And We'll Go, Go, Go, Go, Go

So... I knew that this job would not last forever. I knew that. They told me. It's still pretty depressing to know that this our last week for a while (until late January, early February). I have to go back to the Factory, which will be nice (it is a constant thing in my life, I'll get to see Elle and A and my other friends there) but also I was hoping that this job would lead to more work on other projects and I would be out there, doing historical things, using my degree.

*sigh* Something will work out eventually, right?

My Love Must Be a Kind of Blind Love

Well, hello. It's been a while, hasn't it? Damn.

Let's see... I think the most important life update here is that I got a new job recently. It's exciting. I am working as an Historic Structures Field Technician for a consulting firm. Right now, I am in my first week of work: hanging out in rural West Virginia, looking for historic structures in Clay County. I am working in a team with a guy (J) who also recently received a Master's degree. We seem to work well together.

Fun things to report from this trip:

-Clay County is the home of the Golden Delicious apple. Random, yes.
-According to an old man living in a house covered in sheet metal, this area is "a great place to raise a dog."
-We ran across a house that used to be a roadhouse for a prison camp in the late 1920s before it became a home for the family of the current owner in 1933.

Anyway, I am liking it well enough. We can only work until we lose light, so that usually has us wrapping up by 6pm. I am usually exhausted when I get back to the hotel, and then we go get dinner somewhere (we don't have too many options, though...). I've been trying to be in bed early because I am just so physically tired. It's weird that driving around in a car all day would make you so tired, but whatevs.

I can't believe that next week is Thanksgiving! And Bananne and Snickers' wedding!! CRAAAAAZY! CLRG and I will drive to Michigan early next week, and see the g-rents for the holiday before the wedding stuff begins. It will be a good time. I already miss my own bed though. My blip at home over the weekend may not be enough. Haha.

Walk With Me, Susie Lee

Okay, so I just watched this video, which made me very happy because I:

a) love flash mobs
b) totally love The Sound of Music.

Watch and enjoy.

CLRG and I went to the thrift store today, after eating lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. I got some great things. I am very pleased. We also found a few sweet shirts for me (even though we were looking for stuff for him), also. On our way home, we walked down a street so I could see if a Catholic church I thought I saw a sign for was there. It was! I went inside for a minute and it is very nice and pretty. I was glad to find one even closer to my house than the one I had thought was closest, if that makes any sense.

OH! The new room is so close to be done, I can pretty much taste it. Not really, but you know what I mean. It has been primed and they put some plywood down to level the floor and I think they are painting right now. AND! The carpet is totally in the house. Things are progressing quickly now, and I am very happy.

Aunt Jane's Letters

Oh my word. Lately, things have been very whirlwindy. Is that a word? Anyway, here has what's been up:

Two weekends ago, I:
-drove to Michigan
-met Pookie and Al's pup
-went to LT's wedding
-hung with some family

This past weekend, I:
-flew to Michigan
-went to Bananne's bachelorette party
-went to homecoming at Albion
-hung out with some of my favorite people

I came home this weekend with a cold. I think I caught it from Pookie when I saw her. Oh well. It seems to be going away now. I am not going anywhere this weekend, which is nice. I have to work all weekend, but these are the dues I must pay for requesting multiple weekends off in a row. Oh well.

Oldface and Wifers loaned me two dvds when I left. One, a BBC version of Sense & Sensibility, I watched the other day. AMAZING. It was so great. The other, a Masterpiece Theatre presentation of Jane Eyre, I have not yet watched, but I am looking forward to it.

This Wait For Destiny Won't Do

I am very sleepy right now. It's not that late, so I maybe shouldn't be, but I just am. I do believe I will get ready for bed soon. I'm okay with this, because I have to work at seven tomorrow morning and I like sleeping.

I had a job interview today. It went really well, and they called only hours later to offer the job, but I declined because it was part time (the hours were fewer than my current job) and paid only minimum wage. I felt really bad about it. I was honest when they called, though, and they appreciated that. I just can't backpedal like that, you know? I barely survive as it is. I need to be increasing my earnings. You know.

I finished reading a book that contained a collection of stories by Flannery O'Connor today. It was loaned to me by an old lady customer. Did I already write about that? I can't remember. Anywayyyy... I was glad to be done with it. Not because it was bad (it was actually very good), but because I was spending weeks getting through it and I was feeling bad about keeping it for so long. Now I am getting into a book that I picked up last week while at Target (it's a dangerous place, I tell you). I really like it so far, and it is going by pretty quickly.

Tomorrow is the first day of Italian! I am excited. I need to get a new notebook.

Okay... perhaps it is sleep time?

So We Lie Here In The Dark

The weather is very tricky lately. Last week, it suddenly became more fall-like than ever and now leaves are falling (CLRG says that that's to do with the huge amounts of snowfall we had in the winter) and temperatures are lower. I am looking forward to autumn, but I will miss the warmth when it's 35 degrees out in a few months. Blah.

