Ever notice that your enthusiasm for a 4.0 wanes by the end of the semester and your attitude shifts to one of, “I just want to pass this sh$% in and be done with it”? Well, that explains me TO A “T.” (all caps mean, “HELL’S YEAH!”)
Today I pass in my last final. I would use the past tense except for the fact that I have to spend all day at work and then drive out to Fairfax to submit my essay. My professor is technology-adverse so we actually have to hand-deliver our papers. That’s an hour-drive, each way, people. It is a huge pain in the tushie, but the relief I will experience upon giving up this one last piece of my first semester – it will be so beautiful.
Since I spent the whole of last night tweaking my final essay, Anthony and I didn’t get to start on our Twelve Days of Christmas Movies tradition (yes, I’m a sick, sad little person who spends twelve evenings of the Christmas season watching Christmas movies. And if you think that’s bad, you should see what I do to the furry children on Christmas Day!). That means that tonight, it’s on like Donkey Kong. We’re starting with the classic George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol.
And then we’re going to party our tushies off in Cleveland Park to celebrate Eric’s 27th birthday. Well, I’m pretending it’s all for the gloriousness that is the end of my first grad school semester, but I’ll bring a birthday card for cover.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Brief recap of things you missed out on while Ryan was not writing on her blog:
- Anthony’s mom passed and we had a big party to celebrate her life in Charlotte, NC.
- My little sister turned another year older.
- My office celebrated Halloween by hosting a decorating contest. Us slimy contractors clearly won (I think it was the three-foot carnivorous spider eating the child in a fairy costume on a ten-foot spider web that put us over the top – or maybe the werewolf crawling out of my boss’s cubicle…), but the head of our office now cannot declare a winner because someone on the government side complained that contractors should not be allowed to win. We are now officially keeping up the decorations until Thanksgiving, we’ll give a week’s reprieve, and then we’ll start on our “Nightmare Before Christmas” themed holiday decorations. And they’ll like it, goddammit.
- I wrote three papers and delivered a presentation for grad school. 4.0 here I come!
- Anthony left for Vietnam and Estonia on November 4th – He returns on December 2nd, thereby missing both my birthday and Thanksgiving.
- I immediately got bored and drafted the "12 Days of Christmas Movies" list, which has me beginning to ring in the holiday on my mom's birthday, December 14th. You are SO invited.
- I told one of my professors to stop sucking up to me. You know, one of those times I said something I didn't really mean and will now be living the moment down forever (kind of like the "is steak beef, mom?" incident that my family LOVES to bring up).
- I went out with my fellow grad students and got a number (not to mention a bunch of free drinks). How do you like dem apples?! (Disclaimer: I was in no way attempting to get that number. It was given to me at the end of the night, as we were shutting down the bar. Scribbled on a napkin were this guy’s digits and a little note that said, “You are SO HOT!” Damn, I’m so good I don’t even have to try. (insert snickering here)).
- I lost my mind and made my mom cry while looking for a petsitter for the Thanksgiving holiday (am I the only person who didn’t know that USAirways does NOT allow pets in cargo anymore? – no matter what their website says (look under “Pets in Cargo Compartment”)).
- Ben and his family came to my rescue and volunteered to bring Grace home to Bethesda to share in their happy Thanksgiving gluttony.
- Morgan volunteered to feed and shower Pookie with affection over Thanksgiving (Ben's allergic to cats).
- I did the majority of my Christmas shopping and present wrapping.
- Jeff decided that I was hosting my own birthday potluck dinner this weekend, so if you’re in DC for whatever reason on Sunday, it’s my place at 6:30PM – be there or be square.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Quaker Three-Way Recap
Quaker Three-Way
Originally uploaded by Pookah.
As promised, a picture from the birthday extravaganza. I tried editing the previous post by adding pictures, but I am too impatient to figure out why it didn't work the first time. Therefore, this is all you get. Try not to overdo it with your unbridled excitement.
Update on the fire code violation
I called the DC Fire Marshall yesterday and lodged a formal complaint.
The good news is that they will be by the building sometime this week to investigate.
