The Big Enchilada
Earlier this week, I got an e-mail from my friend Hervey telling me that his daughter and son-in-law just had their third and final child and that she was born early and was really big -- 13lbs 12 oz. The e-mail came with a photo of the newborn on the scale and a funny word document showing all three babies and their birth weights and nicknames. Baby number one was named the Whopper because she weighed 11 pounds 8 ounces and baby number 2 was Whopper Jr. because she only weighed 10 pounds 8 ounces. The final baby, Laney, was nicknamed the Big Enchilada. I laughed, felt happy for my friends and their new family member, and went about my week.
Then, today on the way to work I heard the morning show people on the radio talking about the Big Enchilada. I flipped channels and found two other morning shows talking about the big baby. Some people were calling in and being mean... but they didn't know what they were talking about. When I got to work, I looked on CNN.com and here's what I found. Laney is famous!
I really got a kick out of the article and the two video clips. My friends Robin and Paul have unusually large babies... and Laney Buzzell is getting her 15 minutes of fame a little early. Congratulations to the Buzzell family. (and just for the record, I tried to call the radio station to defend you, but I couldn't get through)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Lots of Things
I promised to cover so many topics last week when I was feeling incredibly inspired and immensely tired. I'll try to get to them all here... but they may be a bit abbreviated.
So last week was the annual convention that is put on by my place of employment for all of our members. It was the second convention I've attended while working here because I was at an out-of-town conference during the first convention. I had just told my boss earlier that week about the upcoming move and was beginning to feel that sense of freedom that comes with the knowledge you are about to change everything in your life. But then, during the convention, I began to realize that I know people finally and I know what to say when I talk to them because I actually really know my industry. I knew what to do, I could solve problems, I could make small talk, I could even engage strangers in semi-meaningful conversation because, after about two and a half years, I have become a big fish. I know that is a really tired cliche, but I know no better way to explain it. I am finally at the top of my game here in this job and it's time to move on. I was feeling sad about this last week, but, while it's still a little sad, I think it's better to leave when you're on top than to wait for the big decline. But it was still a really good feeling to feel so confident during the convention -- even when I had to speak in public. I just hope that my next job will be as fabulous as this one has been.
While at the convention I had another, slightly less important, realization and that is that there is something I absolutely love about country folk. By country folk, I mean people who live in rural areas and in this case, I'm talking about people who live in rural or small town New Mexico. Maybe it's the slight twang to their speech, or their lack of pretense and formality -- the fact that when you meet them, you feel as if you're already best friends... there's something familiar in their handshake, or the way they wink at you (and it's never ever a slimy wink). Everything they say is meant in earnest and you can't find better senses of humor. Yes, yes, I know I am generalizing, but there is something to what I'm saying. One of the people from less populated Southern New Mexico who attended the convention checked in early and then left to go get "cleaned up" before the evening reception. As he walked away, he turned back to me and said, "Four bells then?" with a slight southern accent. I think it took me a good 30 seconds to realize that he was asking if he was supposed to be back at 4 o'clock. Finally, I got it and nodded yes. For the rest of the afternoon I kept smiling to myself and thinking, "Four bells." Later that evening, another friend who is originally from small-town Texas walked over to a coworker who had a large plate of food and said, "Man, you're really grubbin' up tonight." I love that expression and must find a way to work it into conversation soon.
In other news, I was so relieved to learn that the little boy who was lost in the woods in Utah was found alive yesterday. Finally a positive end to a distressing story. But why did his parents have to tell the world that he's socially immature, sheesh, it's hard enough on the kid to be in the spotlight for all this, but now everyone knows that he's immature too?
I am slightly ashamed to admit that I watched the Jennifer Willbanks interview last night. But I'm allowed to be a little interested in her since she surfaced right here in my city. I have to say that while I do feel a little sorry for the woman, she's clearly really screwed up, I don't think she and her bizarre fiancee were telling the whole truth. I really and sincerely wish that society would forget about her and let her go through her self discovery in private. Enough attention has been given to her already. All the media is only bound to make her more screwed up. Yuck.
And finally, my office is growing tadpoles. One of my coworkers mentioned having hundreds of them in her pond and then before I knew it, we had all decided to take them on as a project and my coworker brought in a tank and the coworker with the pond brought in a batch of about 30 tadpoles and as of this afternoon, they are inhabiting my office. I am the official tadpole babysitter while the real tadpole caregiver is on vacation. So I get to stare at strange swimming blobs for two and a half weeks... they're kind of cool, but I'm worried, what if they grow legs? How do I change the water without killing them? This is a lot of responsibility. I have to feed them pond scum every day and when they start growing legs they will need to eat meat if we don't want them to cannibalize themselves. I don't know if I get paid enough for this... Besides, what kind of workplace grows tadpoles as a staff project?
I promised to cover so many topics last week when I was feeling incredibly inspired and immensely tired. I'll try to get to them all here... but they may be a bit abbreviated.
So last week was the annual convention that is put on by my place of employment for all of our members. It was the second convention I've attended while working here because I was at an out-of-town conference during the first convention. I had just told my boss earlier that week about the upcoming move and was beginning to feel that sense of freedom that comes with the knowledge you are about to change everything in your life. But then, during the convention, I began to realize that I know people finally and I know what to say when I talk to them because I actually really know my industry. I knew what to do, I could solve problems, I could make small talk, I could even engage strangers in semi-meaningful conversation because, after about two and a half years, I have become a big fish. I know that is a really tired cliche, but I know no better way to explain it. I am finally at the top of my game here in this job and it's time to move on. I was feeling sad about this last week, but, while it's still a little sad, I think it's better to leave when you're on top than to wait for the big decline. But it was still a really good feeling to feel so confident during the convention -- even when I had to speak in public. I just hope that my next job will be as fabulous as this one has been.
While at the convention I had another, slightly less important, realization and that is that there is something I absolutely love about country folk. By country folk, I mean people who live in rural areas and in this case, I'm talking about people who live in rural or small town New Mexico. Maybe it's the slight twang to their speech, or their lack of pretense and formality -- the fact that when you meet them, you feel as if you're already best friends... there's something familiar in their handshake, or the way they wink at you (and it's never ever a slimy wink). Everything they say is meant in earnest and you can't find better senses of humor. Yes, yes, I know I am generalizing, but there is something to what I'm saying. One of the people from less populated Southern New Mexico who attended the convention checked in early and then left to go get "cleaned up" before the evening reception. As he walked away, he turned back to me and said, "Four bells then?" with a slight southern accent. I think it took me a good 30 seconds to realize that he was asking if he was supposed to be back at 4 o'clock. Finally, I got it and nodded yes. For the rest of the afternoon I kept smiling to myself and thinking, "Four bells." Later that evening, another friend who is originally from small-town Texas walked over to a coworker who had a large plate of food and said, "Man, you're really grubbin' up tonight." I love that expression and must find a way to work it into conversation soon.
