Monday, December 31, 2007
2007 in Review
Time for the sentimental year in review post. It's kind of funny...I came into 2007 apprehensive because I had read some Chinese zodiac prediction that 2007 would be a bad year for me. Stupid, I know, but I was still nervous. The year turned out to be pretty epic, though not bad overall. Sure bad stuff happened. Bad stuff can't be avoided, really, in any year...And so I present: the highlights of my epic year.
The first big event was the Academic Decathlon state competition, where I got straight 10s from 1 judge in the speech portion and somehow managed the highest math score on the team. Several teammates got stellar scores in some events, including Jack and Audrey's near-perfect speech scores. Of course the best part was realizing how close we'd grown as a team. Through 1000s of pages of semi-useless information, countless study sessions, lots of pretending to study when Mrs. Jay caught us not studying, and the best lunch table ever, my AcDec teammates became my best friends.
In March I walked into a little bike shop that had just been built, searching for a helmet, and met Philip. From there, my triathlon life was changed as I began to ride every Saturday morning and basically got a cycling makeover from the king of style so that I'd no longer be an embarrassment. That chance turned into friendship and a job.
Spring break at the "bay house" aka stormy adventure with my favorite people was super fun. ProGrad style show was another great night. My group looked so good! After one of the practices, however, my car attacked by a crazy man who leapt into the road. I called the police, but I don't know what ever came of the situation...I just know I'm terrified of driving at night now.
Then there were the college visits. Tromping around Texas with various family members in tow, I set out to find my collegiate true love. I had been accepted to UT Plan II honors, Trinity, Rice, and Southwestern. Southwestern asked me back for an interview for a full ride, the culmination of my two years of slave labor to qualify. My interview went super well, and I had my hopes up very high...A week later they were crushed, a blow that almost made me act like a huge baby and turn down SU. In the end, after months of agony, I decided 5 days short of the deadline to go to SU, in large part due to my desire to run for Coach Smith and because the school felt more right than all of the others. My dad was not at all pleased, and a lot of people asked incredulously, "You turned down Rice?????!?" Yes, I did. And I'm so glad!
In the spring, I received several honors...words can't describe how grateful I am. Scholarships from Memorial Hermann, The Optimist Club, AcDec, and English Honor Society were huge blessings. At school I received English student of the year, Most Driven, Most Likely to Succeed, and Miss Elkins HS. The last 3, and in particular the last one, were big surprises that I will treasure forever.
Prom, of course! Getting my dress was an agonizing experience. My mom dislocated her finger in the store due to poor design and lighting, thus prompting us to buy a dress far too quickly that did not fit properly (i.e. allow me to breathe) and months of litigation. The big day involved my best friends, my date being one of them. When the stretch Hummer limo arrived, I was a bit astounded, but I decided to be a trooper and not freak out. Dinner at Churrascos was divine, and the dance was made perfect by Erin and Arthur, who I am SO GLAD I actually did a successful matchmaking job with. There was one little detail I'd rather forget about dancing with the valedictorian and mortifying the principals, but it's worth mentioning...The beach house after party was also a blast. 3 am marshmallows on the beach I will never forget. :)
Graduation was a surreal experience. To walk out 7th in my class of 500 into the Toyota Center was overwhelming. (So was standing for an hour while the other 493 filed in.) I'm pretty sure my principal cried when she handed me my diploma and gave me this ridiculously big hug. After the ceremony, we were unceremoniously herded out to the parking lot in the looming storm clouds. In that moment, I felt like I had been kicked into the "real world."
Immediately after graduating I flew to DC for T4T, which ended up being a lot more about my urban education than learning how to be a sprog trainer. "Dammnnn, them veggie eaters is HOT!"
All summer I nannied two 1 year olds, an autistic 5 year old, and at times a newborn. I also was a swim coach and swim lessons teacher. Mike's visit to Texas was a huge bright spot of the summer. And getting our puppy, Stella! In July I drove out to Louisiana (no AC, worst car ride ever) for a week in the woods with my favorite life changing people. Being a trainer was hard work, and I almost lost all my limbs to mosquitoes, but everything is worth it for sprog! Simulation day was the bomb as Gupta. After a beautiful week of floating down rivers, teaching the most important knowledge I hold, and sharing everything with amazing people, I went with the trainers to New Orleans. I hadn't been there since the hurricane, and it was still such a mess. So sad...I also learned when I was on Bourbon St that my favorite swim lessons family had been in a near-fatal car accident. Some miracle kept them all alive, though very injured.
Leaving for college was a dramatic experience. I think I spent so much of the summer freaking out that I wasn't even that homesick once it happened...Pirate training was a good time occupier to avoid angst. About two weeks in, though, the summer camp feeling wore off. I held up significantly better than expected, however. My roommate situation was less than optimal due to polar opposite lifestyles, but I learned to sleep through noise.
Going to college, I quit team swimming, a part of me for 12 years, and became a runner. Cross country was the definite focal point of my 1st semester. Only my 2nd season of xc, it went remarkably well. I held the #5 spot despite losing my training partner to an injury. I'm not sure what I would have done without xc as my sanity. The highlight of the season was a PR at conference by over a minute, on home turf. I didn't do as well at freezing cold regionals in VA, but the trip was still a really good experience.