The weekend was a good one. CLRG and I went to a delicious pizza place nearby, watched college football at a bar down the street, and napped on Saturday. On Sunday, I worked and then watched the Steelers game. In the evening, Howie (if that is a nickname already, I probably don't have to give him another on the blog, right?) came over and I made spaghetti and then he, CLRG and I walked up to the Regent Square Theatre to see Repo Man. It was crazy and awesome. You should see it sometime.

Tonight, I am meeting K for dinner. Tomorrow, I am going to a movie with A. I'm excited for both things.

Oh! Last night I was telling CLRG about my plans to go to the Italian for Beginners class at the library and he indicated that he would like to go also. I registered us for the class today. It starts next week, I think. I'm very excited. I miss being in a classroom, even though I haven't studied a language in years. Oops.

Whatever Happened To That Silly Dream You Had

When did it get to be September? I mean, wow. 2010 is flying by and I can't keep track of it! Also, today slayed me because it is 90210. Get it? Haha. If I were a little older, it might be more relevant to me. I was too young to really watch or care about that show when it was on.

I had a job interview today. I think it went well, but we shall see.

I just finished reading Oliver Twist. It's funny that I have not ever read it before. I really liked it. I was held in suspense throughout the whole book. It's kind of nice to be able to read something so classic and beloved and still have no idea what happens. All I really knew about it was related to Oliver asking for more gruel or whatever and that happened so early on that it didn't really matter that much when it came to be the end.

Waste No Time

My, what a nice Saturday I had this weekend! Really and truly.

Since I ended up not having to work, CLRG and I made a plan to get up at a reasonable time and try to avoid sleeping in by doing something out and about. We got up probably close to ten, and soon walked up to the Swissvale business district type place. We stopped at the library, where I checked two wonderful books. I was excited to visit the library because it is an old Carnegie Library (as so many in Pittsburgh are- go figure) and it was vine-covered and beautiful. There were some war memorials in front of it, which I enjoyed admiring. Anyway, after we visited the library, we headed up toward a little shopping plaza because I needed to mail a book at the post office. Before stopping there, though, we stopped at a thrift store and discovered that the books were on sale! A whole brown grocery bag full for only $3!!!! I think we came home with something like 20 books. Hooray! CLRG always knows the things I would like to see and do. He patiently waited while I took some pictures during our stroll.

After doing book related things, we went to a little sub place for lunch. We walked toward the house after that, stopping at a little cafe that used to be a bakery until a few months ago. CLRG and I had some rice pudding and some chocolate ice cream, respectively, and he bought me a little knit clutch thing that they had for sale, made by a local woman. When we got home, we hung out in the living room, reading, until I had to drive him to a bachelor party. Then, I spent the rest of my time reading my library books. Grand times, friends. Grand times.

Oh, did I tell you about the lady that I made friends with at work? I suppose maybe not. She comes in several days a week, always ordering the same thing, and always staying to read for a while. One Sunday a few weekends ago, I asked her what she was reading/what she read normally, since it is always something different. We talked a bit about our love of the written word, and the next time I saw her, she brought a book for me to borrow. It isn't something that I would normally read, but I looked through it, skimmed some parts, and think it is a nice book. I am going to see if she comes in tomorrow, so I may return it.

Anywayyyy... the weekend was good! I got to spend cute times with CLRG (whom I just love, love, love, as you know), I read a lot, and generally hung out. I'm pleased.

Stadium Seating Instead of Park Benches

I took my car in for inspection this morning (at 9am or so) and finally picked it up after 2pm. Whoa man. It took forever. They called me and said that I needed my rear brakes replaced to pass inspection. Awesome, right? Yes. Thankfully, my dad came to the rescue and provided his dear daughter the funds to make this possible. I would be up a creek without a paddle without my parents saving me sometimes. I mean, seriously.

I can't wait until I have a job that allows me to actually have some money saved up. I am looking forward to the day when a paycheck isn't already totally spoken for when it is placed in my hand. Know what I mean? Money sucks.

Happily, I passed the time while waiting for my car at Starbucks. I used a gift card CLRG gave me to purchase some goodies, and read Oliver Twist. I am glad that I had the time to sit with my kindle, because I haven't been taking the time to read lately and I was thinking of giving up on Oliver recently. I can't do that now! I'm almost in the middle! ACK!

Life Goes On

Did I tell you that I sliced my finger at work? Yes... I was slicing tomatoes, and also sliced my pinky and paid yet another visit to the Emergency Room and received, again, three stitches. It was soooo much fun. I got the stitches out yesterday, which was nice.

I haven't written in a while, which I am very sorry about. I just haven't really been motivated to do so.

I had a monumental birthday last week. 25! I can't believe it. I don't really feel that much older, and I was dealing with this milestone pretty well, until A mentioned that we would next reach 26. Okayyyy... I do not need to think about that. Because THEN, I start thinking about how much closer to 30 I am and how scary that sounds to say. Oh boy. Anyway, the birthday was super fun. The day before was R's birthday and we went out for drinks. We were joined by her sister, her sister's friend, K, and CLRG. On my actual birthday, I did not have to work, so I met CLRG for lunch and then came home to do laundry and hang out with los gatos. On Friday, I had some people from school and that I know through CLRG over for drinks, and we just hung out. On Saturday, K and I went to East Liberty to attend Gene Kelly's birthday party at the Kelly-Strayhorn Theater. It was so much fun! We had free cake and punch, got a tour (not really, though, in my opinion), and attended a $2 showing of "Cover Girl"!!