In other news, I was so relieved to learn that the little boy who was lost in the woods in Utah was found alive yesterday. Finally a positive end to a distressing story. But why did his parents have to tell the world that he's socially immature, sheesh, it's hard enough on the kid to be in the spotlight for all this, but now everyone knows that he's immature too?
I am slightly ashamed to admit that I watched the Jennifer Willbanks interview last night. But I'm allowed to be a little interested in her since she surfaced right here in my city. I have to say that while I do feel a little sorry for the woman, she's clearly really screwed up, I don't think she and her bizarre fiancee were telling the whole truth. I really and sincerely wish that society would forget about her and let her go through her self discovery in private. Enough attention has been given to her already. All the media is only bound to make her more screwed up. Yuck.
And finally, my office is growing tadpoles. One of my coworkers mentioned having hundreds of them in her pond and then before I knew it, we had all decided to take them on as a project and my coworker brought in a tank and the coworker with the pond brought in a batch of about 30 tadpoles and as of this afternoon, they are inhabiting my office. I am the official tadpole babysitter while the real tadpole caregiver is on vacation. So I get to stare at strange swimming blobs for two and a half weeks... they're kind of cool, but I'm worried, what if they grow legs? How do I change the water without killing them? This is a lot of responsibility. I have to feed them pond scum every day and when they start growing legs they will need to eat meat if we don't want them to cannibalize themselves. I don't know if I get paid enough for this... Besides, what kind of workplace grows tadpoles as a staff project?
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Full Days
The last two days have been incredibly busy. In fact, I am so exhausted that I should probably be asleep this very moment, but I had to check in with the internet and then, for fear of forgetting some of my blog ideas, I decided to take a shot at posting.
Right now, it is the annual convention for the association that I work for. That means that our members from across the state of New Mexico have gathered in our fair city and we are hosting them. Since the association has a staff of 13, each of us has to do quite a bit of work in order to be prepared for the 300+ attendees. Yesterday, my work included making two posters and having them emergency printed, designing a new flyer, and various other not-so-exciting tasks that kept me working late. This was a tad frustrating because I had someplace really important to be last night: a reading by David Sedaris at my favorite bookstore (which is about to go out of business). I managed to race home, feed the dogs, change into more comfortable but less impressive clothes and make it to the reading in time to get a really good seat.
David Sedaris is absolutely one of my top-favorite writers of all time and this reading could not have come at a better time in terms of my need for inspiration. There's something about Sedaris's casual style and the way in which he writes about everyday occurrences in extraordinary ways. He manages to put into prose the complexity of human thinking and he thinks just like me. Plus, he makes me laugh. Anyways, the reading was great, one essay he read is in this week's New Yorker and it had me laughing hysterically. Go read it.
Anyways, after the fabulous reading (during which David Sedaris was introduced by the mayor and proceeded to proclaim him the "cutest mayor in America") there was a book signing. David made a joke about how he was collecting money in a little black plastic cauldron. He said nobody HAD to give him money, but if we did, he'd like us better. Being somewhat star-struck and very much desiring that this larger-than-life author like me, I gathered all the coins from my purse -- which totaled 85 cents -- and when I finally got up to the table to have my books signed, I plunked the coins in his bucket and made a joke about how he cleaned me out. And so, he signed my book, "To Jodi -- Thanks for the Money. David Sedaris" (Dad, if you're reading this, stop now -- unless Father's Day has already passed.) I also asked him to sign a new book that I purchased for my dad for Father's Day. During the reading he had made a plug for the book which is a collection of stories he chose and then introduced. Basically, he said we should buy if for our dads for Father's Day because dads do not really care what they get and the money from the book goes to a kick-ass literacy center in New York. Plus, he assured us the stories were good. So, I thought, "Hey! Great idea!" Because I have had an insane week or two and did not yet have a gift selected. So I told Mr. Sedaris that I had taken him up on the suggestion to buy my dad the book and asked him to sign it. In my dad's book he wrote, "To Bruce -- With the pleasure of meeting your enchanting daughter. -- David Sedaris."
Now, "Thanks for the money." was kinda funny, I will admit, but he called me enchanting! I realize he probably wrote that because he knew it would make any father feel great to read. But I am going to pretend he wrote it because after exchanging three or four sentences of less-than-stellar dialogue with me he realized that I am not only incredibly cool, but also that I will someday be either a) on book tour with him, b) reading my essays in Carnegie Hall c) accepting the Pulitzer or d) all of the above. David Sedaris thinks I am enchanting... aaahhh...What really happened last night is that I was enchanted.
Well, there is more to tell including a great coincidence, my love for country folk, the definition of "grub up", an explanation of my fascination with border culture, an encounter with an old friend who could be an alien, and why I am sad to be moving away after having a day like today... I will give it all a shot tomorrow. I'm spent.
The last two days have been incredibly busy. In fact, I am so exhausted that I should probably be asleep this very moment, but I had to check in with the internet and then, for fear of forgetting some of my blog ideas, I decided to take a shot at posting.
Right now, it is the annual convention for the association that I work for. That means that our members from across the state of New Mexico have gathered in our fair city and we are hosting them. Since the association has a staff of 13, each of us has to do quite a bit of work in order to be prepared for the 300+ attendees. Yesterday, my work included making two posters and having them emergency printed, designing a new flyer, and various other not-so-exciting tasks that kept me working late. This was a tad frustrating because I had someplace really important to be last night: a reading by David Sedaris at my favorite bookstore (which is about to go out of business). I managed to race home, feed the dogs, change into more comfortable but less impressive clothes and make it to the reading in time to get a really good seat.
David Sedaris is absolutely one of my top-favorite writers of all time and this reading could not have come at a better time in terms of my need for inspiration. There's something about Sedaris's casual style and the way in which he writes about everyday occurrences in extraordinary ways. He manages to put into prose the complexity of human thinking and he thinks just like me. Plus, he makes me laugh. Anyways, the reading was great, one essay he read is in this week's New Yorker and it had me laughing hysterically. Go read it.
Anyways, after the fabulous reading (during which David Sedaris was introduced by the mayor and proceeded to proclaim him the "cutest mayor in America") there was a book signing. David made a joke about how he was collecting money in a little black plastic cauldron. He said nobody HAD to give him money, but if we did, he'd like us better. Being somewhat star-struck and very much desiring that this larger-than-life author like me, I gathered all the coins from my purse -- which totaled 85 cents -- and when I finally got up to the table to have my books signed, I plunked the coins in his bucket and made a joke about how he cleaned me out. And so, he signed my book, "To Jodi -- Thanks for the Money. David Sedaris" (Dad, if you're reading this, stop now -- unless Father's Day has already passed.) I also asked him to sign a new book that I purchased for my dad for Father's Day. During the reading he had made a plug for the book which is a collection of stories he chose and then introduced. Basically, he said we should buy if for our dads for Father's Day because dads do not really care what they get and the money from the book goes to a kick-ass literacy center in New York. Plus, he assured us the stories were good. So, I thought, "Hey! Great idea!" Because I have had an insane week or two and did not yet have a gift selected. So I told Mr. Sedaris that I had taken him up on the suggestion to buy my dad the book and asked him to sign it. In my dad's book he wrote, "To Bruce -- With the pleasure of meeting your enchanting daughter. -- David Sedaris."
