Overdose of Christmas

I'm feeling dizzy, nauseous, disoriented and suspiciously jolly.....I should not operate large machinery or attempt to cross busy streets unassisted. Why? I am feeling the effects of a Christmas overdose. Let me explain...

In the last week I have:

1) Attended a Christmas party at work.

2) Attended a Christmas party with fellow Ph.D. candidates (pictures to come!).
3) Attended the Radio City Rockettes Christmas show here in town.

4) Attended a showing of the Nutcracker Ballet (my first time at a ballet) with none other than Scott Hamilton as the "special guest", appearing as Mother Ginger (yup, in drag-- real shock, right?).

Not to mention Christmas shopping, songs on the radio, holiday commercials on TV, lights and wreaths everywhere--- it's almost enough to give a person a seizure. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy celebrating holidays as much as the next person but, is it just me or has Christmas become a virtual juggernaut of joy? A cascade of cheer? A pile-drive of peace? A hornet's nest of hallelujahs? I could go on and on.

The point is, no wonder everyone I meet is stressed out and suffering from serious bouts of insecurity! We're all being pushed to the sonic boom of Christmas. Why? Because people have forgotten the point of it all. Regardless of your religious affiliations, December and January are supposed to be a time of thankfulness, reflection and remembering the value of family.

In any case, I'm tired of Christmas and it isn't even here yet. I'm over-stimulated and practically strung out on it. I think we could all use a little detox. Happy Rehab to all and to all a good night!

Isn't it ironic?

Sometimes I just gotta laugh at the irony in my life. Today has been a good case for demonstration. First of all, it is the middle of December and I wore flip-flops to class this morning. Am I really that hearty, you ask? Thick-skinned? Nope....it was a balmy 71 degrees today with a slight spring-smelling breeze. Ironic? Oh yeah....considering that I'll be flying home for Christmas and will be greeted by 2 inches of snow and blustery 30 degree weather (not including windchill). I love the South!

Oh yeah, remember that Regina Spektor concert my little heart has been yearning for? Well, it was supposed to happen Dec. 6th (after being re-scheduled from Nov.) but, I was called by the theater and informed that it had been postponed yet again--indefinitely. Bummer. So, a few days later, I found awesome tickets to see the Gipsy Kings (another act I am dying to see) on Feb. 27th at 7pm so, I rally a few friends and we buy them before they sell out. Hurray! Then....

This morning, I check my email and rejoice to see that they have finally set a new date for the Regina Spektor concert. Guess when? Yup, Feb. 27th at 7pm. Grrrrrrrr.....so, if anyone out there can make it into town, I'm willing to sell you my ticket to see Regina; otherwise, I'm just going to get a refund. Ah well, the Gipsy Kings will probably put on a better show anyway.

Made me think of this song....an oldie but a goodie....Anyone else out there got a little irony in their lives?

The poopy-flavored lollypop that is my life....

Ok, so things around the 'ville have been a little crummy for me lately. I know I have no right to complain; there are FAR worse things happening in many, many other places in the world (I study them daily) but, I think we all need to indulge ourselves in some good, old-fashioned bitching/venting every once in a while, right? Here goes...

Things That Make Me Go "Arg":

1) I have sweet tickets to see Regina Spektor live and the show has been postponed twice now. They are currently re-setting the date and if they place it smack in the middle of Christmas break I will hurt someone.

2) My "girlie" issues have turned me into a raging lunatic this month. Things are pissing me off that never piss me off. For example, my job ran out of coffee the other day and there was only (dun-dun-dun) decaf. I was outrageously annoyed for the remainder of the day and huffed all the way home. Only when relaying this unjust incident to my significant other did I realize that I had totally lost my mind. Go figure...

3) My arranged ride home for Christmas had some complications (which aren't their fault at all) but, now I have to buy a one-way ticket and then pan-handle for a ride back. Or drive my heap home and back---eh, not such a good idea. The last thing I need is to break down in "Godforsaken City, KY" and try to find a mechanic. So much for planning in advance.

4) The weather here is so fickle it's driving me insane. I wake up in the morning and it's sunny and crisp. By the the time I come home it's very cold and very windy. I'm always freezing my butt off or sweating like a pig no matter what I wear in preparation.

5) Finals week is rapidly approaching and I feel completely overwhelmed. I have one exam to study for, two books to read, and three papers to write before I'm outta here. Makes me wanna take a shot and then a nap....

6) I had a huge paper to turn in this week for a class and, for extra input, I decided to email it to my advisor. They almost immediately emailed me back wanting to meet and talk about the paper. Ugh....doesn't bode well for me. And I thought I did a decent job on this one--- arg, guess I'll get mine handed to me tomorrow.

7) I am a complete failure as a Christmas shopper/ gift giver. I simply have no idea what to get anyone this year. No one needs anything or wants anything and, when asked, says "Ah, you don't have to get me anything." Well, damnit people, you keep telling me that and I'm going to believe you! Plus, I hate malls---hate, hate, hate them. All the people, noise, canned music, bad perfume---ugh, too much. I shop like a soldier on a mission--- get in and get the hell out before something gets shot off.



Two pleasant things that help me forget my troubles are good books and good music, both of which I have encountered lately. I highly recommend these...

Three Cups of Tea by: Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin--- Amazing book, trust me, you'll walk away feeling inspired.

The Weepies---LOVE this band; every song I've heard by them is fun and catchy. This is the video for "Nobody Knows Me At All".

So, peanut gallery--- what makes you stressed and grumpy? What do you do to unwind and get happy again?

All Americans MUST see this movie....

Ok, so lots of people hate Michael Moore. When I saw him speak in Fairmont, WV for the 2004 elections, I wasn't exactly impressed myself. But, who cares? Aside from a less than attractive personality, this guy is smart and he's doing a great thing by making the movies he does. SiCKO, in particular, is a movie everyone in this country needs to see . I was shocked and really saddened by what I saw. Frankly, it made me want to move to another country---any other country. It amazes me what we let our government get away with. Then, on top of that, we have this ridiculous attitude of "America is the best, man. We're the best country in the world. That's why everyone comes here." Eh, not so much. People come here to make money, not to have the best life possible anymore. The really frustrating part is that we have the power to change it and yet we don't so, it doesn't get changed. However, bill H.R. 676 was an important turning point in this battle. It was a bill that proposed the creation of a new nationalized health care system. Michael Moore's webpage links to information on this piece of legislation--> http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/what-can-i-do/. Although it already went to a vote on Nov. 14th (and was defeated), it is still important that we write to our congressional representatives, or even the presidential candidates, and demand that they make national healthcare a top priority in 2008. And then, perhaps, there will be another proposed version (that will actually pass) of this landmark bill in the future. This is a bipartisan issue and it benefits us all; it is time that we finally take control of our health and get what we need from our government!

