Time Flies When You're Having Fun

So its now October. WTF. What. The. Frak. How did this happen? Where has the time gone? Ugh. I feel like it was just yesterday that I last posted anything. Guess thats wrong. Lol.

So here is the best news possible. As of Sunday, October 10, I am officially a "normal" employee at State. Woohoo! Up until now I have been in the Student Career Employment Program (SCEP), where I had kind of  special status and had to meet certain requirements in order to stay eligible. If I met all of those requirements, I could be switched over to "normal" competitive service. Well, I kept my grades up, I graduated, I worked the required number of hours, I did the job, and I got the job for real :-) I found out two days ago, and can I just say, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. In this economy, I am thankful to have a job, and more thankful to have a job I enjoy (when I'm busy that is, but hey, I'll take what I can get, lol).

On a totally different topic, mom came to visit!!! We went to the office baseball game, then Saturday we went furniture shopping at Ikea. We spent a couple hours wandering around and getting enough furniture to make this place actually feel like a home. :-) After we bought everything, we set a time for it to be delivered, and went to Petsmart to look at kittens. To be perfectly honest, I would rather have a dog. But I know they take more time and money, and that it wouldn't be fair to a big dog, and lets be honest, I won't get a small dog, to be locked up all the time. So a decided to get a kitten because I cannot live without a pet any longer. And I must say, I love the little jerk, haha. He is the exact opposite of the kind of cat I always said I wanted, but he is super pretty and fun and a great little companion to come home to :-) His name has changed many many times, but for now its Sammy :-)

And as usual, I am tired of typing already. But before I sign off, I just have to say that I did something kind of embarrassing last Sunday...I went to the So You Think You Can Dance Tour in Richmond. And it was fantastic. Haha.

-Lots of love,
M

Oh! I have a crush! Quite the important thing I forgot to mention. :-) He works in Main State, and there is a funny story I will have to type out another day. Wow, thats quite a tease, but oh well!

Life

Another month gone by means its time for anther update I suppose. So much has happened though, that I think I will just do bullet points:

-4th of July
Seeing the show in DC was fan-freaking-tastic.
The view from my roof is amazing and I had a great time.
The only bummer was that I wish I had someone special to watch the show with.
-Jack Johnson
I went to the concert with Ami and had a great time.
There were people who were afraid of crowds, there were 40 year old women who were so drunk they couldn't get up, there was a game of "Where is the drunk girl," who was supposed to be sitting next to us and ended up all the way across the field.
Jack Johnson is amazing and I love his new album
-DC United
Melissa and I went to the game against LA Galaxy, and I got to see Landon Donovan in action, as well as Chris Pontius from UCSB (Go Gauchos!).
It was freaking hot, but so worth it, even though DC United lost.
-Dave Matthews Band
I am so not a fan of DMB, but I really enjoyed the concert. I think its because the music itself is amazing, even if the songs themselves all sound alike to me.
In any case, Jamie invited me, and it was a great time.
-Engagements
Andrew and Jamie are engaged!!!!
I went to grad school with Andrew, and became good friends with both him and Jamie.
This has been such a long time coming, and I am so happy for them both.
At the same time, there is a little seed inside of me asking, "What about me?"
-Mary Poppins
Ami and I just bought tickets to see the show at the Kennedy Center August 17th, and I am so excited.
-Baseball
The office is going to a Nats game.
I think it is going to be super fun and relaxing, and it will eb a good opportunity to bond outside of the office.
-Mom's Visit
Mom will be here Aug 12-Aug 16!!!
This will be the first time I have seen mom since Jan 8th,
That's a long time.
-Travel
I think I am going to be in California Dec 22-Dec 27.
That is going to be one heck of a weekend.
Here is the plan: IAD-LAX Dec 22, at Dad's 23-24, and Mom's 25-26, SAN-BWI Dec 27.
-I'm an Apple Slut
I finally got a new computer, which I am using now.
It has a camera and it's fast and pretty and fantastic.
I got an ipad from my Nana for graduation/my birthday.
I love it as an e-reader, and am just super happy with it in general.
-Book Club Books
I finished Atonement and realllllly loved it.
I actually think the ending in the movie was a little better, but the writing was so beautiful, and the story so great, that it is definitely one of my favorite books.
Still, I can't believe it took me so long to finish it.
I am now reading Running with Scissors, and I am not sure how I feel about it.
Books are supposed to make you think and feel, so it is doing it job.
The problem is that I am feeling disgusted as I can't believe how ridiculously terrible these so-called "authority figures" are.
-Comp
I PASSED MY COMPREHENSIVE EXAM!!!!!!!!
This means I can graduate in August and that I can officially say that I have a Master's degree. :-)
Now I just have to figure out what this means for my job...

It's Been Awhile

Long time no write. I guess life got really busy, and writing here was the last thing on my mind. This weekend however has been nothing but relaxing. In other words, all I did was nothing.

I pretty much just relaxed and enjoyed myself catching up on tv shows I have recorded and the netflix that I have had for literally 3 months. The first movie I had from netflix was actually the first couple episodes of Chuck. I now know why that show has such a dedicated following. It was fun and intriguing at the same time. Maybe it was just me, but I love the "nerd as spy" theme, haha. In any case, I can't wait for disc two to show up. The other netflix movie I had was "Shakespeare In Love." You know, I never really cry for real life events, but movies can reallllllly get to me, and this was one of them. It was well done, made me laugh, and definitely made me tear up at the end. Judi Dench was brilliant as the Queen, and made me want to watch her in Pride and Prejudice again as Lady Catherine. Joseph Fiennes was fantastic as well, and I must admit, I might have fallen a bit in love with Shakespeare myself. I know I now really want to read Romeo and Juliet again, as well as The Twelfth Night, which was the next play he wrote, and based on Viola. Le. Sigh. In any case, it was a good movie and I am glad I have finally seen it.