Anywayyyy... things are good. The room is not yet done, so CLRG and I are still sharing a closet, but it's all good.

One More Bite of Eclair Each

I didn't even make the top three. :o(

We're Only Human

I didn't really want to bring this up yet, but I feel like I need to say something about it anyway. I had a job interview yesterday. I don't want to jinx it, so I won't say where and for what, but it would be a really, really awesome job. I should be getting a call this afternoon sometime, telling me whether or not I am in the top three. If I am, I will go tomorrow evening for a second interview and then they will decide that night. They want the person to start on Friday, but I guess I would start next week since I already have my Factory work schedule in place. It's only part time, but it would be perfect, I think. Think good thoughts for me, please oh please.

I Know I Like Dancing With You

Oh my word. Yesterday, CLRG and I went to the Salvation Army store to drop off a bag of clothes I decided it was time to donate, and he took me back to the book area. He is always so sweet to do this sort of thing. It's funny when he wonders why he can't get me out in a timely manner, though. Silly boy. You led me there! Anywayyyy... I bought a boxed set of the first four Sweet Valley Twins books. I probably have them somewhere, honestly, but I don't care. I was DEVOTED to these books when I was in elementary school. Seriously. During those years, my best friend and I were pretty certain that we WERE Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. It was ridiculous. I also got two books from the Little House on the Prairie series and this book about Cary Grant, though it is in large print and is kind of scary to read. I may donate it somewhere if I can't read it without going nutso.

The new room has made significant progress this weekend. Most of the drywall is up! There is a bit of insulation work to be done near one window, and then drywall needs to happen in the closet and near that window and then we can start with spackling! It will be glorious.

image

Sweet Like Candy to My Soul

Today, I am grateful for:

-beautiful houses
-kitten paws
-cuddling
-books
-my family

Dance Floors and Magazines

Just a little while ago, I was cooking some hamburger (for future tacos... maybe tomorrow?) and Roommate C (I think I probably named him something else once, before I lived here, but I can't remember) came down and informed me that, since I moved in, the kitchen has seen more use than ever before. That's probably true, because all he ever eats is chicken patties and hamburgers. I am impressive, it seems, because I used the crock pot yesterday (swiss steak- turned out nicely), and I've made jambalaya and homemade mac & cheese here and tuna noodle casserole, among other things, since CLRG moved in here. Yes, indeed. I can't really remember where I was going with this, but whatever. I cook things sometimes. I got stuff to make a mac & cheese pasta bake thinger later this week (to eat with salads), and little shrimp to eat with pasta and pesto. Mmmm.

Fact is, I like doing these homey things. I have been doing my laundry with CLRG's and I enjoy doing it this way. I like going grocery shopping for us as a pair, but I don't like figuring out meals by myself. He never really has suggestions so I have to think really hard about meals. I really like living here. I will like it even more when the new room is finished.

Our set up plan for the new room and this other room is such: bed, love seats (couch won't make it up here, oh well), TV in the new room. Desks, dressers, storage containers in the older room. I am hopeful that my bookshelf will make it into the new side. I don't know why. We will soon each have a closet, rather than having to share one, and I will think about getting some drawers of some kind to make up for the shelves I won't have in my closet. We'll see, we'll see.

And it Came to Me Then/That Every Plan is a Tiny Prayer to Father Time

Today, I am grateful for:

-sleepy cat eyes
-friendly people
-vision
-surprise texts from CLRG
-good books (like The Happiness Project!)

Tell Me It's Not Too Late

Ooooh libraries. Delicious.

Under a Honeymoon

"I want to fly a kite and eat green apples and have a stomachache that I know the cause of and feel the mud between my toes in a reedy creek and tickle the lobe of your ear with the tip of my tongue." - Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald

Ain't Too Proud to Beg

Did I ever tell you about the excellent books that Wifers recommended to me? I can't remember. Anyway, I just finished Lost in a Good Book by Jasper Fforde last night, which is the second in the Thursday Next series. These books are funny and clever and I really like them. I especially love the little literary inside jokes. You should read them.

I checked out a book today about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald. I am excited to read it, because I am pretty sure she was completely crazycakes at the end and I can't wait to read more about that.

I feel boring today. I'm sorry. Maybe I will be more exciting soon.

Send Out Your Ray of Sunshine

At the beginning of the month, CLRG and I went to Kennywood with his parents. I pretty much had to beg him to take a picture, but he agreed eventually and look how cute it is. I just love him. :o)

Speaking of CLRG... I am prepping to move into his house very soon. Last week, we spent evenings working in the new room on the third floor: removing nails, cleaning up residual coal dust, and helping put insulation in the ceiling. This week, I imagine we will work on the wall insulation and, if HatNick can get his pulley system going, we will pull drywall from the driveway to the third floor and we will put that up, too. Apparently, it would be impossible to bring it inside and up the stairs. I think it will be interesting to see how the pulley system works. The last time they did it, I wasn't there to see. I am really excited about moving in. We've been talking about the arrangement of our furniture, and last night we went grocery shopping and it was the first time we were buying stuff for BOTH of us. Since I will probably be over there every night this week, helping with the room, we planned some dinners. I'm excited to be able to clean the house and I am excited to be able to hang out with the cats all the time. It will be nice to have CLRG nearby more frequently, too.

