Muzak

If you don't listen to Opeth,

You should begin to.

As soon as possible.

Oh HE-EY!!!

Alrighty... so there has been a long lapse in blogging. I've had, more important things to do. I quit The Market, took a little vaca to the 'port,' and have a week of Wawa under my belt.

Let me clarify: not Wawa the store-associate-I-wanna-kill-everyone job. I work for corporate now! I'm on the product development team. There are two women going on maternity leave in a month so I'm going to be doing their jobs while they're gone. Awesome!

This co-op is a lot more important to me than my Campbell's co-op was. I'm not sure what it is about this job that makes it so much more... more! I think I'm more mature and now I don't have school to go back to. This is my career now. Career. What a grown up word! I really want to impress at this job too so that it can either turn into something long term or give me awesome references.

This also gives me a substantial paycheck. Money, more than anything else, means Independence. I can't wait to move out. I'm ready.

I should keep writing... but I'm sleepy and the TV is on and I have to move laundry. I just thought I would give a five second update. Oh, and FYI: I can't wait to go see Julie & Julia.

A boo-hoo update!

The number of posts for my photoblog is catching up so quickly with that of this blog!

It seems that I have a lot on my mind... but it's just cycling through and would take way too long to type into words... I can't focus my attention on my silly thoughts THAT much. Besides, I think my photoblog says a LOT about what's going on in my day-to-day. Maybe I subconciously think it would be redundant to put my photo's into paragraph form? I already give a little synopsis for each photo and I hope that each speaks enough for itself.

Or maybe my life is just too drama-free. I don't really hate anyone, I don't want to rant about work, I'm not a single gal searching for the perfect relationship, nor a married one complaining because I feel it's my wifely duty. My friends don't create problems, my family is pretty easy going. There's no school anymore to ponder on. Hrm. Maybe I'm just a boring fuck face.

I'm never bored but I don't feel like what I do is in anyway interesting enough to waste time putting into words for other people to waste their time reading. I'm far too normal and keep my opinions to myself ("play the game"). I'm not a pushover but I'm not an instigater. I don't hang out with "the wrong crowd" for thrills. I'm not a generally angry or uptight person. I want to be out there experiencing things... not seeing them through a computer screen.

I will do my best to update here and there... but until BIG NEWS strikes, I think I'm gonna lie low and focus on my photo blog. I lurve you photoblog!!!!

Bring it!

I know... I'm supposed to have more time now that I've graduated... and here I am still neglecting my blog.

There isn't any good way for me to put into words how I felt on my graduation day, so maybe that's why I haven't written anything about it. Imagine being as proud as your self as you've ever been and being surrounded by people that are thrilled to death my your achievements and surrounded by hundreds of friends feeling the exact same way. It's absolutely mind blowing!!! All the support I've gotten in the past four years from my family, immediate and extended, and Wes and my friends was all turned into happiness for me and beamed towards me in one day. I still get goosebumps when I think about it!!!!

All that happiness and euphoria and pride is still there... but now it's job hunting and moving on with things. Moving out and getting a job I like seem so within reach that I can't stand waiting any longer! I'm always on the edge of just going berserk with insane happiness that I can finally move on with things and get a place that I'm content and comfortable with.

Don't get me wrong though, it's very, very strange and almost uncomfortable that I won't be going back next semester... but I don't ever really intend on being "done" with school. I'm pretty sure I could go for the rest of my life... but it just doesn't "pay" to be a full-time college student and I need to make some $$ gosh darn!!!

I don't think I'm going to hold out for the "perfect job," but I am going to try and find something that I can learn a lot from and enjoy for a while... or a long time, even.

I'm ready for the real world!!!

quick update

Tonight, Wes and Mike provided my "photo session."

We went to "guth" and I photographed them doing silly and ridiculous boy things.

Hopefully tomorrow morning I'll have the photo's up... once I get them onto my computer and edited (they're nighttime photo's so need a little bit), I'll get a couple up. There are two that I really wanna post...

So wait, and see!!!

All The Time in the World...

THIS is what free time is!!

Having no homework, no tests, no papers, nothing to print, edit, or proof-read leaves me with a lot of free time.