Music City, USA

Guess who's going to see Regina Spektor live in concert?? Yup, that's right---Dec. 6th, baby! Actually, I was supposed to see her two weeks ago but, the show got cancelled because she was sick. So, they re-scheduled for December, which is actually better for me. I'm so pumped! That's the beauty of living in the music capital of the U.S.--- everyone comes here! I will be seeing the Rockettes right before Christmas break and then, hopefully, the Gipsy Kings in February. Gotta love it...

My hair is not my friend...

I know for a fact that each and every person (especially women) have something about their body that they don't like. Some of us are able to hide that better than others. For example, internal medical or psychological issues can remain virtually unknown to everyone your entire life. However, physical things are harder to disguise. Even then, there is wiggle-room. If you have ugly feet, you never have to wear sandals. If you have a small chest, Victoria's Secret push-up/padded bras are your best friend. Every now and then, a woman has a physical difficulty, let's say, that is quite impossible to hide.

In my case, it's my hair. I have struggled with my hair my entire life. I have thin, fine hair that is, at the same time, quite curly. Naturally, this is a rather unusual combination (thanks Mom and Dad). This limits the kind of hairstyles that physically work on me (not to mention my unusual face shape). So, in my entire life, I think I've had a total of about 5 distinct haircuts--- two of which were disastrous.

As a result, I have developed an unnatural fear of the hair salon; this fear is comparable to what some people have of doctors, dentists, needles, or the bubonic plague. I HATE getting my hair cut. It is, unfortunately, a necessary evil in my life (unless I want to look like Cousin It). This fear is born of the fact that I have NEVER encountered a hair stylist out there that has even the most remote clue as to what to do with my hair and how to do it. The biggest tip-off is when they come at me with a brush and/or blow-dryer. Uh-uh, honey-- you just lost the game (and a tip). So, yesterday I was feeling sadomasochistic and decided to give the hair-dressers of the Southeast a turn at my freak-hair. What can I say, I'm just a glutton for punishment?

After almost an hour of intense cutting and primping, I walked out of that salon looking like a cross between little orphan Annie and Phil Spector--- needless to say, I was not the prettiest girl at the ball. I paid $45, including the tip because I'm too much of a wuss to stiff someone, to look like a miniature poodle. Sad? yes--- Surprising? Not so much. Why do hair-dressers not understand that teasing is never the answer??? Is that really the only thing they know how to do? I really had hope, though. I even brought a picture (after intense research about hair type and face shape) because I thought perhaps it was my inadequate verbal articulation of what I wanted that made for my failing track-record. Ah well. I got home and immediately took a shower to wash out all the Aqua-Net-like product that had been used to make my hair a virtual Tower of Babel. After playing with it on my own, it isn't half-bad. I've learned to have a sense of humor about it all (so that I don't cry) but it still sucks when your own body seems to be rebelling against you.

So, for all of you out there, what aspect of your physical appearance do you wish you could change? Have you tried to change it several times with little or no success? How do you deal with not looking the way you want to (or feel you should)?

Hockey, Halloween and Tornadoes

Yet again I find myself way behind in my blogging and life in general. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day (particularly after the time change) to get everything done.

So, what have I been up to you ask? Well, I've been to two hockey games in the last month-- pro games for the local team-- which was pretty awesome 'cause I love me some hockey. The first game, my seats were toward the middle of the area but, the second game, oh my. I got two BOX seat tickets...for FREE-- courtesy of my part-time job. How great is that? They pay me and they give me free stuff. It was seriously one of the highlights of my year; I went with my buddy Adam, who is a major hockey fan and now swears that I am the coolest person alive. Get this, we got: free food, free drinks, free alcoholic drinks, free t-shirts, free programs and...a free dessert. About halfway through the game a dessert cart passed by all the boxes and we could choose from things like NY-style cheesecake with fresh strawberries, Bavarian chocolate cake, Snickers pie, 7-layer carrot cake or we could get a shot of a liqueur like Bailey's or Kahlua. Heaven, heaven....it just doesn't get any better than free entertainment AND free food. God bless them, God bless them all.

Also, as you can see by the photo, I went to a rockin' Halloween party with the other first-years. Everyone dressed up, we made total fools of ourselves and it was a lovely night. In case anyone is wondering, I was "Trailer Park Barbie"--- not Britney Spears, which was the popular guess. I went all out, I'm not ashamed to say; right down to the Marlboro permanently on hand (I gave the rest of the pack away) or in the mouth (with beer bottle), baby doll, prego belly, fake tattoos and blacked-out teeth. How sweet it is...

Yesterday evening I got my first experience with southeastern USA weather-- tornadoes. Yeah, being a WV girl made it virtually impossible for me to wrap my brain around the idea of a tornado being a real possibility until the sirens started going off. Natural disasters just don't happen in WV. Not fun at all, let me tell you. Luckily, even though some were sighted, nothing touched down or did serious damage. It was a very sobering experience-- in a few minutes you could lose everything and you're completely powerless. I just kept thinking how I wished my boy was there and I wished I could talk with him. Anyone out there experienced a natural disaster? What kind was it? What were your thoughts when it happened?

For all cat lovers out there...

Thought this might give you a giggle...

The Do's and Don'ts of Tying the Knot

This past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing my two good friends Alex and Allison seal the deal in a lovely autumn in WV wedding. I was a bridesmaid (yet again) and did my part so that their big day went exactly according to plans--- and if you know Allison, you also know how VERY important that is. My boy and I had the chance to see eachother again after a bit of a hiatus so, that was definitely nice. It's amazing how much you can miss a person's physical presence even though you talk to them virtually every day.

As I have reached the end of my long list of to-go-to weddings for this year, I feel I have garnered a bit of knowledge that may be valuable to some of you out there who are (as yet) unmarried. Here's a top 10 list of advice from a decidedly un-experienced and non-authoritative, (yet)professional wedding attendee....

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10- Forget the stupid little details!! No one notices or remembers them anyway (i.e. the color of the napkins, the centerpiece, the favors, etc.). People waste way too much time and money on the minute details and miss the big picture in the process.

9- Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT play: the chicken dance, the electric slide, the macarena, the hussle or any other cheesy dance song at the reception...it gets old real fast.

8- Pick a good cake. Nothing ruins a good wedding meal quicker than a cheap (more icing than cake) or overly rich, wedding cake. The cake is more than likely the last thing the guests will eat so, you should try to leave a good taste in their mouth (literally).

7- For the love of God, no performers. No sappy poets, no droning speakers and no warbling singers. The wedding is the show, we don't need any more.

6- Be kind to your bridesmaids/groomsmen. Do not make them wear anything you wouldn't (or something that wouldn't flatter you). And, just as a word of style advice, classic is always better. Trendy color combinations involving browns or oranges are better left inside Modern Bride magazine and off the bodies of real people.

5- Do NOT have a deejay. They always, always, always suck....no affordable one will have any kind of skills and they will never match your taste in music, no matter how much they promise to stick to your request list. A live band is preferable but expensive. Even a laptop hooked up to a stereo system on a random shuffle of your Windows Media Player playlist is better--- at least you can censor what is played.

