours a night, doing absurd amounts of laundry and trying to keep up with the mess my dad and brother make since my mom is in Oregon, eating sinfully good Butterwood desserts, and playing Boggle just about non-stop. Boggle is the game where you have to make as many words you can from a combination of dice that show different letters. It's a great game, and although I have tried my best in the challenge, my brother always seems to come out the champion. We've played so many times that we've almost, almost become tired of it, for the simple fact that the same combination of letters frequently appears and so our lists of words look like this, game after game after game:
tee, tees, set, test, tea, teas, let, lets, hat, hate, hates, fat, fate, fates, eat, eats, ate....
Yesterday I went to Youth Sunday at church--it's always great to hear the senior speaches, my brother led the service with the piano, and Ian sang a beauitful song. Then the roadtrip gang had a meeting and made a Wegmans run. I made copious amounts of chocolate chip cookies and later delivered some of them to the Rucinskis... I love going over there. They are the friendlinest people and I always leave smiling and feeling great.
All right, not enough time to write more. I've gotta go shove more stuff into suitcases and run stupid errands--buying hiking boots and picking my mom up from the airport and such.
Wish me luck on the trip, livejournal! |
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[May. 19th, 2005|11:19 pm] |
ive slept away the past five days. surgery tires me out. i havent felt any pain. id pick this any day over getting braces tightened or any of that crap. maybe im speaking too soon since my followup appointment isnt until monday, but so far no complaints. so yes, sleeping is about all i have done. in the few hours ive been awake, i have done the following:
- baked snickerdoodle cookies for my brother
- played a lot of Boggle with my dad and brother
- unpacked/repacked
- watched "Ocean's 12" and "I Am David"
- read "The Nanny Diaries"
- ate a lot of vanilla pudding, and discovered that "Ensure" nutrition shakes are absolutely disgusting
Today I actually spent a good amount of time in my hammock swing reading the New York Times. It was great to have time to read more than the headlines. So many of my classes have touched on subjects that the Times are covering, and I hadn't had time to notice. The series of articles on class have been really intersting, although sometimes lame.
What else...my mom is in Oregon. After our fight in the city, we've been better. Both her and my dad were awesome these past couple days---refreezing cranberries and peas for me to put on my face, making sure the fridge had plenty of apple juice, etc, etc. She also gave me some really pretty earrings that she bought on the cruise, and just as I asked, she has been calling every day just to see how I am.
I'm beginning to realize what a crazy summer I have planned out for myself. I got annoying last night on the phone with Jill because this road trip is so up in the air. I've learned that I am not a spontaneous, easygoing person. I need plans, details, backup plans. I guess I will be in charge of worrying for everyone on this trip. I think most of my anxiety over the trip comes from the fact that I committed to doing something when I didnt really know what it involved. Our trip is lasting longer and costing more than I figured it would..I hadnt really thought any of it through before saying, COUNT ME IN. I am also realizing that I am not going to be home at all. I just got here on Sunday and being home is so nice and relaxing that I would have no problem staying here a few extra days. On the other hand, some quality time with Jill will be awesome and we will be seeing some beautiful, beautiful things.
Time for bed. |
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[May. 15th, 2005|11:25 pm] |
I'M HOME!
after a fun weekend in new york city (minus the argument i had with my mom) with katie and mrs. stocking, im home. the eight hours in the car went by surprisingly fast, and i was awake for every hour, which is virtually unheard of. on friday we went to see "the 25th annual putnam county spelling bee," a hyterical show at the Circle in the Square theater, following a great dinner with aunt barbara. my mom went nuts buying ripoff pashminas and prada purses. saturday we strolled around chinatown, ate at a malaysian restaurant (the whole time im thinking "child labor good, prime minister of malaysia bad"), and then we ate our way through little italy. it was strange leaving new york city after being there for so long--kinda sad. saw my grandparents, they seem to be doing, as my grandpa says, "fair." while my mom went out to long beach for jack's first commmunion party, i took a nap in the green room and ate all the disgusting food in my grandmas house, and then got vinnys of course. its always a little sad to leave their house. i feel my mom getting more and more concerned about their health, more aware that our time with them is getting shorter and shorter. on the way home she even mentioned to mrs. stocking that she thought my grandpa wouldnt live much longer than a year. the meyers family wont be the same without him and all his lovable quirks.
before leaving the city, i submitted an application to transfer to barnard on tuesday. i guess i am the kind of person that will always make things harder on myself than i probably should. anyway, im pretty sure im going to go back to michigan. it bothers me a little that i am choosing michigan, since i cant find a reason supporting my preference. mostly, i think its in the name of comfort and following through on my original intentions, for which i had done extensive psychological, and literal, planning. we'll see. i get the letter tomorrw.
tomorrow i also get my wisdom teeth out. so im a drama queen about health-related issues. i exaggerate and am paranois and overly sensitive, this i know. so here are my concerns: 1) i havent felt well for the past week and am almost certain i have a sinus infection and 2) my dad realized tonight that i probably should have been tested for a bleeding disorder since my brother has deficiencies in factors 9 and 11. also, i have a fear of needles and am terrified of having an IV in my arm, to the point that it makes me cry when i think about it. im weak, hate me. so that should be fun.
if all goes well and i recover in a timely manner, or if i dont get the surgery done, i'll be leaving next tuesday for idaho. kinda concerned about the cost of this trip. didnt really thihnk about the fact that it will cost at least 500 bucks to get there in back just in gas. fantastic, i will be completely broke by the end of the summer. east quad dining hall, please? ahhhhhhhh. i suck.
i guess there is a lot more to tell, but im sick of typing. in short, its great to see my brother (who is undefeated in tennis and had a gbyo concert today) and my cat has a new fresh water fountain thingy for his water dish. more soon. |
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[May. 9th, 2005|10:40 am] |
Well, as of the this morning, my obligations as a visiting student at Barnard have been fulfilled and IT IS SUMMER. To kick it off, here is a livejournal update. First, I'd like to give a shoutout to Becky, known in my phone as "Becky Bc," because she reads my lameass livejournal and is great because she is staying at Barnard. Today she prepped me for my meeting with the lovely Deans by convincing me why this is a great place to be, and how tears never hurt if they are tears of passion and stress and motivation as Barnard woman. Later today I am meeting to talk about applying to transfer. Whoa, Emily, don't even start to freak out about Michigan housing complications yet, I'm just looking to see if I can apply so I can leave my options open. So there is that.