Tonight... after work, Wes and I went to see The Soloist. Very profound. Very enjoyable. Makes me just that much more scared of someday developing schizophrenia. Then we went to Dairy Queen and shared an ice cream cone while sitting in the trunk of his car huddled under a blanket (it's in the mid-fifties, ya know).

And then?... I surfed iTunes for music. Didn't find anything worth getting excited about... but the fact that I could dick around and not be doing it to distract myself from legitimate work is an AWESOME feeling.

I could get used to this...

Catching up!

ALSO
I felt that my wintry theme was screaming "this is a neglected blog!" so I updated and made it a little more current-weather-conditions-appropriate.

Maybe a little too "girlie" for me... but they're happy, feel good colors. So be happy and feel good!

Motorbikes and Tattoo's (what else is new)

I have so much catching up to do on my beloved photo blog... and on this... abused, left-for-forgotten blog.

The good news is that from the grades I've gotten back so far, I can tell I'm not going to need to worry about changing the "3.7" I got tattooed a couple of weeks back. So far all A's and one B+. My 3.754 may actually go up a smidgen!

The bad news... I'm am not stuck in that college-graduate-young-adult-responsibilities-versus-fun state of mind. Wes and I visited his cousin yesterday and looked at her motorbike. It's a 1995 Suzuki GS500E that she bought brand new (15ish years ago). There are only 5,700 miles on it though! Apparently, she got into an "accident" on it a few years back and never really bothered to get back on. She fixed it and all... but just let it sit. Which is probably the worst thing she could've done because now this visually stunning little beaut doesn't work. She'll start up, but there's smoke and stuttering and I guess it stalls out when you push the throttle at all. Wes is pretty sure he can fix it (and I'm sure he can too). She was going to pay to have it fixed, an estimated $400, and then sell it to us for $1,000. Wes told her that he was confident in his ability to fix it (seeing as how his bike had been in a thousand and one pieces only a few months ago) and she said, "ok, fine. As is for $750." Which... doesn't make any sense? But whatever. She's family so he doesn't feel comfortable haggling.

So then the question: Is it worth spending a possible months rent on a motorbike for me? I am completely happy riding on the back of Wes's, but I sure that I would looooove having my own. Plus, it would just be the $750 up-front. No monthly payments. And insurance would be, what? $50 a year? Pft. But then, you have to take into consideration the 'rents. The parents, that is. Wes' parents make scowling faces at us whenever we leave the house. I work a lot. But I don't make a lot. So, even working 40 hours a week for $8/hour, I make enough to pay for my car (payment, insurance, gas), my credit card payment, my ring payment, and Wes' parents monthly rent fees. All said and done, I have diddly squat left. I've been able to put a few hundred dollars in there... but it's still measly. Either way though, we get the pressure about moving out and blah blah blah.

Look: I could have all the money in the world saved up. BUT if I'm not bringing in enough to support my current lifestyle, that money will run out sooner rather than later. That was part of the problem before. I got a (small) student loan out to pay for rent while we lived in Gwynedd, but we didn't make enough to live without that money. I do NOT want that to happen again. I am not going to deplete my savings on first and last month and security deposit and have nothing left for the following month. I need to make sure that what we're bringing in will let us live without tapping into what we've been able to save.

That said, some people (cough) just don't seem to grasp that concept. They just think that it's saving up money now to live off of later. That's STUPID and it didn't work before... so why would it work now?

To return to my initial point... can we justify pulling $750 together for a motorbike? Keep in mind, this is an extremely good deal for a motorcycle such as this. Even though it's un-ridable, it's still a steal. But the pressure to move out is overwhelming at times... even though we've been told that there is "no pressure."

So... I have a plan! First, I would like to get my permit and have Wes and I take the free motorcycle courses that PA offers. There is classroom and motorbike time. I want to get the feel for it and make sure it's something that I'll enjoy as much as I think I'll enjoy it. Then, as the end of the class, you can take your test and get your motorcycle licence. That would be doubley good for Wes and I to have. By the time all that happens, we'll have hopefully figured out my job situation and our living establishments and know if we can spare $750. If I do indeed love to ride and we do indeed have the money, I honestly don't see why it wouldn't be a good idea to buy. Worse comes to worse, we buy it, spend a few hundred dollars to fix it and turn around and sell it for $2,000.

