Book Club! (plus some other stuff)

Yesterday I bought my book for book club, yay! Devil in the White City promises to be a great book, and I am looking forward to reading it. :-) As of now we only have two people in the book club, Mo and I, but I still think it will be good. I am also trying to think of the next book, but maybe its too soon to do that, seeing as I haven't even started this one, haha.

Weather wise, I am basking in 70 degree weather, and wishing I was in DC, where there is a blizzard! I think it would be so fun, and I hope that I get to experience something like this again in January. I have been told this is going to be a crazy winter, so its a definite possibility. All things considered, its probably good I left on Monday to come west instead of Friday like I originally planned, as it has saved me from potentially being stuck in an airport.

On another note, I finally got my iphone! I love it and have been playing with it nonstop since I got it last night. Thanks Nana!

Finally, I chopped off all of my hair again to donate to Locks of Love. I think it is a good thing to do, plus my hair will be much easier to take care of now :-) And bonus, it still covers my neck. For some reason, its reminding me of Carrie Bradshaw's short curly do in Sex and the City, no clue on which season that was. Anyway, I like it, and since I won't be getting my hair cut again for months, I think it was a good idea all around.

RIP Jake

November 18, 1996-December 13 2009

There Is A Mouse In My House

There had been rumors that there have been mice in my house before this evening, but I had yet to see one with my own eyes. My roommate Meghan swears she saw one months ago, but this was never confirmed. Another time something in the pantry was obviously chewed on by what could only be rodent teeth. Yet another time there was a dead mouse on the basement steps.

Still, having mice in the house was abstract to me because I never saw one and it wasn't eating my food.

Sadly, this ended today.

As I was minding my own business, with pasta on the stove and the oven warming for the garlic bread I was preparing, a little brown thing with legs went scurrying across the floor from the door to underneath the stove.

I'm not proud of it, but I actually squealed, and said "Oh my god" over and over and over again.

Unfortunately, I still had to finish cooking my dinner, and then clean up after myself once I was done. While I was completing both tasks, I am ashamed to say I jumped at shadows repeatedly and imagined little critters all over the place.

Ick.

If there was ever a reason to move out of an old house and into a new condo, this is it. I just hope this whole thing goes through sooner rather than later.

::shudder::

I Fought Public Transportation...

...and Public Transportation won.

I blog way too much about my troubles with the bus system here, but I'm hoping that one day I will look back and find it all amusing.

Today (my second to last day at State-for now) I finished up around 510, which is when I usually leave for my 520 bus. So I decided I would take the next one, which gets to the stop normally no later than 540. So I bundled up and I got to the stop around 525, and waited in the frigid weather.

And waited.

See, this is another one of those times where the bus never comes. By 550, I was so frozen I couldn't feel my fingers and my ears were burning. So I said eff this and walked the 10 minutes to the metro, furtively looking behind the whole way in case the bus did decide to show up so I could hop on at a later stop.

No such luck.

So I get to the metro at about 6, wait a couple of minutes, then pile into my train. About 2 minutes into this train ride, my fingers started burning, as if I was holding them over an open flame, as the blood finally started surging through my arteries again. This lasted a good 3-4 minutes, from which point, they felt fairly normal again. Then my stop was up, where I change trains, and lucky me, I just missed one, so now I have to wait 8 minutes for the next one.

No biggie.

Except this is the most highly trafficked line of the metro. Which means that by the time the train comes 8 minutes later, the platform is packed with people. When the doors open I have a vision of I think Japan, where they are forcibly shoving people into the metro system. I don't think it was quite that bad, but you get the picture.

Finally, I got home around 640, where I checked the weather immediately, because I thought it was freaking freezing. Turns out, I was right. Its 36 out, but only feels like 24 because of the stupid wind. No wonder my fingers almost fell off.

What Was I Thinking?

It is this time of year I want to smack myself for taking on so much. Not only am I working 8-5 every day of the week, but I'm also working on the weekend. Oh, and did I mention? I still have 1.5 papers to write! The good news is there is a light at the end of the tunnel: on Monday I will turn in these papers, hop on a plane, land in sunny (I hope) San Diego, and head to Hanukkah dinner with the fam. While there I can relax, hang out with friends, and oh yeah, study, because I have two big tests coming up...the thing that must not be named in January and the Comprehensive exam in February. No pressure or anything. Right. Seriously though, it will be nice to spend time at home, and I get the feeling this will be my last long trip home. So even though I think I will be beyond ready to come back at the end of the trip, I think it will be worth it in the long run.

In any case, its 1120pm, I have work at 815 tomorrow morning, a book to read for my paper I am half done with, and an entire paper to outline for the other class, so I think its time I get to bed. Wish me luck!

P.S. My Dad might have bought a condo out here that I will get to live in...no more old house with maybe mice and people who don't take out the trash! ::fingers crossed:: it all works out!

Should Have Worn Rainboots

If I had, maybe I wouldn't have fallen flat on my butt when getting on the bus today after work. Damn those shoes with no traction when they are wet! Although, it could have been worse. I mean, at least I was the only one on the bus when it happened... not including the bus driver of course. And all I did was skin my knee, hurt my foot, and bruise my butt. Sigh, yet another episode of the graceful one.

Way to be Michelle, way to be.

P.S. How did it get to be December!?!?!

P.P.S. How the hell am I going to write three papers between now and the 14th?

Sunday Funday?

Not quite.

Yesterday was kind of miserable actually. Here is an outline of my day...

730 am-wake up

8 am-leave the house

8-835 am-make my way to work by bus and metro

840 am-clock in at work

140 pm-hour lunch break

440 pm-clock out of work

440-515 pm-shop a wee bit

515 pm-I have to go upstairs to the stock room to get the item I want because no one can seem to get it for me

530 pm-leave Gap and go to CVS to get candy for the meeting

615 pm-come back to Gap

715 pm-store meeting starts

715-8 pm- folding down the store

8-1015 pm-store meeting

1020-1040 pm- wait for bus

1040-1115 pm-make my way home

1120-1145 pm talk to mom

1145-140 pm get ready for bed and read, trying to get sleepy

sigh, what a day.