4- You do not need a wedding planner. They are pushy, expensive, bitter old maids who want to control your special day and live vicariously through your checkbook. Do your own thing and make it reflect the two of you! If you plan far enough ahead and keep it simple, you can do it yourself. Nothing is sadder than a standard, cookie-cutter wedding. Just be sure to delegate--- the man should share equally in the planning; weddings are not solely the responsibility of the bride.

3- Do NOT videotape your wedding. It is a huge waste of money and I have never in my life known of anyone who actually sat down and watched the tape---ever. Videographers are pirates; if you have pictures, that's enough. Plus, even if you are self-absorbed enough to sit down and watch 2 hours of yourself on film, no one else will ever want to; so, please, don't tempt yourself to smother the rest of us with your blissful film festivals.

2- Make sure, regardless of who will be toasting you, that you know what they are going to say and how long they plan to ramble on (and how much they have had to drink prior to taking over the microphone). Most people think they are witty and profound but few actually are and the guests are always the uncomfortable victims in this scenario.

1- Enjoy the day! I've been to WAY too many weddings where the bride and groom spend the entire reception meeting and greeting. Forget that--- dance like an idiot, stuff your face and have fun because the day will pass quickly and you should squeeze as much joy out of it as possible; after all, you paid for it!

No nuts for the little lady....she's allergic....

Can you frickin' believe this?? Home Depot has decided to create a 'female friendly' version of its stores and, get this, they're calling it Her Depot. Whoever does their marketing research needs to be fired and branded on the forehead with the word "idiot". It is a store where,

"You won't find any lumber yards, contractor-grade tools or commercial building supplies. What you will find are flower bouquets, well-lit athroom and kitchen displays, stylish home furnishings and stacks of floral-print storage bins."

Gee, what I've always wanted--- another place that sells totally useless, decorative, over-priced shit. Hmmm...don't we already have a few of those around? (i.e. Crate and Barrel) Women will clearly never need nails, nuts, bolts, hammers, a wrench or, god-forbid, a piece of wood; we all just have our darling little hubby do all the heavy-lifting, fixing and logical thinking. As we all know, ovaries are like kryptonite to handiness.

I just don't understand how they think this is an new and appealing prospect for women (maybe cerca 1950). It will have "softer lighting", "lower shelves" and will be "neater and cleaner" than the typical warehouse style found at Home Depot and Lowe's but will have less stock (25% less). So, essentially, it will be a place with mood lighting and elevator music where women can buy fake flowers and call it home improvement--- ridiculous. All they have to do now is paint the exterior bright pink and the insult will be complete.....grrrr. Screw you, Home Depot! Oops, can't use 'screw'...that's manly hardware....POTPOURRI YOU, HOME DEPOT! (much better)

Must remember to eat and sleep....

My life has been so crazy lately I'm going to give the bulleted version (with explanatory photos)....

* saw "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" for free courtesy of my lovely department (since it's a semi-historical film); my verdict was B-.....pretty and engaging but ridiculously inaccurate and hopelessly cliche at times


* saw "Lady in the Water" courtesy of Blockbuster online; awesome film, I give it an A


* sang karaoke with the other newbies in my department Friday night at a local western bar; very intimidating when everyone there is an aspiring country singer but we had a blast making total fools of ourselves.... Exhibit A----- >


* spent the rest of the weekend reading an excellent book, Intimate Ironies: Modernity and the Making of Middle-Class Lives in Brazil and writing a review....potential dissertation topic? perhaps...

* got invited to a baby shower for one of my best friends from "way back in high school", always wanted to be able to say that; spent some time looking for good gift ideas.... anyone have a suggestion???

* tweaked my final itinerary for my trip to WV for one of my gal-friend's wedding....coming up oh-so-soon; spent time looking for a second gift to give....any ideas???

* struggled make a final decision on where I'll be traveling to this summer....and with what program....to do what? arg....sometimes lots of options makes things harder...

* I've been attending both the Spanish and Portuguese conversation tables religiously....can't tell you how confused that has made me....sometimes I speak and then have to pause to consider if I'm speaking the right language with the right group...


* I met the ex-President of Brazil!!! Mr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso. How cool is that? He came and spoke on campus....it was quite the to-do...Exhibit B---- >

* tonight I'm going to a Cuban timba music concert with "Tiempo Libre"-- Grammy award-winners....if I go to the reception before the concert I might get to meet them.....I love my life :)

"Satanic Verses" and Bad Tango

I got to hear Salman Rushdie speak on Friday evening!! How awesome is that? I love his books and he's a wonderful public speaker-- very dry, witty and highly opinionated. He spoke not so much about his books but, rather what the role of the author is in modern society. Based on his own reputation, he is clearly a writer in favor of "shaking things up" and using writing to make the public think critically. He poked fun at: Bush, Dan Brown, the Ayatollah Khomeini (who put out a fatwa, or death threat out on him for Satanic Verses), Republicans, J.K. Rowling, etc. There is an obvious attraction for him to the controversial. I must say, his treatment of the Q&A section was rather light (joking about the questions more than answering them) but, he did seem to be responding as honestly and bluntly as possible. I wish I had been able to meet him personally (he was signing autographs and chatting at the reception prior to the lecture) but I thoroughly enjoyed his speech. I highly recommend his work to anyone out there that likes mysticism, religion, history and a heavy dose of political incorrectness.


Later that evening, I went with a few friends to a tango demonstration at a local park. I really like tango music so, I was really looking forward to seeing a dance troupe perform it. However, I was rather disappointed. Most of the time was spent on instructing participants on the basic steps of tango--- which took forever. Then, they made a laundry list of announcements about the group...blah, blah, blah. FINALLY, they got to the tango performances....and, frankly, they weren't very good. I know, I know, who am I to judge? I am by no means a tango dancer nor a professional dancer in any capacity. However, one doesn't have to be able to draw to recognize a good rendering of a landscape--- you just know how it should look. I've watched the film Tango from Argentina so, I'm rather well-acquainted with how the dance should look....and it didn't look like that, at all. Oh well, it was a tantalizing prospect anyway.


So, I have two questions for everyone this time: What is your favorite "bad" book? A book that crosses the line, so to speak, and pushes the limits of polite literary society-- perhaps a banned book? Secondly, have you ever experienced something that received lots of hype only to be sorely disappointed at the actual results?

My 15 minutes....

Check it out, I've been blurbified....cool....

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/historydept/graduate/students

Lots of fun = No work done

I had such a great weekend!! This city is too fun to resist, even when there is a pile of work waiting for you. This, of course, translates to, "I got virtually nothing done worth mentioning." Oh well, I'll just have to play catch-up this week. The good thing is, in speaking with other grads, I'm not alone in my "behind schedule" status. (Above: Myself and my new friend Margarita, from Spain at the jazz club).So, my weekend consisted of:

Friday- leaving work early with crushing headache (girlie stuff); a short nap and lots of aspirin later, I was good to go; cleaned my house quickly and baked some brownies; the Newbies arrived for our weekly "Movie Night" that I was hosting; ended up not watching a movie but eating, chatting and playing Apples to Apples until about 2am

Fun category: Very chill, squeaky clean, getting-to-know-you kind of fun with close friends.