Now, "Thanks for the money." was kinda funny, I will admit, but he called me enchanting! I realize he probably wrote that because he knew it would make any father feel great to read. But I am going to pretend he wrote it because after exchanging three or four sentences of less-than-stellar dialogue with me he realized that I am not only incredibly cool, but also that I will someday be either a) on book tour with him, b) reading my essays in Carnegie Hall c) accepting the Pulitzer or d) all of the above. David Sedaris thinks I am enchanting... aaahhh...What really happened last night is that I was enchanted.
Well, there is more to tell including a great coincidence, my love for country folk, the definition of "grub up", an explanation of my fascination with border culture, an encounter with an old friend who could be an alien, and why I am sad to be moving away after having a day like today... I will give it all a shot tomorrow. I'm spent.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Unfair
This is so unfair! Why can't I have that kind of luck just once? I can't decide if I should go out and buy lottery tickets now or if I should avoid buying them because all of the luck has been used up.
But I do know that I could really use a windfall any time now.
Cheryl
One of my first friends at college is on the verge of making it big in Hollywood. I am so excited for her. Cheryl is really talented and beautiful and it was very exciting to hear her new songs online. Will I actually own a CD made by one of my friends someday soon? Wow.
Bike Ride
I signed Neil and myself up for a 25-mile bike ride in a week and a half. The ride is in support of New Mexico Aids Services -- a group that I have long been interested in supporting and Neil and I need an excuse to get our butts on our bikes and enjoy the summer. So, we have one weekend to get ready. Ha! I don't mind finishing last, I'm just excited to be riding in my first organized bike ride. Plus, it's not like I was busy enough -- it seemed extremely important to add another event to our already packed schedule.
Lunch
It is nearly four o'clock and I have not eaten lunch yet. My food intake today consisted of an early morning can of Red Bull (probably a mistake), a mid-morning rice cake, a cup of black tea and an airline-sized bag of honey-roasted peanuts. This probably explains why I feel jittery and lightheaded. I am going to go remedy this situation.
This is so unfair! Why can't I have that kind of luck just once? I can't decide if I should go out and buy lottery tickets now or if I should avoid buying them because all of the luck has been used up.
But I do know that I could really use a windfall any time now.
Cheryl
One of my first friends at college is on the verge of making it big in Hollywood. I am so excited for her. Cheryl is really talented and beautiful and it was very exciting to hear her new songs online. Will I actually own a CD made by one of my friends someday soon? Wow.
Bike Ride
I signed Neil and myself up for a 25-mile bike ride in a week and a half. The ride is in support of New Mexico Aids Services -- a group that I have long been interested in supporting and Neil and I need an excuse to get our butts on our bikes and enjoy the summer. So, we have one weekend to get ready. Ha! I don't mind finishing last, I'm just excited to be riding in my first organized bike ride. Plus, it's not like I was busy enough -- it seemed extremely important to add another event to our already packed schedule.
Lunch
It is nearly four o'clock and I have not eaten lunch yet. My food intake today consisted of an early morning can of Red Bull (probably a mistake), a mid-morning rice cake, a cup of black tea and an airline-sized bag of honey-roasted peanuts. This probably explains why I feel jittery and lightheaded. I am going to go remedy this situation.
Monday, June 13, 2005
Innocent
I tried to pretend I was indifferent. And, in some respects I was. I did not care about the details of the testimony or the lunatic fans outside the courthouse. I didn't check in on the trial on a day to day basis... but when I heard the jury reached a verdict in the Michael Jackson trial this afternoon, I stared at my computer screen for the next hour and pressed the refresh button on several news station homepages. I was sure he was going to be guilty. But then finally, the CNN page changed and showed that he was innocent on all 10 charges and, much to my surprise, I felt really glad for Michael Jackson.
I thought I was ready to see him go off to prison -- so feeling relieved when he was found innocent was shocking to me. I had no idea I had this deep-rooted affinity for the king of pop. Perhaps it's the early memories of dancing to Thriller in my grandparents' garage with cardboard box tombstones. Maybe it's all the times I practiced the moonwalk while singing Beat It. I believe that Michael Jackson is really bizarre and probably needs some help -- but the family that was accusing him was a bunch of extortionists and scam artists. Michael Jackson is innocent and I have a warm place for him in my heart. Go figure...
Crafty
I have always like to do projects. I realize that this might make me sound a little lame, but it's just a fact. I am crafty. Whether its making my friends mixed tapes and designing a cover for them, cutting out hundreds of eyes from magazine pages for a collage, meticulously designing a scrapbook page, or making 200 invitations with embossed rubber stamps on each, I have fun making things. I sign up for bookmaking classes at our local paper store and I am often swept up in the craft craze of the moment. This weekend a visit to a bead store got me back into beading and now I have visions of making lots of money selling my jewelry. The only real problem with my craftiness is that it ebbs and flows. I might be into beading for the next three weeks and then not look at another bead for three years. I have a very short attention span.
One craft-of-the-moment that I cannot do very well is knitting. I have tried. I want to be able to knit. I want to be someone who finds the repetitive motion of fingers on needles relaxing, but instead, I stress about each stitch and I always pull the yarn too tight because I am worried about gaping holes. Because of my uptight nature while knitting, I have yet to finish a scarf. I am a crafty perfectionist.. which has to be the worst kind of crafty person.
Anyways, I am off to go buy some beading supplies to get my business off the ground. I am sure all the celebrities will be sending me their orders soon.
I tried to pretend I was indifferent. And, in some respects I was. I did not care about the details of the testimony or the lunatic fans outside the courthouse. I didn't check in on the trial on a day to day basis... but when I heard the jury reached a verdict in the Michael Jackson trial this afternoon, I stared at my computer screen for the next hour and pressed the refresh button on several news station homepages. I was sure he was going to be guilty. But then finally, the CNN page changed and showed that he was innocent on all 10 charges and, much to my surprise, I felt really glad for Michael Jackson.
I thought I was ready to see him go off to prison -- so feeling relieved when he was found innocent was shocking to me. I had no idea I had this deep-rooted affinity for the king of pop. Perhaps it's the early memories of dancing to Thriller in my grandparents' garage with cardboard box tombstones. Maybe it's all the times I practiced the moonwalk while singing Beat It. I believe that Michael Jackson is really bizarre and probably needs some help -- but the family that was accusing him was a bunch of extortionists and scam artists. Michael Jackson is innocent and I have a warm place for him in my heart. Go figure...