On Friday I actually went to the movies as well. It might have been the first time I was actually in a theater since I saw "The Ugly Truth," how sad, I know. This time I saw "Knight and Day." It was quite amusing, I must say. I think the critics who have been saying it is terrible are missing the point.  It is supposed to be campy and ridiculous. I mean really, how can anyone think otherwise after watching it? I laughed out loud often, and suspended my disbelief quite happily. All in all, it was quite an enjoyable night.

Football, aka soccer, has not been nearly as enjoyable as it should be. This is because not only has the U.S. not played up to its potential, but because the referees are clearly watching a different game than I am, as they are making game-changing calls every match, and for the other team. This has been the case for more matches than just the U.S. games. I mean, calling offsides when there is no offsides and taking away a goal, or not calling it when there is offsides and giving the other side a goal has happened far too often. I think I am going to have to start rooting for Germany because they are young and cute. Hey, there have been worse reasons for rooting for a team, right? :)

I still haven't finished the book club book, Atonement, oops. I'm going to try to get to it this week, but we shall see. 

Alright, I'm tired of updating, so that's it for now. Ciao!

Workd Cup Frenzy

So a couple things about the U.S.-England Match.

I love soccer/football/futbol.
I really love it when they take their jersey's off after the game.
Tim Howard is freaking fantastic and a beast.
Some of those yellow cards on England should have been red. I mean really, were the refs blind or just feeling nice?
I am not a fan of England's coach.
I would prefer a win, but I will take a draw.

And to think...the World Cup has just begun!

Holidays

Sometimes I really hate how commercial our society has made holidays. Ok, thats a lie. I always hate how commercial our society has made holidays. Especially days like today. It is Memorial Day, a day to remember those who have passed away in military service. Instead of thinking of the soldiers and their families, there are ads on tv about selling couches, clothing stores with big sales, and other nonsensical things that have nothing to do with what Memorial Day stands for, and if there is any holiday that should not be so commercial, its this one. I just wish more people would recognize that, especially as over 5000 American men and women in uniform have passed away in Iraq and officially over 1000 have died in Afghanistan. Whether or not one supports the reasons for going to war, we have to support the men and women fighting, and I don't feel like selling a couch at half off really does that. Sigh.

Ok, enough of a rant for today

Gym Time

Dad was hear last weekend, and it was great to see him. He stayed here at my place, well, technically its his, lol. It was super nice not to have to take the metro to see him and then make my way back home though.
In any case, while he was here, I got quite a bit done:

-I got a new back up hard drive for my computer since my old one died
-we went shopping
-we played with ipads
-we ate lots of yummy meals
-I got to just hang out with my family

Finally, we also went to the gym. By that, I don't mean we worked out. I mean we went and toured the place....and I signed up for a membership! Even better, Dad is paying for it for the year! I was always planning on joining, but not until I had a steady paycheck for a while. Now however, I have the membership, woohoo! Last night I used that membership for the first time, and I really enjoyed it. I had forgotten how competitive I am with myself. By that I mean while I was on the elliptical, my plan was to do it for about 20 minutes as I haven't worked out in ages. But while I was on it, I kept thinking, burn this many more calories, go this distance, make it to this time, well, burn this many more calories since you made it this far, well, since you have gone this far, work it 5 more minutes, etc. Even after 30 minutes, I felt like I could keep going, but I also didn't want to kill myself my first day back at the gym, so I stopped. All in all, it was a good cardio workout :-) After that, I did some crunchies and stretches. It was a good workout and I think I am going to go back tomorrow. My overall goal is to run a half marathon next year with Dad. First though, I must get into shape, hence the starting out on the elliptical.

Wish me luck!

I Am Ridiculous

I am listening to the score from the movie version of Atonement as I read the novel Atonement. :-)

Books and Boys

So I finally cracked open Atonement today, and I have to say, even though I am only 4 pages in, I really like the style of writing. McEwan is very descriptive and I can picture every scene in my head as I read. Granted, part of that may be because I have seen the film, but I don't think so. In fact, the beauty of the writing is almost putting me off reading because I know what happens, and I know how sad it is going to make me feel. Kind of lame, right? Still, I will read, I promise. :-)

I got my books I ordered from Barnes and Noble today, and 2 of the 3 I got I am super excited about. The first is about spy satellites, and I think it will help me at work. Its a good little book about the history of aerial reconnaissance, and I am looking forward to reading it. The second book is called Four Letter Word. It is a collection of fictional letters written by authors of our time. They are all pretty short, and I am planning on reading a couple of the entries every night before I go to bed. I figure it is something that is happy and easy enough to put down that I won't keep reading til 1am every night.

Now onto boys. It was my friend's 27th birthday on Monday, and I went to a happy hour celebration to celebrate. There were a bunch of people there, many whom I did not know. So, I ended up sitting next to a guy, but I didn't really talk to him in the beginning of the night. However, as the night went on, we spoke more and more. We even live near the same metro, so we rode home together. There were a couple of bummers though. First, I had a friend visiting who was with us (and that is a whole story by itself). Second, we didn't exchange numbers or anything. It felt a little awkward at the end of the night when we parted ways, partly because I don't know how to flirt and partly because my friend was with me. In any case, I think we might see each other again because he works with my friend. We shall see though. We must remember, I am a shy idiot who doesn't know how to flirt or date or any of that stuff. So it will be what it will be...though I will keep my fingers crossed and hope something maybe happens. :-)

More Books!

I finally started reading Jane Austen again, woohoo! I love Pride and Prejudice, the movie and the book, so I figured I should get around to some of her other books. I have read Sense and Sensibility, though I don't remember it much and want to read it again. I have also seen the movie versions of both Sense and Sensibility and Emma. So, I decided it was time to read Emma. I enjoyed it immensely :-) So I decided to move on to Mansfield Park once I finished. Sadly, it just isn't drawing me in. I am about 35 pages in, and I just can't get myself to keep reading. So unfortunate. I'm hoping I can pick it up again in a couple of weeks and be drawn in.