The bad news is that Anthony got locked in the vestibule again today. He was able to rouse our second-floor neighbor, Jackie, and get out of the building so no frantic 9-1-1 calls today. Good karma all around for Jackie! YAY!
Now if we could only get our slumlord to fix the door...
The good news is that they will be by the building sometime this week to investigate.
The bad news is that Anthony got locked in the vestibule again today. He was able to rouse our second-floor neighbor, Jackie, and get out of the building so no frantic 9-1-1 calls today. Good karma all around for Jackie! YAY!
Now if we could only get our slumlord to fix the door...
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
How my weekend totally rocked my socks off
What a long, long, LONG weekend.
To make it easier on me and my fried little brain, I’ll do the walnut summary:
Friday. Mel arrived after Andrew invaded and ate all my dinner.
Saturday. It dawned rainy and cool, but Mel and I drove out to butt-f@#k nowhere in Maryland to get apples and pumpkins. I drove through TWO red lights in a magically ri-donk-ulous rotary on the way there. Mel declared us “city hicks.” We bought apples, pumpkins, honey, and potpourri – and then enjoyed our dirt path back to the highway (yay Bubba Blue!). Lunch was cheesesteaks and I got to watch Mel suck the potato filling out of her entire order of French fries (I would tell you why she was doing that, but I don’t need a slap upside the head, thank you very much).
Martha’s plane was late due to a leaky bathroom, so Eric, Mel and Andrew went to meet the crew at Buca di Beppo without us. Martha, Anthony and I were only an hour late, but hardly missed anything. There was wine chugging, a bachelorette party that invited Eric to ogle their breasts (“to guess their bra size,” he says), Kevin’s threat of sticking his woo-wah in Anthony’s wah-hoo, and a hearty sing-along including such classics as “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “You give love a bad name,” and “Shut your fucking face, page-fucker!”
The Quaker Three-Way was officially held at Buffalo Billiards, where we crowned the birthday three (Mel with a tiara, Jeff with a goofy bat, and Andrew with a pimp hat). We met Andrew’s business school friends (although I didn’t get to meet the twins!) who introduced me to the WORST IDEA on the planet: drinking Patron. This inspired me to rekindle my old flame with Eric – the bartender who served me to the point of puking last year. Although this year I was that much more of a treat (and you didn’t think it was possible!), forcing the boys to kiss my cheek and convincing utter strangers to buy me drinks. In the end, Eric and I did a swell job of holding the bar firmly against the floor.
Sunday. A massive hangover. I puked three times (damn you, Patron!) and swore off alcohol for life – AGAIN. It was absolutely miserable. But, as Mel says, I rallied and Martha Stewart-ed my way through an evening of entertaining. Dinner for the girls, dessert of edible pumpkin and baked apples for all. Martha, Andrew, Jeff, Eric, Mel and I did some serious couching while reminiscing about our good old days at Penn.
Monday. I think I saw the sun rise. I made apple pancakes and homemade whipped cream for Martha and Mel, and drove Mel to Union Station to catch her train. Martha visited other friends while I did my homework. Andrew, Jeff, (Jeff’s roommate) Andrew, Anthony, Martha, Eric, Marilyn and I met up at Fado for Quizzo. I believe we (and by “we,” I mean “Page Fuckers” – gotta love the continuity) came in fifth out of 36 or 37, but I think we would have done better if there were any more John Holmes questions. Anthony is still kicking himself for the Pink Floyd question he had right and then made us change to the wrong answer. Andrew provided the Swedish fish so we all went home happy.
Tuesday. We leave Martha alone in the house to finish packing and when she goes to leave, she gets locked in the vestibule. She can’t reach me so she dials 911. Eventually, the firemen come to let her out and ring doorbells until my groggy neighbor Tim comes down in his pajamas to free her. This inspires me to finally call the DC Fire Marshall’s office and lodge an official complaint. I’ll tell you if anything comes out of this.
Wednesday (I'm forecasting here). Pictures forthcoming.
To make it easier on me and my fried little brain, I’ll do the walnut summary:
Friday. Mel arrived after Andrew invaded and ate all my dinner.