I got a call about a job that I applied to! I have an interview this afternoon. Cross your fingers for me, will you?

She Held The World Upon A String

I fully intend to write an actual post here pretty soon, but I need to express my frustration with this whole job search thing. I seriously apply to a million jobs (that may be an exaggeration...) every week and ALL I ever hear is, "Thanks, but no thanks; You aren't the ideal candidate for this job; We've chosen someone else to fill the position." I totally understand that I won't be the best for everything, but I really think I should at least be interviewed for SOMETHING before I get rejected. I mean, come on.

Bright Smile, Dark Eyes

The other day, K and I went exploring in the Homewood Cemetery, not far from our respective homes. It was very warm and sunny, but we were generally shaded and the exercise did us good. It was interesting to see some of the famous Pittsburgh names there. The Fricks, the Mellons, the Heinzes. You know- the big wigs. When I got home, I realized that I had gotten some sun on my shoulders, and it hurt. It's better today.

Earlier, I realized that I haven't updated in a little while because I don't have much to say that isn't the same thing every time. Basically, when I am not at work or hanging out with K or with CLRG, I am job searching and watching television in the living room. I try to apply to a few each day, but it is getting discouraging. Very, very discouraging. *sigh*

I am excited for the coming week. We (CLRG) and I have many things to attend: we are going to a graduation party for TP on Sunday, we have CLRG's company picnic on Wednesday, a trip to Kennywood with his parents on Thursday, and a Punchline show on Saturday. And then it's the Fourth! I don't know what we're doing for that, but I am excited just the same.

I Got the Medicine That Everybody Wants

CLRG and I went on a double date on Monday Night with our friends KR & TP. It was a grand time. We went to OTB in the South Side and then went down to the Smiling Moose to see a few bands. CLRG is friends with one of the guys in the main band and we saw some other music friends of his. It was such fun. I especially liked it when we were walking down to the Smiling Moose because the boys walked together ahead of me and KR and we were able to chat a bit and catch up. We hadn't really seen one another since Halloween! Crazy. Anyway, I liked the double date thing. I am excited to hang out with KR without the boys sometime and to go out with all four of us again.

When All the Clocks are Spinning Backwards

I got my first rejection email from a job today. It's kind of a bummer, but also kind of good. I mean, I would really like a job that is not the one I have currently, yes. However, I haven't heard from ANY of the other jobs I have applied to, so this is at least some communication. It wasn't even a job that I was really fighting for, either. It was an office related job. It was something that could have worked. But, alas. Nothing. I did apply for three jobs via email tonight. I am faxing materials to a fourth tomorrow after my shift. That is positive, I suppose.

The depressing thing about this job search is that people know I am doing it (customers at work and such) and they ask me how it is going and then try to give me advice about how I can help myself. They tell me to call these places and follow up. They tell me to just keep trying. The problem with the following up business, of course, is that many of these positions are applied for over the internet and, in some cases, I don't even really know how to contact the actual places I apply. Maybe that doesn't make sense, but it's kind of frustrating. I appreciate that so many people are looking out for me and rooting me on, but it is also kind of disheartening to have to report that, nope... nada. Not even a word yet. I suck. Yay.

Blah. I am just so tired of so many things. Whatever happened to instant gratification??

All Good Things

I bought these measuring cups today. Aren't they adorable? I went out with K. We saw Letters to Juliet and then went to Anthropologie (dangerous place, I tell you!) to browse and I came out with the cups. So, today my interest in a) going to Italy, b) decorating a house and c) cooking has been peaked. I was actually just talking with CLRG about my interest in going to Italy, so I was already thinking about it. Hopefully, we will have money to go before we are too old. My visit to Anthropologie led me to think about beautiful aprons and cookware and cups and saucers and cookbooks and plates. I know I do not need and cannot afford any of these things at present, but it's nice to be able to imagine them. Haha.

It Takes Two When It Used to Take Only One

Well, my sister is a married woman. It's strange, but also wonderful. I am so happy for her and for Al. The wedding was beautiful and the reception was a ton of fun. The pictures above are two of my favorites from the day. The rehearsal the night before the ceremony was sort of hectic, because the wedding coordinator for the parish was kind of difficult, but it all turned out well in the end because they are now husband and wife! I was talking to Pooks on the phone today while she was driving to their new place and I made her say, " I am moving into an apartment with my husband" just so I could hear what it sounded like. Very interesting. :o) The pictures after the ceremony were a lot of fun. The photographers were amazing and tons of fun and it just flowed really nicely. I am really excited to see the photos. For now, though, if you want to see one, you can go here. Oh man. Can you believe they're finally married? I don't even know what to do about that. Haha.

