Monday, August 23, 2004

New home!

Yesterday I moved! I was lucky to get help from a schoolmate, so it went quickly and painlessly. I set up my stuff as much as I could, like the computer and bed. Figuring out how to store clothes will be difficult, because the closet is teeny and I have no car to transport a shelf unit if I buy one. Hmm. And I won't have internet until next week sometime, because I refuse to spend $60 for a wireless adaptor to use for eight days. That means I have to come to the library or to QC for computers. Both are quite easy to get to from this new place.

It feels strange and surreal to live in a new place. It's exciting, though, to know that I can settle a bit, put down roots, get used to things. Also a little unsettling, because I'm not used to all that. I hate moving. I really hope it all works out, because I love to be at this place at least a year.

On Friday night, I wasn't sleepy even at 1.00am, so I got up and watched tv. I found a Frontier House marathon on PBS, and watched that until 6.30. It was fascinating! Look it up and have a look if you haven't already. Could you have made it as a homesteader in the 1880s? At the end of the 'project,' the kids and grownups who returned to their modern lives all talked about having too much space, being lonely even in their occupied house, and how there are so many shiny and distracting things, that it's quite boring and silly. I totally related to that, even though I do have some of those shiny things (but hardly any), and I found myself wishing that the rest of the reasonably-well-off Americans could get a taste of that idea. It's truly depressing to think about how many people are becoming obsessed with money, new toys and technology, but know nothing about how the earth works, or have weakened family/social relationships. It spells disaster for this country, albeit in very small letters. Because more and more, it's money that runs this nation, not individuals fighting for rights for themselves and others.

Oops, done politicking now. Sorry about that.

Saturday was fun. I saw Garden State for the second time, which I definitely recommend to everyone to see. It's a moving yet melancholy coming of age in your 20s drama. Later in the evening I met up with some AmeriCorps friends and bar-hopped into the morning. There was even some dancing, and not to that rap stuff either, it was oldies. Hurrah for oldies! I haven't been out on the town in New York all summer, so it was strange. I disliked the crowds and the smoke (yes, we went to several places that inexplicably allowed smoking. Blech.), I felt uncomfortable sometimes. I never know what to do in a bar. I don't drink that much, I don't even drink beer, I suck at pool, what am I supposed to do? That's why I always liked going to Dante's in Seattle, there is foosball and air hockey and more.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

welcome to dullsville, population me

Howdy. This has been a seriously lame week for lame old me.

My mom was visiting all last week, and there were all kinds of adventures. There are great pictures that hopefully I will be able to post next week. I should be able to post them because I am moving! And I will finally have internet access. Right now I have to go because I'm at the library. Bye.

Thursday, August 05, 2004

No really, it's over!

Today was the last day of real Fellows stuff. The last day to wake up early, to see the kids, and to see my Fellowmates. Well, except that tomorrow is a final day at the Intrepid museum. They're making sure we all show up because that's when they're handing out our second stipend checks. Woo! Let's see how fast Julie spends it.

Yesterday was our field day. We actually had to do FA 'workshops' but we were all in a park under tree shade, so it was kind of informal. Then we played games, FA group against FA group. First my group played some dodgeball. We won, even though the other group were rather sore losers. Next we played some kickball. That was fun, even though the other group was kinda wishy-washy about everyone adhering to the same rules. We won that too, by one run. I actually made a catch! Excellent job, me. Our last fun activity was touch football. We totally lost that one, and the other team was normal and nice. All in all it was a fun time. Man, was I worn out though. By 9pm I was having trouble keeping my eyes open, so I went to bed at 9.45.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SLEEP IN TOMORROW, AND THE DAYS AFTER THAT. I CANNOT WAIT. I AM ALWAYS TIRED.

Wow, it's all over. That's weird. I hope I don't get bored the rest of the month. And I still don't know where or when I will be moving. Ha.

Monday, August 02, 2004

Last Monday

I mean, it's the last Monday of working, not something about a week ago Monday. Yeah.

On Friday afternoon, TPTB emailed the unofficial scores from the June 26 administration of the LAST and CST tests. Both are scored out of 300 and you need 220 to pass. I scored 293(!) on the LAST and 276 on the CST. Woohoo! I am so smart. Phew.

This weekend was nice, not too eventful. I read a lot, and slept a lot, saw a couple friends, and had a couple drinky- drinks. I finally cleaned the yucky bathroom--what an improvement. I even forgot about my homework until about 7pm on Sunday. Heh. Stupid homework. Actually, it ended up being kind of fun, if overwhelming. We had to come up with a classroom culture and overall blueprint. I decided, in a flash of true brilliance, to name my classroom Paris. Because obviously, I love Paris and everything Parisian. But here's the brilliant catch: PARIS will stand for Positive Action Results In Success, which will be the class motto. Is that not awesome? I'm quite excited about it. I'll have maps and pictures and street signs (how I wish I was at home to get all my cool relevant souvenirs!), and I will name places like the art center the Louvre, the listening center the Opera Bastille, the reading corner the Cafe. Ooh, fun.

Today I finally emailed some responses to craig's list postings for apartments. Will look for now at sharing with a random person. I've got a bit less than three weeks to find a place. Rrr. I hate moving!! Though this one should be fairly painless, since I have so little stuff with me. Just my suitcases, two boxes of clothes, and my computer. I don't believe I've acquired much of anything beyond that, just a few books and the sheet set. Hurrah for me for not being too broke to be materialistic.