So, instead of Mansfield Park, I'm now reading Kindred in Death, by J.D. Robb, otherwise known as the alter ego of Nora Roberts. This is the 29th (I think?) book in her semi futuristic mystery series. It is the second to last that has been published. In other words, the most recent one is only available in hardback, and I'm not paying for that, so I am trying to be patient waiting for it to come out in paperback. In the mean time, I am enjoying the most current book. I could say a whole lot about it, but instead, I will just mention that I want my own Roarke. That is all, haha.

Finally, we picked our next book club book! This time I chose the book, and picked Atonement. I saw the movie when it came out, and while I found it really sad at the end, I also thought it was a beautiful story. When I found out it was based on a novel, I decided to buy it. Sadly, it sat on my shelf and never got read. So, when Mo said it was time to pick a book, this seemed to be the obvious choice. I hope it lives up to my expectations though; I would hate to be disappointed. My plan is to start it once I finish Kindred In Death. So that means I will be starting tomorrow. Haha. Actually, I will probably start it on Monday and make it my metro book as I ride home from work every day.

Anyway, I'm off to continue reading! Oh happy day  :-)

So Out Of Shape

Every day I take the metro to work. Once I get to the stop closest to State, I walk about 6 blocks to get to the building. Its a long walk, but still, its good exercise. And there is no way I would take the bus those few blocks. I mean, really, how lazy can you be? In fact, there are many people who do this...take the metro and then the bus. I have mentioned them before and will never stoop to their level.

In any case, after work, I walk the 6 blocks again, hop on the metro, and make my way home. At my metro stop however, the escalator is not working. This means that every morning I run down the escalator "stairs," and every evening, I climb up them. This is where the out of shapeness comes in. The first day I had to climb those stairs, I was so out of breath it was embarrassing. I could not believe it. I mean, I knew I was out of shape, but really? So, after that horrendous trek up the stairs, I debated going up the escalators that do work but put you out on the opposite of the street. Then I realized that the only way I will get back into shape is to walk up those stairs every day. So, that's what I'm doing. And its getting easier every day. At first, after the first 20 steps, I was feeling out of breath. Then it was after 25, then 30, etc. This past weekend, I even ran all the way up when I in a rush and had to get back to my apartment really fast. the only annoying thing now is that there are people who are super slow getting up the stairs, and that's more painful than going up quickly. Regardless, while I may still be a bit out of breath when I get to the top, it is not nearly as bad as it was, and I think it will get better and better as I do it.

Now, I am considering taking the stairs instead of the elevators at work. This is a big step though, as my office is on the 8th floor. Still, it would be even more exercise, which can only be a good thing.

I have also decided that once I finish school (for real this time) and am actually getting paid (yet another saga; fingers crossed I get money within the week), that I want to start going to the gym. I mean, I live right across the street from a Washington Sports Club, so why not? There a very few excuses when you can walk across the street and be at the gym, lol.

Anyway, I now feel a bit better about myself, but I know I still have a looooong way to go to get back in shape. My goal is to get back into the shape I was in in high school. That was when I was dancing (tap, jazz, ballet) almost every night of the week and marching for band (at least in the fall). I had muscles, I could run less than an 8 minute mile, I could do a million crunches, and I felt better about myself. One of these days soon I will get there. For now though, each step I take up those stairs is another step in the right direction. :-)

My Non-Horizontal Life

So I put off starting my book club book for quite some time as I had other reading and things to do, such as packing, moving, and writing a paper. I must also admit that I was kind of ambivalent about it, as I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into with this book. In addition, I do a lot of reading on the bus or metro, and this is not a book I really wanted to be seen reading in public. :-)

So, I finally sat down to read it last Sunday, and what a riot. I cannot believe I put it off for so long. And while I enjoyed it immensely, I remember often thinking, wow, did she really do that? Or, are her friends really like that? Because man, I don't know if I would call them friends, lol. In other words, as Mo mentioned, I am not sure how real all of these events actually are. I mean, I know it is possible to survive those kinds of nights because while I may not have had many, ok any, of them myself, I did go to college and see people who did. I am 99.9% sure that the events are based in fact but may be just a wee bit exaggerated since this is a book she is trying to sell here.

I'm not a prude, so while I may not have done anything that she has done, I wasn't put off or disgusted by her. In fact, I might have heard "worse" stories from friends, haha. The book did make me think about society a bit in. I mean, talking about sex is such a taboo thing; it is regulated beyond belief in movies and tv shows, and then here is this book that is laugh-out-loud funny, and it sells amazing. It is kind of like the "Girls Next Door" on E! and other things that have to do with sex. Society loves to be voyeuristic and look in other peoples lives and talk about their sexual proclivities, but it is still very puritan in nature overall. So, I wonder if this book would be as fascinating and sell so well in a society like France or Italy where sexuality is more open. In those places, while what Handler does isn't necessarily the norm, it isn't as taboo and crazy as it is here in the U.S.

I also wonder if people read this book and label Handler a slut, and if the same person would read this same book, but written by a guy, would he be considered a rock star? Oh the double standard.

A little problem that I had is that there was a lack of continuity. For example, in one chapter she talks about how she caught her boyfriend of over 2 years cheating on her, but in the chapter before that, she was talking about her (almost) one night stand with a midget in Mexico. So when did what happen? I wish there was more of a story arc then I caught my parents having sex, I had many one night stands and adventures with sex, I'm done having casual sex. I mean, really? Yes I enjoyed reading about it, but I don't know, I just wish there was a bit more to it.

