guess I still need work on this whole "consistent" thing...

In the past week, I had two major assignments due for separate classes. Now, before we all go assuming that I procrastinated until the very last minute, I want to assert that my newfound grad-school self doesn't do that. I had finished the paper due Tuesday on Sunday, and the lesson plan for Wednesday even earlier. However, while my newfound grad-school self does not procrastinate anymore, she does something even worse. Monday came, and I had the entire day at work to consider the rubric of my paper against what I had actually written. I went home absolutely panic-stricken: my paper was all wrong. I would have to start over.

And so I did. Two or three times, actually. I wanted to make sure that I had addressed everything that my professor would assess and that it was as perfect as possible. I didn't drink any more coffee than usual, but if someone had told me that I had actually woke up Tuesday morning and smoked crack, I would have believed them- my energy was off the wall insane. After my fifth or sixth time reading my paper over (which, by the way, was eerily similar to my first draft..), I decided that enough was enough. If nothing else, I would be awarded points for the obvious time and effort that I had put in. I went to the coffee shop on the corner and tried to concentrate on regulating my heart rate and keeping my eyelid from twitching. I'm sure that my pupils were about twice their normal size. BUT the most important thing is that I handed my paper in. I can only hope that the extra time and worry that I put into it will not result in it's downfall (e.g. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Chrystal Skull...).

When class was finished, I suddenly realized that I was starving, grabbed some takeout from the Indian place on 95th, and headed home to transcribe my lesson plan from the page to the computer. Then I got a glimpse of a portion of the assignment I hadn't seen before- TWO EXTRA pages of items that I hadn't begun to think about. And I might have had a meltdown. But I was miraculously able to pull myself together and actually READ the items. No big deal. However, when I got to class the next day (a day that was also spent wondering if my coffee had had crack in it), I saw that almost everybody in the class must've had a similar moment. I walked in to the sound of my professor yelling over the buzz in the room, "LOOK, I DON'T WANT TO READ ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. IF THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND, WE WILL GO OVER IT TODAY AND YOU CAN RE-SUBMIT. THERE IS NO REASON TO PANIC." Everybody was so freaked out that I had to laugh a little. You know, I'd imagine that all grad school classes ARE like this, but it is just so funny to have a bunch of people (mostly women) with VERY similar attitudes, personalities, and organizational styles all in the same room, all trying their best to over-achieve.

As a reward to myself for finishing the two giant projects of the moment, I went on a Kindle shopping spree. I usually use my Kindle to buy four types of books; 1) free downloads/vanity presses, 2) books I'm interested in reading that are less than $3 in the Kindle store, 3) books that I would like to read but are so embarrassing that I would be too ashamed to actually bring them to a cash register/check out desk, and 4) Agatha Christies. "I'll just read one chapter of [shameful harlequin romance title here] before I go to bed," I told myself. Chya. Fast forward to 2am, when I decide that it REALLY is time for bed. I learned a valuable lesson that night: do not start a book so close to bedtime. Especially if you are feeling particularly cracked out. Results can be dire.

I bounced out of bed on Thursday, feeling crack-eyed and ready for the day, but it was short lived. After a brief observation of a local classroom, I crashed. Hard. And yesterday was decidedly devoid of that cracked- out feeling and instead full of laundry. OH, and a trip to Babbo with Ben and his friend, Alex. But that's another story.

And I guess that brings us to today. I usually spend Saturday mornings moping around and griping about how I don't want to go to work, but this weekend, my boss is out of town AND I get to work a double with a co-worker that I much prefer over the usual one. So I guess I'll survive. OH. and a best friend is in town and we have plans to get together tomorrow. So if I can somehow make it through today unscathed, I'll be incredibly pleased with myself.

I'll probably need more crack. COFFEE. I'll probably need more coffee.

...well, I thought it was funny...

Saturday morning was off to a rough start. After fielding a distressing phone call about one of my relatives (she was in surgery- she is now recovering and doing well, considering), I was walking to work and a giant hunk of ice came tumbling off a building and hit my head. When I regained my composure and finally made it to the restaurant (10 minutes late), I was convinced that Saturday would be a bad day, and there was nothing that could happen that would possibly put me in a better mood.

However.

I did not anticipate this particular couple coming in to have brunch. They were young and good-looking, and at first I was jealous because I never get to go to brunch with my beau on the weekends. I took their order and went about my business, and then I saw it. On the floor. Next to their table. At first I wasn't sure if the falling ice had had some sort of residual effect on my brain, but it was there, unmistakable. A condom.

Before you get too grossed out, I want to point out that it was still in the package. But it was just laying there while they drank their Mimosas. I wondered if I should point that out to them, but resisted for fear that it was some sort of 'candid camera' situation. I mean, is there a "good" way for that to be handled?? I assumed that just letting it lie, so to speak, was the best solution. Luckily, one of them DID see it and snatch it up before they left, but for some reason, the whole thing struck me as incredibly funny. In addition, the new guy brought me a banana, and I was disproportionately happy about eating it.