Saturday- woke up very late due to 2am bedtime; made vain attempt to read for upcoming week; couldn't concentrate-- watched movie instead; cleaned up after Friday night gathering; called some friends; went salsa dancing with some Latin friends at a downtown bar (with AWESOME live salsa band); went to bed around 3am

Fun category: Wild, fast-paced, sweaty, work-your-body-til-it-hurts kind of fun.

Sunday- woke up very late, again; made vain attempt to read; couldn't concentrate-- cooked full Brazilian meal instead; nursed my aching and blistered feet; called some friends; went to local bar (pictured above) with some fellow grads to see professional jazz band playing (retired studio musicians); went to bed about midnight thinking, "Oh my god, the weekend is officially over already."

Fun category: Sophisticated, adult, too-cool-for-all-you-other-cats kind of fun.

My question to the peanut gallery is: how do you balance what you HAVE to do with what you WANT to do? Are there times when letting work go on the back burner is necessary? What do you do to unwind after a rough week?

Ode to Teva

These are THE BEST flip-flops I have ever owned (and I'm quite the connoisseur). The Olowahu by Teva is incredibly comfortable and very durable. It is truly a walker-friendly shoe, which can't be said of most flip-flops, or even sandals for that matter. Being a poor grad student, I walk a mile to campus and a mile back each day. I have, in just a month, reduced my feet to ugly blister and callous-laden versions of their original selves and utterly destroyed one pair of flip-flops. This shoe by Teva is really spongy so your feet don't get blisters and the straps are soft enough not to cause callouses. I'm a believer. Go buy Teva!!

Gore Vidal and giggling like a school girl

On Tuesday evening I had the opportunity to see a living legend speak--- Gore Vidal. He's a huge figure in history, politics, American culture and a rather prolific novelist and playwright. Needless to say, I was excited to have brush with greatness. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way.

Two other grad students from my dept. attended with me and we all came to the same conclusion---
Gore Vidal is just a rude, bitter, cantankerous old man. First of all, he didn't answer any of the questions the moderator posed to him; he simply made catty little comments and joked around everything, only pausing to speak about whatever suited his inexplicable fancy. Those rambling speeches consisted of: 1) insults for Southerns (of which, by heritage, he is--ironically enough) 2) insults for GW Bush, which I honestly didn't mind, and 3) lamentations about how perfect everything was in 1945 after WWII when America "had the world by the balls" and how we are now going to hell in an emperialist-shaped basket. Basically, our country sucks, we screwed it up and there's absolutely no hope of fixing it. Niiice.

Then, he proceeded to insult and/or avoid every question put to him by the audience. One woman innocently asked him why he had decided to sell his long-time Italian residence and move back to the U.S. He then answered her, "Did it ever occur to you that I never really moved away? That I was just a temporary resident? That I've always lived in the U.S?" What a jerk, right? I mean, seriously, he couldn't have done more that evening to insult and belittle people who were practically kissing his feet. It was ridiculous. I've never seen a more self-absorbed, ungrateful prat in my whole life. Aren't we supposed to get wiser and kinder as we age? Or, at least, more understanding and tolerant? In the end, I find myself still searching for that great American figure to look up to--- with nothing but disappointment to show for it.

On the upside, last night was the very first "Newbie History Geek Movie Night". Our first film--- Monty Python and the Holy Grail, of course (my personal, VHS copy 'cause I'm just that cool). It was a really fun evening. I like my fellow classmates more and more as time goes on. They are just smart, humble, funny, down-to-earth people which, in grad school, is exceptionally rare. I didn't get home until about 2am, much to my surprise. We were all enjoying ourselves so much with the movie, chatting, eating and drinking that we didn't notice at all how late it was. I found myself giggling like a little school girl seeing Monty Python again after such a long time; that good, hearty, I'm-a-dork-and-don't-care-who-knows-it kind of laughter that comes so rarely after age 12. Thank God for small miracles and good conversations....

Who knew Mowgli was so talented??

This just made me giggle...especially the parts I understood..."Que un par de locos! Que cancion mas tonta!"...."E aqui mesmo! Que bom!"...

Work stinks but the mangoes are juicy...

Boo-hiss:

-- For the last two weeks, my job has been made virtually intolerable by an intense and overwhelming stench. The cause? VU is asphalting around our building AND re-tarring the roof. The result? I have come to associate my job with mind-numbing headaches triggered by the ever-present burning smell. Anyone else particularly effected by smells? Which ones? I seem to be rather sensitive...

-- Since I walk the mile to and from campus along the busiest street in town, being noticed by motorists is inevitable. However, I had a recent incident in which a woman (I maintain she was high or otherwise out of her mind) insisted on yelling nasty things I won't repeat at me which I, of course ignored. She then proceeded to slow to a stop beside me and yell out the window at me to, I suppose, make sure I heard her. Never saw this person before in my life and hope I never do again. What is with some people? How is the sight of a pedestrian so offensive?

-- A second meeting with my advisor resulted in a stack of 5 books of at least 300 pgs. each that must be read (roughly) within the next month; in addition to my regular coursework....ugh....

-- A recent grad party ended badly as some of the "upperclassmen" proceeded to get extremely drunk, rude and virtually ignore all first-years. Not the best way to make a first impression...

Redemption:

--My honey came to visit me here in Nashville for Labor Day weekend. We cooked up a storm, went all over town, he sat in on some of my classes (since we had class on Labor Day, go figure) and just generally basked in the enjoyment of the other's presence. It was perfect :)

-- I received my very first stipend check Friday. CHA-CHING! My bank account is smiling.

-- I have not gotten lost around town for 7 days now!!

-- The discovery of a Latin mercado a few minutes from my house has revived my love of cooking and filled my kitchen with all kinds of wonderful things-- yucca, coconut milk, guava paste, ripe mangoes and huge avocados. Hurray for cheap imports!!

Ode to Joy

Yesterday was my first day of class here and I'm completely in love with this place. Granted, that will probably change as soon as the first round of exams and papers arrives but, for now, I'm completely infatuated. Not only is it a gorgeous campus full of trees, thousands of squirrels and flowers but, it is full of brilliant people. The morning of the first day of class was so silent it was eerie. There were hundreds of people on campus but you could hear nothing but the birds in the trees. I was shocked. At WVU on the first day, you can barely hear yourself think for all the cars, talking, laughter, music, etc. There is a sort of excitement in that, though. Here, you would think that every student is in med school or law school they are so incredibly serious.