Helping with the wedding prep stuff made me think more and more about the kind of wedding I would like to have. Of course, I think about this kind of thing all the time, but it just added more depth to my thoughts. For example, part of me really doesn't want to deal with the stress of having a wedding as involved as theirs was. On the other hand, I had a REALLY good time seeing all of my extended family and close family friends and I feel like it would be amazing to have all of those people there for me on my wedding day. Sometimes I think it would be easier to just run off somewhere and get married really quickly and then have a huge party, but I also want to have my family there. I want to have people stand up and watch me declare my love forever and for always. You know? It's complicated. I also would want to make the wedding something that both me and CLRG would want, but we're not even engaged right now so it's sort of hard to gauge where he stands on these issues. We probably won't get engaged until we are actually on a path to affording a wedding, so right now I should just be content to read wedding blogs and imagine beautiful things. Haha. Laaaaaaaame, I know. I'm sorry.

I have some reading to do, and job searching to do, and other things of that nature. I should go do something before it is time to go out with some school people. CK moves this weekend, so we are getting drinks to wish him bon voyage. Sad, sad times. Next up to move is K and I will be really sad when that happens.

Dancing Out On Seventh Street

May. What a month.

School is done. I have mastered public history.

I still don't have a career type job, but about that we are not surprised.

My sister graduated from college last weekend.

She is getting married this weekend.

I think somewhere along the way we stopped being children and are now something like adults. I don't know when that happened.

Yikes.

I Am Assured Peace Will Come to Me

You know how I always say that I don't know that I am going to make it through this final or that? And how I always go on and on about how much these finals are killing me? I think it's funny because, no matter how much I complain and whine and get all angry about it, I always do everything I am supposed to. Of course, things are not generally as awesome as they could be, but they are alright and I turn them in on time and then it's over. Silly me. I turned in my final exam essay for my British Empire class this afternoon. All that remains is my art history final, which is stressing me out. After I handed in my paper, I took books back to the library with CK. He had two bags. I had three. We looked ridiculous.

The new Josh Ritter album comes out tomorrow. I have been listening to it on NPR for the past two weeks or so. Amaaaaaaazing. I seriously can't wait to own it and listen to it on repeat for sixteen days. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but come on. It's fabulous. He is playing a show here on the 18th and I really really want to go. Elle said she was interested, K said she had to think about it. It will be great. GREAT. AHHHH. If you want to have a listen, go here and feast your ears on something delicious. For real.

Haven't I Been Sweet To You?

This picture is from our last day of classes, our last big Red Ring outing. Look at all of those historians! It really was a grand time. I think that some of us that have the art history final on Wednesday will go out after that, but it will be a bit different. I think we will probably all need to have a drink. That final is going to be rough. I haven't started studying for it yet because I am trying (TRYING) to write my British Empire final essay, which is annoying and impossible right now. It's due tomorrow... Yikes!

Pookie's bachelorette party was last night. I wasn't able to attend, which was and is very depressing, but she said that it was a lot of fun. She went out with several of her girlfriends from school. I think they showed her a good time.

I was able to talk to my fair Raj yesterday on the phone for about an hour. It was amazing. It had been so long since we actually conversed that I could not remember the last time. We just chatted about life and things and it was really excellent. I talked to my dear Kins today, also, which was so great! We didn't talk for too long, but it was really nice to talk with her also. I am looking forward to being able to call people a little bit more often once I am done with these finals. :oD

This coming weekend is Pookie's (and my) graduation! And then the weekend after that is the wedding! CRAAAAAAZY!!

Roll On, Roll On

Well, I am finished with my graduate school classes. I had my last on Tuesday night and I don't think I have fully grasped it just yet. We were all pretty crazed before class even started, so by the time it was over, we were bouncing off the walls. A huge group of us went to the Red Ring after, per usual, and this time the department chair and our historic preservation prof came along. We had a good time.

I finished my British Empire paper tonight. All that is left now is my British Empire final and my Art History final. After Wednesday, I will be a free woman. Can you believe it?! I really can't. What will I blog about? I pretty much only talk about school lately. Haha.

Now... I need to find a job. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

And Reruns All Become Our History

Oh holy crap. I just saw this video on Snippet & Ink and it blew me away. I like weddings and wedding related things generally, but the emotions in that video, the sheer joy, the love, was just unbelievable.

You Don't Make It Easy, Babe

It is seriously crunch time, folks. I am starting to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Tomorrow is one of the most intense days in terms of handing things in and presenting research and the like, but then it's one thing for each due date and I can totally handle that. Totally. Right. Yes.

I pretty much spent the entire weekend doing homework. It was Elle's birthday on Saturday and her parents came to visit. I felt really bad that my presence in birthday activities was minimal, but I hope we can make up for it with a roommate date when all of this nonsense is complete and I have real life again. I did get to spend some time with CLRG on Friday night. We had a few drinks and watched tv and it was really nice. I think we stayed up too late, but we made up for it by sleeping in late on Saturday. Not ideal for the homework, but very nice for cuddling purposes.

My Pookie is getting married really, really soon. Like, in three weeks. I think. The fifteenth! YIKES!!! I am very excited about it, but it is still crazy. CRAZY. She's too young to be getting married, I think. Isn't she like five years old or something? Gosh. When did she get to be almost 22? I feel so old.