A poorly timed 2 month relationship also occurred in there somewhere. Definitely a huge learning and growing experience.
First classes survived (comparative politics, intro to hinduism, intro to anthropology, fys, orchestra/violin, enviro history), as well as first exams. Grades were almost better than high school. That still surprises me, even though people said it would happen.
My trip to Power Shift in Maryland with SEAK on a whim was another one of those growing type experiences. I learned to have faith and to be resourceful, and saw how deep my friendship is. Plus I got to do this super stellar panel with the DC rep and was in the presence of the great Nancy Pelosi, along with 6000 incredibly inspiring activists.
December brought some changes and sad news. First, I got a new roommate and am very happy with that situation. You also learn who your friends are when moving your stuff in the rain to the 3rd floor of another building. As far as sad...after a year of searching for an answer, we learned that my sister has rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 16, and on Christmas Eve learned that her heart has syncope. She's on a lot of medicine now and is doing better, but it is still a precarious situation. Being home with my family for a month has been a huge blessing, though.
2007 was full of big changes and big discoveries. I started the year a kid and wound up somewhere in limbo between childhood and adulthood. Here's to a 2008 full of new experiences and tons of fun!
Friday, December 28, 2007
If ever I believed in God, I believed tonight.
Tonight was actually one of the best times I have ever had. I was supposed to have a night with girl friends, but it fizzled out...At the last minute, my dad told me he had 2 tickets to a concert, so I asked to leave work early, called up my very good friend Jack, and we went out to Verizon. We were the only people there under 30, but you know what? It was so much fun. I still have no idea who Joe Ely is, but he sure sings good songs. Watching drunken parents in leather jackets was a huge plus too.
We left the show a little early because we were so hungry and went to Katz's to eat at 11:00. I was pretty un-veggie tonight. Sometimes I get these huge meat cravings and just have to eat an entire meatball sub. It happens. When we were too full and tired of dancing in our booth while watching people eat, we drove back and sang Dixie Chicks on the top of our lungs. Jack spent the entire night talking about this new girl he likes, a state we like to call "twitterpation" (as in Bambi). We listened to sappy songs to honor the feeling.
What was so brilliant about the whole night, though, was the almost cliche perfection it captured. Last week Jack admitted that he liked me, though I didn't reciprocate. We managed to talk about it indirectly by marveling at how things really do happen for a reason. He has now found someone so great for him. And it looks like I have too! As soon as you just let go of forcing things, you find what it is you always wanted.
The even more wonderful thing was the overwhelming sense of being ok with the past that I felt on the drive home. I felt, at least in that moment, so over my first love. For the past year, I've struggled with the loss, but tonight I hit a big milestone. Jack and I even went to the theater where Scott and I saw our first concert, ate at his family's favorite restaurant and the site of our most meaningful photo booth pictures, drove down the major street that runs by his house, and heard a song that he used to play for me. All of this on his 21st birthday. But I was completely ok. No tears, no anger. I was purely happy for the memories and happy for him! We finally pulled up to my house with "God Blessed the Broken Road" blasting on the stereo.
Perfection.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Laws of the Universe
There are some laws of the universe. Some are pretty basic, like: what goes up must come down and your socks will get lost in the abyss of the dryer. Others I am just now learning.
For instance, you can work at a store from, say...12:00-7:00 and not see anyone between 12:30 and 6:50. Invariably a herd of people will crash through the door as you were getting up to lock it, requesting to see three different models of bike for each of their five children. Or they'll do my favorite, "I'd like a bike." Well, good first step. Good thing you're in a bike shop. Then you have to spend ten years attempting to figure out what they want the bike for, ("Oh, you know, riding..."), etc. Then they will ask you for every item you don't have readily available on the floor. By the time you finally rid yourself of them, you must run to lock the door and try not to feel bad that there's someone in the parking lot moseying toward the shop at 7:15.
Another rule is that you can ask your manager all day long for something to do, as you are just sitting there doing nothing, which means checking Facebook every twenty minutes, donating 8000 grains of rice from playing freerice for two hours, and organizing paper clips. Then, at the same time the herd of elephants appears, the manager will say, "Oh yes, I have a thing for you to do and it will suck." Except they don't warn you it will suck, they just tell you to make a list of the prices on 40 pairs of sunglasses. I'm not complaining, really. I have a very chill job. Sometimes I just wish the stampede would come at 3:00 so I'd stop eating pita chips. I'm slightly afraid my eyeballs will fall out from staring at this screen for so many hours.
For instance, you can work at a store from, say...12:00-7:00 and not see anyone between 12:30 and 6:50. Invariably a herd of people will crash through the door as you were getting up to lock it, requesting to see three different models of bike for each of their five children. Or they'll do my favorite, "I'd like a bike." Well, good first step. Good thing you're in a bike shop. Then you have to spend ten years attempting to figure out what they want the bike for, ("Oh, you know, riding..."), etc. Then they will ask you for every item you don't have readily available on the floor. By the time you finally rid yourself of them, you must run to lock the door and try not to feel bad that there's someone in the parking lot moseying toward the shop at 7:15.