Overall, I enjoyed this trashy read, and will probably be picking up some other books by her at some point. I laughed out loud multiple times, and while I don't necessarily believe all of her stories, it sure was fun going along with her on this crazy ride. Now however, I am going in the total opposite direction and reading Emma, by Jane Austen. Now those were some puritan times. :-)

Book Club Book 2

To keep it short and sweet, My Horizontal Life is hilarious. I highly recommend it, unless you are a prude and don't enjoy reading about other peoples misadventures with sex. I found it laugh out loud funny, and will probably be looking up more of her books. Anyway, a more extensive post is forthcoming, once I get Internet set up in my new place that is, because yes, I moved!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bummer

So now I am not starting on Monday because I have to start at the beginning of a pay period, and the next pay period begins April 12th. Sigh. If it isn't one thing, its another. So, my new starting date is April 12th...as long as my extra clearance comes through. Just another waiting game.

On the positive side, because of this unexpected week off I now have, I am pretty sure I am going to move next week. It just seems like the perfect time. After all, when else will I have an entire week off with nothing to do? Exactly. Never. So, next week it is. But since I don't have cable there, or a tv, I am thinking I will stay here Monday, and move my stuff on Tuesday, that way I can watch HIMYM and Castle, haha.

Its a mixture of happiness and sadness to be moving. I mean, as much as I bitch about my roommates, I do get along with them. Still, there have been so many times I could not wait to get away from them. Also, it is a lesser of two evils thing. I have to find a new roommate, and who knows how that will go. Oh well, we shall see.

Now I have to finish this stupid assignment, which is already at 11 pages single spaced...oops. Its due by midnight tonight, so I guess I better stop procrastinating and finish the dang thing. Sigh.

Time To Change My Habits

I got a job!

It is no longer just this abstract hope that might come through. It has actually happened, and I filled out the paperwork today. I actually found out last Tuesday, then had it taken away briefly while they re-validated my security clearance, and then had it offered again on Friday, woohoo! What a happy week. I even get health insurance and a retirement plan and all sorts of good stuff.

The job, which shall remain nameless so I don't have to kill anyone, is in my old office, and is a coop program, otherwise known as Student Career Employment Program (SCEP). What SCEP is, is a full time job while in school, and then it can be noncompetitively turned into a real position once you have graduated. Awesome, right? I think so :-)

There is of course a downside, and that is that I hope there is actually work for me to do. I say this because there are two interns in the office now, and there was barely enough for me to do as the only intern before. Sigh. Still, if my supervisor fought as hard as he did for me, then he must have some sort of plan, right? In any case, I am not going to let this get me down at all. I am all about celebrating and happiness right now, and nothing can bring me down :-)

I think I am starting on Monday because that is when my supervisor will be back from (his son's) spring break. And herein lies the reason I need to change my habits: I have been going to bed at 2 and waking up at 10, and now I will have to get up at 7 every day again. This means I HAVE to start going to bed earlier. I have been doing well this week, with being in bed around midnight and going to bed between 12 and 1am. So, I just need to keep moving that up a bit, and I will be all set. Wish me luck, as this night owl once again transitions to being a morning bird.

I got a job!!!!!

Pet Peeves

I have two very big pet peeves (and one small one) when it comes to classroom etiquette.

First, STOP TEXTING!!! Is it really that difficult to keep your phone away for two and a half hours? I mean really, your friends can wait,  plans can wait, and life will not leave you behind. Not only are you missing potentially valuable information from the professor, but you are distracting your fellow classmates, otherwise known as me.

Second, SHUT UP!!! Yes, I understand you want to catch up with your friend in class who you haven't seen in a week, but I am trying to listen to the professor, and I can't hear or focus if you are holding your own conversation right behind me. And if I can hear you from across the room, then we really have a problem. Once again, you are missing what the professor is saying and distracting others.

Third, and less of a pet peeve, is to keep off the internet, and especially gchat, when in class. I know the temptation is super strong, but really, if you are typing away when the professor isn't talking, then it is quite obvious what you are doing. Same if the opposite is true. And really, did you forget the reflection of your screen can be seen in the window?

Also, these are just rude and disrespectful to do in class. You may think the professor doesn't notice, but I guarantee he does. You are thumbing your nose at him and basically saying your life is more important than what he has to say. That me be the case, bt you signed up for the class, now pay attention and take it. Your wasting your time and money if you can't pay attention for those two and a half hours every week, but you are also wasting that of other students.

The Next World's Fair! (Otherwise Known As Expo 2010)

This caught my eye as we read Devil In the White City for book club in January. Apparently the next Worlds Fair is to be in Shanghai and begins in May. I guess they are pushing the clock to get everything completed just as we did in Chicago in 1892. I wonder what is going to happen to all of these buildings when the Expo is over. I also wonder about the poor people who have been kicked out of their homes and had them demolished in order to make the area around the Expo look nicer. Anyway, the link reminded me of the book, and so, I thought I would share. The link is to a website with some pictures on the progress of the Expo so far.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/03/shanghai_prepares_for_expo_201.html

I'm A Sap

It has been over a month since I last posted. I guess there has just been nothing of interest really to say. Not that what I have to say tonight is really of any interest, but here it is anyway.

I admit it. I am a sap. I love the cheesy happy ending. In fact, I live for it. So much in this world is disappointing and disheartening and out of our control, that seeing those happy endings, well, they make me happy. And if I can get some laughs in, so much the better.

I say this because I am going to admit something I am semi-ashamed of: I watch (and enjoy) The Bachelor(ette). I know it is fake and contrived, and that the relationships won't last in the real world, but I like watching the show. The dates are fun and romantic and ridiculous and entertaining, so whats not to like? I even watched the wedding they showed last week. Who knows if it will last, but I enjoyed being a voyeur and watching it (along with who knows how many millions of others). And, as sappy as it is, I did tear up a little bit. Sigh.

It gets even better though. Every Monday I look forward to the wedding announcements in the Express (the daily free newspaper put out by the Washington Post). I also like to watch "Say Yes To The Dress" on TLC, and the other week I caught myself watching "Four Weddings" as well. I am not in a relationship, and let's be honest, I probably won't be for a while, but I like watching these shows. I am not on the hunt for a bridal gown or ideas for a wedding, and in fact, have never dreamed about my future wedding. I just like reading about and seeing other people who are so happy and in love.