It is GORGEOUS here today. Not a cloud in the sky. Uncle John is coming into the city today, and although he wants to see a show, I have a feeling we will end up at the Yankees game because Monday is Broadway's night off. It'll be good to see him either way.
My grandma Joan is in the hospital in Colorado because she had carotid artery surgery and then had a minor stroke because of the surgery. She is in rehab now to regain speech and movement. It's really strange because I don't know her at all, but am still so sad that I don't know how she's doing. I feel like unless I ask questions to my family, I am always the last one to find out everything. I guess the family bond is strong, becacuse I have definitely been worried about a woman I can only remember seeing about three times.
Saturday night was fun because Walter rented out Nachos for a party and I went with Natalia, who is great, and her boyfriend, who I don't know that well, but I'm sure is great too. Upon our arrival, Tessa introduced me to Alan, her 34-yr-old French friend, who she put in charge of keeping me company, buying me drinks, and introducing me to as many males as possible, in light of my recent reclassification to a single woman. Alan did a good job of staying by my side and buying drinks, but didn't seem to make any move to involve other people. This put a slightly awkward twist on the evening, but it was fun nonetheless.
I have spent the past week in complete devotion to my computer because I have had so much writing to do. Yesterday I spent excessive amounts of time on two law assignments. Luckily, Meriam came to the rescue and we kept each other company, and helpled maintain a reasonable level of sanity throughout the writing process. And hey, just as predicted, it got done. Quality is another issue, I suppose.
The rest of my day today will be spent napping/packing/meeting with the Deans/babysitting/meeting with Uncle John.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdy will hopefully be spent napping/packing/buying gifts for people/seeing the city/getting together with friends for the last time.
Oh yes, and yesterday I went to Riverside Church, which is beautiful. I went with Jill, who also happens to work there with the Orpheus String Quartet. The minister, Dr. Forbes, gave a great Mother's Day sermon about how mother's really just want us to be "happy, healthy, and doing well." He was eloquent, profound, very funny. The choirs were great. I was amazed at how multicultural the congregation was. Afterward Jill showed me Kitchenette, an adorable hole-in-the-wall place where we ate brunch. It is for little places like that that make going to school in New York City great, and it makes the 10 dollars I spent on a tuna sandwich worth it somehow.
Ok, time to clean. I have so much time! I'm sure I'll be updating soon....
ps- I love Allison. |
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[May. 3rd, 2005|07:05 pm] |
I’m sitting outside the library, it’s about 6:30, beautiful day, gorgeous trees in blossom around me—it’s great except for the work I have to do. The past week has once again been visitor-filled. Anthony drove out on Wednesday night. We visited my grandma’s house on Long Island, where she told as many stories as she could, we went to a Yankees game, to Café Lalo, Union Square, FAO Schwartz, the Disney Store, the Sony Technology Lab (a place that is filled with overprotective parents and is a waste of time). We did the gag-me cute stuff, like dinner at an empty Italian restaurant, and a picnic in Union Square. We saw an incredible art exhibit (after I got lost trying to find it) and it was really moving and it made me cry. We met Jill and Crosby in the Village for dinner and then went to the National a cappella Competition at Lincoln Center, thanks to my awesome cousin Donna, who got us free seats to a sold out show. Afterward we all ate cheesecake, so it was my kind of night. We also got to listen to some good live jazz at a small restaurant, which was good.
Anna is coming tomorrow, she’s headed to NYU next semester, so that’s exciting. My brother had his GBYO concert last night. I just had M&Ms and a cup of hot chocolate for dinner.
Who the hell is too mature even for college? Am I really that much of a killjoy? Apparently, yes. I do not know how to have fun, to let go, to relax, to let my guard down, to laugh wholeheartedly. What is wrong with me? Or what is wrong with everyone else? I am not antisocial, just anti-annoying people and anti-drug use. Whatever, some people I’ll never understand.
It got pretty cold all the sudden, and I promised myself I’d be back at the library by 7 so I could get a seat. Lata foos.
Oh, and I think I'm going to go to Idaho this summer too. Cool. |
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[Apr. 25th, 2005|09:27 am] |
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i miss my livejournal....one day soon i will tell you about the great dinner i had last night with kate murray, the good weekend i had with my grandparents, all of the papers i finally finished, and a million other things. for now, whoa--4 more days of Barnard forever. Definitely more to come about thoughts on that, but I am going to miss it a lot. |
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[Apr. 16th, 2005|02:11 pm] |
So it's 2pm and I've been at the library since 10am. I have read 10 pages, that is it. I've spent most of my time sitting here, staring into space and talking on my phone. I am an incredible at wasting time and then getting mad at myself when I don't have time to do anything else. On the other hand, I am one of those people that likes doing work at a slow pace and is usually willing to sacrifice other things. I talk online, take frequent breaks, but eventually it all gets done.
It is another beautiful day in the city..I wonder if there is a way to arrange a lifestyle for myself in the future where I spend June-August in the Northwest, September to December in the Northeast, January to March in South Carolina, and April-May in New York City. Itd be a good way to live, that is for sure.
My mom is in DC, i think visiting the girls today, my brother is out on the golf course, my dad just got back from a bike ride, it is anthony's birthday...all good things, as chris would say.
Yesterday I babysat and Jackie, the five year old girl, was the biggest bitch ever. I never thought I would use the word bitch to describe a five year old, but man, she asked for it. It was so embarrassing when the mom came home and asked her to apologize and Jackie refused. I was just standing in the door, wishing that they had paid be more to compensate for their devil child. Luckily, tonight i am babysitting for Dana for a 4 year old. I get there at 730, she's asleep by 830, its a good deal i figure.