We'll see... there are just too many variable to consider right now... too many things can could go one way or another.

*sigh* at least there is no hurry to make a decision. That really helps the situation.

P.S.
The new tattoo is feeling great and I love it more and more!! It's my first visible one so it's a really big deal to me. Lynette's seems to be going well too. The healing process can be uncomfortable but she's handling everything very well. Yay!

I have my next one planned: portrait of Da Vinci with the quote "Simplicity is Ultimate Sophistication." Lovely!

tattooz

I know I haven't been so good with keeping up with this blog lately... but there's an excuse for that... and it's collge.

Now that I am DONE with school, I hope to find more time for this blog AND my beloved, ignored, on-the-back-burner photoblog.

While we're on the subject of my lack of blog... I thought I might as well just blog while I'm here!

I got a new tattoo today (check the photo blog for the picture!). I got the MySpace message a few days ago, went in last night, looked at the available designs, and made my appointment.

While look through the 100+ designs, I found one that I KNEW was for me and exactly where I wanted it. A first for me? Being able to make a definitive decision? Yes!

So my friend, Lynette, accompanied me on my quest for lovely body art today. She's been saying for months that she wants a panther tattoo on her back... so she and my tattoo artist (Karel... check him at Fyre Body Arts in Perkasie PA, he's awesome) set up an appointment for Friday (today? alread?). He only quoted her $200 and I was think hers would be $300... so that pretty much sold her!

So, not only did I get a lovely piece of art tonight.. but I get to go in again tomorrow and watch a good friend get her first piece. It's a lovely thing :)

Foodz

yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. It's been too long.

I discovered Food, Inc. today and thought that that was worth writing about.

It's a movie that tears apart the food industry.

Look, I've spend the past four years learning the ins and outs of the food industry and I know it's crap. But, for the general consumer, this movie is going to scare them. Remeber The Jungle? Yeah, that was this movie about 60 years ago. Does the food industry need to change? Absolutely (there are reasons I didn't apply to work at Campbell's ya know). Are people going to be willing to spend more on groceries than they already do? No. Are people going to start cooking more so that they can control all the ingredients in their diets? No.

The problem, of course, begins with the food industry but it's the consumer that demands convenience and low prices that fuel it. People want to convert to all organic meats? Alrighty, but don't expect it to be cheap or always there when you want it. No pesticides on vegetables? Again, alrighty, but your produce is going to be smaller, not last as long, and will probably look like shit. No preservatives? Ok, just expect short shelf life, gross colors and lots of off flavors. Stop buying Dorito's (msg alert!) and deli meat (whoa sodium and sulfates and nitrates!) and anything baked, pop corn, soda, "fruit" drinks, cereal, peanut butter, TV dinners, ice cream and about 90% of all the stuff on the shelves (high fructose corn syrup). Don't eat any hydrogenated fats, aka saturated fats, aka "bad" fats (solid at room temperature).

Bah. It needs to change from both sides. Producers and consumers. Gosh darn!

muzak

ye gads. A week has gone by since my last post!

I just don't have the time and interest... I've said this before.

I wanted to make it a point to get on here and say that easter is fake holiday. If I have to work that day and don't get time and half... it's not a real holiday. Obviously.

We listened to Black Rebel Motorcyle Club all day on Sunday. That made it worth it.

Today; Radiohead and Richie Kotzen. Yum.

The Kindest Truths are Often Spoken but Never Heard

That quote is dedicated to my Food Processing and Preservation professor (the new foodie in the department).

She is like a mother on crack that just doesn't understand people.

Whenever we go somewhere she brings her little P&S (point and shoot) camera and says those stereotypical phrases,
"Everyone smile!"
"Line up! Tallest people in the back!"
"Look like you're having a good time!"
"Stop hiding! This is going to be on the website!!"

It's embarrassing. We're wishing we were two inches tall and invisible and she's standing there, smiling like a fucking clown and telling us to stand up straight and how awesome we look in our bump caps, too-large lab coats, and unflattering safety goggles (? really?).

Why is she on crack? Well, she's a marathon runner so she has the body of a 12-year old boy. And she never really seems to have a grasp of what's going on. For instance, one student blantly told her she missed class because she felt like sleeping in... and about 10 seconds later this professor is saying she understand that the students alarm didn't go off. No, lady, she purposely missed your class! It wasn't an accident!! wahahahahahahahahahaha!