A Step In the Journey

I applied for something earlier this month that has multiple rounds. I'm not going to get into it too much because I don't want to jinx it, but I found out today I made it past the first round. Next I have to take a test in January/February. This is where the 3000 or so of us get cut down to a bit less than 800. ::Gulp:: I am super excited and nervous at the same time. Wish me luck.

6 word memoir?

As I was sitting here just going about my business tonight, 2 of these popped into my head:

I need to let love in.

Romantic heart, cynical brain, open mind

I am not sure which is more appropriate, or if either of them are, but there it is. In any case, now I have 2 six word memoirs. Thanks Mo :-)

I'm Judging You

When you get on the bus at the metro stop instead of walking the five blocks from the metro to work, I'm judging you. Especially because a lot of you could really use the exercise. And really, five blocks? It's not like that's a marathon or something. So please, next time just take the extra 5-10 minutes and walk instead of all piling on the bus for a three minute (if that) bus ride. Maybe then I will stop judging you.

Those 4 (or 5) Little Words

I was watching How I met Your Mother on Tuesday, and laughing as always. It was about Barney taking lessons from Ted on how to date Robin. Its complicated to explain, but the main point is that Ted pointed out that Robin has been waiting her whole life to hear her dad say "I'm proud of you, eh," (she is Canadian, hence the "eh" and 5 word phrase). I was more laughing at Robin's reaction then paying attention to that particular line in the show. Later that night though, as I was having dinner with Dad and Meaghan, Dad said to me, "I don't think we tell you often enough, but I'm proud of you." Those four words mean so much. After all, one of my biggest fears is disappointing the people who I love and care about, so it is nice to know, especially since I value Dad's opinion most of all. I guess my main thought is that we all need to hear those words every now and then from people we care about because they really make you feel good. 

Relationships

I have been thinking about relationships lately. I bitch and moan inside my head (and sometimes to others) about how I wish I had that special somebody to just be with. I'm envious of people who have met the person they know they want to spend their lives with already, and I feel like a lot of people I know from high school/college have gotten married or are getting married this year. In other words, it feels like I am being repeatedly slapped in the face with "I'm in a relationship and you aren't." Then one day I sat down and started thinking, and I realized something. Even if I had met that someone, I would have no time to dedicate to them. I mean, I work 815-5 every day, I have class 810-1040 two nights a week, I work in retail on the weekends to help pay the bills from 1230-930 on Saturdays and 9-6 on Sundays, and in my free time I am usually reading or writing for school, or absolutely exhausted and unable to motivate myself to leave the house. Basically, I have no time for a relationship. Its difficult enough to carve out time to see friends, which I manage to do on random Wednesday's or Friday's for dinner/drinks. A relationship takes time and effort, which I honestly don't have to give right now. So no matter how much I want one, at the same time, I don't. Sigh, what a sad realization. I doubt it will stop my bitching and moaning when I just want to get away from it all or another wedding/engagement pops up though. Oh life, why must you torture me so.

Television

I don't get much time to watch tv these days, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Still, when I do get time, I want to be able to watch my show without interruptions. Sadly, I have come to the realization that watching tv with one of my roommates is not going to be something I enjoy. He talks through everything and has a very decisive opinion on absolutely everything that he feels he has to share. When I have time to watch, thats all I want to do. I do not want to be distracted by the peanut gallery. So instead of enjoying my show (Top Chef at the moment), I am ignoring my roommate, feeling rude, and still missing part of the show. Sigh. Anyway, thats my rant for now.

Just a reminder...

I actually want to write this whole story out, but it is late and I have work tomorrow, so this little entry is just a reminder to write about the car chase-almost shoot out (ok, not really, but it felt like it)-foot chase-car chase-siren screaming-adrenaline pumping incident this morning that occurred as I was awaiting the arrival of my bus.

Procrastination

Well, school has begun again, and with it comes the mastering of the art of procrastination. I have a 1000 word paper due tomorrow night, and I just do not want to write it. We have to compare two of the readings assigned (there have been 11 so far), including summary and analysis. While I have enjoyed most of the reading, I have no idea what I want to write on. Hence, the procrastination. Instead of brainstorming and coming up with an outline, I have managed to play online, shower, eat lunch, follow baseball games on Gameday, and keep on top of the US Open (tennis). While this is all well and good, it does nothing to help with my paper. I also have a ton of reading to do for my class on Thursday, which I haven't even started. On top of that, Orientation for my internship is tomorrow, meaning my days are going to be busy, with no time for reading. This means I need to read and write today/tonight. Arg. One would think that all of that would be motivation enough. Sadly, its not. Sigh. Deep breaths, and time to review my readings to come up with an idea for a paper topic.

On the other hand, I also need to check the Angels score...

One Week Down...

...15 to go.

So school has started, and overall I am pretty happy with my classes. They are finally what I have been looking to take since I began grad school. What are they, one might ask? Intelligence in Foreign Policy, and Homeland Security. Related but not at the same time. Fascinating, I think. I have already done a bunch of reading, and so far I am loving it. One of my professors has already assigned 3 articles that he wrote, and while he may be a fabulous historian, he is not the best writer in the world. Still, the topic is interesting and I am enjoying my reading, showing what a nerd I am. I do not have any exams this semester, which is nice. I do have papers though. A lot of papers. As in, 9 of them. For two classes. And I am still unclear as to what I have to do for my internship in order to get credit. I'm not going to worry about that for now though.

My internship is supposed to be starting next week (fingers crossed), so that is also exciting. I am hoping everything falls into place easily. Murphy's law, it wont happen, but hey, I can dream.

I decided not to do a blog post on my time home mainly bc it is/was super boring. In sum, it was doctors appointments, hanging out with family, barely seeing friends, and a whole lot of nothing. Not to say that that wasn't welcome or needed. It just wasn't anything exciting.

While home, I did get to play wii, as Dano's mom got one for her birthday. I finally understand the draw, and when I have money and my own place, I am totally getting one. We played golf, tennis, baseball, and bowling. Such fun. My arm was way sore after though, haha. I think wii fit could be fun, but I never got to play that.