I guess my life this week has been pretty boring. Ive spent most my time reading and writing about fundamentalism and gender. I have come to love Butler. I was there last night until 2am and it was a friday and I was still surrounded by other people that appeared to be somewhat normal. Does this happen at michigan? not that i've seen. apparently getting a seat at the library during finals becomes a vicious competitive sport. ive heard stories about people getting shoved on the floor if they fall asleep to make way for a new person.
alright, back to work. i'm worthless. |
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[Apr. 10th, 2005|09:01 pm] |
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Maybe I’ve been busier, or maybe I’ve just spent all my free time sleeping, but I guess I haven’t been as diligent a live-journaler as I was in the beginning of the semester. Let’s see—so much has happened since I last updated. I went to Michigan again, spontaneous person that I am. And I went for a fraternity event! Who am I? Just kidding, it was a great weekend. Anthony and I made a trip back to Fenton, Emily and Allison and I had some quality time together, and Christina, Anne, and I had a bonding experience over the dying (or not dying) of our hair. I finally had my first drink in Canada, although there is some question as to whether or not any of my drinks had alcohol because I did not feel drunk at all. The evening of the formal was also great because I got to see the stunning Angela and Ramin. I also saw my house for next year—there will definitely be a heated fight over choosing rooms because they are grossly different in size. But it’s a very college-y house and I am getting really excited about it. Overall, the weekend made me really excited to get back to Ann Arbor in the fall. It seems like I was there ages ago, even though I was still there this time last week. Crazy.
Now that I’m back in the city, I’ve realized how little time I have left here, and it makes me a little sad to think of the idea of leaving. Despite the insane amounts of work I have to do, I have kept my stress level down to the point where I only talk about doing this work… and have managed to allow myself to procrastinate in every way possible and enjoy myself. Today was fabulous—the weather has facilitated the good mood I think. I’ve been waking up early and going for a walk/jog in Riverside Park. This morning I took a short jog, then headed down to the Lower East Side Community Garden for an environmental psychology field trip. The sky was so clear that I got a decent-shade of bright bright red. The tour of the different gardens was really interesting and they were nothing like I had pictured. Scattered all over the city are these small plots of land that once were vacant spots. Now the city leases the spaces to community groups for a dollar a year and community members pay a small due to have a flower box space in the gated area. In some gardens there are not separate plots, but it is just a green space with blooming flowers, sometimes there is a small fish pond. Two of the parks, kitty corner to each other, had large willow trees. It was stunning in a unique way to see the juxtaposition of the 1800s tenement housing and the sweeping willow tree that reached over the garden gates and over the sidewalks. I also had the chance to spend some informal time with the 7 girls I’ve had this class with, which was really nice. I talked with Erin and Jill, who both said that the social scene at Barnard is impossible and that they hated it here for the first two years. It made me feel better that I was not the only one that felt the unfriendly atmosphere. I have spent more time with Miriam this weekend too because we have this very obnoxious environmental law assignment. She is like my Barnard “Gabe” (an environmental studies major at Michigan and I am in awe of her coolness and just want to be). I realized that I am going to miss it here a lot—the past weekend I have felt more comfortable here and am getting to know people and wanting to know people more… just as it is time for me to leave. I know this is the way it works, having experienced the same feelings when leaving California and England, but alas, it still surprises me. I will miss the way the sun sets over the Hudson and will miss all of the strangers that keep me company on the subway. I will miss imagining their life stories in my head. I’ll miss the accessibility to great food, to talented street artists, and an admissions office that will answer my phone calls.
Oh, so I applied to a program to go to China for five weeks this summer. I think my Dad may be regretting that he forwarded me the email, but for whatever reason, this is the only summer thing I’ve followed through on. I think that it will be a good combination of my two personalities if everything works out—I will quench my thirst for a crazy new experience and I will satisfy my need to have a relaxing and familiar place to find a stupid job, run, and learn how to throw a Frisbee. I am pretty excited about it all. We shall see.
I promised myself I would start my homework at 9pm, so I have 6 minutes left of procrastination. Today I’ve been master of procrastination. After the field trip Jill and I got a slice of pizza, I met up with Kate Murray and sat in Union Square and splurged on buying a necklace, and I have been talking on the phone and online. So to fill the last minutes of my self-imposed free time, I’ll complete my update with some thoughts on Anthony. After several comments about the lack of information on this not-so mysterious person in my life, perhaps it is time to mention the fact that I miss him everyday. In the past few weeks I’ve come to terms, to some degree of course, with the notion that it is ok to need someone, to want to talk to someone every night before you go to sleep, to smile and send a stupid text message to someone when you see something that reminds you of them. Right now I feel like the time we have had apart has just brought us closer together—as boyfriend and girlfriend, but mostly as friends. I see a lot in him and it makes me smile that I know a lot of the smaller things that make him great.
Ok. It’s 8:59. Lata FOO. |
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[Mar. 29th, 2005|07:03 pm] |
What I wrote on Friday but forgot to post:
Woohoo for Friday. I spent the morning in the market at Union Square. I think it may be one of my favorite places in New York. Now suddenly it is 2:17 and I haven't really done anything. Last night was fun-- Mama Mexico's for quesadillas and drinks. It was a nice way to end a week that was slightly stressful. I just was really anxious. I had work that was due--a midterm, a research paper and I had to lead discussion--but I think it was just post-springbreak blues or something.
Now that it is Tuesday, let me tell you that I had a lovely Easter weekend on Long Island with my grandparents and cousins. I left for Long Island from Union Square, where I had spent the morning. My cousins and I colored eggs, watched the Wizard of Oz, and ate Lucky Charms a lot together. My youngest cousin is so cute that even when she started throwing up she was cute. Maybe not totally. And even though I am approaching twenty, my grandma got me an easter basket so that I had something to open when my little 5 year old cousins woke up. She always manages to pick out crazy stuff that she thinks I will like and I always end up feeling really bad. I learned that my grandpa used to work in a belt factory around Lexington and 12th street and would eat lunch in Union Square frequently. My uncle came and went throughout the weekend--he had to fly to Fort Lauderdale and to California. Sunday my mom and Chris left from Puerto Rico for a cruise that stops in Aruba or Antigua and Venezeula--a little bit jealous about that one. Monday was back to the city and back to school. I babysat in the afternoon, had a lovely dinner from Swish with Dana, then watched a decent movie for psych class on the Hudson River. Today I felt accomplished but wasn't really. I find doing laundry has that effect on me. Went to class, inhaled some pasta, and am about to relocate to write a psych paper for tomorrow afternoon. I did an initial search for summer life earlier today and hopefully will devote Thursday morning to getting applications underway. It's actually amazing how much there is still left out there with deadlines that aren't for another two weeks or so, which is good news. It's down to Boston with Jill or co-op life in Ann Arbor. Somehow I have resigned from my adventurous spirit and realize in the back of my mind that I will end up back at Michigan. Slightly saddenning, but also a chance for me to enjoy it, especially if I'm graduating next year. Gosh. In other news, Anthony has this crazy idea that I should come to Ann Arbor for the weekend for a fraternity formal, I might start tutoring kids at PS 167 or some number like that, and I am reading a book on evangelicalism in America. I'm off to write this paper because something in me makes me think I'm actually going to get up at 6:30 tomorrow morning to go observe the early morning at Union Square. Right. |
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[Mar. 20th, 2005|03:36 pm] |
back to the city in a few hours. i can't say i'm looking forward to it all that much actually. i think i have a feeling of dread because i'm not excited about the work i have to do and the commitments i've made. what happened to the involved and enthusiastic bethany? i do not know but if you find her, tell her im looking for her. the past few days i havent been able to get myself out of this mopey mood. i thought my tiredness was from lack of exercise, but after a rigorous week of working out, i am still exhausted. i slept for 12 hours (10m-10am) last night and just woke up from an hour nap and feel like i could use another one. mono maybe? or a sinus infection? anyway, enough complaining.