Another rule is that you can ask your manager all day long for something to do, as you are just sitting there doing nothing, which means checking Facebook every twenty minutes, donating 8000 grains of rice from playing freerice for two hours, and organizing paper clips. Then, at the same time the herd of elephants appears, the manager will say, "Oh yes, I have a thing for you to do and it will suck." Except they don't warn you it will suck, they just tell you to make a list of the prices on 40 pairs of sunglasses. I'm not complaining, really. I have a very chill job. Sometimes I just wish the stampede would come at 3:00 so I'd stop eating pita chips. I'm slightly afraid my eyeballs will fall out from staring at this screen for so many hours.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas
I love when the "what you want is right under your nose" thing comes true. Don't want to get my hopes up, but there is a lot of potential for one of those under-nose situations right now.
There was something else I was supposed to write about but forgot...
Oh ha. Christmas. Lack of brain function due to getting sick on Christmas Eve! Fantastic timing is just one of my many attributes. We spent xmas eve at my grandparents' house, where we ate sandwiches (very seasonal, non?) and watched some scrumptiously corny Lifetime movie that I absolutely insisted on finishing in my feverish haze. Christmas morning was beautiful, crisp, and full of waffles. (And in my case, a stuffy nose.)
Sentimental maturity moment time! For the first time in my holiday history, I truly was much more excited to give than to receive. Seeing my mom's shocked delight at the long-desired naked goddess statue I traversed the state and took years to find for her was such an awesome moment. I put so much personal effort into the presents this year, partly due to lack of funds but mostly due to that magical thing that happens when you leave home and realize how much you love and miss everyone. My presents were great too, though...I'm pretty excited about my new Sirius radio for my drives to and from school!
Dinner was a comical mix of interests. Ham for my grandpa, brisket for my dad, and Tofurky for the vegetarians. Tofurky, you may wonder, is a potentially edible looking meat substitute loaf with stuffing in the middle. It tastes rather like a fake hot dog. Remarkably appetizing with pineapple glaze. I'll post pictures when available...Probably a food to stock your bomb shelter for nuclear holocaust. Later that night we went to see Juno, a movie I completely reccomend. Juno has that "realness" factor and a lot of humor. Cute, artsy, and offbeat.
Halleluah, I just noticed that my nose feels really clear!
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5:57 edit
I've been sitting behind this counter for 6 hours now...But it's pretty really cool when your boss says, "I'm really dreading when you go back to school."
There was something else I was supposed to write about but forgot...
Oh ha. Christmas. Lack of brain function due to getting sick on Christmas Eve! Fantastic timing is just one of my many attributes. We spent xmas eve at my grandparents' house, where we ate sandwiches (very seasonal, non?) and watched some scrumptiously corny Lifetime movie that I absolutely insisted on finishing in my feverish haze. Christmas morning was beautiful, crisp, and full of waffles. (And in my case, a stuffy nose.)
Sentimental maturity moment time! For the first time in my holiday history, I truly was much more excited to give than to receive. Seeing my mom's shocked delight at the long-desired naked goddess statue I traversed the state and took years to find for her was such an awesome moment. I put so much personal effort into the presents this year, partly due to lack of funds but mostly due to that magical thing that happens when you leave home and realize how much you love and miss everyone. My presents were great too, though...I'm pretty excited about my new Sirius radio for my drives to and from school!
Dinner was a comical mix of interests. Ham for my grandpa, brisket for my dad, and Tofurky for the vegetarians. Tofurky, you may wonder, is a potentially edible looking meat substitute loaf with stuffing in the middle. It tastes rather like a fake hot dog. Remarkably appetizing with pineapple glaze. I'll post pictures when available...Probably a food to stock your bomb shelter for nuclear holocaust. Later that night we went to see Juno, a movie I completely reccomend. Juno has that "realness" factor and a lot of humor. Cute, artsy, and offbeat.
Halleluah, I just noticed that my nose feels really clear!
-----
5:57 edit
I've been sitting behind this counter for 6 hours now...But it's pretty really cool when your boss says, "I'm really dreading when you go back to school."
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Conscientious conundrum
Time for my periodic reality check. From my conscience to my brain (with love): respect yourself.
I'm also feeling pulled, once again, between the twin forces of awareness and blissful ignorance. Working in retail now forces me to confront it everyday. Product after product comes in a little plastic package- type 4 and therefore not commonly recyclable even if receptacles are available, which they are not- that I have to take off, throw away, forget. Forgetting is the problem. Every little plastic package that I throw away is a personal dilemma and actually kind of physically hurts me. All of the items on shelves that, in all likelihood, will never be bought by anyone, are just a waste.
Now it bugs me when people sit around bemoaning the declining state of society. That's wrong and counterproductive. Every era can be argued as the time when people really lost their morals in some way, and every coming time period is the previous generation's foreseen nightmare. However, I find myself more and more exasperated by the current culmination of just plain ignorance. And by that I don't just mean people who don't realize what is going on, although that is a significant problem, but especially those people who do know who just are too lazy or scared to do anything about it.
I could probably write a manifesto on the subject, but I have to go stock shelves now.