The best bonus of being home was that I got to see Dano a bunch of times. So yay for wii, and yay for seeing Dano. We have reached our ten year friendversary, and I can't wait for another 10 years of friendship. Though I also can't believe we have known each other that long. Thinking about how we met is such fun. First day of freshman year of high school. Thank you Weili, Trisha, and Jackie for being placed at our table, because without you, we never would have turned to each other for normalcy and friendship, haha.

The 7-11 on the corner is officially gone, and my heart is a bit broken. My body is saying thank you though, because really, who needs as many slurpees as I manage to drink, haha.

Im trying to plan a get together for some Villa people next week. It was supposed to be this week, but I am a sucker and agreed to work in the evening on Wednesday, so that won't work. Hopefully we can do it though. I miss enough of the people that I am willing to suffer through being with others, haha. I also have to give out the rest of our shirts. They say "I <3 Balze" in the "I <3 NY" style on the front. The Villa was Villa le Balze, pronounced the Italian way, not like "balls." We know it looks like "balls" though, which is why we made that our shirt. It is absolutely worth the money, though I doubt I will ever be caught dead out of the house in the shirt, haha.

Since I turned 24 this past month, I have decided I need to make a list of short term goals of things i want to accomplish before I turn 25. Then I want to put it away somewhere and look back in a year and see if I have accomplished any of them. I think it will be a god exercise and we shall see how it goes. Some of my goals include keeping in touch better with friends, and going after all opportunities I can. I'm not writing those opportunities here as I don't want to jinx them, but I am going to go for things I never thought I would. Even if I don't get into these jobs/programs, at least I will have the experience of trying.

In any case, this is a long and rambling entry catching myself up on life in the past couple of weeks. And I suppose that is all there really is to say.

Another Visit Ends

Once again, no luck on the plane. In addition to not sitting next to a hot/cute/interesting guy, my plane was full of screaming children. Sigh. It is just so not fair. After all of these boring and/or obnoxious flights, one might think I'm due for some kind of happiness as I cross the country. Alas, it is apparently not to be. Sad to me.

More on the visit home when I feel like it...maybe.

No Such Luck

I forgot to mention...no such luck sitting next to a cute guy or entertaining passenger on the flight home. Instead I was stuck next to a petulant German boy who was maybe 8? He got up with the seat belt sign still on, was obnoxious, wanted my snack that I paid for after he finished his own, and was an all around rude little brat. The best was when he decided to go to sleep, though it meant that I was boxed in as he was all spread out, and that he was taking up some of the meager space I had available in my seat. Sigh. I will be keeping my fingers crossed for my flight back to DC for something a bit better, lol.

A Birthday Stop On The Journey

So as birthday's go, this was a fairly good one. I spent most of the day on the train, going from Dad's house to Oceanside, then back up to Anaheim for the baseball game, and then back to Oceanside post game. It was all worth it though. I got to spend a good amount of time with Dad, I got to hang out with Amanda, and I got to go to a baseball game, where we kicked ass (6-0 final score, with my guy driving in 3). So a fun evening all around.

I also enjoyed reading the facebook shout outs. Once again, some conspicuous absences, but I have decided that it doesn't matter, and that those who did wish me a happy day or talked to me are the important people anyway. I guess when technology makes it so much easier for people to connect you expect more. But if you lower your expectations, then you can only be happily surprised, which is what I experienced this year, so yay.

All in all, a good day, though now I am only one year away from being a quarter of a century old...how did that happen? And what have I really done with my life? Anyway, another year down, and another one in progress. Such is life.

On The Road Again

So off I go again, this time to home sweet home. I have mixed emotions, which is no surprise, as I tend to always have mixed emotions about going home. I feel bad because my mom is so excited, as I haven't seen her since December, and while I am excited as well, I could cheerfully go longer without being home. As the title of my other blog states, I have restless feet. I like to travel and I am pretty much always happy wherever I end up. This could be due to tremendous good luck in always landing in pretty awesome places, but I tend to believe I just adapt well. Sadly for mom, this means less Michelle. In any case, I am happy she is happy, though in this weird secret part of me, I hope she isn't disappointed in my visit home, whether it be with me or what we end up doing. It sounds stupid, but there it is.

In getting ready for my time home, I have been making an effort to hang out with people. I saw Erin on Sunday night, Kim on Monday night, and Andrew on Tuesday night. I was supposed to see Charlotte, but that fell through, mostly through my own fault, and Pat was unable to join us last night. Still, I am proud of my efforts. Mom was laughing at me saying I wasn't going to be gone forever, but that isn't the point. These people are my friends and I wanted to see them before I was gone for almost 3 weeks. On top of that, school starts right after I get back, so I know I won't have a ton of time then to hang out with people. Plus, I am just making an effort now, whereas before I didn't bother. All in all, I am quite proud of myself, lol.

I am all packed up at this point, minus the purse and computer, as I am going to lunch with a friend before heading to the airport. It is a bit silly, as I will be going downtown, coming back home, then lugging my suitcase back to the metro to Virginia for the bus to Dulles, but its worth it. Or so I tell myself, haha. Be social Michelle! Be social!

My plane lands at 730 Pacific time, and as I am landing in San Diego, I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be clear and I will be able to see the sunset, or at least the tail end of it, over the Pacific Ocean. To be perfectly honest, the things I miss most about California are the ocean and my dog. I can call my family and friends, check up on them through the internet, and just stay in touch. Its difficult to do that with an ocean and a dog. The beach just gives me such peace. It isn't even about going into the water or laying out. Its this vase expanse of water that seems to go on forever. There is a sense of continuity, knowing that thousands have shared this same view, but not necessarily seen the same thing. And knowing that somewhere, on the other side of this huge body of water, someone could be staring out as well, is just comforting. It brings us all a little closer. On top of that, all problems seem small when compared to the ocean. It is so big, and while it has its moods, it generally has a calming effect. On me at least. And now I am done waxing poetically about the ocean, lol.

I guess now it is time to say bon voyage, and see you on the other side (of the country). And keep your fingers crossed I will not have to sit next to an annoying, talkative person. Instead, lets hope for a hot boy, haha. Hope floats eternal :-)

Rest In Peace

So this has not been a good week for news.