actually, no, not enough complaining. i think i hate doctors/dentis assistants. not to generalize, but they are all awful. i think my new favorite hate would go to the assistant at the oral surgeon. after filling out numerous forms with information i know they already have complete and up to date in their computer, i got to watch cnn on their flat screen tv. after waiting for a comfortable amount of time, a woman with scragly hair ushered me into a room and did not waste a minute before she began her spiel on the procedures and risks. i interrupted her a few times so she could come up for air, but this only seemed to agitate her, perhaps because her shtick was better remembered and created with the assumption that patients are simply there to smile and nod. the delivery was flawless, save her in ability to answer anything i asked. like when she said that if they damaged a vein near my teeth, i may experience a tingling sensation in my chin, as if it had fallen asleep. how long would that last i had to ask? oh, that's permanent. as if i was supposed to know that. and was she going to mention that small fact if i hadnt asked? how likely does this happen i wondered? oh, there's no way i can give you statistics! sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesnt. it's never happened in all my time here. oh great, that's reassuring, how long have you been here? oh over two years now. well i'll sleep well the night before that surgery.
i had much better luck at the eye doctor the next morning, where i learned that i do not need glasses yet. i do have a stigmatism in my left eye, but this is nothing i should be concerned about at the time. having never really had an eye exam, or at least not in the past decade, i didnt really know what was going on the whole time. like when he put drops in my eyes to measure the pressure, i told him they felt a little dry afterward. oh yes he said, that's because the drops numb the surface of your eyes for about 20 minutes. maybe im psychotic, but i like knowing what strangers are doing to my body. is it unreasonable to expect someone to tell me that they are numbing me? i guess most clients already know this because they have been there on previous occasions. and like my ethics class discussed, if there are no great risks and its a standard procedure for which the average person is trusting, every detail need not be explained. so ive gone overboard perhaps.
hmm...i bought new running sneakers yesterday in hopes that i will use them. i love the Walker Center because the shoe people actually know about feet and running. im not sure i believe the "you need new shoes every 300 miles" thing, but it worked well as an argument with my mom for her credit card. the noteworthy part of this story is that i was led off the nike/adidas/new balance path and bought sauconys. in the past ive admantly protested saucony on the belief that only white suburban moms over the age of 40 wear saucony sneakers. well, i caved early i guess. whatever. i didnt feel any younger in the produce section of wegmans doing the weekend grocery shopping. whatever. i totally will redeem myself by wearing an ipod and running over 7.0 miles an hour at the gym later, being sure to take a treadmill next to a perspiring senior citizen walking 2.5 miles an hour. just kidding.
i meant to meet with my church pastor this week at church but did not. she scolded me a little bit when i shook her hand after church. the palm sunday service was crowded--the three-timers, the ones that only come out for christmas, palm sunday, and easter showed up. the service was really nice and my usual disgruntle at the "go, be and make disciples of christ" signs was sidetracked by ample opportunities for conversation with people ive also come to see only about three times a year.
all in all, the week was a good one id say. i didnt do any work, but had two great days of skiing, a lovely afternoon with jill at rochester (where i will go to school in my next life), and great meals out with my dad. i got to see my brother perform at the erie county orchestra festival, get coffee with steimey this morning, etc, etc. ive fallen into a pattern of activities each time im home and i think ive succeeded in getting almost everything in. too bad a major goal for the break was to figure out what im doing this summer. ahhh. im getting pretty stressed over that. my dad says not to compare myself to other people, but how can you not be jealous of all your friends when they are going to be living in other countries or cities having a fabulous experience? as of friday, i am living in boston with jill. she will be making the money at harvard's school of public health and she has asked that i work at gap so that i can clothe us at a discount and make us dinner. my dad wasnt altogether thrilled about the fact that hes paying for an education that is leading me to be a star folder of cardigans. ok, time to pack. |
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[Mar. 16th, 2005|07:14 pm] |
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Dinner at the Stockings was fun because Steve drank too much wine and I still could not beat him at pingpong. He had me drive us to Starbucks when we decided to go out for coffee after dinner. Good times. Monday I worked out again (YES!) and then Steve and I made our target run and delivered birthday flowers to Becca. He left for Long Island yesterday to go see Dara, his new girlfriend, who I apparently will get to meet when he arrives back in Amherst with her on Sunday. Yesterday my mom celebrated her 49th birthday by taking off work and taking Peter and I skiing. The weather and conditions could not have been better. The wind and the sun combined forces to turn my face a lovely shade of red. It was also "Canada Day" at Holiday, so even though it was a Tuesday morning, it was crowded. Canadian kids just started their spring break, so Holiday entices them with a discount and so we found the parking lot filled only with cars with Ontario plates (except for one car from Georgia??) We also went out for dinner. Afterward we dropped Chris off at Sweets/VS and while he was kicking and screaming about it, I saw it as an opportunity to poke my head into rehearsal and give a round of hugs to some of the ladies. Zoe gave me a scowl for interrupting, but Melissa Tscham ran over and gave me a hug. Too bad they sounded like some sort of semblance of dying aquatic life trying to sing. Ok, maybe not that bad. After the rehearsal, the Stockings came over after the Lacrosse Spaghetti fundraiser dinner to eat some cake. Even Chris's new woman, Emily, made it for the last couple lines of a somewhat pathetic rendition of Happy Birthday. I had decorated the kitchen with curled ribbons and gave mom exactly what she had asked for--a grey Columbia tshirt. There was minimal fighting over what to order at dinner and the skiing was awesome so I think that overall, it was a pretty good dinner. I finished the book I've been reading last night, so I went to bed feeling somewhat accomplished. Today I woke up late, went cross-country skiing with my dad. It is a really good workout. Afterward, I went to the Glen to work out, came back and went out for a quick late lunch with my dad, and spent the remainder of the afternoon on the phone with Michigan's sports ticket office and the office of the Registrar to try to buy football tickets and avoid getting screwed when people start to register for classes in few weeks. I hate red tape. Since the King and I, a fabulous Thai restaurant just reopened after many sad months of being closed, we're getting take out Thai for dinner. Mmmmm. Tonight UB plays a huge game at home--its the first time ever they have made the NIT. My dad wanted to go, but due to lack of enthusiasm exhibited by his children, we're not there. The games are usually fun, I don't know why I wasn't excited about it. Tomorrow I'm headed to Rochester I think to hang out with Jill and Cros if I get some errands and homework done in the morning. I want to get some work out of the way so that I can ski again on Sunday. Dinner time. |