She's just crazy, yo.

Only 3 more weeks of her... then I'M DONE!

I didn't know me

I'm enjoying my Psychology class more and more... but it's also a little unnerving.

With the "I'm learning a lot about people and why they work the way they do," I'm also learning a lot about myself and what makes me tick and why I have my personality flaws, etc.

Every class it seems I have an AH-HA! moment where I realize that something I did or thought or felt or a way in which I acted was because it's more-or-less normal psychology. It's bizaar!

Today I found out that:
- I'm more like a Type A personality even though I'd like to be a Type B with the motivation of a Type A
- I have too much stress. I'm anxious and tense now and If I keep going like this, I'll end up with long-term problems. Whoopie!
- When I had my car accident over two years ago, I took me over a month to finally get upset about it. Yup, that would have been an example of posttraumatic stress disorder. I definitely experienced the Five Stages:

• Psychic Numbness - shutting down of mind and emotion
• Automatic Action - calling 911, calling insurence, calling Mum
• Communal Effort - Wes' dad lent me his car until I got a new one
• Letdown - Phsycially/Emotionall worn out. This is when I finally got upset, a month later.
• Recovery - I had my new car and it drove fine. I just had to get used to not seeing my little red escort.

- Change can be hazardous to your health!!!!! That's why people are happy with things never really changing. Example: My job. I just changed jobs and even though I'm less sleepy and therefore less irritable, but I'm more stressed therefore more irritable. So really, it all balanced out.

I have to go birthday shopping for my Wesley now... yay! something fun today!

A prick indeed.

I have homework; quizzes, papers, practice problems, reviews, a test to study for. I have laundry. I need to clean the room. I need to fix my destroyed nails (thanks work). I should shower and give the new tattoo some TLC.

And here I am blogging. What's wrong with me?

One of the chefs I work with is a prick... and it's exhausting to work with pricks. They're always giving you shit and assuming you'll do something wrong or forget to do it and are just anal, anal, anal. I don't know if he doesn't realize that we all have friends, and some of have school, and just other obligations in general... but he's an uber prick about giving "time off." It's not even really "time off." It's still a 40 hour week for most, just "off" on days they're not 'normally' off (we don't really know what "normal" is just yet). He's giving on the girls a really hard time because she has a doctors appointment that's already been rescheduled twice and she has a two-hour one-way drive. She obviously can't work that night and this douche fag is telling her to reschedule again or come to work that day, leave with barely enough time to get there for her appointment, turn around, and drive back to work. Really? This isn't her career you fucking idiot. She's a college kid that needs money. Back the fuck off. When would be most convenient for you for her to make a trip home to see her family and go to her appointment? Prick.

I'm ready to be done.

I'll sleep when I'm dead.

I have religion class today which means I have relgion homework due today which means I wrote non-sensicle things just to finish it and have something to hand in. Here is my answer to question #1:

1. What does death mean to you personally?

Death happens. People die. There isn’t anything you can do to stop it, although people will try to prolong their lives by hooking themselves up to machines and subjecting their bodies to awful drugs to avoid it.

It’s inevitable. Why be scared of it?

Because we’re worried about the people we’re leaving behind? I understand that it’s no fun being the one to suffer when a loved one dies, so what have we done? We’ve created this glorious after-life where our beloved go when they die so that we can tell ourselves “they’re in a better place” and not feel so bad. The afterlife also helps the bereaved feel better about the fact that someday, when they die, they’ll meet up with their dead friends and family members and have the rest of eternity to chit chat and be merry.

People are so afraid of death, I think, because they’re afraid of being forgotten. Human kind has such a fat head and huge ego that we think we are really that important in the “grand scheme of things.” If the Earth were to catch on fire and every one on it were to die, the universe wouldn’t stop for a hot second. Things would go on.

The afterlife was created for people living on the Earth, not the ones burried in it.

I’m happy living this life to its fullest and not waiting until I die to start living.

________

...So, right. The afterlife was created (by humans) for the mere purpose of making living people more content. Well... the entire idea of religion is to make people feel like they mean something to someone who won't waver in his "eternal love" as long as he is praised and worshipped according to his stipulations.