First I found out my Great Uncle had passed away.
Then my Dad sent me an email telling me his dog had passed away.
Finally, and least important, though it does affect me the most, the 7-11 from the corner is closed.

I have also been unable to get a hold of Dano, for about a month, and am getting a bit worried. I understand she is married and has a life and is generally terrible about keeping in touch, but a month? I'm just concerned and hoping nothing bad has happened.

I haven't seen my Great Uncle in years, but he always made me laugh. He was just a funny guy. And for anyone who has ever been to Disneyland, he had a hand in the design and workings of the witch at the very end of the Haunted Mansion telling you to come back. I wish I could say I would miss him a ton, but as I never saw him, I know I won't. Which makes me feel like an ass. I do feel terrible for his sister, my Great Aunt, as I see her more often. Being out here though, it kind of separates me, and makes me feel distant both physically and emotionally. Sigh.

For Max, he was a good dog, and I will miss him on my visits to Dad's. I really hope there is some sort of doggy heaven where he can be chasing rabbits forever, as that is what would make him the happiest. Dad and Meaghan are sad, and will be for a while, but they know he was in pain, and this is best for him. Mom said Jake may go by the end of this year too, which really breaks my heart. We all get so attached to animals, and they are only with us a short time. I wish there was a magical elixir of life we could give to them. There are still times I miss my old dog and cats, and when I can, I am definitely getting a pet out here. I would prefer a dog, but will take a cat if that is all I can have. Sigh.

Anyway, RIP Uncle Loius and Max, and may you always be laughing and chasing rabbits (respectively).

Final Slurpee Count: 6

Random Observation

So I don't know if I just have unrealistic expectations or what, but in my mind, firefighters are hot. Maybe its that whole uniform thing, or the macho hero thing. I don't know. But in my thoughts, as well as my past experience, firefighters are hot. In San Diego for example (where I will be in less than 2 weeks!), the firefighters who shop at the grocery store near me tend to be pretty freaking cute. And yes, I realize that not all of them are, but a good 6 out of 10 tend to look good, which I think are fairly good odds. Sadly, DC never got this memo. To be honest, I can recall only seeing two hot firefighters in my time in the District. One may think I am being too hasty in my observations as I have not been witness to any fires. However, the alarm in my old building used to go off a lot, so the firefighters would come over to check it out and such. Never did I see a cute guy in these groups. Then, there was the inauguration, where I saw many firefighters, and two cute ones. In fact, one of the cute ones took pictures for me from the top of the firetruck. This was the exception though, not the rule. Finally, I now live right around the corner from a firehouse. I pass by every day, and have yet to see a cute guy there. This makes me sad. It also pains me to see that not only are they not hot, but a lot of them are overweight. How are you seriously going to fight a fire when you are as out of shape as some of these guys? Maybe they hold down the fire hose or something. I don't know. What I do know is that these are not the firefighters I signed up to see.

Anyway, that was just a random observation I had to put down into words.

Slurpee Count:5

Being Social

So I have come to the conclusion that being social involves spending a lot of money. If I make plans to see someone, it usually involves going out for food, drinks, a movie, shopping, etc. All of which require money. This is quite unfair. Granted, catching up can be done with little to no money spent if you just hang out together, wandering around or something. However, most of the time money will be spent. Also, in addition to whatever amount of money is spent while out, one must remember there is the cost of getting anywhere as well. In DC, that means metro or bus, which adds up at at least $1.25 (bus) or $1.35 (metro) each way. I am trying to be better about being social and getting out more (I have managed to see people every week, so yay me), but this money situation just sucks. I would see people more if I could, I just can't afford it, lol.

I am off to see some friends for a happy hour/sangria night tonight, so there goes some more money, sigh. I keep telling myself its worth it, and my wallet keeps saying it wants to stay in. What a conundrum.

Slurpee Count: 4 (and yes, I did have a 7.11 ounce slurpee on July 11th, or 7/11, but I am not counting that one as it was super itsy bitsy tiny)

PS: I bought my tickets home! Well, Dad gave me miles so I can come home. August 5h through the 22nd. It is kind of a long time, but I am excited. :-)

Unclear

So I am signed up for this summer course that I thought was going to be super cool: "Crime, Media, and Culture." I especially thought it would be cool as I am taking "Mass Media and Modern Terrorism" in the fall, and I thought comparing the classes would be interesting. Then, I ordered the book for the class, and was slightly unimpressed. On top of that, our assignment before class starts is to read each entry, pull a quote from it, and write a 250-500 word response. I kind of feel like that is lame, especially as those "responses" won't be graded. It also feels a bit high school to me. Then, I got the syllabus today. Turns out, I am in no way interested in this class. It is all about prisons and prison culture. That is not what I wanted to take. Quite honestly, I could care less about learning about prisons. It is not my field of interest and in no way can it be compared to the class I am taking in the Fall. It also relates in no way to anything I have studies so far in this program. This depresses me.

The main reason I planned on taking this summer class is because I wanted to be done with school in December. If I take this course, I will have 9 units left (3 classes), all of which I can do in the fall (including my internship). Now however, I don't want to do this class. I think what I can do is take my internship for 6 credits instead of three, since I will be working enough hours for it anyway, and still take two additional classes in the Fall. I don't think I will be able to take my comprehensive exam in October, but I should be able to do it in February. The reason I don't want to sign up for it in October is because I am afraid I will be so busy with work and school that I won't have enough time to study and prepare for it. I think by taking it in February I will still be done in December, and be free to study for the test. The downside is that I will have to maintain matriculation in order to take the exam, and that is the cost of one credit.

My advisor has been little to no help. She doesn't seem to understand that regardless as to whether or not I take the internship for 3 or 6 credits, I will still be putting in the hours. I know I can do it, as I managed last semester to work and take 3 classes. When I proposed taking 12 credits in the fall and the comp in February, she said it didn't make sense monetarily and I was better off just taking another class in the Spring. The whole point though, is that I want to be done in the fall! (with the exception of the comprehensive exam of course) Ugh, she is no help.

At this point I am confused and anxious and basically unclear about the whole situation and what to do. Plus, I am afraid that foe some reason the internship will fall through and then I will be screwed big time. Sigh. This sucks.