My first class was an Iberian Empire history course. It's mainly an undergrad course but, it counts for me also (I just get a longer syllabus). What I'm used to on the first day is: hello my name is, you are, here's the syllabus, this is the book, goodbye. Oh no, we went the full time and then some discussing some erudite point of historical value relating to the status of English-speaking islands as part of Latin America. I think I was literally drooling on my desk. YES!! THIS is what I've always wanted-- to be surrounded by my people--- the nerds. In that moment I realized, I am no longer in the minority; never again will I be the ONLY person in the library on a Saturday afternoon. I was so happy, I could've cried.

Then, my second class was a cherry-on-top. Intermediate Portuguese-- I have longed to take this class for 2 years now but it never before existed in my world. Finally! The teacher is from Minas Gerais, Brazil and she's beautiful. She looks like a very classy mom-type figure (she's probably in her 40's). I was so nervous I started making really stupid grammatical mistakes that I knew were wrong but couldn't help it. I was just too excited to control myself. I could just tell that this class would challenge me and I was going to look forward to it every day.

Later, I met with my advisor which, for any grad student, is THE most important person in your world-- they make you or break you. Even parents shy in comparison to the influence of the graduate advisor. Dr. E is wonderful. He's very much a dad (literally and figuratively) so, being his advisee feels a lot like what an adopted child must feel. You feel like you don't really deserve their attention but you still enjoy it tremendously. He's so smart--- SO smart. Sometimes, when he looks at me, I think that he's envisioning me playing with Barbies and sucking my thumb because I'm so green. He's already semi-planned a trip to Brazil for me this summer, which I'm happy to go along with.

The job is going well too. It's so different that what I'm used to and what I'm studying. It's nice to be back into journalism, in a way. It's an exciting field, though with lots of pressure related to time. It's the perfect job for anyone who likes gossip or "dirt"....whenever anything at all happens on campus, we are inevitably the first people to hear about it. The best part is, we are then "obligated" to record and report it. Also, the people who work there--- geez! These are Emmy Award-winning journalists and producers; it's crazy. I feel powerful to make calls and label myself "from the VU News Room". I'm not sure how long I'll be able to balance this job with my other responsibilities but, for now, I'm having a ball!

(In case anyone is wondering, that is a "Happy Scone" picture; don't get any ideas...)

I should be at a party right now...

...but I feel yucky; girl stuff-- I'll leave it at that and spare you all the details. Suffice it to say that my head is pounding and my mid-section feels like a pretzel looks. As a result, I can't sleep, which really stinks. Hopefully, the party-givers will forgive me.

Last night was a really great time, though. Our grad director invited all the newbies over to his house for a cook-out/pool party. Yes, I did say pool party--as in bearing skin and getting rather wet in front of superiors. These Southerners are VERY friendly, like I said. Luckily (and rather ironically), it was just too hot to swim and we were all too shy so, we just ate and chatted all night.

I am SOOO relieved now that I've met everyone. No weirdos, no psychos and no cling-ons. Everyone is nice, normal and a lot of fun. Not to knock my field or those who many inhabit it but, let's face it, academics (especially in the grad student gestation period) tend to be....shall we say...eccentric. Many of them seem to live in their own little world where nuclear war can be caused by incorrect margins, Communist theory is still an acceptable discussion topic at a bar and a copy of Foucalt is most likely the only thing to ever accompany them to bed. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being passionate about what you do-- in fact, it's a very necessary component--- BUT having an active, normal social life that doesn't involve any kind of citation is too. That kind of full-time obsession only leads to isolationism, burn-outs, break-downs and far too many cats.

I was also pleased that my group of newbies represents several states and countries. We have: Miss Jamaica who is absolutely beautiful and so charming, Mr. Canada who is hilarious, Mr. Missouri who seems very sweet, Mrs. Pennsylvania who is the "baby" of the group, Mr. New York who is reserved but not anti-social, Miss Poland who seems exceptionally nice and eager to experience everything, Miss Scotland who has a lovely accent and is SO smart, and Mr. Kansas who is still adjusting to city life. There are a few others but, unfortunately, I didn't get to talk to them during the course of the night so, their stats are a bit fuzzy for me. All in all, it was a wonderful night and I look forward to getting to know everyone much better. More to come very soon...classes start on Wednesday!

Buried under boxes and melting in the heat....

...is basically how I would describe my life currently. I had the incredible luck to move into my new apartment (last Monday) on a record-setting day....for heat. The temperature reached 105F, which beat the previous record of 102 set in 1954. Global-warming? Yeah, not such a theoretical thing to me anymore...

Anyway, yes, I'm alive and well here in Nashville. I'm currently writing from the university library public-access section (since I don't have an ID card yet). Internet access around here is apparently hard to find and my DSL hasn't been set up yet so, I'm going through some serious cyber-withdrawal. Pretty much everything is out of it's prospective box and in it's rightful place in the house, which is nice, though the pile of empty boxes is still covering a corner of my dining room. It's actually an attractive place-- I think I did okay for myself. I'm enjoying living alone for the first time in my life. No offense to roomates-past but, there's something to be said for solitude, quiet, privacy and....let's face it...the fact that I can walk around naked all day long if I really want to (and the blinds are drawn)! It's rather awesome. I'm sure the loneliness bug will bite me soon but, since classes start in about a week, I'll be able to drown myself in work-- as usual.

So...the South. Well, it's a different world down here, that's for sure. People are VERY friendly...sometimes to the point of being a bit invasive and a bit more touchy-feeling than I'm used to but, I guess that's just the "Yankee bitch" in me talking, haha. Living here for 5+ years will surely be a sociological experiment. My family and friends are already taking bets on how soon I'll absorb the "southern drawl" that is oh-so-prevalent here. The answer is...NEVER! That's one accent I've never taken to...I prefer to have a boring, non-descript, news anchor kind of speech that can't really be identified with a particular region. I know, I know...very snobby of me, but I just don't enjoy the way the southern accent sounds....or any other North American accent, actually. Anyway, I'm babbling now so, I'll get off this computer and head back out onto the surface of the sun....more to come! Hope all is well with everyone! I miss you guys...

$$"Money...(ching, ching)...it's a drag..."$$

As the old (and rather cliche) saying goes, money does not grow on trees. This I know personally to be a fact. If it were true, I would definitely convert to hugging trees on a regular basis. However, like most people in this world, I have to work for a living. Even as a doctoral candidate (which comes with a stipend), I find myself running a bit short on cash. Moving to a new, bigger (& more expensive) city requires a lot of money-- rent, utilities, food, furniture, etc. So, I've decided that I'll continue to work part-time while I work on my Ph.D. (at least for the first year, since I won't be a TA).

Part of this is necessity but, part of it is just who I am. I realized that I have consistently held a job (of some kind) for almost a decade now. For all you non-math majors, that means I've been working since I was about 15, which is technically illegal. However, it was only "under the table" for a few months until I turned 16. In any case, I just like working. I like feeling as though I'm accomplishing something. Plus, nothing feels better than financial independence; if I want it or need it, I can pay for myself. One of my fondest memories of high school was when I paid for my very first car in full (and in cash!) much to my parents' surprise. It made me feel like an adult for the very first time.