Okay, back to homework. Yay.

Dreary Birds Parade Across the Dreary Sky

My dad sent me this link today in an email. I was very interested to read it. I would probably pee my pants if I made a discovery like this. Just sayin'.

Art history final essay has been handed in. Next on the agenda: historic preservation and british empire papers. Yay. I am so ridiculously excited. You really have no idea.

Madly, Madly, Madly

Ughhhhhh. I am trying to write my art history essay and it is NOT going well.

Also, I am to the point in my stress level that I must make myself an itinerary of sorts to get stuff done. It never totally works, but it helps.

I just feel very uncertain that I will make it through all of this. Boo.

It's Firefight and I Won't Run

Lately, I've been feeling like I don't want to be as involved with technology as I am. I don't mean that I don't want to have a phone or an ipod or a computer, but I really sometimes just wish I could delete my facebook profile or something and not feel totally guilty. I know that that is silly. I shouldn't be worrying about how that would make other people feel. *sigh* I think I'm just getting restless. I want this semester to be over and it feels like it will be over too soon and, at the same time, not over soon enough. I don't really understand how that works, but it totally does. Here is what I have left to do:

-art history final exam essay (4/21)
-historic preservation final paper (4/27)
-british empire research presentation (4/27)
-british empire final paper (4/30)
-british empire final exam essay (5/3)
-art history in class final exam (5/5)

Soooooo yeah. I am really excited. I spent the weekend reading art history so I can attempt to write something for this final. My professor knows what she wants the essay to be like (though we are not supposed to call it an essay) but she can't really articulate it, which concerns me.

You've Already Got Me Coming Undone

My phone has demons. The display was all weird and turned white and now won't do anything. K and I went to the Waterfront this morning to consult with the Verizon store. The ribbon wire (or something involving ribbon something) is broken. It is not fixable. I can get my contacts from it if I want. I cannot get my text messages, which is what is causing me the most sadness. I have messages on there from CLRG from right when we started dating. I saved ones that were especially cute. And now, I can apparently not get them. I used to look at those when I was feeling down and having a crappy day. I know I will get more, but I had just been thinking about how I should write down those messages and then my phone had to go and be dumb and get demons. R had an extra phone that she isn't using, so she gave that to me tonight and all I have to do is transfer my number to it. Very nice of her. I'm just sad about it. Stupid phone. Rest in peace. :o(

Be Still

So, last week, when I was at a catering job for work, I texted Wifers and told her that I wanted to read Harry Potter. Since she couldn't provide me with the actual book, she provided me with a version to read, drawing from Wizard People. Haha. Anyway, it made me laugh, so I thought I would post it here:

"Once upon a time, there was Dumbledore and Hardcastle McCormick. They saved Master P from Roast Beefy O'Weefy and Saltporker. So Master P goes to school with Harmony and Ronnie the Bear." *The End.*

Beautiful, isn't it?

It is raining here this morning. I am not very excited about it. The tree I can see from my bedroom window has the little green buds on it, and I can see a few leaves peeking out. I'm excited about the trees and flowers all blooming. The rain helps with that, so I can't totally hate it.

Wake Me Up, I've Been Dreaming

Well, it is close enough that I can tell you that there is less than a month until I am a Master of Public History. Starting next week, I have final type things due. And then it continues until the 5th, when everything will be handed in and I can breathe.

And then there is Pookie wedding stuff. I am not going to be able to be present for her bachelorette party, though I will organize it. I will be taking care of inviting people and all of that. I so wish I could go, but it really isn't realistic to think that I could spend time, especially now that it is crunch time, driving to Mt. P. Boo and Hiss. Rawr. In other news, my madre told me last night that Al's mom got them a limo for the wedding. And them basically means the wedding party, so heyyyyyy. Limo time!

I have to work at noon. I don't really want to go. I never really want to go. Blah.

We Fought a Silent War in the Hardware Store

I am just so tired. All of the time.

*sigh*

The Clouds Are All On Fire

As it gets closer to the end of the end of the semester, the end of graduate school and the beginning of actual real life, I have been thinking about what I am excited to do with my time once it is not consumed by reading and writing and research. I am looking forward to:

-reading non-school books
-painting my nails (presuming that I get a real job, that is... the factory doesn't allow that)
-taking photos
-getting a subscription to ancestry.com
-not having a homework to do list

Those are just a few things. There are many more that I can't really recall right now. *sigh* It's going to be nice.

P.S. If you know the job fairy, could you send her to my house?

You're Obsessed With Stars

Does anyone even read this anymore? Sometimes I don't think so. I know my dad reads it (Hello, Dadders!), but I don't know about anyone else. I guess not many people read it to begin with, though. And, knowing that people do or do not read it probably won't change the way I write, but sometimes I'm just curious.

My neck hurts. I want this art history paper to just be DONE. Argh.