I'm also feeling pulled, once again, between the twin forces of awareness and blissful ignorance. Working in retail now forces me to confront it everyday. Product after product comes in a little plastic package- type 4 and therefore not commonly recyclable even if receptacles are available, which they are not- that I have to take off, throw away, forget. Forgetting is the problem. Every little plastic package that I throw away is a personal dilemma and actually kind of physically hurts me. All of the items on shelves that, in all likelihood, will never be bought by anyone, are just a waste.
Now it bugs me when people sit around bemoaning the declining state of society. That's wrong and counterproductive. Every era can be argued as the time when people really lost their morals in some way, and every coming time period is the previous generation's foreseen nightmare. However, I find myself more and more exasperated by the current culmination of just plain ignorance. And by that I don't just mean people who don't realize what is going on, although that is a significant problem, but especially those people who do know who just are too lazy or scared to do anything about it.
I could probably write a manifesto on the subject, but I have to go stock shelves now.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Beware the overly-hyphenated blog entry
In retrospect, I didn't really do all that much today, but it feels like it was eventful. I actually went to spin class for the first time since this summer. Jorge, my greatest cheerleader, was there of course, and Joel with his overly earnest personal trainer attitude and decent arsenal of pump-up hip hop tunes and motown. There is a surprising amount of euphoria packed into the 45 minutes spent going nowhere with an overly joyful, endorphin-hyped (and invariably spandex-clad) personal trainer screaming, "CLAP YOUR HANDS! FEEL THE BURN! PUMP PUMP PUMP PUMP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Endorphins meet psychosis. Then I did a 15 min ab class, on a whim. Once again it consisted of 3 people and a really really bubbly instructor. In between instructions on how to wrench and contort our abdomens, she would giggle and gush about decorating for the holidays, crazy unintelligible movie references, and comments on her sister's small hands.
Work was more mind-numbing than before. Probably because NO ONE worked in the front with me. So basically I spent the day sorting more boxes and organizing all of the pants in the store. (I'm not even kidding...I took them all off the rack and arranged them by brand and size, the way I'd want to shop.) Several not so great customer experiences occurred too and a lot of me being an idiot. Apparently I'm not even good with primitive technology, keys for example. I'm usually so good under pressure...Good thing, though, that I now know the difference between a size 20 and 24 bike.
I don't want to go back to school. What I like best about home is that I can be a hermit in my room, which I can't do at school with all those people around and in my space. Antisocial much?
In the spirit of my list obsession and pensive mood, I present...
Things I Want To Be
1. Trendy but unique-- No thanks to Vogue and Elle and Seventeen for making me feel fashionably inferior. I want to be that girl with the cute, unusual look, but I'm broke and tired.
2. A writer -- Romantic life dream: live in a quaint, vintage cottage in a naturey surrounding with my perfect husband and beautiful children and write witty things while I sip chamomile and look out the window. Yeah, that thing writers who have actually achieved that always write in the endings of their books and magazine articles.
3. 5'10"-- so my mom will stop saying and magazines will stop making me think, "If only you were 10 inches taller, you could be a model..." I really need to stop scouring magazines for this project...I always scoff at the general "girls hate themselves because of unrealistic expectations from the media," but I am now a victim. Stupid stupid stupid.
4. Unforgettably quirky-- but in a good way
5. Loved-- I don't want cop-out rebuffs. Yes, I am loved by the people who count. But you know what I mean.
So in summary, I would like to be Christie Brinkley cut out of a Vogue ad, sitting at a typewriter with an adoring TDH (tall/dark/handsome) hunk. Thanks a lot stereotypical magazine-inspired unrealistic life view.
Too bad I'm supposed to go to law school and take down megacorps for harming the environment. Or something like that. And a certain aspect of my life consists of geometric configurations that end unfortunately lonely.
Wow, Debbie Downer. I'm not actually in a bad mood, I promise. I just can never decide what to do with myself.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add one glorious highlight of the day. I finally, after years of failure, achieved the poof! The most useless hair ever finally bent to my will.
Work was more mind-numbing than before. Probably because NO ONE worked in the front with me. So basically I spent the day sorting more boxes and organizing all of the pants in the store. (I'm not even kidding...I took them all off the rack and arranged them by brand and size, the way I'd want to shop.) Several not so great customer experiences occurred too and a lot of me being an idiot. Apparently I'm not even good with primitive technology, keys for example. I'm usually so good under pressure...Good thing, though, that I now know the difference between a size 20 and 24 bike.
I don't want to go back to school. What I like best about home is that I can be a hermit in my room, which I can't do at school with all those people around and in my space. Antisocial much?
In the spirit of my list obsession and pensive mood, I present...
Things I Want To Be
1. Trendy but unique-- No thanks to Vogue and Elle and Seventeen for making me feel fashionably inferior. I want to be that girl with the cute, unusual look, but I'm broke and tired.
2. A writer -- Romantic life dream: live in a quaint, vintage cottage in a naturey surrounding with my perfect husband and beautiful children and write witty things while I sip chamomile and look out the window. Yeah, that thing writers who have actually achieved that always write in the endings of their books and magazine articles.