Slurpee Count: 3

Happiest Place On Earth

So for me, the happiest place on earth is not Disneyland, but Barnes and Noble. This was confirmed when I had three hours to kill today and spent them quite happily in the bookstore. In fact, when it was time to leave I really didn't want to, and instead managed to browse a little more and find a couple of books I didn't need but decided to buy anyway. My afternoon was spent reading a couple stories, wandering around aimlessly, finding interesting books, and basically just enjoying the day. What a place :-)

A Capitol Fourth

Fourth of July in Washington, DC... does it get much better? I submit that it cannot :-)

I worked in the morning from 9 to 145, which was unfortunate as it meant I had to get up at 730 in the am...gross. I still haven't figured out the fastest way to get to Georgetown from here, so I have been giving myself an hour to get there and am consistently getting there early. I just know the day I leave a little later I will be late. It always happens that way.

Anyway, after work I came home relaxed, read, played online, searched for plane tickets, etc. Then it was time for the bbq. After all, what is the Fourth of July without a bbq? So it was mostly, ok, all, friends of my roommates (most of my friends were out of town), but it was still fun and I met some cool people. All in all it was pretty fun. We had ribs and hamburgers and hot dogs and lobster and pasta salad and fruit salad and chips and cheese balls (oh the cheese balls). It was amazing goodness I must say. Then, around 850, Tom and I decided to head downtown to catch the fireworks (slated to begin at 915). We arrived at about 905, and walked towards the Mall (our plan was to head to the Ellipse). At about 910 though, the show started, so we found a little niche/picture window between the Old Execuative Office Building and some trees and had a perfect view. We could see the whole show and it really was fantastic. 20 minutes later the show was over, we headed back to the metro, caught one within a minute (quite fortunate, as the next one wasnt for 20 min and we knew that one would be full of tourists...stupid tourists), and were home within an hour of when we left.

All in all, it was a fantastic (and capital) fourth :-)

Slurpee Count: 2.5

Slurpee Count

My new home is a block away from a 7-Eleven. This is good for when I just need to run to get something, and bad for the amount of slurpees I know I will be drinking. In order to keep myself in check, I have decided to do a slurpee count. This way, when I see the ridiculous number I have had to drink, I might skip a day or two here and there.

Slurpee Count: 2

PS: what a weird word slupree is

Friends

So I was thinking today, and I realized that I finally feel like I have actual friends here in DC. Granted, I felt that before, but a lot of the people I was hanging out with I knew through LC, and while I could call them and such, I feel like these are my people, lol. Tonight for example, I went out with Charlotte, Andrew, Jamie, and Andrew's friend Matt. This is nothing big or anything, but I took the initiative, and we decided to meet up for a happy hour deal. We laughed, talked, had memories to discuss, and it was just a good time that I hope to repeat.

I guess the point is that at this stage in my life, I feel that it is a weird situation. You have friends from high school and your hometown, but you don't really talk to them as much as you used to as you are growing apart and people change. Then there are the college people who you were with 24/7 during those four years, but looking back, for some of them you wonder why, and for others you wish you had spent more time with them. In any case, they tend to be from all over, so once again, communication just doesn't happen very often, even when you want it to. Then you get to the stage I am in now: post grad, but still in school. I want to make friends with the people in my program, but I feel like many of them are still tied to college friends or family at home, and others are just stupid and I have no idea how they made it this far. So then you are left with making friends at work. Sadly, my work is Gap, and while I have actually made some friends there, real, solid friends are few and far between. And I did make "friends" at State, but they were all way older than me, and so that didn't gel.

So how are we supposed to build our circle when we are (relatively) young and on our own in a new city? Roommates are a starting point, but they cannot be the end point. Same with school and work I suppose. I guess this means I need to get out more and find something I enjoy that I can meet people through. Similar interests=possible new friends?

In the meantime, back to the original thought, I am ridiculously happy that I did this Italy program. Not only did I get to live in a Villa, learn amazing stuff, and travel throughout the country, but I feel like I made some true friends. I think Charlotte and I will definitely stay friends, and I hope to meet up with Pat (and Jillian) more here in DC as well. Andrew, who I knew from school, and I got closer as well. There are a few others I think I will stay in touch with too. At least I hope so. At any rate, tonight was a good night, and I hope to continue to slowly branch out, spread my wings, bloom, whatever metaphor you choose, and meet more people and just do more. We shall see. It all sounds good now, but I have to make sure not to be all talk and no action.

In any case, yay for friends :-)

Change

The time has come for some change, in life as well as the blog. I am still pretty much obsessed with all things Italy, but I think change can be good, and so, here we are.

I moved this past weekend, and while it is not perfect, I think it will work. As I was talking to my grandfather on the phone yesterday, he mentioned that I will probably be moving a lot within the next couple of years. Instead of being sad about that, the prospect kind of makes me happy. I am sick and twisted, lol. Its funny though, everyone was concerned about how my first night went and if I was able to sleep. To be perfectly honest, I had no issues whatsoever. In my mind this is my place, so here I am. I just adapt really well. I had no problems settling in in Italy, and I had no problems settling in here. I know, comparing that is like apples and oranges, but the point is the same. This kind of change does not bother me. In fact, I almost welcome it.

Anyway, on to the place. I was originally looking for an apartment that I could decorate and have fun with and such, but when you have ten days to find a place, pack, and move, you take what you can get. So, here I am, in a house with 3 other people in Cleveland Park. I swore I wouldn't share a bathroom again, that I would only live in an apartment, and that I wanted to make sue not to live in a suburban like area, and I am doing exactly that. You know what though, I think it is going to work out just fine. I am living with all 23/24 year olds, two guys and another girl. We seem to be getting along just fine and I don't see that changing. the location is actually pretty good, with bus lines to school and work, in addition to being 1.5 blocks from the metro. Getting to Gap will be a pain, but I can deal with that.

I do miss Lee Catherine and the relationship we had as roommates. It was just so easy, from beginning to end. Never a single fight or argument, no passive-aggressiveness, fun meals together, random adventures, no worries about guests. She is back in Georgia though. The good news is if she comes back to DC for law school next year (as in 2010/2011), and I am still here, we might room together again.