Maybe that falling ice DID have some lasting effects.

Slice of Life- Favorite Photos.

I'll be the first to admit- I am certainly not a gifted photographer. That, however, does not hinder my love of taking pictures. I'll spare you all the speech about how looking back on my photos reminds me of the good feelings that I wanted to document, and how those feelings radiate in and out of my iphoto and make me so happy, and just show you. Here are some of my favorites.


Enjoy!!

New Year's Eve, 2011. All of the bars on Main Street were full, so we entertained ourselves in other ways. To this day I am still not sure what type of business requires a hammerhead shark to be leaping out from the laminant.

Love this slug. Love those marigolds.

This one is from a few years ago. I have no idea why my sister and I are wearing boxer shorts, but I love the look of triumph on her face. And her skinned knee.

Best. Christmas. Ever.

The view from the apartment that Land and I shared in Bangor.

A windowpane from the quirky and fun Main Street in Manayunk.

Captured from a book store in Reading Terminal Market.

<3

I was not the photographer on this one. This photo was taken by Kathleen, a 4 year old girl that I babysat in Philly. I do not know WHAT this is a picture of, but it looks SO cool. Way to go, Kathleen!

"Sisters Going To Church on Christmas Eve Gothic."

Love this guy's sales pitch.



So, what did you think? Did you like them?? Did you hate them?? Oh! does anybody have good captions for them? That might be a fun game...

Have a wonderful weekend, everybody!!

A Sign.

Some time before Christmas, I was sitting in the living room of my parents house with some of my best friends. We were musing about what the new year might bring, and sort of laughing about the fact that most of us had had pretty crappy 2012s, or, at the very least, ends of 2012s. I think we all were hoping for some kind of magical sign to tell us that we were on the right track. And a few days later, after I had returned to New York, that is exactly what happened to me.

This is the story of how I knew that 2013 would be a good year, and that the choices I've made for the future are the right ones.

Picture it: Bistro Nora. December 31, 2012. I am a total grouch. I was told that we would close early because the restaurant is not exactly a New Year's destination. Turns out: it was more of a destination than we had planned, and I wasn't going anywhere. Cue the pity party.

It was then that a family walked in. I won't say much about them aside from the fact that they come in fairly often and that they have two children- a daughter and a non-verbal son who usually sits in a high chair and doesn't do much in the way of communication.

I went over- could I interest Mom and Dad in a little champagne? Why sure! And then, this little boy grabbed my hand.
“Oh honey, don't..” his mother protested from across the table.
He gave my hand a kiss.
“Oh, I'm sorry!”
“It's okay!” I knelt down so that I was eye level with the child. He still held my hand. And then he wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me the most wonderful hug- and kissed my cheek too.
“Oh- my gosh!!” his mother looked surprised, but in a good way, “he- he never does that with strangers!”

I knew in that moment that my grad school decision was the right one. I've got to work with children. I like them, they like me, and I cannot begin to express the joy that I felt when this little boy squeezed me into his chest. After a brief conversation about my future plans- Mom thought I would be a great teacher- I had such enthusiasm, she said- I walked back into the coffee station and wiped the happy tears off my face. I am so, SO glad that I had to work on New Year's Eve. The goals for the future that I was still getting used to were reaffirmed by an awesome little guy and his mother.


And I knew that 2013 would be good.


And yeah, I know that this is a little late, but I just found it yesterday- so let's just apply it to the REST of 2013...

the oldest

Saturday brunch was off to a slow start this past week, but I was glad to see one of our brunch regulars. She had beat the rush, and so I had time to talk to her.
“We have very similar interests,” I explained to the new guy when he asked me about her. “We like a lot of the same books, and we both like to knit and to cross stitch- she's even given me websites with cute patterns.”
The new guy smiled and shook his head, “you are just- the oldest lady.”

I feel like this might be an offensive statement to some, but I didn't take it as such- mostly because it is true. I'm not really into the bar scene, I like to be able to go to bed early, and I consider a night where I get a few chores done or get to work on my latest craft to be immensely satisfying. Not to mention the fact that I'm a rabid Golden Girls fan. I'd do crazy things for a chance to meet Betty White.

And I don't see that theres anything wrong with that. In those ways, yeah- I am old. I'm really old. And I like it that way.

That's all....


HAPPY FRIDAY!!

2 bizarre Christmas songs (that I am weirdly okay with)

On Monday I came across a list of the "10 Most Hated" Christmas songs in one of New York City's many tabloid papers. While I give the team responsible an A for effort, I DO seriously have to question said list, because it did not include Sir Paul McCartney's "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time" OR a techno disco remix of "Last Christmas" that is always so popular at shopping malls this time of year. This list, however, DID get me thinking about Christmas songs- the good, the bad, and the just plain weird.

I won't bore you with my top 10 list of worst Christmas songs. You already know where it is headed. I WILL, however, share with you two of the strangest Christmas songs I've ever heard. Here it goes.