Crafty
I have always like to do projects. I realize that this might make me sound a little lame, but it's just a fact. I am crafty. Whether its making my friends mixed tapes and designing a cover for them, cutting out hundreds of eyes from magazine pages for a collage, meticulously designing a scrapbook page, or making 200 invitations with embossed rubber stamps on each, I have fun making things. I sign up for bookmaking classes at our local paper store and I am often swept up in the craft craze of the moment. This weekend a visit to a bead store got me back into beading and now I have visions of making lots of money selling my jewelry. The only real problem with my craftiness is that it ebbs and flows. I might be into beading for the next three weeks and then not look at another bead for three years. I have a very short attention span.
One craft-of-the-moment that I cannot do very well is knitting. I have tried. I want to be able to knit. I want to be someone who finds the repetitive motion of fingers on needles relaxing, but instead, I stress about each stitch and I always pull the yarn too tight because I am worried about gaping holes. Because of my uptight nature while knitting, I have yet to finish a scarf. I am a crafty perfectionist.. which has to be the worst kind of crafty person.
Anyways, I am off to go buy some beading supplies to get my business off the ground. I am sure all the celebrities will be sending me their orders soon.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Blech
Ok. So things in my life are actually going really well right now. Old conflicts are slowly getting better, exciting things loom on the horizon. Other exciting things will be happening over the next few months: a visit from Neil's mom, tickets to Cats, tickets to the Opera, a Bar Mitzvah in Portland, a wedding in Albuquerque, a wedding in Colorado, dinner with some new friends, a couple baseball games, a concert at the zoo with my dad, a David Sedaris reading, a conference for work in Austin, an awesome folk art festival and so on. But right now, at this very moment, in spite of the slight cheering up that came from making that list, I am feeling crappy. I worked for about 9 hours yesterday and had a business meeting over lunch today and I have TONS of pressure to complete a bunch of projects in time for my association's convention next week. I ordered some fancy paper and it just got here and it sucks and is not at all cool. Neil is out of town, so I am a bit lonely and I am just all-around stressed. Plus, it's that time of afternoon where all I can think about is getting up from my desk and sprinting out the door to my car. That or taking a nap.
Yesterday, I told my boss that I am moving in October. She was SOOO nice about it. She actually started to tear up and had to get out a tissue. She also said she feels like she's losing a daughter. I had no idea. Anyways, it felt wonderful to get that big secret off my chest and to have her react in such a positive way. Whewh. I haven't told everyone else at work yet, though. My boss wants to wait until our convention is over, which makes some sense, I suppose...
I am still working on a couple videos for my blog. Not sure why I don't have my act together to finish them. I think the main reason is the clicking noises my camera makes. Grr. But look for videos soon.
I hope I emerge from this funk soon. I wish I had a friend around to take an evening walk with tonight...Why do we get in inexplicable funks sometimes?
Ok. So things in my life are actually going really well right now. Old conflicts are slowly getting better, exciting things loom on the horizon. Other exciting things will be happening over the next few months: a visit from Neil's mom, tickets to Cats, tickets to the Opera, a Bar Mitzvah in Portland, a wedding in Albuquerque, a wedding in Colorado, dinner with some new friends, a couple baseball games, a concert at the zoo with my dad, a David Sedaris reading, a conference for work in Austin, an awesome folk art festival and so on. But right now, at this very moment, in spite of the slight cheering up that came from making that list, I am feeling crappy. I worked for about 9 hours yesterday and had a business meeting over lunch today and I have TONS of pressure to complete a bunch of projects in time for my association's convention next week. I ordered some fancy paper and it just got here and it sucks and is not at all cool. Neil is out of town, so I am a bit lonely and I am just all-around stressed. Plus, it's that time of afternoon where all I can think about is getting up from my desk and sprinting out the door to my car. That or taking a nap.
Yesterday, I told my boss that I am moving in October. She was SOOO nice about it. She actually started to tear up and had to get out a tissue. She also said she feels like she's losing a daughter. I had no idea. Anyways, it felt wonderful to get that big secret off my chest and to have her react in such a positive way. Whewh. I haven't told everyone else at work yet, though. My boss wants to wait until our convention is over, which makes some sense, I suppose...
I am still working on a couple videos for my blog. Not sure why I don't have my act together to finish them. I think the main reason is the clicking noises my camera makes. Grr. But look for videos soon.
I hope I emerge from this funk soon. I wish I had a friend around to take an evening walk with tonight...Why do we get in inexplicable funks sometimes?
Friday, June 03, 2005
Interviewed
Well, I did it. I left work this morning and had a phone interview on my cell phone in the car. The reception was great and I think the interview actually went well. The people on the call (there were three) were all incredibly nice and relatively enthusiastic about my resume and skills. (I just wrote "skills" and now images of Napoleon Dynamite are flashing in my mind.)
So, I don't know what will come of the phone call interview, but I am relieved not to have to be nervous about it anymore. I'm also relieved it's the weekend. We're meeting some friends for diem sum tonight and I can't wait. Also, the weekend gives me a reprieve from stressing about telling my boss about the move. If I can just put it off a few more weeks, it would be wonderful.
So, my blog friend Jodi has tagged me with a blog meme -- whatever that is... and I will surrender. Here goes:
The Trio Meme
Three screen-names I have had are:
JGG157
jodigwen
Maybe I am lame, but I don't think I have ever had any other screen-names
Three things I like about myself are:
the way I care about my friends and family
my smile
my sense of humor
Three things I do not like about myself are:
I am the world's most skilled procrastinator.
Sometimes I am lazy even when I don't really want to be lazy
I am never satisfied with my weight.
Three things that scare me are:
Money and the possibility of running out of it.
The Republican Party
The thought of losing someone I care about.
Three of my everyday essentials are:
cell phone
email
my Nalgene bottle full of water
Three things I am wearing right now are:
black strappy sandals
diamond earrings my husband gave me when I graduated from grad school
a silver ring my little brother made me in high school
Three of my favorite songs are:
The Best is Yet To Come -- Frank Sinatra
Love and Luck- Jimmy Buffett
The Best of What's Around -- Dave Matthews Band
Three new things I'd like to try in the next 12 months are:
Get a kick-ass high-paying job in D.C.
Take a hot air balloon ride
Get a spray tan.
Three things I want in a relationship are:
Neil
Neil
Neil
Two truths and a lie are:
I was named in a criminal complaint for robbing my own house.
I had my photo taken with Cindy Crawford.
I have never eaten octopus.