Anyway, I am pretty settled in my room. Almost everything is unpacked. All I really have to do is hang some wall art, of which I have too much. That's a problem with moving into a house that 3 others already live in versus getting your own apartment and decorating it as you please...less space. The lack of space to put my art and kitchen stuff is what has hurt the most, lol. Otherwise everything fits pretty well. I'll post pictures eventually.

In any case, I need to figure my way around the kitchen and make some dinner. Wish me luck as I have no idea where anything is!

Moving

Id like to say that moving has been difficult, which it has, but not in the way that it could be. And if that makes no sense, its probably bc I am tired from moving, and Im not even doing the physical part of it all. Right now I am sitting in my old apartment while 3 nice guys take all of my stuff down 4 flights of stairs. I want to offer to help, but am unsure as to what to say or if they would accept it.

I hired movers becuase I knew I could never get all this stuff down those stairs, or up to the second floor in the house I am moving to. And it looks like that was a good choice because they are definitely working hard, sigh. I am amazed at how much stuff I have here. Granted, I have lived here full time for 1.5 years and I needed furniture and I have inherited LC's bookcase and dresser, but man, this is a lot of crap. Also of note is that I filled up 5 bankers boxes full of books (two of hich might have been school books, but still). How the heck did I manage to buy so many books here? I think it is a good thing I will no longer be living by a Barnes and Noble. It means I will have to think twice before satisfying my yen for a new book.

In any case, now it is time to go and put tgether a new room and hope my new roommates dont freak out at all of my stuff. We shall see how that goes.

il giorno ultimo

the last day

so friday was my last day at state...for the summer at least. overall, it was a good day. i worked in the morning, wandered around turning in my hard drive and getting my check out sheet signed in the afternoon, and then we had a party before i left. we had a hall party last week, so to celebrate the holiday weekend, my going away, and use up all the leftovers, we had another party. During the party I got a nice plaque saying thank you for your service and a really nice pen. :-) The plaque is signed by the acting assistant secretary, which is super cool. everybody wished me well and only had good things to say. they all seemed genuinely pleased that i am coming back in the fall too. then again, what are they supposed to say when i am right in front of them, lol. anyway, i was going to write more, but im tired, and i leave for italy tomorrow...crazy! it still doesn't seem quite real. oh well though, its happening whether im ready or not.

il giorno ultimo

politica

politics

what happened to the days when working to help the public was more important than getting re-elected? i know it has been this way for years, but it is really depressing. i mean, the whole point of having senators and representatives is to represent the people. granted, the positions were created because the founders didn't necessarily trust "the people" to make important decisions or to do what is best for them. however, that doesn't mean that those elected have the right to care more about their own survival than the good of the country and the lives of their constituents.
now, what brought this on, one might ask. the answer to that would be good old pelosi. i'm happy for her that she is the first female speaker of the house, as it is a very prestigious position and such, and i am happy california is representing, but i am just not a big fan of hers. and now, with this whole cia/water-boarding fiasco, i feel like she is deflecting the blame, pointing the finger, and changing her story time and time again. personally, i agree with her saying that the republicans in congress are harping on her to take the focus away from the bush administration's authorization of torture, but she is very inconsistent is what she knew and is not taking any blame for anything because to do so would be tantamount to political suicide. first there was no meeting, then there was no memory of what was said in the meeting, then she knew but couldn't say anything, and now cia lied by omitting that water-boarding did occur. make up your mind! i'm not denying that some of what she has said did take place, i just wish she would be more forthright and honest instead of circling around. i know that will never happen though, because as stated before, the power of being a politician is more important than doing what is right for the country nowadays.
the really sad thing is that the ic is going to be hurt by this in a number of ways, the biggest being that congress won't trust anything the ic says and the ic will become more risk averse and won't trust congress to back them up. with that kind of relationship, how can we truly protect ourselves?
what a mess.

politica

Villa le Balze

In 10 days time I will be traveling to Italy for a 3 week study abroad program on International Law and Security in Florence. After the program is over I am going to hang out and travel for a week since hey, I am already there. While I am abroad, I figured I would post in a blog instead of writing long and obnoxious emails every couple of days. On top of that, if people want to check they can, and if they don't care what the hell I'm doing, they can ignore the link and don't have to be stuck with annoying emails in their in-boxes. Since I don't need my family to see my personal blog, I have created a new one specifically for travel. Now, I doubt anyone will really follow, but just in case, I thought I would post the link to it here.

http://michellesrestlessfeet.blogspot.com/

happy summer :-)

a lavoro

at work

im sitting at work, and while i don't have time to actually write an entry, there are a few things that have been preying on my mind lately...

hunger strikes...they always end when someone has a "medical issue." um, isn't that kind of the expected result?

the media...i find it fascinating how quickly the media turns from one topic to another. less than a month ago it was all about piracy. now, you don't see a thing on the topic. unless you are me of course, working hard (haha) for the government.

weapons...it boggles my mind that countries just keep making bigger and stronger weapons. they seem to forget that they live on the same planet as their target, and that one weapon going off essentially means world destruction. and putting the us or a us base in your sights doesn't make you invincible. no, i cant say what brought this last thought, id have to kill you if i did. :-)

footnotes...they can be fabulous when taken into account. however, when they are ignored you don't get the whole picture. and no, i cant explain where that came from either.

swine flu, excuse me, h1n1 influenza...im sorry, but am i alone in thinking the whole world has overreacted? yes, it sucks, and yes it hit mexico hardcore. but here in the us, where we have a better medical infrastructure and go to the doctor for every little thing, don't you think it is a bit much? and egypt killing all their pigs when you cant get it from eating pig? i smell an excuse to get rid of a way of life (pig farming) that is despised by those in charge.