To continue coming clean, yes I read trashy romance novels too. I read so much depressing stuff for class and work (when I had a real job), that it is nice to escape into a book where I know the ending is going to be just what I want, so I can enjoy the journey getting there. One caveat is that I do like to have some action/adventure in there, and the heroine can't be a blithering idiot. Still, I know this is hardly redeeming, and that I am wasting some brain cells every time I read one of these books. I have no regrets though, as they keep me both sane and happy. In my defense, I do love Jane Austen as well, so at least that is some classier trash, lol. It is possible of course that these novels contribute to why my standards are so high, but that is a chance I have to take, as I don't see my standards lowering any time soon.

In any case, I will (not so) proudly watch the Bachelorette when it premiers in May, and I will continue to read my trashy romance novels and watch my tv shows with their happiness practically spewing at me out of my tv. I will continue to tear up, but I will also continue to laugh and enjoy the possibilities and dreams that this (sad) little habit of mine provides. I'm a sap, but you know what, it keeps the cynical side of me balanced, and I sorely need that in this crazy world we live in.

Snow Day

Growing up in San Diego, we never missed any days due to inclement weather. I mean, let's be honest, nothing ever happens in San Diego weather wise. When we get rain, everyone overreacts because they don't understand how something wet can be falling from the sky, but this does not keep us from attending school. In fact, the only event I can recall keeping kids home are the wildfires, and that's because it isn't healthy to be out breathing in the air full of smoke and ash, even just to get to an from school. I never had one of those days because the bad wildfires happened post-high school graduation, and so never forced school to close while I was in attendance.

This is my first experience with a snow day, and man is it great. I was supposed to work on Sunday, but with the transportation system of DC shut down, there was no way to make it in. Still, I don't truly consider that a snow day since it was the weekend. However, tomorrow is Wednesday. I am supposed to work, but once again, thanks to big ass snowstorm numero dos in less than a week, no buses will be running in the District. This means I can't make it to work. Oh darn. Half of the streets of DC are still covered in snow from the last storm, so this one on top of all that ice and slush just makes the roads too dangerous to be out on. Even walking in the leftovers is dangerous, so this on top of that, well, you understand.

DC's reaction is ridiculous though. I mean, the District just completely shuts down. Apparently these snowstorms are the worst many people have ever seen, and I'm talking about people from Pennsylvania and Maine. So that on top of DC's ineptness with snow in general? Can we spell fiasco? DC is just not prepared to deal with this much snow. Schools are closed, the local government is closed, the Federal government is closed, the metro isn't running above ground, the buses aren't running, streets aren't getting plowed, etc. It is just a mess. In fact, its like San Diegans with rain, kind of a WTF is going on situation.

No complaints from me though, as I have a paper I am supposed to be writing. This gives me the perfect opportunity to procrastinate a bit more and go back to reading my pleasure book. Its about a serial killer, and is much more entertaining than how racial prejudice and the media have a role in characterizing drugs.

Happy Snow Day!

Snowmageddon!

So I survived the big Kahuna (at least 20 inches! they are counting the snowfall at Reagan as the snowfall for the District, but we definitely had about 2 feet), and we may be getting another one on Tuesday/Wednesday. So exciting. I love the snow. Abso-freaking-lutely love it. I might write an actual entry on it some time soon, but for now, here is the link to the pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Michelle.R.Roth

And here is a sample:

Tree limbs and power lines

The White House


Chilly in California

Lincoln Memorial and Reflection Pool

Walk to Lincoln Memorial

So long, farewell

Blizzard Warnings!!!!

Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
9:30 pm EST, Fri., Feb. 5, 2010

... RECORD SNOWFALL FORECAST IN THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON DC REGION...

... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS OVERNIGHT...

GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS 25 TO 35 MPH WITH VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY FALLING BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE DUE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT... PRODUCING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EAST OF INTERSTATE 95 BETWEEN BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON. ELSEWHERE AROUND THE REGION... NEAR-BLIZZARD WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR OVERNIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED OVERNIGHT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
10:44 pm EST, Fri., Feb. 5, 2010

... BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST SATURDAY...

A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST SATURDAY.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE... HEAVY SNOW... ACCOMPANIED OCCASIONALLY BY THUNDER OVERNIGHT.

* ACCUMULATIONS... WIDESPREAD STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF 20 TO 30 INCHES... WITH SOME LOCATIONS IN EXCESS OF 30 INCHES.

* TIMING... SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL OCCUR THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE MOST HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OCCURRING OVERNIGHT.

* VISIBILITIES... WIDESPREAD VISIBILITIES AT OR BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT IN HEAVY SNOW.

* TEMPERATURES... TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

* WINDS... NORTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH FREQUENT GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH OVERNIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY... ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST.

The roommates and I went out and played in the snow tonight, and it was amazing. Lots of fun acting five, throwing snowballs, taking pictures, "sledding," and watching a fire truck get stuck. Good times with pictures to follow. :-)

I love the snow... and I can't believe there is a blizzard warning and a threat of 20-30 inches of snow. I say bring it on Mother Nature. Bring It. On.

Attention Shoppers

I have been working in retail for almost two years now. This didn't really happen by choice, but by necessity. I do have savings, but I decided that I would save it until I was truly on my own, when I might need some extra cash to help with my probable low salary from my first full time job. This means that I sell my soul in retail every week to cover utilities and the fun stuff so I don't have to turn to my parents.

What this also means is that I am not some stupid little twit who chose to work in retail because I thought it was a great career. In fact, I generally hate you, the customer, because you are an idiot. I don't say this because I am smarter than you, though I probably am, but because truly, you are an idiot. To remedy this, I have put together this list of informative facts:

-Being nice never hurt anyone, and in fact, can get you more than being rude might.

-Yes, the price on the tag is how much it costs.

-Two of the same item, but in different colors are different prices you say? Shocking. I guess that means different colors are different prices. Just like always.