Three things I cannot do without are:
My iPod
Sushi
Friends and Family
Three places I'd like to go on vacation are:
Thailand
Japan
Alaska
Three kids' names are:
Riley (for a boy or a girl)
Sophia or Sophi
Rae (for a girl)
Three things I want to do before I die are:
Write a bestseller
Make a difference
Travel around the world
Three celebrity crushes I have had are:
John Cusak
Dave Matthews
Hugh Grant (it's the accent)
Three people I nominate to complete this exercise are:
Shane
Lindsey
Stan
Well, I did it. I left work this morning and had a phone interview on my cell phone in the car. The reception was great and I think the interview actually went well. The people on the call (there were three) were all incredibly nice and relatively enthusiastic about my resume and skills. (I just wrote "skills" and now images of Napoleon Dynamite are flashing in my mind.)
So, I don't know what will come of the phone call interview, but I am relieved not to have to be nervous about it anymore. I'm also relieved it's the weekend. We're meeting some friends for diem sum tonight and I can't wait. Also, the weekend gives me a reprieve from stressing about telling my boss about the move. If I can just put it off a few more weeks, it would be wonderful.
So, my blog friend Jodi has tagged me with a blog meme -- whatever that is... and I will surrender. Here goes:
The Trio Meme
Three screen-names I have had are:
JGG157
jodigwen
Maybe I am lame, but I don't think I have ever had any other screen-names
Three things I like about myself are:
the way I care about my friends and family
my smile
my sense of humor
Three things I do not like about myself are:
I am the world's most skilled procrastinator.
Sometimes I am lazy even when I don't really want to be lazy
I am never satisfied with my weight.
Three things that scare me are:
Money and the possibility of running out of it.
The Republican Party
The thought of losing someone I care about.
Three of my everyday essentials are:
cell phone
my Nalgene bottle full of water
Three things I am wearing right now are:
black strappy sandals
diamond earrings my husband gave me when I graduated from grad school
a silver ring my little brother made me in high school
Three of my favorite songs are:
The Best is Yet To Come -- Frank Sinatra
Love and Luck- Jimmy Buffett
The Best of What's Around -- Dave Matthews Band
Three new things I'd like to try in the next 12 months are:
Get a kick-ass high-paying job in D.C.
Take a hot air balloon ride
Get a spray tan.
Three things I want in a relationship are:
Neil
Neil
Neil
Two truths and a lie are:
I was named in a criminal complaint for robbing my own house.
I had my photo taken with Cindy Crawford.
I have never eaten octopus.
Three things I cannot do without are:
My iPod
Sushi
Friends and Family
Three places I'd like to go on vacation are:
Thailand
Japan
Alaska
Three kids' names are:
Riley (for a boy or a girl)
Sophia or Sophi
Rae (for a girl)
Three things I want to do before I die are:
Write a bestseller
Make a difference
Travel around the world
Three celebrity crushes I have had are:
John Cusak
Dave Matthews
Hugh Grant (it's the accent)
Three people I nominate to complete this exercise are:
Shane
Lindsey
Stan
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Insanity
Things are completely insane right now. I applied for my first job in D.C. over the long weekend in preparation for our upcoming move. Today, they called me at work to set up a phone interview. What is interesting about this is that I gave them my home number -- NOT my work number! I have not told my boss that I am moving yet, but it is becoming clear that I will have to soon. I just don't want to be looked at as a short-timer for the next four and a half months. Or, worse, I don't want to be fired. I think it would be seriously not right for them to make me leave my job early, but I can't help but be a little concerned. You never know what people will do when they discover you are leaving.
So, I am excited to have a phone interview for my first attempt at finding a job, but now I have to do the interview from work on Friday morning... or I have to leave work at nine in the morning and do the interview from my car. It is all very awkward and to make things worse, I really like my job right now. I like my boss and my coworkers and I feel very sad that I have to tell them I am leaving. Blech.
In other news, Neil and I discovered that we have only about 6 free weekends between now and when we move in late Oct. This discovery has made me think we should start packing boxes now so that we're not completely unprepared when the time to move comes. I am really excited about our new adventure, but I wish I could snap my fingers and magically end up in the perfect (and low-priced) apartment with all of my things around me and a great job to report to on Monday. Somehow, I suspect it will take a little more work.
Things are completely insane right now. I applied for my first job in D.C. over the long weekend in preparation for our upcoming move. Today, they called me at work to set up a phone interview. What is interesting about this is that I gave them my home number -- NOT my work number! I have not told my boss that I am moving yet, but it is becoming clear that I will have to soon. I just don't want to be looked at as a short-timer for the next four and a half months. Or, worse, I don't want to be fired. I think it would be seriously not right for them to make me leave my job early, but I can't help but be a little concerned. You never know what people will do when they discover you are leaving.
So, I am excited to have a phone interview for my first attempt at finding a job, but now I have to do the interview from work on Friday morning... or I have to leave work at nine in the morning and do the interview from my car. It is all very awkward and to make things worse, I really like my job right now. I like my boss and my coworkers and I feel very sad that I have to tell them I am leaving. Blech.
In other news, Neil and I discovered that we have only about 6 free weekends between now and when we move in late Oct. This discovery has made me think we should start packing boxes now so that we're not completely unprepared when the time to move comes. I am really excited about our new adventure, but I wish I could snap my fingers and magically end up in the perfect (and low-priced) apartment with all of my things around me and a great job to report to on Monday. Somehow, I suspect it will take a little more work.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
To Mourn
Yesterday, on my way back from Santa Fe, I saw a woman decorating one of the roadside crosses along the freeway. This particular cross was in the median and it was huge. The woman had pulled her minivan into the median and she was carefully adding plastic flowers and beads to the cross. She was all dressed up and 30 miles from anywhere. She was so deliberate in her actions and even watching her for a few seconds, I could feel her mourning. That got me thinking...how do we mourn? How do I mourn?
I have only visited a grave once and it was the grave of a grandfather I never met. I have lost people, but their graves are either across the country or nonexistent -- but I wish I could visit them. I wish I could be near my grandpa once in a while, that I had a place to go when I wanted to talk to him. But that would mean moving to Michigan, or visiting once in a while. Yet, every time I drive by the hospital where he died, which is at least once a week, I think about him and how much I miss him. Is the hospital my roadside cross?
My first boyfriend, Carl, had his ashes scattered on different mountains all over the world. There is a meadow in the Santa Fe mountains that friends have named after him, but I've never been there. Sometimes I dream about Carl though, and when I wake up, I feel like we've been having a conversation, which is really a wonderful feeling.
When I was younger, I used to think that grave yards and roadside crosses were only sad. But now I think they are both sad and beautiful. We always miss our loved ones and the way we honor them after they are gone are so human, so touching and so necessary.
Yesterday, on my way back from Santa Fe, I saw a woman decorating one of the roadside crosses along the freeway. This particular cross was in the median and it was huge. The woman had pulled her minivan into the median and she was carefully adding plastic flowers and beads to the cross. She was all dressed up and 30 miles from anywhere. She was so deliberate in her actions and even watching her for a few seconds, I could feel her mourning. That got me thinking...how do we mourn? How do I mourn?