i could go on, and i might later, but now i have to get back to work (reading :-) )

a lavoro

i libri del autobus

bus books

I have started a new thing that I seriously enjoy.
When I get home at night, after working all day, in addition to class on 2 nights of the week, all I want to do is relax and read something that doesn't require me to think. The only problem is that I have all of these great books that do require me to think, and no energy to read them. So, I started this new thing where I have what I call "bus books." These are specific books that I only read on the bus to and from work and school. I spend over an hour on the bus on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so I actually get a lot of reading done. Also, by keeping them as solely bus books, I don't get distracted when i need to be doing hw, and i still feel like i am slowly getting through the piles of books on my shelves. My last bus book was Blowing My Cover, My Life As A CIA Spy, and now I am reading The Bureau and the Mole, a super fascinating book about Robert Hansen. I sense a theme with the spy books, but hey, thats what I like, so thats what I read. Yay for bus books :-)

i libri del autobus

Beisbol

Baseball

I just have to vent for a minute, and since there is no one here to vent to, im venting in the vastness of the internet.
I was checking on my team, and noticed that 4 of our players were ejected. So I read the story, watched Baseball Tonight, and am absolutely baffled. I dont understand how 4 of our guys were ejected from the game, and none of the Red Sox were ejected. Especially Beckett, when he was the ass who started it all by taking forever, throwing at our guy's head, and then heading towards the batters box and talking smack. Then, after the Angel's took offense and came onto the field, the stupid umpire tells the Angels to get off the field, when it is their own freaking field, and didn't say a word to the Red Sox who had also poured on to the field. WTF. No punches were thrown, and things were pretty much under control until the umpire had to run his mouth and ignore the fact that Beckett was the one in the wrong. Plus, the Angels are going to be emotional right now. I mean, hello? Remember Thursday morning? That umpire is a freaking idiot.
I hate the Red Sox, i really do, and this just adds to it. I feel like they always get preferential treatment. I may even hate them more than the Yankees, and thats saying something.
Arg, anyway, I had to put my two cents somewhere, and since Im not going to be posting on any message board or anything, I am happy to have my own "venting" space.

Beisbol

La Musica

The music

I have a new favorite singer. His name is Jason Reeves and he rocks.
That is all.

La Musica.

l'autobus parte due

the bus, part two

so as per usual, i got up this morning about 710, got ready for my day, and left the apt at 745 to catch the 759 bus that takes me to work. it is less than a 10 minute walk to the bus stop, i just leave that early because i am paranoid about missing it and getting to work late. well, this morning i left on time, and as i was waiting to cross the street to get to my bus, it pulls up and away before i had a chance to do anything but stare. now, this wasn't me being late, this was my bus being super early, as in 7 min early! why do they do such a thing? They have to know that people have schedules. And seeing as the bus only comes once every 15 min, they really screw with the plan when they do that. in other words, i waited outside, in the rain no less, for a half hour today before i could get on my bus. arg. this is why i miss taking the metro. the trains always come within minutes of each other, but even if they don't, you are inside out of the weather, whatever it may be that day. sadly, the metro does not go everywhere, such as georgetown, making the bus a better option, though at times, like this morning, i really really really hate it. sigh. but whats a girl to do? i refuse to get to the stop any earlier, so i suppose there will just be days when i am late bc my bus is early. so annoying.

l'autobus parte due

l'autobus

the bus

so i am an idiot and thought i would share the news. yesterday i was waiting to take the bus after work so i could get home. there were 2 buses there, and one lady said i could get on hers so i didnt have to wait in the cold. i checked the bus number, and saw it was the right one, so i hopped on. unfortunately, i neglected to check the direction the bus was going. so 10 min into the ride i glance up and think to myself, crap, this is most definitely the wrong direction. so i consider sitting there anyway since it is cold, but rally myself and hop off the bus, cross the street, and wait for a bus going the correct direction. sadly, the amount of time i waited for that one was about the same amount of time i would have sat outside waiting for my original bus.
oh well, it was an adventure, right?

l'autobus

la buona notizia e le cattive notizie

the good news and the bad news

lets start with the bad.
the internship that was supposed to start in january has yet to begin. they are still working on the background check. what is holding them up, i have no idea. especially because if you looked up "goody-two-shoes" in the dictionary, my face would be right there. sigh. my potential boss did email me 2 weeks ago saying that the check should be done by last friday, so i could possibly start march 2nd. unfortunately, when i emailed him to see what was up, i got an out of office reply. sigh. so now who knows when im going to be starting that.

now on to the good.
i was accepted into an international law and security program through georgeown university that takes place in florence!the fact that the program takes place in italy is a bonus; i would want to partake in this program regardless of where it was held. now i just need to make sure i can get credit for it and make my final decision by march 6th. so, i may be going back to italy, woohoo! the only bummer news associated with this, besides the price and tight deadline, is that i think it starts at the end of may, and with my internship still not beginning, i may do the internship right through when my place leaves, meaning no time to come home. :-( hopefully it will all work out though. ::fingers crossed::

la buona notizia e le cattive notizie

dubbio

doubt

for some reason, lately i have just been feeling out of sorts and doubting everything that i have planned with my life. granted, there is not much that has been planned, but the doubt is still there.
i am doubting my choice of coming to dc, my choice of going to grad school, my school specifically, my choice of major, my choice of internship, the list goes on. i envy those people who know what they want to do and what they need to do to get there. i used to think i was one of those people, but it turns out that i am not. even now, a semester in to grad school, i have no idea what i want to do. and if i do things like i want, i will be done with school in less than a year. what then? at this point, i have no idea.
school is stressing me out because i have to come up with three paper topics, and i have no idea what i want to focus on. i miss the days of guidance, where you were told exactly what area you had to focus on. yes, there were grumbles, but there was never any confusion. i have all of these ideas and no idea of how to implement them, or if i even should.
my internship is stressing me out because it hasnt started yet. they are still doing the background check. this is annoying because at this point, when am i going to start? and if i do start immediately after the check is done, how long will it last? i cant get credit for it anymore because it is past the deadline. i almost want to put it off and ask to start in the summer or fall, but that would be insane, right?
because i couldnt sign up for the internship for credit since i hadnt actually begun it, i had to add another class. this is a weekend class which i think will be fine, but who knows. what i do know is that i need to start reading for it soon, because it is goign to be coming up sooner rather than later.
the big question is whether or not i can handle the 3 graduate level classes and a full time job. at this point, i really dont know. i think i can, but what do i know, lol.
money is also an issue that is strssing me out. i feel better than i did last year as i have access to my savings now, but i dont really want to touch it. i am working on the weekends at gap, but its not enough to live on. i dont really go out much, and i havent allowed myself to buy any books for about a month now. but food and utilities are expensive, and i want to have some kind of life, so i do go out occasionally. gap doesnt pay enough though to cover it. i think i am going to have to take some money from my savings to buffer my checking account soon, though i really dont want to. then again, what is that money for, anyway. sigh. i wanted it for when i was truly out on my own and my parents arent helping with the rent. i hope that i can keep it, but we shall see.
another issue i have been thinking out a lot lately is boys (go figure). im at a loss. i feel so out of the loop and ridiculous. so many people i know are engaged, married, having kids, or dating seriously. and then there is me. sigh. ive just been feeling lately like none of that will happen to me, and it makes me sad. i hope it isnt a self-fulfilling prophecy, sigh.
anyway, enough venting for now. i guess i just needed to get it all out, so here it is, and now its off to school.