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[Mar. 13th, 2005|06:50 pm] |
Been home since Friday afternoon and went out to dinner for Julia's "Gotcha Day" celebration at the Chinese/Vietnamese restaurant, Red Pepper. Julia is a second-grader, adopted by our family friend Kathy. It was all very cute. Not realizing how much a symbol of americanization it was, my mom bought her an American Doll book. Because every sane little 8 year old wants to be Samantha, right? Anyway, Julia totally schooled me in the chopstick department. She kept pointing to things, indicating that i should try picking the object, edible or not, and would laugh and tell me how easy it was. Later I got coffee with Shannon and Erin and tried to make conversation as lest awkward as possible when six or seven girls that graduated a year after us paused to make that i-feel-like-i-have-to-at-least-say-hello-and-ask-where-you-are-going-to-school talk. It was a little painful.
Saturday I worked out like a maniac. I called the Village Glen to find out how much a membership was for a month and after talking with the guy for a few minutes, I realized that I graduated from high school with his daughter. And so I have free access to the gym and all its classes and personal trainers for ten days. YES! I ran for 15, did the elliptical for 25, then the bike for 15. Whoa nelly. Saturday night I went to see Williamsville North's rendition of 42nd Street, an impressive production because of the number of talented tappers and two of the actors had incredible voices.
Sunday I went to church and then my mom and I headed down to Holiday to ski for about 2 hours. I was so proud of her spontaneous spirit. We sang to the Wicked soundtrack the whole way down and met half of the Stocking family for a few runs. It was chilly, but the slopes were nice and powdered. Now its off for a post-skiing makeshift dinner at the Stockings. My mom said it felt like old times because both our dad and their dad are in Thailand and Ireland, resectively. The moms would always convene with takeout or leftover dinners when we were younger while the husbands were overseas.
Other than that, I've been reading books and procrastinating the papers and take-home midterm that are looming over my head. Tomorrow my dad returns, I am in charge of dinner, and Steve and I have a date to go to Target. So hot.
And that ends this update for now because my mom is yelling at me to get out the door. |
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[Mar. 11th, 2005|10:09 am] |
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Today my grandpa is 76. Yesterday, his youngest daughter, my Aunt Leslie turned 36. And next week, his oldest daughter, my mom, will turn 49 (I think?). He won't let me take him out to breakfast or lunch and last night when i asked him, he said we didn't need to go out because he had already planned that he will have a peanut butter sandwich today. He is the gentlest man and I only wish that I knew him better. He and my grandma only communicate in yells--"i'm yelling because you're stupid. you don't get it. i told you the show was over at eight, not seven." i dont know if i can remember a time when they have had a normal conversation together. they stick to their respective areas in the house--my grandma has full reign over the head of the kitchen table and the kitchen tv, along with her bedroom and the room with the computer. on the other hand, Pops controls his office, the bathroom next to the office, his bedroom, and the basement with the basement tv. I learned last night from my grandma that they will have been married fifty years this summer. And when she said, "he drives me crazy," and i said, "but you still love him," she looked off and nodded with what i interpreted as a tired but accepting expression. They travel the country together to see their shared interest--their 11 grandchildern. My grandpa has spent countless hours with each of his grandchildren laughing with them, teaching them how to draw airplanes and big yellow suns in his smokey office. He read us a book every night before we would go to bed--my favorite was Churckindoose--a book about a mutt bird that didn't belong. He took us out to breakfast, never failing to make a comment about the starving children of some faraway place that needed the food that we couldnt finish. Today to celebrate his birthday then, he is driving me to the airport. I love him a lot. |
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[Mar. 8th, 2005|09:10 pm] |
If only I could write papers as fast as I write livejournals. I am currently sitting in Strokos (Christina, Rachel, Ann, Emily, and Anthony know what’s up—the place with the subpar quichce, the great mochachino and lemon pound cake), with my cappuccino, orange, and salad. There’s no way I’ll be leaving here without getting other things to eat, don’t worry. Today I celebrate the pseudo-beginning of my spring break. I just have to get through classes tomorrow and my internship on Thursday. Midterms and tests are in. It worked out well that 3 papers and test were pushed back until after break, so I was able to spend more time with my visitors than originally planned. The last week was definitely fun-filled. Wednesday night Anthony and I went to Nabucco at Lincoln Center—it will always be cool because you know you are getting 350 dollar tickets for free. Afterward we had a midnight cup of chicken noodle soup because it was freezing outside. Thursday I don’t really remember what we did—I think we were lazy until I had the internship in the afternoon. I had a great/scary experience with a farmer in Illinois. Of course he had to be the first farmer I call that day. The highlights of the conversation include the following lines:
Farmer: You sound young for your age. How old are you?
Me: I’m relatively young, yes.
Farmer: You sound uptight for your age. Is this the first time you have talked to a man over 30?
Me: Are the cows grass-fed and grain-supplemented?
Farmer: Are you single?
Me: Are your cows non-confined or pasture-raised?
Farmer: You have blondish hair I bet, don’t you?
Me: Fuck you and remind me never to visit your beef farm.