I have only visited a grave once and it was the grave of a grandfather I never met. I have lost people, but their graves are either across the country or nonexistent -- but I wish I could visit them. I wish I could be near my grandpa once in a while, that I had a place to go when I wanted to talk to him. But that would mean moving to Michigan, or visiting once in a while. Yet, every time I drive by the hospital where he died, which is at least once a week, I think about him and how much I miss him. Is the hospital my roadside cross?
My first boyfriend, Carl, had his ashes scattered on different mountains all over the world. There is a meadow in the Santa Fe mountains that friends have named after him, but I've never been there. Sometimes I dream about Carl though, and when I wake up, I feel like we've been having a conversation, which is really a wonderful feeling.
When I was younger, I used to think that grave yards and roadside crosses were only sad. But now I think they are both sad and beautiful. We always miss our loved ones and the way we honor them after they are gone are so human, so touching and so necessary.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Even Sicker
So as if last week's death cold wasn't enough, right as I was getting better I was struck down with a really fun flu that involved a lot of middle-of-the night puking and left me six pounds lighter. I swear, I am not usually sickly. Am I being punished? The good news -- I am feeling much better. I still don't have an appetite, but hopefully that will come soon so I can regain my lost weight and then go back to work losing it at the gym.
Meanwhile, I am sure my co-workers are having serious questions about me since I have used three sick days in the last two weeks and left early on two other days. Oy. I am sure I am more paranoid than necessary, but I hate using sick days and using this many is unprecedented.
Not much else to report seeing how I have been in bed and asleep for the majority of the last 48 hours. On Sunday -- one of two days of relative health -- I saw the new Star Wars with my dad. My Star Wars fandom mostly ended when I was little and got tired of playing with my action figures. I did go to Episode I and it was so lame that I skipped Episode II, but Episode III was good. I now know the answers to all of the lingering questions I had, and I got to watch some exciting action sequences.
More videos will be posted soon, as soon as I can leave the house.
So as if last week's death cold wasn't enough, right as I was getting better I was struck down with a really fun flu that involved a lot of middle-of-the night puking and left me six pounds lighter. I swear, I am not usually sickly. Am I being punished? The good news -- I am feeling much better. I still don't have an appetite, but hopefully that will come soon so I can regain my lost weight and then go back to work losing it at the gym.
Meanwhile, I am sure my co-workers are having serious questions about me since I have used three sick days in the last two weeks and left early on two other days. Oy. I am sure I am more paranoid than necessary, but I hate using sick days and using this many is unprecedented.
Not much else to report seeing how I have been in bed and asleep for the majority of the last 48 hours. On Sunday -- one of two days of relative health -- I saw the new Star Wars with my dad. My Star Wars fandom mostly ended when I was little and got tired of playing with my action figures. I did go to Episode I and it was so lame that I skipped Episode II, but Episode III was good. I now know the answers to all of the lingering questions I had, and I got to watch some exciting action sequences.
More videos will be posted soon, as soon as I can leave the house.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Sick
Aaak. I am so annoyed! I'm sick and it's like 80 degrees and sunny out. We were supposed to drive to El Paso this weekend to meet Christina and Bobby's new baby -- Jacob. But there's no way I'm giving the baby this cold. So there goes the plan for the weekend. I left work early yesterday with a fever and proceeded to spend all afternoon sleeping. Today I got up at 1 and finally took a shower. This seems a little weird for a plain old cold.. but that seems to be what I have now that the fever is gone. Ahh what fun.
Meanwhile, I have a bazillion things to get done at work and home and I've barely ventured from the couch for the past 24 hours.
Baah. I just heard an ice cream truck go by in my neighborhood! It is so inappropriate to be ill in the spring and summer.
In other news, my dad told me yesterday that since we were in Italy last month, my brother has taken up smoking. This makes me really mad. What an idiot he is! I also feel like a jerk for being so mad. I don't get mad at friends who smoke. I have smoked in the past (but never to the point of addiction..) But because he is my little brother and I have this crazy protective instinct when it comes to him, I am upset about this latest development. I started worrying about whether or not he will attract the right girls, will be able to be as fit as he has been in the past and whether I'll be able to stand being in a room with him if he's all stinky and smoker-like. So, I made a video about the smoking (which is, perhaps, less articulate than this blog post) and you can watch it and hear my whiny sick voice and see how neurotic I am about my brother.
Here's hoping my cold goes away fast and my brother quits smoking and some little magic elf has been at work doing my work for me for the past day and a half.
Dustin Smokes
Click to watch
I apologize for my sick voice... also, I am aware that I need a real camera instead of my digital camera. Does anyone know about the clicking noises my camera is making?
Aaak. I am so annoyed! I'm sick and it's like 80 degrees and sunny out. We were supposed to drive to El Paso this weekend to meet Christina and Bobby's new baby -- Jacob. But there's no way I'm giving the baby this cold. So there goes the plan for the weekend. I left work early yesterday with a fever and proceeded to spend all afternoon sleeping. Today I got up at 1 and finally took a shower. This seems a little weird for a plain old cold.. but that seems to be what I have now that the fever is gone. Ahh what fun.
Meanwhile, I have a bazillion things to get done at work and home and I've barely ventured from the couch for the past 24 hours.
Baah. I just heard an ice cream truck go by in my neighborhood! It is so inappropriate to be ill in the spring and summer.
In other news, my dad told me yesterday that since we were in Italy last month, my brother has taken up smoking. This makes me really mad. What an idiot he is! I also feel like a jerk for being so mad. I don't get mad at friends who smoke. I have smoked in the past (but never to the point of addiction..) But because he is my little brother and I have this crazy protective instinct when it comes to him, I am upset about this latest development. I started worrying about whether or not he will attract the right girls, will be able to be as fit as he has been in the past and whether I'll be able to stand being in a room with him if he's all stinky and smoker-like. So, I made a video about the smoking (which is, perhaps, less articulate than this blog post) and you can watch it and hear my whiny sick voice and see how neurotic I am about my brother.
Here's hoping my cold goes away fast and my brother quits smoking and some little magic elf has been at work doing my work for me for the past day and a half.
Dustin Smokes
Click to watch
I apologize for my sick voice... also, I am aware that I need a real camera instead of my digital camera. Does anyone know about the clicking noises my camera is making?
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Doggie Dinner
Click to watch
My dogs have some strange eating customs... yes, we have tried feeding them out of separate bowls -- no go.
Music: The Meters -- "They All Asked For You"
Click to watch
My dogs have some strange eating customs... yes, we have tried feeding them out of separate bowls -- no go.
Music: The Meters -- "They All Asked For You"
Click here to watch
Finally, after many months of watching other people's video blogs, I have made my first video and figured out how to post it on my blog... or is it now a vlog? Thank you to Michael Verdi and Ryanne Hodson for the site Free Vlog which walked me through all the steps.