-I'm sorry for accosting you when you walk through the door, but its my job to greet you. Please just take pity and acknowledge me so I don't feel like any more of an idiot than I already do.

-I'm sorry for asking if you want to open up a store card. Its part of my job description. Lets just move on.

-There is no need to bring items inside-out to the registers. You know I can't throw a wadded up item of clothing into your bag, so if you want to get out of the store faster, at least put the clothes right side out.

-The fitting rooms are not your bedroom floor. Throwing clothes into a pile is rude. Do you want to try on clothes someone else has thrown into a corner with their shoes? Didn't think so.

-Yes it is my job description to fold the clothes, but is it really necessary to topple a stack you just watched me fold after I asked if I could grab you a size?

-When I am ringing up your purchases and the prices don't match what you saw on the tag, please do not jump down my throat. Nine times out of ten I know this, but it takes me a couple of seconds to manually fixit. Patience is a virtue. I suggest you get some.

-Saying you don't speak English to avoid talking to a salesperson is just rude. We don't really want to talk to you anyway.

-Talking on your cell phone at the register is also rude. I mean really, can you not put the phone down for 2 minutes? I don't want to hear about how you hate your mother, your boyfriend, or your roommate. I also don't want you to come back with questions when I could have answered them before. Just call them back.

-If you have worn it, we are not taking it back.

-I'm sorry it didn't fit, but you had 30 days to bring it back and were too lazy to do so. You snooze, you lose, and we won't take the return.

-No receipt? Bummer. Store credit is the best you are going to get, and that's pretty damn generous. For all I know, you walked in, picked it up, and now want to "return" it. Deal.

-Yeah, you're cute, and I'm embarrassed to be seen working here in front of you. That's why there will be no eye contact.

-Guys my age trying to flirt is okay. Weird old men? Not so much.

-The sign says "select styles only." I promise. No, I'm not going to make an exception. Just read the whole damn sign.

-If the sign says "3 for $24," it only applies to the table. Please do not mix and match and hope to get away with it. I'm smarter than that.

-No, I don't know when the next sale is.

-I'm sorry you forgot your coupon, but you are SOL.

I know I could add more, but all of this is basic common sense. In other words, the fact that you don't know or understand any of this is what makes you an idiot and adds to my hatred of you. Once you fix it, we can all move on. Unfortunately, I doubt you will try to fix it. Luckily, I do not intend on being in retail forever, and hope to be gone by the summer. Until that happy day, I will continue to answer your ridiculous questions, help the rude and obnoxious customers, and watch all of my hard work be ruined by inconsiderate people who do not care that I just folded that entire table that you have single handedly torn apart.

Happy shopping.

I WANT ONE!!!

The Apple iPad is here, and oh my jeez, is it pretty or what:

This thing is absolutely amazing. My impression is that is the iphone, but a lot bigger, without phone capabilities (otherwise known as the ipod touch), and with a bookstore. Thats right, it has an ibook store. Sold. Forget the nook and the sony ereader and the kindle, sign me up for an ipad.

However, I can be patient and wait a couple years to get one of these. I do think it would be a bit silly to get one now when I just got my iphone, but I can just imagine watching movies, reading a book, reading the newspaper, or playing online all on the same easy device. And for travel? Heck yes. Right now my laptop is heavy, the battery life sucks, and I can't watch movies on it for some reason. Otherwise though, it works great and I have no need to get a new one. So why not get an ipad to use for travel, whether it be to foreign countries, home to California, or on the metro to work? Its less than 2 pounds and super slim. Plus, since the screen is big, so is the touch screen keyboard, which makes it way easier to type, though I have no problems with my iphone keypad as is :-).

The little video I watched showed an amazing calendar application too, and imagining all of the iphone apps on the huge screen? Well, needless to say, I'm excited. Plus, it still has the app store and the itunes store. Ahh-mazing.

So freaking exciting. Now I just have to be patient, and when I get a job and the price goes down for the one with more storage and 3G in addition to just the wifi, that baby is sold.

Book Club Book #1 (Final Thoughts)

Alright, avoiding homework means its time to finally write a bit of a review on Devil in the White City.

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It probably won't be listed on my list of all time favorite books, but I will highly recommend it to anyone interested in architecture, serial killers, history, and/or Chicago. On Goodreads one can give 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 stars to a book. Three stars is "I liked it," 4 stars is "I really liked it," and 5 stars is "I loved it." I am going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars as I really did like the book, but there are some things that knock it down a bit.

While I found the process of building the fair fascinating, getting to that point took forever. Granted, it was a complicated process getting the fair, the architects, and all the money together, but it still took far too long to get from that to the actual building process. The kowtowing and animosity between the east and west was also a bit drawn out for my taste.

This isn't to say I did not enjoy reading the background in the beginning on Root and Burnham. That was good because looking back later on in the reading and seeing how far they, well Burnham really, had come was pretty inspiring. That one man had so much power and did not really use it for ill purposes is amazing. Burnham had a vision, and he stuck with it. Without him, I doubt the Fair would have made it to completion, and Chicago, with America, would have been a laughingstock and the joke of the world. He was quite the man.

I do wish the chapters on Holmes had been longer. The title of the book is "The Devil in the White City," so I thought there would be more about this particular Devil than there actually was. In other words, I believe he deserved to be covered more than he was. Yes, the whole ending was about him and the search for the Pitezel children, but that was post-fair, and I wanted more during the fair.

I guess I also was expecting there to be more of a relationship between the two stories than there actually was. I have read a book in the past where there are two parallel lives going on (The Bureau and the Mole), and there was more of a link between those stories than here. Rarely was Holmes seen at the fair, and never with someone who we hadn't already met (like Minni and her sister). I know the author was trying to avoid speculation and such, but once again the title "The Devil in the White City" led me to believe there would be more of a link shown. I think the book could have been two entirely separate novels and nothing would be lost; that's how little I felt they were related by the author.