Saturday. It dawned rainy and cool, but Mel and I drove out to butt-f@#k nowhere in Maryland to get apples and pumpkins. I drove through TWO red lights in a magically ri-donk-ulous rotary on the way there. Mel declared us “city hicks.” We bought apples, pumpkins, honey, and potpourri – and then enjoyed our dirt path back to the highway (yay Bubba Blue!). Lunch was cheesesteaks and I got to watch Mel suck the potato filling out of her entire order of French fries (I would tell you why she was doing that, but I don’t need a slap upside the head, thank you very much).
Martha’s plane was late due to a leaky bathroom, so Eric, Mel and Andrew went to meet the crew at Buca di Beppo without us. Martha, Anthony and I were only an hour late, but hardly missed anything. There was wine chugging, a bachelorette party that invited Eric to ogle their breasts (“to guess their bra size,” he says), Kevin’s threat of sticking his woo-wah in Anthony’s wah-hoo, and a hearty sing-along including such classics as “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “You give love a bad name,” and “Shut your fucking face, page-fucker!”
The Quaker Three-Way was officially held at Buffalo Billiards, where we crowned the birthday three (Mel with a tiara, Jeff with a goofy bat, and Andrew with a pimp hat). We met Andrew’s business school friends (although I didn’t get to meet the twins!) who introduced me to the WORST IDEA on the planet: drinking Patron. This inspired me to rekindle my old flame with Eric – the bartender who served me to the point of puking last year. Although this year I was that much more of a treat (and you didn’t think it was possible!), forcing the boys to kiss my cheek and convincing utter strangers to buy me drinks. In the end, Eric and I did a swell job of holding the bar firmly against the floor.
Sunday. A massive hangover. I puked three times (damn you, Patron!) and swore off alcohol for life – AGAIN. It was absolutely miserable. But, as Mel says, I rallied and Martha Stewart-ed my way through an evening of entertaining. Dinner for the girls, dessert of edible pumpkin and baked apples for all. Martha, Andrew, Jeff, Eric, Mel and I did some serious couching while reminiscing about our good old days at Penn.
Monday. I think I saw the sun rise. I made apple pancakes and homemade whipped cream for Martha and Mel, and drove Mel to Union Station to catch her train. Martha visited other friends while I did my homework. Andrew, Jeff, (Jeff’s roommate) Andrew, Anthony, Martha, Eric, Marilyn and I met up at Fado for Quizzo. I believe we (and by “we,” I mean “Page Fuckers” – gotta love the continuity) came in fifth out of 36 or 37, but I think we would have done better if there were any more John Holmes questions. Anthony is still kicking himself for the Pink Floyd question he had right and then made us change to the wrong answer. Andrew provided the Swedish fish so we all went home happy.
Tuesday. We leave Martha alone in the house to finish packing and when she goes to leave, she gets locked in the vestibule. She can’t reach me so she dials 911. Eventually, the firemen come to let her out and ring doorbells until my groggy neighbor Tim comes down in his pajamas to free her. This inspires me to finally call the DC Fire Marshall’s office and lodge an official complaint. I’ll tell you if anything comes out of this.
Wednesday (I'm forecasting here). Pictures forthcoming.
Friday, October 06, 2006
More Darwin, more of the time
For those of you who just can't get enough of our tender-hearted friend from the U.K., more pictures from his wedding can be found here. For your utter amusement , there you will also find less-than-fabulous pictures of yours truly.
Random thoughts
1. I pay what I consider a large sum of money to attend graduate school. Since the financial burden is totally mine, I am invested in every minute of classroom instruction. Therefore, it really irks my craw when my fellow students start packing up their books a few minutes before the class ends, thereby disturbing the professor's concentration and cutting class short. What is the pressing need, folks?
2. There is something strange about DC drivers. I’m an avid jaywalker and I learned much of my technique on the wild streets of Manhattan. This means that I am quite adept at judging the traffic flows so I can cross safely. So why is it that when a long line of cars is passing and I start walking out in the street, timing my cross to hit the lane of traffic just when the last car finishes passing by, that the LAST IDIOT in the line of cars decides to slow down or stop because I am in the road? (Maybe more to the point, why is it that I am so friggin’ neurotic that this incidence actually causes my blood pressure to raise significantly?)