3. 5'10"-- so my mom will stop saying and magazines will stop making me think, "If only you were 10 inches taller, you could be a model..." I really need to stop scouring magazines for this project...I always scoff at the general "girls hate themselves because of unrealistic expectations from the media," but I am now a victim. Stupid stupid stupid.
4. Unforgettably quirky-- but in a good way
5. Loved-- I don't want cop-out rebuffs. Yes, I am loved by the people who count. But you know what I mean.
So in summary, I would like to be Christie Brinkley cut out of a Vogue ad, sitting at a typewriter with an adoring TDH (tall/dark/handsome) hunk. Thanks a lot stereotypical magazine-inspired unrealistic life view.
Too bad I'm supposed to go to law school and take down megacorps for harming the environment. Or something like that. And a certain aspect of my life consists of geometric configurations that end unfortunately lonely.
Wow, Debbie Downer. I'm not actually in a bad mood, I promise. I just can never decide what to do with myself.
Oh yeah, I forgot to add one glorious highlight of the day. I finally, after years of failure, achieved the poof! The most useless hair ever finally bent to my will.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Still feel terrible. I actually got so down at one point that I started crying to the dramatic music in Hobby Lobby. There's nothing like a bottle of modge podge and some Muzak to bring out one's emotions...The universe does have a way, though, of reminding me that life can't be approached as intensely as I do all the time.
So there I was in Hobby Lobby, super bummed. Cue Universe. First, my grandpa called me and asked me to go to lunch with him. Then a lady told me to get in front of her in line since I had less items. Then the white van that I felt creepy parking next to turned out to be driven by two very nice ladies. (That last one just sounds dumb, but it was a reminder to me not to judge things.) Whenever things get really overwhelming, the universe always reminds me that it's there. Things happen for a reason. That's a foundation of my spirituality, and I need to remember that.
I also have a half naked statue in my trunk. See? Life is funny.
So there I was in Hobby Lobby, super bummed. Cue Universe. First, my grandpa called me and asked me to go to lunch with him. Then a lady told me to get in front of her in line since I had less items. Then the white van that I felt creepy parking next to turned out to be driven by two very nice ladies. (That last one just sounds dumb, but it was a reminder to me not to judge things.) Whenever things get really overwhelming, the universe always reminds me that it's there. Things happen for a reason. That's a foundation of my spirituality, and I need to remember that.
I also have a half naked statue in my trunk. See? Life is funny.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Ambiguity is kind of exciting, but mostly it just sucks.
In other news, today was my first day of work- and I am exhausted. First I learned to use the cash register and answered the phone 9 billion times. The rest of the day was primarily spent sorting through two giant boxes of merchandise, attempting to match a jumble of labels to the different items. I think I did a pretty darn good job too, so you're welcome to whoever gets to finish that task now that it's super organized. A certain coworker also made me go to Chipotle with them, which felt somewhat like something I shouldn't be doing, but it was ok. Chipotle is good. Back at the shop, this one little girl with face paint totally made my day. She rolled by on a little pink bike and said, "Hello! I'm a kitty! This bike is perfect, my daddy says, because it has training wheels," and talked to me for quite a while. I love kids. :)
Then I got to sit through a band concert at my old high school. Funny how the memories flood back and sometimes don't feel so good. But I somewhat actually missed the school? My principal was ridiculously excited to see me, and gave me such a big hug. My good friend's mom also attacked me with joy and told me I had to go to India with her. A typical day in the life of me...
Now I'm just icing my hip-ish area, which I think I might have strained. So much for my winter running program.
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12:21 am edit:
Thank you, Itunes, for soundtracking my misery. No matter how hard I try to make people happy, I always seem to find a way to hurt them in my earnesty. In fact, the harder I try not to hurt them, the more I usually do.
In other news, today was my first day of work- and I am exhausted. First I learned to use the cash register and answered the phone 9 billion times. The rest of the day was primarily spent sorting through two giant boxes of merchandise, attempting to match a jumble of labels to the different items. I think I did a pretty darn good job too, so you're welcome to whoever gets to finish that task now that it's super organized. A certain coworker also made me go to Chipotle with them, which felt somewhat like something I shouldn't be doing, but it was ok. Chipotle is good. Back at the shop, this one little girl with face paint totally made my day. She rolled by on a little pink bike and said, "Hello! I'm a kitty! This bike is perfect, my daddy says, because it has training wheels," and talked to me for quite a while. I love kids. :)
Then I got to sit through a band concert at my old high school. Funny how the memories flood back and sometimes don't feel so good. But I somewhat actually missed the school? My principal was ridiculously excited to see me, and gave me such a big hug. My good friend's mom also attacked me with joy and told me I had to go to India with her. A typical day in the life of me...
Now I'm just icing my hip-ish area, which I think I might have strained. So much for my winter running program.
---
12:21 am edit:
Thank you, Itunes, for soundtracking my misery. No matter how hard I try to make people happy, I always seem to find a way to hurt them in my earnesty. In fact, the harder I try not to hurt them, the more I usually do.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Playing catch-up
Winter break!!!!!!