Silly religion!

Goodnight.

too sleepy to write. 10 hours at the new jerb today and a few drinks afterward and then trying to update partially abandoned photo-blerg (my parents have dial-up... remember???) from my mini-vaca. 12 hours at the new jerb tomorrow. While still extremely tired... this is MUCH more bearable than thirds.

Check out the photo-blerg for better-than-words visual update of the weekend. It was a blast!

bulletses

This is going to be a bullet-type-blog because it's quicker than complete thoughts and transitions. Here goes!

• I interviewed at The Market on Friday, they said they'd call by Wednesday, they called Saturday morning. I got the jerb! Yeah, yeah. I realize that it's eight or so weeks from graduation but I can't do thirds anymore. They are a pain in the dick.
• My completed Employment Program finally showed up on my transcript (and brought my GPA up to a 3.754!!!). Not I just have to complete the cultural enrichment BS.
• Wesley got his tires today so hopefully we can get the wheels on the bike tomorrow!!!
• I might do a picture of my Koi for yesterday's photo... but Wesley is still holding my tripod hostage
• I've decided my FP&P class is way too much work
• The career fair is in two weeks! Gots ta find me a big girl jerb!
• Traveling to my parents house this Friday and can't waaaaaiiiiiit!
• Oh... and I want to BE Kat. Don't judge me.

So over it...

I have a love/hate relationship with school. More specifically: college.

I loooooove learning. Love, love, love it. Going to class is... Ok. It's nice to do when there's nothing else I'd rather be doing. I don't even mind being tested a majority of the time. But homework and the outrageous cost of school are two things I really hate.

I basically put my life on hold for four more years and am tens of thousands of dollars in debt and feel completely out of control because I'm stuck here. I know it's what I needed to do to go where'd I'd like to later... but I've just been unhappy-ish and mediocre feeling for long enough that I almost wish I had gotten some shitty job and done school only part time.

I've been feeling really useless and hopeless lately. I think it may be the transition from school to "real life." School is all I know and it's what I'm good at. I've worked all throughout high school and college... but those were jobs, not careers... not anything I really cared about. I feel stuck in this weird overlapping wrapping-up-of-school-and-getting-on-with-it world... I'm still working so hard but there's no job waiting for me at the end so I get the "what's the point?" mentality. I wish I could just slide through these next couples months without a worry and just know that I'll get my Magna Cum Laude and I'll have a job and I'll have a better place to live and be able to sleep well for once.

Maybe I'm not so good at this "life" thing afterall.

eh?

I was this close *holds up finger and thumb* to writing another blog about my frustrations with being treated like a child... but I refrained. Instead, I emailed my mum about it. As long as I get it out, I feel better. I should probably refrain from doing it publicly in case it comes back to bite me in the arse.

I had an interview at The Market today. It's not a big-girl job, but it's a job that I'll enjoy more and that will give me more hours than Wawa. I'm torn because everyone at Wawa has been really great to me... It's just not a convenient job. They're also haven't problems with some of their workers (who think it's acceptable to drink on the job) and blah blah blah. It's all drama. D/D free is the way for me. I really wanna get back in a kitchen too. Plus, if I graduate and don't have something lined up (heaven FORBID), it'll be a lot better for me to have a day-job than my nightlife...

Anywho, I feel like it went really well and hopefully they'll give me some great news when they call back next week... YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

I got my hair cut. Again. Shorter! It's still as long in the front, but really, really short in the back with lots of layers. :)

KAT VON D TOMORROW!!!!!!

Work saturday night...

Mr. Shea's funeral Sunday.

We'll see.

"... And Bubble Gum Pie! Yum!!"

*sigh* so here we are again. The middle of the week. Ready to be done.

For dinner tonight I'm making Jambalaya. I cheated a little though. I bought a box of Jambalaya rice (Zatarain's of course), but I also got some sweet sausage, Cajun shrimp (from the deli), and a can of fire-roasted, diced tomatoes to make it a little less blah and a little more home-madey. OH! And salted potatoes as a side dish.