3. And while we’re talking about DC people, I need to comment on the subway travelers. These people really need to take note: do NOT cut me off and then slow down. Do NOT wander aimlessly on the platform and effectively cut off all foot traffic – some of us need to actually GET SOME PLACE. Do NOT stand to the left on the escalator – it makes you look like a tourist, and EVERYone hates tourists (I’m also trying to catch my train) – the right hand side is for your unmotivated arse. Do NOT bum-rush the train as soon as the doors open – people are trying to get out. And last but not least, do NOT block the doorway and then get your panties all in a wad because I take my New York-acquired attitude and slam it right into your body so I can get on/off the train.
4. This is beginning to remind me of Ben’s freshman year “Bitch List.” Oh, how I miss Ben’s “Bitch List.”
5. This is also reminding me that I really need to learn how to take it easy. I can physically feel an ulcer forming when some stranger does something really small and trivial that pisses me off. Anthony just laughs at me and all my frustrated, but successfully restrained, bouts of anger (which of course, makes me even angrier). He thinks I’m ridiculous and I rather agree. Unfortunately, that doesn’t do a damn thing for this ulcer I’m workin’ on…
6. Gilmore Girls. This is my new saving grace during the semester. I will work a solid 6 hours on homework if I promise myself I can watch an episode when I’m done. It’s THAT good, folks.
7. I went to an information session for the Masters International Program at GMU last night. One of my professors is the President of the National Peace Corps Association so the school took advantage of that and asked him to talk to students interested in the program. In any case, it was a great reminder about why I signed on to this program in the first place. I am really excited about traveling and living abroad, working on issues of some significance. I am sure that other people have said it better, but I am really looking forward to carving out a career that enables me to directly help other people. It is my hope that this degree and my (potential) experience with Peace Corps will help me focus on a particular issue, but for now I am really enjoying learning more about the world around me and absorbing all the lessons I am taught in class. And although I am tired, cranky, and suffering from insomnia, I know that this will all be worth it in the end.
8. You know, I really miss my girls. All my life, I was convinced that I really got along better with guys, but now that I live in DC and none of my closest girl friends are near, I realize that the girls that I have known have been the best friends of my life. I miss tea breaks, sleepovers, small dinners, late night drinks and conversation, “runs” to Baskin Robbins, roadtrips…all the pieces of my life that color my happiest memories. So ladies, I am taking the time out to express my appreciation for the rewarding moments you’ve given to me. Thank you: Michelle, Christy, Katie (yo Petes!), Pookah, Mel, Martha, Joanna, Yael, Estee, Jenn, Apeface…you are the rockingest chicas on earth.
9. Andrew is loving this right now. All these lovely, itemized thoughts… How’s your OCD enjoying my ode to its limitless stores of neuroses, Masshole?
10. Ever have those moments when the amount of knowledge you DON’T have really starts to overwhelm you? When you feel like you need to keep reading in order to make a dent in it all? Some days I feel like I am so far behind my peers in terms of knowledge of worldly affairs, and that this will somehow correlate to me not getting into a career that I will love – as if I can’t attain job satisfaction because no one will hire me because I don’t know the exact year the last war in Rwanda broke out. I know, it’s absolutely crazy, and probably makes less sense on paper than it does in my head, but I keep searching for more articles, more journals, more think tanks – as if somehow all that knowledge, if I could only memorize the facts and figures and spout it all out at the right moments, would bring me to the right place, at the right time, with the right people, and determine the rest of my professional life.
I know, I know. I’m totally weird. (And Andrew is right now telepathically sending me this message: “RELAX. Jeez!”) But I can’t help thinking that I should be much farther along in my career of choice than I am, that I should have more of the answers, that this isn’t the end of the road for me – there’s something more, if only I could grasp at the right straws…
I don’t know. Life is all sorts of insane like that.