As to the story line about Mayor Harrison and Prendergast, I thought it was kind of pointless, distracting, and that it pulled away from the story instead of adding to it.

I did enjoy the odd little tidbits: Twain never making it to the actual fair, Helen Keller meeting the guy who created the Braille typewriter, the Spanish Princess' visit and her relationship with Chicago's high society, the info on Annie Oakley and Buffalo Bill, Walt Disney's father being one of the builders, L. Frank Baum visiting and creating Oz in the Wizard of Oz from his visit to the White City, Susan B. Anthony's visit, Frank Lloyd Wright's relationship with Sullivan and the fair, and finally, the building of the Ferris wheel. While the Ferris wheel may not be seen as having the same iconic status as the Eiffel Tower that was created for the World Fair in Paris, it is still pretty freaking awesome. Especially as we now know what Ferris was up against. It was a marvel of engineering ingenuity.

For all the the terrible crap that women went through in this book, I found it refreshing that Burnham was so in love with his wife and wrote her constantly. He was a nice foil to Holmes, I just wish it had more pronounced, as stated above.

There were some fun moments for me reading the book as well. When the author is describing the 4th of July and Chicago Day, I was trying to imagine what it would feel like to be in that kind of crowd, where there are literally thousands upon thousands of people who are all feeling the same exhilarating emotions. Then I remembered, the Inauguration in DC must have been similar to that: it was the feeling of being a part of something bigger than you are, and knowing that nothing can ever compare or outdo it in any possible way. I don't think that happens very much in the world, much less the US, any more, as we are all so focused on ourselves, our own beliefs, and the belief that everyone else is wrong. Its unfortunate, as that was one of the best feelings I have ever had.

Its also sad that little to nothing is left of the White City. As I was reading I was thinking it would be great to go to Chicago and check some of this out. Then I got to the end of the book and the fire. I suppose it is almost appropriate though, as it never would have lasted. It is funny though, I am pretty sure that one of the parks mentioned in the book is where the election party was held for Obama on Nov 4, 2008...Jackson Park maybe? Random. :-)

I'm not sure what else to write about, so if more comes to me, I will post again. Overall though, I think it was a great first book for this nascent book club of ours. Reading other posts was fun and I don't know when I would have gotten to this book otherwise. All in all, a good choice and a good read.

It's A Crapshoot

Truer words were never spoken.

I'm sitting here waiting for my test and listening to some of the people around me talking about it. The study guide makes me believe that the guy who made the above statement is quite right. It isn't based on knowledge, but on a standardized test that is not even completely objective. I feel like I have nothing to lose though, which is why I am taking it. So, here it goes, and wish me luck.

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Community Table

Dad was here this weekend to sign the final papers for the condo, and it was super nice to see him and Meaghan. After signing the papers, we got some basics for the condo, like tp and hand soap, as well as some linens for the sofa bed. Anyone want to come visit? Haha. It is so weird to think that I could move over there whenever I want. For now though, I am going to stay where I am and take advantage of it for studying purposes, otherwise leaving it mostly alone.

In any case, the real reason I am posting is because I noticed a common theme at the restaurants in CH: community tables. At Chipotle, our lunch stop, after getting your food you sat down at a long community table that seats around 12 people. At dinner that night at the Heights, we could have waited 20-30 min, or sat at one of the 2 (or 3?) community tables, which sat 10. We chose the community table, and while service was slow, it wasn't bad. The next night, we went to an Italian place, and once again, the community tables system was in effect. It was so odd to see at so many places, so maybe it is a CH thing, I don't know. In any case, it was interesting, and I am definitely going back to all of those places at some point, especially because they are literally in my building. :-)

Partisan Politics

I was reading the news today and came across an article saying that the nominee for head of TSA withdrew. He did so bc the republicans believe that he will allow collective bargaining for the thousands of employees who work for TSA, and he didn't think he would get the votes he needed to get confirmed. I'm sorry, but I care more about my safety and security than I do about unionization, and this guy is beyond qualified. The republicans need to worry about what really matters, not this kind of stuff. It's more partisan than anything. If there is another problem with airplane security, I will blame the idiots against this guy before I blame anyone else.


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What Next?

So I'm sitting here avoiding my homework, as well as writing up my little review for DITWC, and trying to think of what to read next. Perusing Goodreads and my to-be-read pile, there are a few options I might suggest.

Keeping with the Chicago/non-fiction theme, there is Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul.

Or there is Water for Elephants, which has received rave reviews from everyone and their mother... including my mom. A love story and a circus, how could this go wrong?

There is also the first Bond novel, Casino Royale, or maybe a Sherlock Holmes story. I want to see the movies and read the books, so this would push me to do so.

Another possibility is The Red Tent, which has been recommended to me by many, from religious people to non-religious people.

The Alchemist is also supposed to be quite the read.

Looking on the Goodreads site for book-club books, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn looked good. It is a coming of age story about a girl who perseveres through multiple hardships.

I have also never read Lord of the Flies or Catch-22, and as they are "classics," I should get to them one of these days.

Dracula could be fun, especially with all of the vampire mania going around now. Or, less depressing but in the same vein (haha) would be the first Sookie Stackhouse novel, which is more appealing to me than a Twilight book.

So many options! And that is just the tip of the iceberg. I am absolutely willing to read a book not on the list too. In fact, I am thinking of starting "Emma," by Jane Austen tonight, as this is another "classic" I never got around to reading. Oh books, how I love thee. From the ridiculous (Heat Wave by ABC) to the classics (Pride and Prejudice), they always keep me happy.

Happy reading.... and I promise to write my summary of DITWC soon!

Finisco!

I just finished Devil in the White City, woohoo! It was a quality book and I am glad I finally got around to reading it. Thoughts on the book to come later :-)


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More DITWC

Some random notes...

What is the point of the short chapters on Prendergast? He has no relation to the fair or to Holmes at this point, and seems to be a waste of space. Arg. I hope this gets explained at some point.