The room switch was a great success overall. There was concern for a while though! I was sent a list of potential roommates a little over a week ago, but there were very few on there that I knew. So I did what any other college kid would do and facebook stalked them. My search was depressing at first. Highlight: someone listed Ann Coulter and George W. Bush as interests. Yes, interests. I'm sorry, but I can't live with Ann Coulter aka Spawn of Satan. There were several other "very conservatives" that were quickly ix-nayed. I'm open minded, but hypocrisy will abound when it comes to living with certain people.
Finally I found a few potential candidates and one in particular to whom I sent an awkward "hey I think I pick you let's meet" email. (The trick is smiely emoticons and exclamation marks to not allow your awkwardness to blaze through.) She fortunately responded very positively the next day. We had dinner and other than the first few embarrassing moments hit it off rather smashingly. Turns out she lives in Pearland, has a mom who used to stand in front of bulldozers, sleeps at night, likes English and music, and is very athletic. It felt sort of like a blind date, with us interviewing each other over crackly Commons spaghetti. At the end she burst out, "So do I pass your test? Do you want to live with me?"
What a change! Someone who wants me there, who wants me to live with them, who is flexible and not paranoid. She was totally fine with me moving in the next day on hardly any notice at all. And what's more....You really find out who your friends are when you have to move your stuff to the third floor of another building in the pouring rain at night. To those 5 people who offered to do that: you have my absolutely undying gratitude.
So I basically spent 2 days packing/unpacking/packing again to go home. My new room is so much cozier though. It's old, but it has character and a really good vibe. And I got sleep for the two glorious nights I was there! My roommate sleeps! Motion wakes her up, but she's ok with that. She even laughed with me when our curtains didn't fit and we just left them diagonally hanging in the window. Kindness and understanding and a sense of humor, what a concept!
One tiny downside...she's been bff with our suitemate (across the bathroom that has a DOOR!), so it's a little hard for me to break into that dynamic. I don't speak YouTube quite as fluently as they do. But I like them both. Things will be ok!
Had two exams last week...Comp Politics was a biiiiitch to study for all day and was a very thorough test, but I felt very good about it. Anthopology was super easy as expected, and I'm glad I didn't put too much effort into studying. After my tests, I just had a day and a half to organize my room and hang out, since it was storming in Houston. Leah and I wandered around, drinking tea, helping people burn old work, not wearing bras, and other general mischief.
And then I drove home! It was a semi-frazzling affair with my bike flapping in the breeze. I made it home on 6 crackers and a bottle of Gatorade, but make it I did. Didn't get lost a single time, not one. My time at home has generally been spent working out (my grandpa kicks my butt at racquetball and weight lifting), bothering Sugar Cycles people, and running errands. Oh yeah, I have a good suggestion. If you ever need a massage, go to the Relax the Back store and pretend you are interested in buying things while you try out the massage chair for a full 14 minutes. Then tell them you'd like to try something for your scoliosis, and they will invert you!
Golly gosh, this is getting long. I'm behind. And procrastinating! Saturday night I went to see my sister in the court of a quincenera, which was cool for approximately 20 minutes in the middle where we ate and the kids danced. My parents, being white and eager, showed up far too early, so we had to sit there in the bright fluorescent lights of the community center watching them practice for about an hour. I also was one of the only people between 16 and 40 in attendance. But I will say that I looked pretty darn good in my black dress. Good thing all of the boys there were 15 and wouldn't dance with me anyway. The Spanish hokey pokey was my cue to leave. I ended up just going home and sitting there, though, watching tv with my dogs. Wahoo for me and Saturday night.
The last few days have apparently been official compliment Ursula days, though, which is cool. Some lady I don't really know and who was probably a bit tipsy told me last night that she hopes her future hypothetical children are me-- look like me, act like me, do what I do. Today a mechanic told me that I have beautiful eyes. (Which adds on to the getting hit on by the high school aged HEB cashier yesterday over a container of Cool Whip.) So that's pretty cool.
I've gotten most of my grades back, and all is well except for orchestra! ORCHESTRA. I'm not even kidding. That bitch ruined my 4.0. What do I have to do???? I did more than necessary, and she still kicked me in the face. I even made a straight A in Comp Poli! I'm more inspired than ever to quit.
In other news, the fluorescent yellow storage closet from hell (aka my room) is coming along thanks to my grandma. It still looks like a monster vomited my belongings everywhere, but there is marked improvement. I should probably get back to that...At least I have a wonderful view from the 7 foot wide window! (Well, a view of the neighbors' pool and some rooftops, but it's practically Parisian and the sunset is nice.)
The room switch was a great success overall. There was concern for a while though! I was sent a list of potential roommates a little over a week ago, but there were very few on there that I knew. So I did what any other college kid would do and facebook stalked them. My search was depressing at first. Highlight: someone listed Ann Coulter and George W. Bush as interests. Yes, interests. I'm sorry, but I can't live with Ann Coulter aka Spawn of Satan. There were several other "very conservatives" that were quickly ix-nayed. I'm open minded, but hypocrisy will abound when it comes to living with certain people.