Ok, not the last line. But yeah, that was definitely enough excitement and harassment for one day. We ate dinner in Little Italy, went to the top of the Empire State Building at night, went ice skating in Rockefeller Center, drank apple cider in Union Square, went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, walked through Central Park, went to STOMP, went out for Japanese food, baked a cake for Jill’s belated birthday…basically we got in everything that tourist wants to do when they think of cheesy romantic movies about New York. It was a lot of fun. We also had a fabulous dinner with the cousins—Debbie, Dawn, Barbara, Sam and Julian are possibly the most entertaining group of people to have dinner with. Anthony sat in the midst of five Meyers women while they talked about breast reductions, unsolicited oral sex tips and the loss of virginity story (offered by my aunt about her daughter who was also sitting at the table), and much more. I love theme all, so so so great. It was awesome to see Jill and Crosby—they are definitely the bestest. Crosby and I had a lot of fun icing that cake and we both tried to learn how to use chopsticks. Sunday morning I also got to see the beautiful Miss Anna Reeve for brunch with Dana because she was in for the weekend. It’s amazing how long it’s been since I’ve seen her.
Then it was down to work, or trying to do work. This semester I may still talk about getting stressed about work, but I really have had quite the nonchalant attitude toward academics this semester. Don’t get me wrong, I still told my visitors a million times how much I had to work, but I never really did it, and today when I woke up at 1030 before a 230 exam I hadn’t really studied for, I had no problem crawling back into bed for a little while longer. It has been blizzard-ing all day today—completely miserable. Yesterday it was at least 55 and sunny here, so I don’t know what the weather is thinking because it seems very confused.
I’ll be home on Friday which is a good thing. I’m looking forward to seeing the fam and I hear Jamie and Erin and some other people are in town, so that will be really nice. I got an email from across the planet from my dad—he sounds like he is doing well. I hope that I have a job that allows me to travel to far-off places.
Hmm… what else? I am definitely addicted to chocolate in a sick, unhealthy way. So I have resolved to limit my intake while I am home and am striving to run at least half of the days that I am there. Hahaha…we shall see my friends, we shall see. Ewww, I just drank a little bit of “skin” off of the cappuccino. Gross. Also, I had a dream last night that I had this gun that shot out stuff that made people numb. I think I was going around shooting this guy who apparently raped me. Then I was in a swimming race with John Kerry in the Pacific Northwest. Nothin like the subconscious, right? I also apparently freaked out my roommate last night because she came back late to grab a book or something and I sat up in bed and had my eyes open. I do not remember every waking up so I must have looked possessed---kinda like freshman year when I freaked out Mel after bolting up in bed screaming, “My shoulder hurts. Shit! Ow! OWWWWW!” yeah. Nothing happened to my shoulder and I don’t remember any of this, so I am definitely a freak of nature.
Lastly, remember how my mom hit her head skiing a few weekends ago? She hit it again today at work and was sounding pretty out of it, as in more than usual, when I called her. Geez.
I think that I like the Gates the more I read about them.
I think that I should probably do some work now. |
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[Mar. 1st, 2005|07:26 pm] |
Basically I am writing this live journal because I don't know what to do with all of my free time now that Emily has left the city. Just kidding, Emily, don't freak out. We had a marvelous time together--we did a hell of a lot of eating. I introduced her to the cannoli and rugelach. We tried to get Wicked tickets but failed, bought plants, a shower caddy and she was a trooper and came with me to return clothes. The guy yelled us because I asked her to come in the dressing room while I was trying on bras. He was just jealous. We basically did everything together--ate, slept, went to a subway party. This party was crazy. So NYU and Columbia students organize the party and everyone meets at the Union Square N-train platform at 12:45. When everyone finally gets there, around 1:15, they all get on the same train, filling 2 or 3 cars until the density is like that of a sweaty fraternity event during welcome week. People bring bongos and guitars and jam out while people just round around talking to each other and dancing. Oh, and everyone dresses like something that starts with the letter N. Smart people party cool. I unfortunately, am not one of these smart cool people, just to clarify. I am only visiting. It's like I am getting a glimpse of the world if I Actually were cool. We also met Christina and Rachel and Anne for lunch and the next day saw them again because they were so amazing that they came all the way up here since I was stressing about schoolwork. Emily and I also took a brisk walk from 116th to 83rd and wandered through the Gates on Sunday, which was great. Central Park is so great. So Emily left this morning and I am just alone in my room. Lukily my next visitor is scheduled to arrive tomorrow afternoon and we have box seats to the opera! Holler to all those ACHS orchestra members that remember playing "Nabucco," because I am going to see it tomorrow! I also am in a good mood because I have a 4+ page paper due tomorrow and I realized that I already wrote it last Wednesay. There are plenty of reasons to make fun of me but whatever, I'm incredible, if just for that alone. Oh, and because I just made a real complicated dinner: brown rice with tofu, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and carrots sauteed in soy sauce. Other than that, I mean, I just spend all my free time reading about Italians in East Harlem and how their entire lives revolved around a statue of the Madonna. And I eat frosting.
I'm off to retrieve my laundry. Allison--update sometime soon for the love of all that is good in this world. I have no idea what is going on in your life and I miss you and I don't condider going on ASB to be an excuse at all because whatever, so don't even start.
Wait, also, my Dad is going to Thailand on Friday and he went to the Unitarian Church last Sunday because he is annoyed at how evangelistic our Methodist Church is becoming. How cool is he? |
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[Feb. 24th, 2005|10:46 pm] |
Just got back from round number two at the internship. Today was much more exciting because my supervisor was at a doctor’s appointment. Ironically, he had food poisoning. I felt like I was under a lot less pressure because I shared an office space with my new friend Adam. I felt more comfortable because I could nag him with all of my questions and since he has been there enough time to know the answers, but new enough to know how I am feeling, I latched on. Maybe I am just attracted to any sort of male that I am in close contact with lately because I am at an all girls school, but I am perfectly content sharing this space with Adam, especially if it means that John occasionally stops by. Today was also a step in the direction of feeling more comfortable due in part of John’s birthday and the ancient office ritual of the organic, vegan birthday cake. The ride back uptown was especially chaotic. People were rushing underground at the sight of snow, as if Godzilla had returned and the subway was the only thing that could save them. I’ve never even seen Godzilla.