Also, tres cool to learn the origins of the "Ferris Wheel." I am waiting with bated breath as to whether or not it gets completed on time. (Pg 185)

I had no idea the origins of the Pledge of Allegiance has its roots in the 1893 Worlds Fair. (Pg 181)

The timeline is a little funky to me, as we just moved from January 1892 to October 1892 to January 1893 with a turn of the page. A bit confusing when everything else was so drawn out.

How creepy is it that Holmes took off some of the skin of his victims? Ewwww. And how was this not disturbing (and a sign of a serial killer) to the guy who took the bodies and prepared them to sell to universities?

At this point I am on page 192. All in all, it has been a great book so far, and I am quite happy to finally be reading it. :-)

The Devil In The White City

I am not entirely sure what to do for a book club when the participants are on opposite sides of the country, and when one was an English major and the other most definitely was not, but here are some thoughts and ramblings.

The first book of this amazing book club is Devil in the White City by Eric Larson. So far, it seems to me to be about the construction of the World Fair in Chicago, the architects who built it, and the madman who used it to further his habit of lying, cheating, stealing, and murdering innocent people. I started the book while on the plane heading east on Friday, and am about 135 pages in so far.

At this point, I must admit that Holmes is of more interest to me then the architects, as evidenced by that fact that I can remember his name but not the main guy off the top of my head (though I do remember that it starts with a B, his partner is Root, and Olmsted is the landscape guy, lol). This is not to say that the architecture of the fair is not interesting to me, just that it is a bit dry and taking a long time to get through, and not just in pages, but in months and years story wise as well.

I suppose this is appropriate though, as the building of the exposition dragged on and on for months, with various committees mucking it up. In fact, as I read about the committees, I see a correlation between what happened with the World Fair and what happens every day in current times. For example, look at the World War II Memorial versus the Vietnam War Memorial. The WWII Memorial was designed by a committee while the Vietnam War Memorial was designed by a single architect. Personally, I really dislike the WWII Memorial, and consider it ostentatious and overdone. By having a committee involved, everyone had to have their say and wanted their own point of view included in the final product. This is the same in the book, where there are two main committees who each want control over the fair. leading to arguments, the stalling the start of the work, and slowing the pace of the work once it finally begins.

The architects themselves seems to be egomaniacs. This is not to diminish their brilliance or anything, but the Eastern ones also seem to rely on Hunt (I think?) to make the decisions, and then follow blindly along. Why couldn't they just decide to do it or not on their own, like the guy from the Midwest did? Another scene with the architects that stands out to me is where they are all unveiling their drawing for the fair, their works of art, to hushed, reverent silence. Larson notes that everyone whispered instead of speaking in normal tones, which just seems weird, haha. Also in this scene, there was one design that was bigger (better) than Hunt's, so it was voluntarily reduced. Wtf? I can't see that happening today. Ah well, the ego is a funny thing, and it will be interesting to see how these men work together to build the fair.

The labor issues are just beginning, and I am wondering how much of a role the Unions will have in the rest of the book and the Fair itself.

Also, the rivalry between the East and West is fun to follow, and reminds me a bit of the NorCal/SoCal debates. One could also argue that there is still a rivalry between the coasts, but where the middle of the country fits in those debates (i.e. Chicago), is to be unclear.

Another thing that sticks out in my mind is the minimal role of women in the design and building of the Fair. There has been one mention of a woman winning a contest to design a building, and how her award was $1000 versus the $10000 the men get, and that's about it. Unless of course, Larson is speaking of women getting lost in the city, falling easy prey to Holmes' charms, or their roles as wives to the "brilliant" architects. Granted, its possible women did not have that great of role in the Fair, and it is true that they were the main victims of the times, but I find myself wishing for a bit more depth in the women spoken of, rather than the simpering over Holmes we seem to get in every chapter that covers him.

I do like the format of the book: the way it goes from the architects to Holmes and back. It keeps it interesting and spices up what might otherwise be a slightly boring history lesson on the Fair. This way we get to see the role the Fair played in the psychopaths evolution, and learn about architecture, the society of the times, and all that went in to the creation of the Fair. I do get the feeling that Larson was more interested in the Fair itself, and that he tossed in Holmes in order to keep the readers interested in his pet project. Its working though, as I am excited to keep reading, so no complaints here.

One last note: I think it is fascinating that by choosing AC instead of DC for the electrical current for the fair, the committee essentially chose the current we use primarily today.

And that's it for now, back to reading and I will post more thoughts on the book sometime soon.

Holidaze

So I am on my way again, this time back to DC from SD. I am leaving 70 degree weather for 20 degree weather . What am I thinking? Sigh. No cute guy is next to me either, bummer. The bonus is that I somehow ended up in economy plus, meaning that I have extra leg room! Score! The movie being shown is "Love Happens," which I have never even heard of, so I will probably read instead. I have a couple magazines, my current book, and my book club book, so I think I am all set. Hopefully we will have a tailwind and get in early; as of now we are scheduled to land ten min late.

The biggest bummer is that I didn't get my last taste of in'n out because mom was running late getting me to the airport. Sigh. Oh well.

I think I will miss Riley the most, as I will miss him growing up. I hope he remembers me when I come home next. We shall see.





Now it's into the skies I go! See you on the east coast! :-)

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How did you spend your first day of 2010?

I woke up this morning to my mom telling me that my grandmother is in the hospital in LA and she is leaving in 20 min. So I of course go with her, and we get to LA by 1pm. From what we have been told, she might have had a stroke. I have yet to see her as she has been having multiple ct scans throughout the afternoon/evening. Sitting and waiting has to be the most frustrating thing in the world. In addition, I am hearing the arguments between mom and her sisters. Fun times. Happy freaking new year.

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UPDATE: It was a brain hemorrhage of unknown origins, I got to see her, and 1.5 weeks later she has been moved out of ICU. She also has a broken rib and is a prime candidate for pneumonia bc she isn't breathing well. Awesome.