Finally I found a few potential candidates and one in particular to whom I sent an awkward "hey I think I pick you let's meet" email. (The trick is smiely emoticons and exclamation marks to not allow your awkwardness to blaze through.) She fortunately responded very positively the next day. We had dinner and other than the first few embarrassing moments hit it off rather smashingly. Turns out she lives in Pearland, has a mom who used to stand in front of bulldozers, sleeps at night, likes English and music, and is very athletic. It felt sort of like a blind date, with us interviewing each other over crackly Commons spaghetti. At the end she burst out, "So do I pass your test? Do you want to live with me?"
What a change! Someone who wants me there, who wants me to live with them, who is flexible and not paranoid. She was totally fine with me moving in the next day on hardly any notice at all. And what's more....You really find out who your friends are when you have to move your stuff to the third floor of another building in the pouring rain at night. To those 5 people who offered to do that: you have my absolutely undying gratitude.
So I basically spent 2 days packing/unpacking/packing again to go home. My new room is so much cozier though. It's old, but it has character and a really good vibe. And I got sleep for the two glorious nights I was there! My roommate sleeps! Motion wakes her up, but she's ok with that. She even laughed with me when our curtains didn't fit and we just left them diagonally hanging in the window. Kindness and understanding and a sense of humor, what a concept!
One tiny downside...she's been bff with our suitemate (across the bathroom that has a DOOR!), so it's a little hard for me to break into that dynamic. I don't speak YouTube quite as fluently as they do. But I like them both. Things will be ok!
Had two exams last week...Comp Politics was a biiiiitch to study for all day and was a very thorough test, but I felt very good about it. Anthopology was super easy as expected, and I'm glad I didn't put too much effort into studying. After my tests, I just had a day and a half to organize my room and hang out, since it was storming in Houston. Leah and I wandered around, drinking tea, helping people burn old work, not wearing bras, and other general mischief.
And then I drove home! It was a semi-frazzling affair with my bike flapping in the breeze. I made it home on 6 crackers and a bottle of Gatorade, but make it I did. Didn't get lost a single time, not one. My time at home has generally been spent working out (my grandpa kicks my butt at racquetball and weight lifting), bothering Sugar Cycles people, and running errands. Oh yeah, I have a good suggestion. If you ever need a massage, go to the Relax the Back store and pretend you are interested in buying things while you try out the massage chair for a full 14 minutes. Then tell them you'd like to try something for your scoliosis, and they will invert you!
Golly gosh, this is getting long. I'm behind. And procrastinating! Saturday night I went to see my sister in the court of a quincenera, which was cool for approximately 20 minutes in the middle where we ate and the kids danced. My parents, being white and eager, showed up far too early, so we had to sit there in the bright fluorescent lights of the community center watching them practice for about an hour. I also was one of the only people between 16 and 40 in attendance. But I will say that I looked pretty darn good in my black dress. Good thing all of the boys there were 15 and wouldn't dance with me anyway. The Spanish hokey pokey was my cue to leave. I ended up just going home and sitting there, though, watching tv with my dogs. Wahoo for me and Saturday night.
The last few days have apparently been official compliment Ursula days, though, which is cool. Some lady I don't really know and who was probably a bit tipsy told me last night that she hopes her future hypothetical children are me-- look like me, act like me, do what I do. Today a mechanic told me that I have beautiful eyes. (Which adds on to the getting hit on by the high school aged HEB cashier yesterday over a container of Cool Whip.) So that's pretty cool.
I've gotten most of my grades back, and all is well except for orchestra! ORCHESTRA. I'm not even kidding. That bitch ruined my 4.0. What do I have to do???? I did more than necessary, and she still kicked me in the face. I even made a straight A in Comp Poli! I'm more inspired than ever to quit.
In other news, the fluorescent yellow storage closet from hell (aka my room) is coming along thanks to my grandma. It still looks like a monster vomited my belongings everywhere, but there is marked improvement. I should probably get back to that...At least I have a wonderful view from the 7 foot wide window! (Well, a view of the neighbors' pool and some rooftops, but it's practically Parisian and the sunset is nice.)
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! My friend forgot to wake up (as usual) and her phone is off (surprise), AND THEN my bike tire went completely flat and I can't fix it. So I gave up and went back to the one thing I always know how to do and no one can fail me at...homework.
------
This morning sucks, but last night was an awesome night of discovering Austin. Trail of Lights run was neat, with over 7000 people there! Then I went to Mozart's dessert place, home of exorbitantly priced desserts, for the Tri Delt recruitment event. The best part though was making a getaway in a car with the ADPi's! We ate at Magnolia Cafe, yet another Austin favorite. Thank God for finally getting some decent veggie food. Last stop was Book People to giggle over a certain set of books until they politely kicked us out for closing time. I absolutely adore those 3 girls I went with. It's so nice to finally be really excited over girl friends.
And I think I might have found a new roommate!
------
This morning sucks, but last night was an awesome night of discovering Austin. Trail of Lights run was neat, with over 7000 people there! Then I went to Mozart's dessert place, home of exorbitantly priced desserts, for the Tri Delt recruitment event. The best part though was making a getaway in a car with the ADPi's! We ate at Magnolia Cafe, yet another Austin favorite. Thank God for finally getting some decent veggie food. Last stop was Book People to giggle over a certain set of books until they politely kicked us out for closing time. I absolutely adore those 3 girls I went with. It's so nice to finally be really excited over girl friends.