The snow is falling like it is confused…. It is either exhibits the care and gentle spirit of a fragile ballerina with a tight bun on the top of her head, or the rage and hormonal rush of a middle-school linebacker—sometimes it’s snow-globe, sometimes its snow-fight. Either way, when New York City is covered in snow it is a funny place. Not that New York City doesn’t have its comical features under alternative weather conditions, but snow seems to have an especially altering effect—more Uggs are out, that’s for sure. Anyway, one downside to this snow business (haha like show business… just kidding) is that Emily Findley’s romp in the city has been truncated. As we speak, she is riding back from a day at the airport. I have faith that we’ll make up for lost time tomorrow night!
In terms of school, because I occasionally lapse into phases in which I remember that I also have scholastic obligations, I have been stressed. At the family reunion (which I haven’t even written about yet!), I had to forego the mud football and the tubing so I could agonize over a religion paper, “The feminization and socialization of religion in America.” SWEET. These next two weeks are going to be insane basically. It’s exactly like they said at Michigan’s orientation in June 2003: the first month it seems like cake, then it hits you. Well, yes, it is definitely hitting me. Fortunately, I have had so little time in class time, that I have the ability to read every page and take my time. On the flip, these classes assume that since there is so little class, that all of the sudden you will have time to write a 6 page paper, and read two books of 80 pages and 250 pages. And write a 5 page paper and read 100 pages for another class. And write a 4 page paper and read another 100 for another class. And write two case briefs and read another 100 pages for another class. And take three midterm exams. In two and a half weeks. Not bloody likely.
I will have plenty of opportunities to take breaks, however, although this is also the source of some stress. Emily, Christina, Rachel, Anna, Anthony, Jill and Crosby will all be in the vicinity in these next 2.5 weeks. This makes for fantastic study breaks, I just feel awful that I won’t be able to spend more time with them. C’est la vie, I suppose.
So the family reunion: (I am just going to keep writing until my roommate gets back because we are supposed to go out for dinner any minute now). The family reunion was great, notwithstanding the paper factor. I love my relatives. My cousins are the most adorable cousins anyone could ask for, my uncles are hilarious, my aunts hysterical, my grandparents marvelously unique, and so on and so forth for ever. I would have to say I did not enjoy getting into a conversation about MSU with my cousin however. I tried to be cordial, since she is my cousin after all (and just happens to be the cousin that works at the box office for broadway shows), while she tried to argue that a party school is a good thing and that MSU was actually still a fairly difficult place to get into. I told her that someone would have to pay me to wake up there every morning for four years. (Leah Tibbs, youre still awesome, and because of you, I retain some, albeit minimal, respect for your school). The weekend was fully of chocolate and rugelach and really heated games of Trivial Pursuit. My family is extremely serious about Trivial Pursuit. Teams are picked based on current knowledge of each family members’ strengths and weaknesses. My brother, uncle john, uncle paul, and cousins mark and pete must be equally divided to take care of that sports category, the orange slice of the pursuit-pie, while aunt Barbara and sammy are placed on opposing teams to hold down the pink, entertainment pie. I usually can contribute to geography or science, but that’s about it. I fell asleep reading and took a nap with Pops, flipped my little cousin Madeline until my arms hurt, and got to ski for a morning. Sometime during the ski outing my mom fell and hit her head. What makes this funny is that she hit her head because she was trying to answer her cell phone and I happened to be the one calling her to say, “why aren’t you down at the lift yet?” Ooops. I didn’t get to spend as much time with my dad as I would have liked, but we talk daily on the phone, so it wasn’t a huge deal. I also didn’t see much of my brother because when he and my uncle john combined forces, they are focused on x-box and x-box only. My uncle actually stopped at a walmart on the way to this resort to pick up a tv for his x-box that he had packed in his suitcase. I later learned that my uncle planned on returning the tv at the end of the weekend. I come from a family where my cousin has dated Ben Stiller, my cousin who I learned was not a cousin sang at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall, my uncle flies to Australia for three weeks without telling anyone to compete in a rugby tournament and such. I come from a family that is unreasonably loud, tragically endowed with big hips and breasts (my cousin claimed that the meyers’ gene for double ds was the strongest gene out there), committed to marrying men that are completely opposite, fiercely competitive about scrabble, determined to know everything about everyone elses personal life, and decidedly mad about my aunt’s chocolate secret candy recipes. I know that this description fits many families in some form, but it’s always great to think that we are the craziest and most special. One of the major reasons I want to get married someday is to have the women in my family sing, “Sadie, Sadie, Married Lady,” a song from “Funny Girl,” to me as a sit in a chair in the middle of some ballroom dance floor. For years the women have sang this song to new brides, the lyrics having words such as “sit me in the softest seat, quick! A pillow for my feet! Do for me, live for me, buy for me…” However, until a few years ago, we didn’t know that my great-grandmother’s real name was actually Sadie. She had changed her name to Roma to avoid persecution as a Jew, and never told anyone her actually name until she was well beyond her seventies. Maybe I’ve written about this story before, but I feel like my family has this “divine secrets of the meyers sisterhood” thing about it intrigues me.
After the reunion, my mom and brother came into the city to feed me between college visits on Tuesday. We ate a bizarre Latin-Chinese restaurant that served bread in a basket and fried noodles at the same time, just in case you were still deciding which part of the menu you wanted to side with. My brother is looked at both Mannes and Julliard. I didn’t realize this but Julliard only has 26 composition students in the entire school and only accepts 1/1000 vocal performance students. The odds. Also, at dinner we started talking with a guy who is friends with Christo’s son so he gave us the insider’s guide to the gates. I love New York most because eventually we discovered that he was also a composer and he was from Ithaca—it’s a small world sometimes. After dinner we walked around the gates for about thirty seconds, my mom declared they would miss their train, and we were off.
So now it’s time for me to get some work done. I can’t believe it, but I committed to working out at 8am tomorrow morning with my roommate and then am probably going out to Long Island to shovel out my grandparents. I also had a great dinner with Tessa tonight. We are very similar in a lot of ways—specifically in the way we deal with boys, carbs, and pet peeves---but it was really nice to finally sit down and talk with someone I have been living with for a month and a half.