dubbio

Obamania

Wow, is all I can say. Living in DC and being able to be part of the past few days has been amazing.
Sunday was the beginning, with the "We Are One" concert to kick off the inauguration. We had quite the adventure with this little party. We meandered down to the Monuments around 12, and by the time we got there it was already madness. We couldnt get into the concert, even though there was still room and the show didnt start until 230. Instead of getting all angry though, we decided to make the best of it. We made friends with the police, secret service, and national guards around us, steyed updated on whether or not we could get in, relaxed, listened to the concert once it began, and then wandered up to the Washington Monument where there was a jumbotron set up. We ended up watching most of the concert there, and had a really good time even though we were far away. The crowd was really happy and relaxed and no one was belligerent. Everyone sang and danced to "One Love," "American Pie," and "This Land Is Your Land," everytime Obama's image came up on screen everyone screamed and yelled, there were chants of "O-BAM-A" every now and then, and there was such an air of happiness, its difficult to describe. Basically, we saw some fun perfomances, good speeches, and some compeltely random stuff, and it was a great day. Oh, and it was freezing allllll day. But the fun we had made it worth the almost frostbite. :)
Monday was MLK day, and LC, Alex, and I decided to take part in some community service by going to RFK Stadium and putting together care packages for the military. We got there a little late (which is another story) and were surprised to see a long line to get in and volunteer. We slowly made our way into the stadium though, and were herded through security and to a little orientation session, after which we went into the tent where they had an assembly line deal set up where we carried empty bags down a line and other volunteers dropped goodies into our bags. Then, we did it all again. And again. And again. They had some music, and it was fun to rock out to it a bit. It was also cool to see people from all walks of life there. Once we were done with our session, we wrote a letter to a soldier, and meandered back to Georgetown.
Today was the big day, the day of all days. I got up at 545, met up with my friend at 7am at her place, and made my way down to the mall by about 815. From then on we, just walked through and tried to find a spot to see a jumbotron from. My roommate volunteered and sent me a message at 445 am telling me the mall was already filling up, and when I turned on the news at 6, it was already over half full. So, we decided to just have fun and not worry about getting the best spot, just one from which we could see. We found one of those and then sat and did nothing but shiver for 3 hours. Watching the dignitaries wander in and be announced was fun, especially because there was a speaker on that wasnt supposed to be on and we could hear them all talking, lol. It was also fun playing "guess that congressman," haha. Seeing Sascha and Malia walk in was cool, and they are so adorable. Michelle Obama looked fabulous as usual. People booed when Bush was shown on the screen, and that was a little disappointing to me. Granted, I dont like the man and I think he is an idiot, but he had a half hour left as President, and it seemed a bit mean spirited. Then Obama came out and it was all cheers. I cant even explain how it felt to be part of htat crowd. Once again, everyone was happy and excited and there were no mean feelings. The amount of people is incomprehensible. The Mall was filled to capacity, both Constitution Ave and Independence Ave were full of people, and allllll the way back to the Lincoln Memorial was also full. It was just a sea of people all in support of that one man, and the emotion I felt from the crowd was indescribable. The invocation was better than I thought it would be, and Biden's swearing in went by without a hitch. Obama's swearing in was a couple minutes past 12, so we were President-less for about 5 minutes, lol. Chief Justice Roberts apparently didnt know the script, as he prompted Obama with the incorret words for the oath, lol. It was a light-hearted moment though, and everyone laughed. Then came Obama's speech, and if he can pull through at least half of what he said, he is going to have an amazing term.
After the ceremony and speeches, I walked halfway home, and caught a bus for the rest of the way. The weather today was terrible. When I got there it was about 16 degrees, and I dont think it got much better. The windchill sucked away all warmth. My hands were soooo cold, and I had to keep one of them out to take pictures, so it wasnt getting any better. When we started to walk home, I realized my feet were frozen too as they felt like blocks of ice, lol. I finally got home at about 230, and waited for the parade to come on tv. There was no way I was going to sit outside another couple hours seeing as I had already been there for the really important part and was freaking freezing, so home it was.
All in all, it has been an amazing, cold, sleep-deprived last couple of days, but so worth it. I feel like I have been part of something so much bigger than I am or ever will be, and nothing can change that. It was an experience I will never forget and cannot truly be put into words, though I have tried to share a bit of it from my pov. I am still a bit in shock and cant believe it is over. Although, I guess I really should say it is just beginning. :-) What a crazy past couple of days.

Obamania

lol

so i was channel surfing in boredom tonight, and stumbled across the new season of the real world. there is a super cute guy on it who plays guitar, and on top of that, he has a girlfriend named michelle, haha.
i just may have a new crush.

solo una volta

just once...

just once i would like to sit next to a young, attractive, and intelligent guy while flying across the country. i have yet to have this happen. instead, i always end up sitting next to an older man who invariably falls asleep so i cant leave my seat, a family, or an older woman who wont shut up. i always see good looking guys getting on my plane, but they never sit near me, sigh. i dont know when i am going home next, so this isnt really an issue, just some random musings reflecting on my flights to and from home this past break and the hope that maybe next time my luck will turn and i will get to sit near someone i actually want to talk to. ::fingers crossed::

solo una volta