And I think I might have found a new roommate!
Friday, December 7, 2007
For the 50 quardillionth time...HOW DO PEOPLE SPELL MY NAME WRONG AFTER I'VE SIGNED IT IN AN EMAIL, SPELLED CORRECTLY, AND THE ONLY TIME THEY'VE SEEN MY NAME IS ON EMAIL....SPELLED CORRECTLY!!!! ????????? The only answer is that people don't pay attention at freaking all.
In other news, I just stabbed my hand with a fork while trying to eat cheesecake. I think this scenario also notes the kind of mood I'm in.
In other news, I just stabbed my hand with a fork while trying to eat cheesecake. I think this scenario also notes the kind of mood I'm in.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Hillizle and Billizle
I had forgotten how weird my thoughts can be when I swim (and at other times too) until today. After a lovely morning of paper editing in bed, I plunged into the icky coldness of the nat pool and just sort of swam without much of a plan. And then...
Hillary Clinton in a do-rag appeared in my head. She was sitting on a stoop, hunched over, rapping about being "misundahstood." Then Bill, with a demonic smile, popped up every few lines in rhythm. This scenario probably says many things about me.
1. I could potentially be crazy.
2. My imagination is extremely wild.
3. I need to make youtube videos.
4. I am a politics nerd. And I love election time way too much.
I also thought somewhat more mundane thoughts. Like how I want to start an SUUU club!!!!! Because I just keep meeting other Unitarians, and that is very exciting! Also how I won't ever have time ever again if I do all of the things I want to do.
Things to blog about:
- Mind manipulation and horseradish
Last Friday I went to our weekly performance on campus, which this time was a "freak-out artist." Basically he did some mind reading, inanimate object animation, and thought manipulation. It was a little bit really alarming. At first I wasn't very convinced, but after he stated random people's childhood addresses, boyfriend's names, locker combinations while blindfolded. These people were not in on it at all either. And I know that because I was one of them. It was kind of hard to explain but basically he somehow got me to say horseradish, a word he had written down yesterday, simply by telling me to think of a condiment. It sounds dumb, but I think he messed with my mind. I can't explain it. Sorry that is a bad story.
- Musical dilemmas
So latest dilemma...Orchestra hurts my back, makes it so I can't nanny part time next semester, and is not as great as I wish it was. The problem? I'm on scholarship. What I want is to switch to voice lessons, but I'd be losing the scholarship. And there's a small chance I might not feel so great about quitting what I've done since I was 6 years old. (But you can't do the same thing forever just because it's what you've always done, right?) My dad is staunchly against it, my mom just wants me to be happy, I'm the slowest decision maker ever...If I do it next semester, it might be rash, but my back will not stop hurting over that semester. And maybe I can make enough money babysitting to make up for the scholarship? I could wait until sophomore year, when I will be even more busy than now, but I just don't know if I want to wait that long...Ugh. Another uninteresting story.
- Sororities
- Anti-stress
- Names
81713728599
Hillary Clinton in a do-rag appeared in my head. She was sitting on a stoop, hunched over, rapping about being "misundahstood." Then Bill, with a demonic smile, popped up every few lines in rhythm. This scenario probably says many things about me.
1. I could potentially be crazy.
2. My imagination is extremely wild.
3. I need to make youtube videos.
4. I am a politics nerd. And I love election time way too much.
I also thought somewhat more mundane thoughts. Like how I want to start an SUUU club!!!!! Because I just keep meeting other Unitarians, and that is very exciting! Also how I won't ever have time ever again if I do all of the things I want to do.
Things to blog about:
- Mind manipulation and horseradish
Last Friday I went to our weekly performance on campus, which this time was a "freak-out artist." Basically he did some mind reading, inanimate object animation, and thought manipulation. It was a little bit really alarming. At first I wasn't very convinced, but after he stated random people's childhood addresses, boyfriend's names, locker combinations while blindfolded. These people were not in on it at all either. And I know that because I was one of them. It was kind of hard to explain but basically he somehow got me to say horseradish, a word he had written down yesterday, simply by telling me to think of a condiment. It sounds dumb, but I think he messed with my mind. I can't explain it. Sorry that is a bad story.
- Musical dilemmas
So latest dilemma...Orchestra hurts my back, makes it so I can't nanny part time next semester, and is not as great as I wish it was. The problem? I'm on scholarship. What I want is to switch to voice lessons, but I'd be losing the scholarship. And there's a small chance I might not feel so great about quitting what I've done since I was 6 years old. (But you can't do the same thing forever just because it's what you've always done, right?) My dad is staunchly against it, my mom just wants me to be happy, I'm the slowest decision maker ever...If I do it next semester, it might be rash, but my back will not stop hurting over that semester. And maybe I can make enough money babysitting to make up for the scholarship? I could wait until sophomore year, when I will be even more busy than now, but I just don't know if I want to wait that long...Ugh. Another uninteresting story.
- Sororities
- Anti-stress
- Names
81713728599
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