I also get bored VERY easily so, working has always been a way for me to keep myself occupied. It puts me into contact with lots of different kinds of people, which then gives me fodder for fiction in my writing. What can I say? I'm a workaholic in every sense of the word.

Money is also my Achille's heal, though. Nothing gets me panicky, nervous and depressed like money (mainly the lack thereof). I know it shouldn't get to me so much; it comes and goes like anything else. I shouldn't let it control me but I'm still not at a stable point in my life with a steady job and benefits so, my inability to plan ahead freaks the hell out of me.

Speaking of a steady job, I have 3 interviews for a part-time gig in Nashville. One at Morgan Stanley, one at the VU Division of Public Affairs and one at Brentwood Realty. I scheduled them all for this coming Friday so, I'll post and let everyone know how they went. Each one has it's +'s and -'s so, for me it's really a toss-up.

So, here are my questions to the peanut gallery: What is your relationship with money? Do you love it/hate it or remain apathetic? Are you a spender or saver? Do you like to work or do it just to pay the bills? If money doesn't get to you, what is your Achilles heal?

New Life

(drum roll) Introducing my newest cousin/nephew... Lucas Braden...he's such a cutie. My cousin Stephani is doing just fine and her labor went well. He was born 8/3/07 at 7.5 lbs. I'm sure they're still just in shock and awe right now....I'm really happy for them....they're going to be great parents...

Newsweek and Kaplan have spoken....

...and Vanderbilt University has been chosen as one of the 25 "New Ivies" out of all American colleges and universities. I'm so proud! I can't wait to get there and dive head-first into the library stacks....

I could sure go for a pumpkin right now...

How random is this?? Poor guy...it's funny yet so wrong...I'm sure he's wondering what the hell is going on. One thing is certain, he will have the very first squirrel hang-0ver in the history of the animal kingdom (and a bad one at that)...

"There was once an old man named Armand..."

After checking my WVU email, which I hadn't done in awhile, I learned that Dr. Armand Singer had died after a rather long struggle. He was a retired professor who enjoyed dropping in at Chitwood Hall to share stories and send emails. He was 93 years old when he passed away on July 12th but, he had the most amazing life--- traveling to every continent on earth, visiting both Poles, making it to base camp on Everest, sky-diving (as you can see), white water rafting, etc.--- and all while well past retirement age. He was a truly unique individual; always cheerful, funny, outgoing and full of crazy stories.

Though my encounters with Dr. Singer were brief, I will never forget him. He happened to attend a conference in Las Vegas, NV that I attended and he made quite a splash. He was part of the panel in a poetry reading and opted to go last. Each person that got up read some depressing, dark, angst-ridden, super-metaphoric poem that no one understood but clapped for anyway. Then it was Armand's turn. He couldn't stand but managed to demand the complete attention of the audience from his chair. He began by apologizing for any "grimaces" he might make as he read, as this was because he had broken "a rib or two" the night before and they were bothering him. Then, off he went into the material as if what he had just said were of absolutely no consequence. He proceeded to then read several selections of the dirtiest limericks in the history of the style--- while pausing only to giggle between each one. Things came out of that old man's mouth that would make a drunk frat boy blush; at first, the audience was shocked and utterly silent. Slowly, younger people began to snicker (I think I was probably the first one to laugh) and then the stuffy poets began to laugh and then the entire room erupted into uncontrolled laughter.

Armand finished to thunderous applause and several people stayed afterwards to talk with him--- while the other panel members looked on, rather displeased. It was wonderful! It was easily the highlight of an otherwise very calculated, self-absorbed conference. The best part was that I knew what was coming but no one else did. I was crying by the end because I couldn't laugh any harder. That is how I will always remember him--- as the giggling little old man with his lude limericks shocking the hell out of everyone. He was never a person afraid to say what he thought. And he used the guise of his age to get away with virtually everything! But he was also a very intelligent and cultured individual. Personally, I think Armand did it the right way--- life, that is. I sincerely hope that he died happily, knowing that he made the world just a little bit better with his joyful attitude and his zest for life. He was an inspiration to everyone that met him. Here's to you, Armand, we will all miss you!

Does anyone know someone like Armand?-- A person that squeezed every ounce out of life and never let anyone tell them they were "too old" to do something. How will you be when you retire? What will you have accomplished? How do you want to be remembered?

Rusty Wedding Bells

Today in History: July 18, 1981 my parents tied the knot in a little country church in central Pennsylvania (I was born roughly two years later).

So, today is my parents anniversary and, I tell ya, I couldn't be happier. They seriously have one of the best marriages I have ever seen and I'm not just saying that because they're mine. They genuinely enjoy each other, they laugh all the time, and they are clearly the best of friends; you couldn't picture one without the other. I've always looked up to the way they defined marriage. Now, as virtually every friend and acquaintance I have is getting married or engaged, it really makes me think about what marriage means.

In today's world where slightly over 1/2 of all marriages end in divorce, it seems like, somehow, most people are not going into this thing with both eyes open. I can see how it's easy to get caught up in the ceremony of it all--- the dress, the music, the flowers, the rings, the honeymoon, etc. Plus, it's seen as a status symbol to be married--- you've reached adulthood, you've settled down, you're normal. But, at the same time, all that stuff in the moment doesn't really mean anything when you have to spend every waking moment with this person for the rest of your life. Personally, I've never been one of these girls that dreams about her wedding all her life. I really couldn't care less how it happens or, honestly, if it happens. I just want to be with someone that makes me happy and I can do the same for them; that's the really important part, all the rest is just details (and very expensive ones at that).

Which is why, I suppose, I've never understood why people are so radically against same-sex marriage. Marriage is a committment of one's life to another and anyone can do that so, legally, anyone should be able to do that, in my opinion. I've met several gay/lesbian couples who have just as functional/disfunctional relationships as any other straight couple-- including when children are added into the mix. What it comes down to is that human relationships of all kinds and levels are hard work because they require a certain level of selflessness, which is rather rare in today's society. If you can find that with anyone-- regardless of gender, race, religion, etc.-- you've really discovered something great.

My question to all of you is: what is marriage? What makes it work? What causes it to end? How necessary is that "little piece of paper"? Is it a right for all or a privilege for some?

"Memories, like the corners of my mind...."

Awww....my alma mater is still going strong....congratulations to all the great teachers at HHS! You guys deserve it!

Lost in Translation

Sheesh...I'm exhausted. I had my very first full-blown, 8 hour interpretation job today. It was for an environmental engineering company (from Spain) at their plant in Northern PA. Needless to say, it was quite a commute; that alone is enough to wear a person out. In addition to that, I had to do bilingual translation (sometimes simultaneous) from English to Spanish and Spanish to English. I was REALLY nervous because it was a job that required technical language that I'm not particularly familiar with and it was my first really important translation job so, I had to prove myself in order to set myself up for future assignments.