So, the video is from my trip to Italy in March. Be kind since this is the first time I ever tried editing video... I am sure I will improve with more practice.
The song is "Another Traveling Song" from Bright Eyes.
The video was shot in (in order) St. Peter's Basilica, on top of St. Peters, a piazza in Rome, the Trevi Fountain, a political press conference in Salerno and the coloseum in Pompei (that's my little brother waving his arms around).
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Fascinating Spam
I got some really interesting spam today in my work e-mail. It's from someone named Neateye and the subject line says "Gouranga". Inside, the message reads:
This seems to me a fairly harmless piece of spam. It is not filled with expletives or sexual references (as far as I can tell). Also, a big bonus, it doesn't have a virus attached to it. And, what the heck, it's telling me to be happy.
So, I looked it up and apparently, Gouranga is a word of great significance to the Hare Krishnas. So, the spam was religious spam. But, it was still more pleasant than the ads for penis pumps.
Apparently, there is a Gouranga problem in Europe...and that's pretty funny to me. Funny for a few reasons... one, it's sort of like the Jesus graffiti/bumper stickers/clothing etc. you find all over the U.S. -- you know, people using their freedom of religion but also cramming their religion down my throat...and two the Gouranga thing is sort of bringing people together across the world -- in a weird way. We're all getting these e-mails, or seeing the signs and wondering what the heck that weird word means. Here's a good explanation.
In any case, I will take a cheerful religious spam any day over the more disgusting spam I normally receive. And now, I know one more thing about the world, so thanks Hare Krishna spammers for providing a distraction this afternoon.
I got some really interesting spam today in my work e-mail. It's from someone named Neateye and the subject line says "Gouranga". Inside, the message reads:
Call out Gouranga be happy!!!
Gouranga Gouranga Gouranga ....
That which brings the highest happiness!!
This seems to me a fairly harmless piece of spam. It is not filled with expletives or sexual references (as far as I can tell). Also, a big bonus, it doesn't have a virus attached to it. And, what the heck, it's telling me to be happy.
So, I looked it up and apparently, Gouranga is a word of great significance to the Hare Krishnas. So, the spam was religious spam. But, it was still more pleasant than the ads for penis pumps.
Apparently, there is a Gouranga problem in Europe...and that's pretty funny to me. Funny for a few reasons... one, it's sort of like the Jesus graffiti/bumper stickers/clothing etc. you find all over the U.S. -- you know, people using their freedom of religion but also cramming their religion down my throat...and two the Gouranga thing is sort of bringing people together across the world -- in a weird way. We're all getting these e-mails, or seeing the signs and wondering what the heck that weird word means. Here's a good explanation.
In any case, I will take a cheerful religious spam any day over the more disgusting spam I normally receive. And now, I know one more thing about the world, so thanks Hare Krishna spammers for providing a distraction this afternoon.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Observation
When I am driving in my car in the late afternoon, after the car has had all day to soak up the heat from the sun and my window is open but I'm going slow enough not to mess up my hair with the wind, and I'm listening to upbeat music and I know the words so I can sing along, I am, somehow, able to let go of all the minutia and think only of the exciting things on my horizon. I breathe in the fresh air, feel my body surrounded by warmth and embrace the freedom of the road ahead of me and in moments like these, I really like myself.
When I am driving in my car in the late afternoon, after the car has had all day to soak up the heat from the sun and my window is open but I'm going slow enough not to mess up my hair with the wind, and I'm listening to upbeat music and I know the words so I can sing along, I am, somehow, able to let go of all the minutia and think only of the exciting things on my horizon. I breathe in the fresh air, feel my body surrounded by warmth and embrace the freedom of the road ahead of me and in moments like these, I really like myself.
Confession (tee hee)
I, the intellectual snob with a degree in journalism and a graduate degree in writing, am completely addicted to one of the trashiest magazines around which is, coincidentally, written for readers at a sixth grade level. I buy this magazine every week at the grocery store and read it cover to cover. I do not always even read more than one article when my New Yorker arrives. (Please note, it takes the same amount of time to read one New Yorker article as it does for me to read the entire trashy magazine.) I buy the trashy magazine at the grocery store because I was hoping my addiction would go away and because I did not want my name on the subscriber list. BUT, last week I caved and signed myself up for not one, but two years of the wonderfulness that is US Weekly. (Please don't tell anyone -- I am addicted to celebrity gossip.)
I, the intellectual snob with a degree in journalism and a graduate degree in writing, am completely addicted to one of the trashiest magazines around which is, coincidentally, written for readers at a sixth grade level. I buy this magazine every week at the grocery store and read it cover to cover. I do not always even read more than one article when my New Yorker arrives. (Please note, it takes the same amount of time to read one New Yorker article as it does for me to read the entire trashy magazine.) I buy the trashy magazine at the grocery store because I was hoping my addiction would go away and because I did not want my name on the subscriber list. BUT, last week I caved and signed myself up for not one, but two years of the wonderfulness that is US Weekly. (Please don't tell anyone -- I am addicted to celebrity gossip.)
The Thank You Note
Last week, I received a thank you note in the mail for buying my pink dress. This at first seemed really funny to me. I went to a department store, bought a dress and they mailed me a thank you note. This is just not normal. But actually, it was really nice and now I want to go back and buy more ridiculously priced things. Sometimes being old-fashioned can be a really good marketing strategy.
Last week, I received a thank you note in the mail for buying my pink dress. This at first seemed really funny to me. I went to a department store, bought a dress and they mailed me a thank you note. This is just not normal. But actually, it was really nice and now I want to go back and buy more ridiculously priced things. Sometimes being old-fashioned can be a really good marketing strategy.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Garage Sale Day!
Tomorrow is garage sale day! Neil and I are selling a bunch of junk with our friends Ryan and Shay. We had to pay $8 for a classified ad and tomorrow, bunches of strangers are (hopefully) going to arrive and give us money for things we don't want anymore -- or in the case of some gifts, never did want in the first place. We did all the item pricing last night and we'll be lucky to make $100. But, hey, that's more than the junk is making for us sitting in our closets.
Tomorrow, I am also going to be elected to the board that has previously been mentioned on this blog. I thought I was going to be elected last month... but it turns out the election is tomorrow at the annual meeting and then the board takes a vacation for June and July and reconvenes in August. Given the fact that I am moving in October, I will realistically only be able to attend two board meetings. When I realized this sometime last week, I called the two women who are orchestrating my election to the board and, while it was a bit of a risk since one woman is connected to my work, I told them I was moving and felt that it would not be fair of me to get elected given the fact that I would not be around long. To my surprise, they both said it was fine and they could use my help even for the short time I will be on the board. And so, this is how I came to spend $65 on a year-long membership to the group and the ticket for tomorrow's brunch and annual meeting where I will be elected to a board for which I will only be able to attend two meetings. In my opinion, this is a bit silly, but I guess I'll do what I can. The bummer: I have to leave the garage sale early to go get elected... sheesh!