2. There is something strange about DC drivers. I’m an avid jaywalker and I learned much of my technique on the wild streets of Manhattan. This means that I am quite adept at judging the traffic flows so I can cross safely. So why is it that when a long line of cars is passing and I start walking out in the street, timing my cross to hit the lane of traffic just when the last car finishes passing by, that the LAST IDIOT in the line of cars decides to slow down or stop because I am in the road? (Maybe more to the point, why is it that I am so friggin’ neurotic that this incidence actually causes my blood pressure to raise significantly?)
3. And while we’re talking about DC people, I need to comment on the subway travelers. These people really need to take note: do NOT cut me off and then slow down. Do NOT wander aimlessly on the platform and effectively cut off all foot traffic – some of us need to actually GET SOME PLACE. Do NOT stand to the left on the escalator – it makes you look like a tourist, and EVERYone hates tourists (I’m also trying to catch my train) – the right hand side is for your unmotivated arse. Do NOT bum-rush the train as soon as the doors open – people are trying to get out. And last but not least, do NOT block the doorway and then get your panties all in a wad because I take my New York-acquired attitude and slam it right into your body so I can get on/off the train.
4. This is beginning to remind me of Ben’s freshman year “Bitch List.” Oh, how I miss Ben’s “Bitch List.”
5. This is also reminding me that I really need to learn how to take it easy. I can physically feel an ulcer forming when some stranger does something really small and trivial that pisses me off. Anthony just laughs at me and all my frustrated, but successfully restrained, bouts of anger (which of course, makes me even angrier). He thinks I’m ridiculous and I rather agree. Unfortunately, that doesn’t do a damn thing for this ulcer I’m workin’ on…
6. Gilmore Girls. This is my new saving grace during the semester. I will work a solid 6 hours on homework if I promise myself I can watch an episode when I’m done. It’s THAT good, folks.
7. I went to an information session for the Masters International Program at GMU last night. One of my professors is the President of the National Peace Corps Association so the school took advantage of that and asked him to talk to students interested in the program. In any case, it was a great reminder about why I signed on to this program in the first place. I am really excited about traveling and living abroad, working on issues of some significance. I am sure that other people have said it better, but I am really looking forward to carving out a career that enables me to directly help other people. It is my hope that this degree and my (potential) experience with Peace Corps will help me focus on a particular issue, but for now I am really enjoying learning more about the world around me and absorbing all the lessons I am taught in class. And although I am tired, cranky, and suffering from insomnia, I know that this will all be worth it in the end.
8. You know, I really miss my girls. All my life, I was convinced that I really got along better with guys, but now that I live in DC and none of my closest girl friends are near, I realize that the girls that I have known have been the best friends of my life. I miss tea breaks, sleepovers, small dinners, late night drinks and conversation, “runs” to Baskin Robbins, roadtrips…all the pieces of my life that color my happiest memories. So ladies, I am taking the time out to express my appreciation for the rewarding moments you’ve given to me. Thank you: Michelle, Christy, Katie (yo Petes!), Pookah, Mel, Martha, Joanna, Yael, Estee, Jenn, Apeface…you are the rockingest chicas on earth.
9. Andrew is loving this right now. All these lovely, itemized thoughts… How’s your OCD enjoying my ode to its limitless stores of neuroses, Masshole?
10. Ever have those moments when the amount of knowledge you DON’T have really starts to overwhelm you? When you feel like you need to keep reading in order to make a dent in it all? Some days I feel like I am so far behind my peers in terms of knowledge of worldly affairs, and that this will somehow correlate to me not getting into a career that I will love – as if I can’t attain job satisfaction because no one will hire me because I don’t know the exact year the last war in Rwanda broke out. I know, it’s absolutely crazy, and probably makes less sense on paper than it does in my head, but I keep searching for more articles, more journals, more think tanks – as if somehow all that knowledge, if I could only memorize the facts and figures and spout it all out at the right moments, would bring me to the right place, at the right time, with the right people, and determine the rest of my professional life.
I know, I know. I’m totally weird. (And Andrew is right now telepathically sending me this message: “RELAX. Jeez!”) But I can’t help thinking that I should be much farther along in my career of choice than I am, that I should have more of the answers, that this isn’t the end of the road for me – there’s something more, if only I could grasp at the right straws…
I don’t know. Life is all sorts of insane like that.
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