As soon as I got there I realized it was not going to be nearly as complicated as I had imagined. For one thing, my contracting agency told me that I was going to be translating a presentation to a group of employees which would involved highly technical engineering lingo. However, it quickly became apparent that what I really had to do was simply shadow a logistics expert from Spain (who spoke no English whatsoever) as he tried to get this new branch of the company in order. At times, it was rather uncomfortable because he was basically chewing out several employees and office managers for their (to be totally frank) incompetence. These people had mis-labeled, mis-sent, and mis-counted just about everything possible in the warehouse. It was really quite ridiculous.

There were definitely moments where there was the need for a specific, technical term but I managed to be able to talk around pretty much everything I didn't know how to say (i.e. When would I ever encounter/need/use the word "skid"--as in a pallet-- in Spanish??) So, overall, I think I did great given my lack of a mechanical vocabulary. I really enjoyed working with the logistics expert (named Emilio) and I think that the company itself is excellent; I would be over-joyed to get the opportunity to work with them again either here or in Spain (especially there). Who knows, maybe I can maintain some connections?

I still can't get over the fact that I'm getting paid (REALLY well this time) for just talking. It honestly blows my mind sometimes. It really makes me think---- communication is so incredibly complicated and, therefore, so important in every aspect of life. Not being able to communicate properly because of language barriers, cultural differences, education level, etc. is not only vital to the essence of who we are, but also how others perceive us. What do you tell people about you based on the way you speak? The words you choose? The things you like or don't like to talk about? Is the old adage wrong--- are we not what we eat but, rather, what we say?

"She works (too) hard for the money..."

Something has recently come to my attention that is rather disappointing. I have been working at my current 40hr/wk summer job for about 2 months now. When I arrived, my boss seemed really enthusiastic to make a positive change in the workplace and I appeared to be an integral part of that. However, as time has gone on, I've been told several times that I "work too fast". This means that I complete assignments faster than my boss expects or would like. I never thought of it as a negative thing, really--- it's just who I am. Tell me what to do and I will get it done-- period. No messing around, just do it.

Unfortunately, every time I enter into the workforce I am told the same thing. I have come to realize that my bosses don't ACTUALLY want me to finish what I'm doing-- especially not in record time. The more I do, the more they need to do to keep me occupied. I've talked to a few people about this; in particular, my Dad, who is a supervising manager for a local manufacturing company. His take on it was this, "I'd like all my employees to work like that but, the fact is, none do. And when they do, co-workers give them such a hard time for "making everyone else look bad" that they eventually learn to play the game too." And what is this "game"? It is pretending to work and be busy when you are really just wasting time and milking a job for all it's worth. The longer you take, the less people expect of you and if no one expects anything of you, you don't get asked to do much. It really is the perfect strategy.

So, what should I do about this? Well, I guess I'll just go to the bathroom a lot, take longer lunches, take smoke breaks (even though I don't smoke) and play card games on my computer all day long because, frankly, I don't want to lose my job. If I keep the pace I've had, I'll finish my job before I'm actually scheduled to leave. It makes me sad to learn that being a part of the "adult", working world translates to such little actual productivity.

Anyone else encountered this phenomena? How do you deal with it? How much should we all just "go with the flow"?

Top 10

Ok, well, I've tried to avoid it for a bit but, I've been tagged by my buddy Ryan to list the "Top 10" things that most people don't know about me. So, here it goes....

1) As a kid, I had really severe ear problems and could've gone deaf had I not undergone surgery.

2) I hate cleaning kitchens...with a passion. I would MUCH rather clean a bathroom (including toilets) than do dishes; for me, rotting food is the ultimate in grossness.

3) I'm a musical freak. I am constantly humming, singing or whistling. I wake up every morning with a song stuck in my head for no apparent reason.

4) I have a talent for remembering names and numbers. If I met you once 8 years ago and you told me your name, I'll still know it (though I probably won't recognize your face). I can read a phone number once and remember it for days...not sure why.

5) I spent my childhood in rural PA; so rural, in fact, that practically all our neighbors owned farms and were Mennonite. As a result, I was brought up in the Mennonite church (complete with hair to my knees).

6) I have been tested at a 132 IQ ("gifted") but failed the test for the gifted program in WV schools in 6th grade (though I had passed in PA) because I was extremely nervous and my tester was so eccentric it actually distracted me.

7) I distinctly remember (on more than one occasion) having dreamt in color and, a few times, in Spanish though they say it is not possible.

8) I cannot give blood because I don't weigh enough.

9) I missed being in the "Top 10" of my graduating class in high school by .01 points--- damn calculus.

10) I have only ever broken one bone--- my tailbone, which is the one bone that cannot be re-aligned. Ironic, huh?

I now tag: Amber, Alison, Rose, Daniel, Erica, Alyssa, and Becky....

Babies, babies everywhere...

I swear, there must be something in the water in my family. Everyone is getting pregnant and having babies! My cousin, Stephani (a CPA), and her husband, Brad (an engineer), live in Ohio and are expecting their first--- a baby boy (as yet unnamed)-- very, very soon. My grandmother keeps teasing me that I'm next (Steph is the oldest cousin and I'm the 2nd oldest) but I'm certainly in no hurry....

Hahahaha....

Yup, we're about 2 years old when we're together...he's just too cute...this is what a simple walk in the woods turned into last weekend....

¿Hablas español?

I was officially hired yesterday for my second job!!! I will be working for this summer (at least)as an independent contractor for translating and interpreting. I will do: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, English to Portuguese and Portuguese to English. Yeah!!!!! I'm really excited and rather nervous. This will be my first experience doing this kind of work professionally. The money isn't bad at all and I can do a lot of it from home, which means I can continue even after I move to Nashville-- very nice. The company I'm working for is Spanish Translation and it is owned by Charlotte Hernandez, with whom I had a really great interview yesterday afternoon. She's great. If anyone out there needs this kind of work in the Eastern Panhandle/Tri-State area, she's the one you should call. I hope to become certified through the ATA (American Translators Association) soon.

I've also been trying to write some this summer and get some work sent out--- which I'm failing miserably at. I'm just so tired at the end of the day. It's all I can do to eat, work out and get enough sleep to do it all the next day. I haven't written a story in months, despite a lovely postcard of encouragement from one of my favorite writer-gals, Sara Pritchard. (Which consequently I lost somewhere in all the boxes that now contain my life so, I don't have her address to write back and thank her; if anyone has it let me know, or if she is reading this blog, THANK YOU!). So, in lieu of my failed attempts at being an on-the-side writer, I have a question to all the writer-people out there: How do you stay motivated and inspired? What do you do to "get the juices flowing", so to speak? Any suggestions?

Babies and Puppies...

...who can resist them? Happily for me, I have actually had something of a life in the past few days. My family had a high school graduation party for my cousin, Kara. While there, I got to meet my new cousin/niece (my cousin Amanda's new daughter), Emmalyn. I must say, she's pretty dern cute for something that poops and cries so much. My family also welcomed the newest set of chihuahua puppies (courtesy of my cousin, Matt). Again, lots of pooping and crying but oh so adorable.