All The Other Girls Here Are Stars, You Are The Northern Lights

I am writing a paper about this painting for art history. Well, I am supposed to be writing a paper about this. I will write it tomorrow, I do believe. I was talking with Wifers tonight and she offered to write it for me. Here is her composition:

"In this painting, T. Jefferson looks slightly like Christopher Lloyd. His hair looks electrocuted, which is fitting because he was a contemporary of Ben Franklin. His gaze is to the right, proving that he was, indeed, a Republican... and therefore must die. His kerchief hearkens back to olden days of old, when people wore kerchiefs. Not like today when kerchiefs are only worn by Ren Faire nerds and Cub Scouts. Please note the popped collar, indicating that Jefferson launched hipster culture for the 1700s. And his influence is still felt in fashion, culture and politics today!"

A+, if I do say so myself.

You Will Shelter Me, My Love, and I Will Shelter You

Have I mentioned that I really, really cannot wait until this semester is over? I mean it. I can't wait. I wake up every day feeling just as tired as I felt when I went to bed. I am feeling stretched impossibly thin. Blah.

CLRG and I went to the very last Johnstown Chiefs game ever on Saturday. It was a sad time. We hung out with his parents, though, which was nice. It was a pretty good time. :o) Easter was low-key this year. CLRG and I just hung out at his place, watching Kitchen Nightmares and eating pizza. It was nice to just relax together.

Okay, back to reading and writing. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

I Only Know That I Am Better Where You Are

Yesterday, one of my professors gave me a piece of paper. On it, was this:

The Cult of Done Manifesto

1. There are three stages of being. Not knowing, action and completion.
2. Accept that everything is a draft. It helps get it done.
3. There is no editing stage.
4. Pretending you know what you're doing is almost the same as knowing what you are doing, so just accept that you know what you're doing even if you don't and do it.
5. Banish procrastination. If you wait more than a week to get an idea done, abandon it.
6. The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done.
7. Once you're done you can throw it away.
8. Laugh at perfection. It's boring and keeps you from being done.
9. People without dirty hands are wrong. Doing something makes you right.
10. Failure counts as done. So do mistakes.
11. Destruction is a variant of done.
12. If you have an idea and publish it on the internet, that counts as a ghost of done.
13. Done is the engine of more.

Right on. I'm going to go read for class.

Turn Up the Music, Let's Get Out on the Floor

Today, after work, I went to the grocery store. As I was pondering pita chips, I heard someone say hello. It was a semi-regular at work. After exchanging pleasantries, he said, "So, you DO exist in real life." I responded with some crack about having to wear all black in real life also, and then we moved on to the discussion of pita chips. He told me which ones he and his wife like to eat and then we went our separate ways.

I guess I exist in real life, but sometimes I don't feel like I do.

Maybe Memphis, Tennessee, Maybe Not

My emotions have been sort of all over the place the past few weeks. I've gone from happy to sad, from miserable to okay, from stressed to... slightly less stressed. This week has been actually pretty good. I have only cried like once, and that was because I watched the episode of Sex & the City where Charlotte goes to a singles mixer thing after she and Harry break up and he's there and he proposes and it's perfect and sweet. I cried then.

School has been trying to put me under ground lately. I have more work to do than time in which to do it (like you've never heard me say that before) and sometimes I just want to hide. A friend asked me yesterday how many weeks I had left and I just kind of stared at her before I realized she was asking how much longer I had in the semester. I replied with, "I'm just taking it one day at a time." I feel like, normally, I would have some kind of countdown, but this semester is more than that. I can't really hide from real life in school anymore. I need to get a real job and start actually doing the things I've been thinking about. YIKES.

The weather in Pittsburgh has been pretty lovely this week, which is helpful in being in a good mood. I walked home today without my cardigan on, and that was lovely. I think it was 65 degrees or something! The sun has been really happy. And especially happy because, last weekend when it was rainy, I went shopping with K and we felt compelled to buy mini greenhouses at Lowe's. Mine has three types of herbs in it. The cat nip is the only one making any progress. I'm glad it's working. I promised CLRG's cats I would share.

Is It Cold Yet in New York City?

Bananne called me today. I hadn't talked to her in a while and I was really glad to hear from her. She's one of the best listeners I know (this is going to be her profession in the near future, so I think that means she'll be excellent at her job) and she always gives thoughtful advice. It's nice to have a friend like her because we can go without talking for a little while, but catch right back up where we left off and it doesn't feel weird. She's marrying Snickers in November and I am really honored to be standing up with her on that special day. It's going to be lovely.

Can You Feel This Magic in the Air?

Tonight, I went to see "Valentine's Day" with Elle. It was our first roommate date in a long time, and it was a lot of fun. The movie was ridiculous, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a "really?!" way. Know what I mean? Yeah.

I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Oh holy crap. I can see on my calendar that the end of April is not far away and I am both terrified and relieved. Cross your fingers that I make it there.

Pardon Me, Boy- Is That the Chattanooga Choo Choo?

Well, okay. They're calling it Snowmageddon. And the Snowpacolypse. And the SnOMG storm and the like. The storm that rolled into Pittsburgh on Friday and left the city buried in almost two feet of snow is actually really hilarious to me. I had an awesome weekend.