Percy the Puny Poinsettia (recorded By Elmo and Patsy)- Try as I might, I could not find a YoutTube version of this song, so I found the next best things- the lyrics, as well as a very creepy singing poinsettia which sings a little bit of the song. I've just gotta give the rhyme makers here some props- poinsettia is not an easy word to rhyme, and they've got all kinds of ways to bend some words and make it work- wetta, betta, redda--in fact, I kind of wish there was a reference to 'chedda' in there somewhere. They also really manage to pull at your heartstrings for this poor flower- 'even a plant with no uncle or aunt should spend christmas day by himself.' I hope you'll think of Percy the next time you see a tiny little poinsettia this time of year.

Must Be Snooki Claus (recorded by CoolKingChris and the Bob and Sheri Cast)- this song is a parody of a more traditional Christmas earworm, Must Be Santa, which, once you hear, you will not get out of your head for approximately seven years. Must Be Snooki is a fun spinoff of this, and while it will still get stuck in your head, the lyrics are infinitely more entertaining. Do yourself a favor and watch the photo montage as well. The whole thing is pretty funny.

Does anybody else have a bizarre Christmas Song to share? Let me know, I wanna hear 'em!!

Happy Hump Day!

12-11-12

It's been many moons since my last post. I fear that I may be turning into a "real" New Yorker. I've been working full time plus at the restaurant, and while I SHOULD be celebrating my financial success as I am now made of money, all I can do is gripe and complain about who I have no free time and I'm always tired and how all this caffeine is making my eyelid twitch.

My apologies.

I've been really missing Philly lately. I mean, it was a little far awa from Maie for my liking, but I was very happy there. I had a job that I loved with kids that I adored and miss very much, I had an amazing internship which, though unpaid, earned me some wonderful experience and a longing for an office full of people as awesome as those at the Arden. I was cooking for Ben in our tiny apartment and I had close friends close by and I even took up running up and down the hills of Manayunk. Maybe it's graduation goggles but hell, I even miss the disgusting public transportation in Philly. And Philly Shakespeare. And Old City. And Kip the looney ballet teacher. And auditions.

BUT I DIGRESS.

The holidays are now upon is. Hanukkah has begun and I am (believe it or not) mostly finished with my Christmas shopping and crafts. I've been making an effort to enjoy the process this year and not be so stressed. So far, so good.

Ben and I will also be able to travel together to Maine for the holiday, which, after Thanksgiving's nightmarish debacle, is awesome. We will leave New York on December 20, stay in Boston with some awesome friends that evening, and depart for Maine on the eve of the 21st. I will arrive in Maine on the 22nd. MARK YOUR CALENDARS, PEOPLE!!

So, in an effort to get myself a little more amped about the holiday season and feeling good and less Philly-sick (or whatever it is), I am gonna try and count down the last few days until Christmas with some of my favorite holiday memories, thoughts, etc. I already posted a clip from the Claymation Christmas Special, a program that I thoroughly believe should be mandatory viewing for all during the month of December. It's got everything- dinosaurs, ice-skating walruses, the California Raisins, and, of course, CHRISTMAS SNACKS! There's a VHS copy of it on the Fahey homestead- if ONLY i had a VCR!!

Today I want to share a memore of one of the BEST Hanukkah stories ever- Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins. I was first introduced to the story my senior year of high school, when one of the most kickass teachers ever read it aloud to our creative writing class. IT follows the adventures of Herschel as he outwits a band of Hanukkah-hating goblins and eventually comes face to face with the goblin KING before bringing Hanukkah back to the village. The story is great, the pictures are great, it's just awesome.

Around this time last year, I had the opportunity to take some children fro Greene Street to see a production of 'Herschel' put together by a local creative arts group. IT was very well done- there were bright colors, fuzzy puppets, and a bunch of jokes that the kids really liked. However, there was one element that I hadn't been counting on.

We has been warned ahead of time that some of the show might be scary for smaller children, but even with this knowledge, all of the kids wanted to see the show. I found myself sandwiched between two of the more nervous Kindergarteners- who had decided at the last minute that they WOULD like to wach the show instead of sitting outside with me- as long as I could sit next to them- in the aisle. A great time was had by all- until the Goblin King's booming voice was heard. You know those creepy voice-distorters that they show kidnappers using on crime dramas? Yeah, THAT was the voice of the Goblin King. I simultaneously had to deal with two situations- the first was Julian, who immediately crawled onto my shoulder and perched there like he was a parrot. I somehow managed to balance him there while chasing after Talia, who began running up the steps of the auditorium to get away from the scary voice. I scooped both of them into my arms and tried to explain that it was just a microphone and that it wasn't real, but they weren't having it. Mercifully, the show ended soon after, and even more mercifully, the children were given a chance to see the puppets with the house lights on. After that, Julian and Talia both agreed that the Goblin King was their favorite part. Go figure.