Saturday night was spent at another Roma Renegade concert with my favorite accordianist and gypsy-swinger, Gabby & Co. Not really any pooping or crying going on, but still lots of fun. Marian and I are obsessive picture-takers so, here are just a few...



...the night would not have been complete without the midnight run to Wal-Mart and the trying on of the elephant-sized ugly-pants!


...and the cheap-ass breakfast at Wafflehouse at 12:30, which is what all established musicians do after a show--- eat crappy food and look cool. And, in case you can't tell from the photos, I got a hair-cut, which I desperately needed for oh, 6 months now.

Two Giant Scoops of Nuthin'

I'm blogging out of the sheer annoyance that I have nothing remotely interesting to blog about. How crummy is that? Basically, my life at this moment consists of:

1) Work from 8am to whenever I'm done (usually almost 5pm)
2) Eating-- trying to get 3 square ones a day, sometimes at the desk
3) Sleeping-- cannot seem to catch up; I'm sleepy at 7pm but then can't actually get to sleep until after 11pm and must wake up at 6:30AM
4) Driving-- my family and I have been driving back and forth from Philly almost every weekend so, my Saturdays are completely spent within an SUV
5) Planning-- got my fall classes picked out, trying to develop an interior design scheme for my new apartment (on a miniscule budget), dreaming about where I'll be next summer (I'm thinkin' Spain and Portugual)

The only wild thing that has happened lately didn't even actually happen to me-- it happened to my boss. She got a wicked case of poison ivy over Memorial Day weekend and, since then, has been highly medicated. Nothing seemed to be working so, her doctor gave her a steroid shot. She had a severely allergic reaction to this shot (while at work with me), broke out into hives, started throwing up and ran a tremendously high fever. Her husband took her to the ER where they promptly diagnosed her and gave her MORE drugs to knock her out and let her body fix itself. That said, she has been working 1/2 days for most of this week which really sucks for me because--- without a boss I have no work to do; thus, I've been working 1/2 days, which I really can't afford right now. Major bummer all around but, luckily, she's doing much better now. Hopefully, next week will be a full-time week.

SO jealous...

If anyone is interested, my buddy Joey Garcia is now in Brazil with the WVU Law School. He and his fellow law students are blogging about their experiences in Brazil (right now they are in Manaus-- the Amazon region). It's an interesting read....and it REALLY makes me want to go back....

http://lawinbrazil.blogs.wvu.edu/bios/bio_joe_garcia

Dripping with sweat...and not in a sexy way

Ugh...I'm really gross right now. When I get really nervous or stressed out I sweat like a maniac. The last few days have been rather trying. I've been dealing with my car insurance company due to a incident in a Kmart parking lot. I honestly don't know whose fault it was but I'm nervous as hell that either way is going to cost me a bunch (though the only damage was a few scratches to the respective bumpers). Lately I just start to perspire as soon as my cell phone rings. I feel like a Pavlovian dog--- minus the treat.

Some relatively good news is that I have an apartment in Nashville--finally. The trip to find a place turned into a roller-coaster of intense freak-outs and total contentment. It was weird. Originally, Felipe and I were going to fly out Monday morning and return Tuesday evening. However, we missed the flight on Monday (due to a 1/2hr. technicality--by one minute, literally). So, we had to re-schedule the same flight for Tuesday morning but couldn't get a return flight until Thursday morning. In the end, it worked out better that we had the extra day. Let me tell you, finding a suitable place to live at a REASONABLE price in Nashville is like asking for a white Christmas in Miami--ain't gonna happen. There were some ONE bedroom/STUDIO places that were going for $1,000/mo. Who can afford that?? Certainly not me, even on my newly augmented stipend. Needless to say, it was rather frustrating. Then, when the gods shone on me and I managed to find something cheaper, still clean and within walking distance, my old landlord decided to be a total butt-munch. He knew that the new place needed his recommendation to accept me and he made a point of saying on the phone to me, "Well, you know, your place still looked kinda dirty to me. Are you sure you steam-cleaned the carpets? How about in the closets? You know, I don't think your roommate gave me all the keys..." etc, etc. AGHHHH!! What a punk!!! He rents to some total losers that trash his place (one even set the place on FIRE a few years ago--no kidding) then he has the audacity to give me the third degree. He should've kissed my feet when I left and thanked me for being the responsible, clean tenant that I am. So ungrateful---especially when he knew that I was relying on his help at that moment. I suppose he said something nice, or at least ambiguous, because I got the apartment I wanted. Although the people running the place seem a bit shady and rude, it is the price and location I wanted so, I'm ok with it.

Today, I have a job interview at 2pm for an Asst. HR Manager summer position at Fuji Film. It isn't a dream job but, hey, the pay is good and it's about 10 mins. from my parent's house. So, here I am typing away and sweating profusely. I really need this job. The lease on my new apartment starts June 1st so, I'll being paying rent all summer long, even though I won't be living there; it kinda sucks but, there was no negotiating with those people. They knew that if I didn't like it, there were 10 more people right behind me willing to do anything to get the place. I just really hope that this summer can be relaxing and restorative; I could really use some time to decompress-- if not, by the time August rolls around there'll be nothing left of me but a stinky puddle on the floor.

If I never see another cardboard box again in my life...

...I'll be very happy. I'd forgotten what a major pain in the ass moving can be. And how did I end up with all this crap?? Sometimes I think being a baglady isn't such a bad idea--- just live with what you can carry on your back. None of this renting a U-Haul to tote around crap that you never use and rarely think about until you have to pick it up and carry it up/down stairs. Ugh. The worst part is that the majority of the housewares here are mine (dishes, living room furniture, cooking utensils, etc.) So, my roommate is already finishing moving out (plus her parents live 1/2hr. away) and I'm left standing in a half-full apartment with the realization that all this shit is MINE. I've learned my lesson well, though. In Nashville, I will be the poster-child for minimalist living. No longer will I give in to the thought, "Well, it could come in handy someday." If I don't need it to live until tomorrow, it goes to someone else. My Achille's heal is paper--- I have a frickin' library of books, old notebooks and loose papers that have some kind of sentimental value. I never took up smoking because I knew, if I didn't take care, my place would light up like a Christmas tree. *Sigh* Just when I thought the stress was over...pardon me while I go jump in a dumpster for more boxes....

"Master of the Universe" feels good...

I passed!!! Woo-hoo!! I have successfully defended my thesis and I am now a MASTER of the universe! Whew, what a load off. I'm so relieved. I have a few corrections and changes to make before it must be submitted electronically on Friday but, that isn't too big a deal. I only have one final exam to take, which will be cake so, I'm pretty much set. All I have left to do is graduate. Now I must begin hunting large, cardboard boxes....

On Saturday night I went out with some of my girlfriends and had dinner and drinks. It was great to catch up, see where everyone will be next year and, of course, talk about boys :) I guess, as a female, you never really outgrow that, huh?