Tomorrow is garage sale day! Neil and I are selling a bunch of junk with our friends Ryan and Shay. We had to pay $8 for a classified ad and tomorrow, bunches of strangers are (hopefully) going to arrive and give us money for things we don't want anymore -- or in the case of some gifts, never did want in the first place. We did all the item pricing last night and we'll be lucky to make $100. But, hey, that's more than the junk is making for us sitting in our closets.
Tomorrow, I am also going to be elected to the board that has previously been mentioned on this blog. I thought I was going to be elected last month... but it turns out the election is tomorrow at the annual meeting and then the board takes a vacation for June and July and reconvenes in August. Given the fact that I am moving in October, I will realistically only be able to attend two board meetings. When I realized this sometime last week, I called the two women who are orchestrating my election to the board and, while it was a bit of a risk since one woman is connected to my work, I told them I was moving and felt that it would not be fair of me to get elected given the fact that I would not be around long. To my surprise, they both said it was fine and they could use my help even for the short time I will be on the board. And so, this is how I came to spend $65 on a year-long membership to the group and the ticket for tomorrow's brunch and annual meeting where I will be elected to a board for which I will only be able to attend two meetings. In my opinion, this is a bit silly, but I guess I'll do what I can. The bummer: I have to leave the garage sale early to go get elected... sheesh!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Half-Birthday, Teacher's Day, Illness and Mother's Day
Yesterday was my half-birthday. I know it's silly to be 26 (and a half) and still want to celebrate my half-birthday.. but, that's just how I am. I am a birthday fanatic and that includes half-birthdays. Of course nothing happened for the half-b-day, other than a water glass toast with Neil at lunch yesterday. But, I still woke up with that old feeling of excitement, the one you get in the morning before a flight to someplace exciting, or first thing on Christmas, or Chanukah. "aha," I thought, "There's something special about today." And I realized that sometimes, all you have to do to make a day special is decide that it is.
Apparently May 3 was also Teacher's Day. I didn't know there was such a day, but it makes sense. While driving to work, the morning show I listen to was having people call in and talk about their favorite teachers. I thought, "I should call in!" but then I tried to narrow it down: who was my favorite teacher? And I got stuck. Here's the list I made in my head: Katie from preschool, Ms. Pong from 3rd grade, Mrs. Garcia from 5th grade, Zsolt from ballet and piano, Sparky from middle school history, Ms. Wampler from 9th grade algebra, Mr. Schiff from 10th grade history, Jay from high school science, Mr. Lang from 10th grade English, Mrs. Fischer from 12th grade English, Mr. Kurth from Humanities, Gene Aker from high school Journalism, Marda Dunsky from college journalism, Mike Rilley from college journalism, Carl Phillips from senior year of college poetry seminar, David Protess from college journalism, Fran Paden from Women's Studies, Susan Cheever from grad school, Sven Birkerts from grad school, Bob Schacochis from grad school. And I am sure, that if I could remember the really intelligent TA who taught the feminism seminar senior year of college his name would be on this list too.
So then I got to thinking about how incredibly influential teachers are. I realize that I am stating the obvious, but then again, is it that obvious? The teachers listed above not only helped shape how I think and how I understand the world, but they also helped shape how I see myself. They shared with me their knowledge and they let me know that they learned from me as well -- that I was valued. And now, nearly 20 years later (what has it been, 18 or 19 since I was in 3rd grade?) I can still remember how Ms. Pong made me feel and what she taught me. Perhaps I should be a teacher?
Illness: Neil got really ill again this week. It was the second time since I've known him and the first time was only about a month ago. On Wednesday night, I woke up to the sound of puking and spent the next couple of hours taking care of Neil and cleaning the bathroom -- not good. Please oh please, let this be the end of illness for the two of us for a while.
And Finally: This weekend is Mother's Day. I am dreading it. Not because I don't love my mom and my grandma. I do, very much. But I hate the politics that have recently entered my family. It makes me ill just thinking about it. Hopefully, however, we will have a good Mother's Day brunch and all of the stuff I am worried about will remain under the surface where I won't have to deal with it... Wish me luck...
Yesterday was my half-birthday. I know it's silly to be 26 (and a half) and still want to celebrate my half-birthday.. but, that's just how I am. I am a birthday fanatic and that includes half-birthdays. Of course nothing happened for the half-b-day, other than a water glass toast with Neil at lunch yesterday. But, I still woke up with that old feeling of excitement, the one you get in the morning before a flight to someplace exciting, or first thing on Christmas, or Chanukah. "aha," I thought, "There's something special about today." And I realized that sometimes, all you have to do to make a day special is decide that it is.
Apparently May 3 was also Teacher's Day. I didn't know there was such a day, but it makes sense. While driving to work, the morning show I listen to was having people call in and talk about their favorite teachers. I thought, "I should call in!" but then I tried to narrow it down: who was my favorite teacher? And I got stuck. Here's the list I made in my head: Katie from preschool, Ms. Pong from 3rd grade, Mrs. Garcia from 5th grade, Zsolt from ballet and piano, Sparky from middle school history, Ms. Wampler from 9th grade algebra, Mr. Schiff from 10th grade history, Jay from high school science, Mr. Lang from 10th grade English, Mrs. Fischer from 12th grade English, Mr. Kurth from Humanities, Gene Aker from high school Journalism, Marda Dunsky from college journalism, Mike Rilley from college journalism, Carl Phillips from senior year of college poetry seminar, David Protess from college journalism, Fran Paden from Women's Studies, Susan Cheever from grad school, Sven Birkerts from grad school, Bob Schacochis from grad school. And I am sure, that if I could remember the really intelligent TA who taught the feminism seminar senior year of college his name would be on this list too.
So then I got to thinking about how incredibly influential teachers are. I realize that I am stating the obvious, but then again, is it that obvious? The teachers listed above not only helped shape how I think and how I understand the world, but they also helped shape how I see myself. They shared with me their knowledge and they let me know that they learned from me as well -- that I was valued. And now, nearly 20 years later (what has it been, 18 or 19 since I was in 3rd grade?) I can still remember how Ms. Pong made me feel and what she taught me. Perhaps I should be a teacher?
Illness: Neil got really ill again this week. It was the second time since I've known him and the first time was only about a month ago. On Wednesday night, I woke up to the sound of puking and spent the next couple of hours taking care of Neil and cleaning the bathroom -- not good. Please oh please, let this be the end of illness for the two of us for a while.
And Finally: This weekend is Mother's Day. I am dreading it. Not because I don't love my mom and my grandma. I do, very much. But I hate the politics that have recently entered my family. It makes me ill just thinking about it. Hopefully, however, we will have a good Mother's Day brunch and all of the stuff I am worried about will remain under the surface where I won't have to deal with it... Wish me luck...
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