Ok bye! |
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[Feb. 17th, 2005|06:33 pm] |
well blow me down... i have not updated in two weeks. this is an act of pure procrastination. i have an 8 pager due monday with a family renion in PA in between and for lack of a thesis, i am writing to you, livejournal. so much has happened since 2 thursdays ago. hmmm.. i don't seem to recall the first week that i didn't update, but i was in michigan this time last thursday. it was wild. i think i pulled off the most surprise-y surprise ever, if i do say so myself. wednesday night i set my alarm for 2:45am. a shuttle service got lost and was here by 3:45. i was at LGA before security was even open. i was in the lovely detroit airport by 7:45am! WHOA, you might say. MICHIGAN? well yes, I was silly and spontaneous and decided that of all the things I could do that weekend, I wanted to see some people that I love. mel, sarah, and allison were the three most amazing people ever and they made a day out of coming to pick me up from the wayne. i was giddy and had a marvelous laugh as i jumped into anthony's bed at about 9am, waking him up and scaring the shit out of him. c'etait drole. i then attended jesus class with allison and david, did what all michigan students do during class and did the crossword. however, because it was thursday, it wasnt so successful. after class i saw emily, at which point i nearly died and then began to skip with glee. despite the sunny morning, nothing in the world made me wish that it was really me walking to a real class in angell hall in the freezingness every morning. for the rest of the day i got coffee with ladies of 709 lawrence. our house is going to be crazy and so chill all at once im thinking. hoping. then yes indeed, i met with my advisor. who would bethany be if she didnt take the opportunity to visit some kind of someone like that? i passed out in allison's room, stumbled to noodles and company because i felt like i was going to vomit with fatigue. instead i ate black forest cake with anthony for dinner at la dolce vita. angela was a splendid, beaming waitress with beautiful squatting skills. after that, well... hmm... allison, emily, and anthony got TRASHED and sang RENT for about 2 hours. it was hysterical. emily was naked just about the whole night, save the period where she was wearing anthony's ski goggles. some good pictures. and good times. until allison started her moaning and puking. haha great night. she stumbled home to couzens at about 530. i would have to say the best was when she kept poking her eyes and handing me "contacts"...but nothing was there. friday i got coffee with ramin and angela, the cutest most perfect couple on earth, saw christina, anthony and i made a trip to kroger, made a fabulous dinner for us and allison, kris, and emily. they watched a creepy movie, i did dishes. later that night christina and i went to tyler and brandon's for tyler's 21st bday. there were a lot of large breasts out in the breeze. saturday i saw george mike, ran into whitney and krista, went on trip to crazy kalamazoo to see some vocal jazz. so much happened, but im really rushing through it because what i really want to say is this: i just finished an entire tub of frosting. that is repulsive and so great all at once. i love it.
life back at barnard has been kinda blah. family reunion this weekend--i actually should pack and got on the train. perhaps i'll do an actual interesting update later tonight when i decide to procrastinate more. the point it, i love allison and emily. (partially because they are really the only ones that read this and partially for their intrinsic awesomeness.) |
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[Feb. 6th, 2005|10:20 am] |
Let me tell you about my "weekend." Thursay morning I had an interview on Lexington and 32nd. All glass windows, 10th floor, it was beautiful. So was the guy that interviewed me. Anyway, yes, it was for GRACE (Global Resource Action Center for the Environment). I would be helping them with their "Eat Well Guide" initiative. They are developing an online directory for sustainable food. All over the US and Canada, you can type in your zip code and it will come up with any restaurant or food vendor that has anything organic, local, etc. The ultimate goal is to reduce the powerful hold that factory-farming has economically and politically. So basically I would be calling up restaurant owners and such and asking them about their policies. Not entirely glamorous, but certainly a good cause and I would definitely learn a lot. It's either that or working at Planned Parenthood in either their educational or international departments--this is my first choice, but I haven't heard back from them yet.
So after this short interview, I met my Mom, Mrs. Stocking, Mrs. Augustyn, and Mrs. Collins at the Sheraton Towers on 52nd. I met them in the private club lounge which is beautiful. From the windows you can see the water and the sun sets over the buildings in front of you. Spectacular. They went off to see Gloria Steinem speak (the 1993 inductee to the Women's Hall of Fame). Meanwhile I took advantage of the free food in the club lounge--the mini crab cakes and the spinach pastries were also spectacular. Instead of doing work I watched a little bit of "A League of Their Own" until it was time to meet the ladies for an 8pm dinner. On my way out the door, my mom called me and said she miraculously got tickets to WICKED! So I ran over there, bought one of the last three seats in the house (which happened to be a 7th row seat!!!!). The show was incredible--the costumes were so clever, the songs were borderline cheesy (as all show lyrics inevtiably are) but the voices were outstanding and the scenery was brilliantly designed. It was absoultely magical. Afterward, we went out to the infamous Carnegie Deli where we ordered matzah ball soup, pickles, french fries, and a slice of their cheesecake. This "slice" was the size of a brick, no joke. Mmmm mmm good.
Friday morning I shot back uptown to change and drop off stuff my mom brought me, I met them back downtown in the afternoon for shopping and dinner at Bello's... "easily one of the best restaurants in the theatre district" said the guide. I drank wine in front of my mom, so that was a big deal. And actually, got pretty tipsy from it. Then it was off to the opera to see Madama Butterfly---I generally hate opera music, so I was reluctant. But it was the FREE center box seats in Lincoln Center that are normally $250/person that made it pretty amazing. It was a simple but moving story and the set was stunning. None of the women made it through with completely dry eyes. Afterward we did the dessert thing again. In the morning, it was more shopping--Macy's and Saks were the two major stops. It was great to spend the weekend with just the moms... they are profound women with huge hearts. They are all so different and loving and funny and amazing in their own ways and it was great to feel like I was one of them, and not just the screaming child running around their ankles. After the moms went to sleep, I retreated to the hotel lobby because they play Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits on repeat in the evenings. I sat with a book in front of me but spent hours on the phone to my Michiganders instead until I was falling asleep to the low moan of the guy vacuuming the Sheraton carpet underneath my feet. Haha.
My mom left to go home and I spent the afternoon in a deli making friends with the Italian panini-makers and reading for my psych class. I returned last night to 116th and I sat in front of my window with my ethics book and glasses of wine and joni mitchell cds. This may sound depressing, but in fact it was perfect.
Today I am feeling accomplished even though I haven't accomplished anything relevant--I woke up early, did some expensive laundry, went rollerblading (made a fool of myself) and got a great slice of pizza while I read about statutory law. It is beautiful here today--the weather definitely affects my mood and today I am feeling especially optimistic about nothing in particular. Je l'aime. |
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