On Friday, I went over to CLRG's house before it got too bad. We were just expecting a foot or so, but I didn't want to be stuck on the road with people who didn't know how to drive in the snow. When I got there, he and his roommate C and I walked to Applebee's for dinner. Then, we went to KMart to get him some boots. We meandered home, admiring the cars stuck on Braddock, laughing at people, and chatting with the police officer that came to check out the car that was smashed into a telephone pole. Saturday morning, CLRG and I woke up and peered out the window. We decided it would be a really good idea to go out. So, we did. We found the snow up to our knees. We trekked to Eat n Park, where we heard that the manager had had to stay overnight. We went to Giant Eagle to get some food. We trekked home. Later, we dug my car out from the pile in which it was buried. Okay, though. I'll be fair: CLRG, C and HatNick dug it out while I watched. I made them tacos afterward. I was supposed to work on Sunday morning, but the roads were too scary and I called off.

I finally left CLRG's house on Monday morning to make it home in time for work at 7am. Buuuuut I made the mistake of driving onto a side street. I got stuck. After some pushing and digging and the like, I got it off to the side and made it to work by 8:30am. This morning, I got K to come over and, with the help of two older gentlemen, we got my car out of the space and I got gas and drove around trying to find a parking space that was not already taken up by a chair. Not finding any, I took my chances and drove onto my street, parked in my landlord's driveway and dug a spot out. Now my car is parked and I will probably not move it for a while. Ha.

Classes were cancelled yesterday and today. I wonder about tomorrow, because there is more snow happening at the moment and we're supposed to get up to ten more inches by tomorrow night. Or something. I can't keep track.

Oh, Pittsburgh. Oh, snow. Happy Winter.

Relax

I really, really feel like I am drowning. There is more schoolwork to be done than I have time and motivation for. Seriously. This is the most ridiculous semester I've had in a while.

In other news, Valentine's Day is soon. I don't know what CLRG and I are doing, but I'm sure it will be something nice. Last year, we made dinner together and hung out. I suspect we will do something similar this year.

Pookie's bridal shower is in a month! I have to get cracking.

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Oh boy. So much reading, so little time. I guess I need to consider cutting back on the sleeping?

Meh. :o(

I Comb the Crowd and Pick You Out

I think I will consider buying these boots:



Do you support that decision? I mean, I think I really just want some boots that are mostly flat and pretty cute. I haven't found any others that I like that are not $600 or something ridiculous yet, so I might get these. I found them online, of course. Woohoo. They come in black as well, but I think I prefer the brown. We shall seeeeeeeeee. I have to check out the monies.

I think I am writing a historiographical paper about Egypt for my British Empire class. But... um... do I have to narrow that down? I don't know and my professor did not really say. I feel overwhelmed, but you knew that.

Climbing Up to the Mountain Cause You Asked Me to

"I may not get there with you. But I want you to know that tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!"

Because the World is Round...

So K came over on Friday afternoon and assisted me in straightening my hair and then gave the ends a little trim. I hadn't had it cut since... December 2008. Seriously. Anyway, it needed it. I'm just always wary of having people cut it who don't understand my hair. I bet I could find someone around here who would know, but for now I am content to have K help. Anyway, I took a shower this afternoon to wash it and get it back to normal and when I got out, I was actually startled by how short it looks. It touches my shoulders, but I was surprised. We didn't cut that much off, though. I think I'm just crazy. Maybe. Probably.

CLRG and I had a delightful day yesterday. We went out in the morning to get his car washed and buy car detailing supplies and then went to Ritter's Diner in... Bloomfield(?). I did some homework and laundry during the day and later on, we drove to Wheeling, West Virginia to watch the Wheeling Nailers and the Johnstown Chiefs play hockey. It was a good time and a fun day. :o)

No Amount of Coffee, No Amount of Crying, No Amount of Whiskey, No Amount of Wine...

Oh ho ho. Art History is going to be iiiiiinteresting. Not necessarily in a good way. I had my first class last night and came out of it feeling more overwhelmed and confused than I have felt about a class in a long, long time. I hope I get a better understanding pretty soon. Historic Preservation is going to be interesting in probably a good way. There's a lot of reading to do, but it's more of what I am interested in. [Aside: should I be eating sour gummy worms before 10am?]

It is sunny and warmer here than it has been. Like 30 degrees! MAYBE EVEN UP TO 40!!!!! I'm breaking out the flip flops.

Yesterday, I submitted my resume for a job. Yikes!

Okay. Homework and laundry await. Woo.

Sugar Blue

I can't believe the holidays are gone. And the semester has begun! Where did the break go? Seriously.

The holidays were good this year, but very different from holidays past. My family was mostly separated and it was really hard, but everyone survived. I liked being lazy over break. I had wanted to do some job-search type stuff, but that didn't really happen. I read a lot, and hung out with CLRG a lot, and worked as usual. Nice times.

I had my first class of my last semester of graduate school today. History of the British Empire. It was okay. I took the bus and got there in record time (Yay for the 67H!). Class lasted only half an hour, but that was fine because I need to ease back into this. Next week, I have my first classes of Historic Preservation as well as American Painting and Sculpture. I don't have an internship for the first time in a year and it will be very strange to go back to having three courses. Yikes!!

I need to be better about updating this. I'll work on it.