I'm a big fan of doing prep before I actually "cook" because it makes everything run a lot smoother and makes clean-up (Wes' job!) much easier... so my sausage is cooked and cut, the shrimp are peeled, and the potatoes are boiled, buttered, and salted. Just the rice needs to be boiled!

Work tonight. A lecture from a DelVal alumni and then lunch at Lillys with Lynette (research for my review!) tomorrow. Without a nap.

Maybe pictures of snowy campus tomorrow... maybe. I've been thinking of changing my PhotoBlog layout as well... it seems like other blogs have much more space for pictures. I upload the largest version it'll allow me too and it's not like they're small files... so I don't know why mine are coming out kinda small. ARG!

My friend, a fellow foodie from school, is weirding me out. Last Thursday, when I was out to dinner with Lynette, he texts me and asks if he can ask my advice on something that he hasn't told anyone about. Why this kid thinks my opinion is valid, I'll never know. Don't get me wrong, I'm very flattered that he's concerned with what I think, but when I say "kid," I don't mean "kid." This guy is 30 years old with a fiancee and daughter! Anywho, he describes this situation that I've seen and experienced a thousand times: There's this other girl and she makes me feel so special and I can tell her anything and I've known her for so long and I feel like (the fiancee) is ignoring me and I think she might be planning on leaving me... what do I do?! It's that "what do I do?" at the end that I dread.

It's easy for someone on the outside of the situation to rationalize a desirable outcome and give logical advice. But, as anyone who's been in a relationship knows, only the people within the relationship can fully understand it in all it's messy glory... and to which there is anything but logic involved. When my friend was texting (the worst way for a convo like this to be held), I know he was making this girl sound amazing and dimming his fiancee. I actually have yet to meet her, but from what I've heard of her, from my friend and from other people, she's not a terrible person by any means. My friends problem is he is extremely insecure with himself and his fiancee, who has a full-time job and is a mother to a lovely daughter, has not had the time to dote and compliment and be fully attentive to. Then this other girl comes along who he hasn't spoken to in however long, and is sweet, and adoring, and smiley and all those things that fuel my friends self-esteem.

So what do I suggest? Well, the obvious: "Don't talk to her. Don't respond to her emails/texts/calls. I'm not saying be a dick, but focus on your fiancee and your daughter. "The grass is always greener" and it's not like you're living a terrible life."

Did he listen? Not really. Apparently she came to visit him at his job (he claims that he can't avoid her because she knows where he works, lives, blah blah blah) on Monday and he wasn't willing to say, "I can't chat, I'm at work, I'm busy." So. Whatever.

Look, if the guy were obviously miserable, I'd say "Leave." But I honestly don't think he is. He just needs that attention to feel good about himself. I just hope he's smart enough not to do anything stupid.

Sno Dayz

No school today!!!!

YAYAYAY!

So Wesley is getting up early and we're going to breakfast before he has to go to work :)

****

And then I'm going to do what everyone else does on snow days: rent a bunch of movies from iTunes and hope that Wesley gets sent home!!

****

Alrighty, so I decided to start up a Flickr account because there seems to be more activity going on there than here... So, check it out!

"Not Everyone Here is That Fucked Up and Cold"

I have to write a paper for psychology class about intelligence...

Intelligence seems like an easy thing to identify... until you actually sit down and think of all the people you know and what makes them intelligent (or why they're not, should that be the case) and realize that it's actually very complicated and extremely difficult to generalize.

I need some ideas as to what "intelligence" is!!!!

A loss

Wes called me this afternoon while I was sleeping and told me he needed to drive out to Penn State and pick up Mike.

His dad had died.

Wes just got back. Poor Mike...

RIP Mr Shea.

Oscar the...

Lent bothers me. Well, religion, in general, bothers me.

I think I'm grouchy because I'm tired.

I put in my application for The Market yesterday. I told my boss at WaWa today. I haven't decided if I'm going to take The Market job if I interview and it's offered... it's difficult to tell right now when I don't really have any good leads for "big girl jobs."

I need a nap. Then I'll be more... me!

C'est la vie, mon petit chou chou*

*This is the life, my little cabbage head*

The good:
- we watched a documentary called Religulous that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's hosted by Bill Maher and is really more for laughs than info... But we did laugh. A LOT! Any one who knows me knows that I find religion preposterous so laughing at religion is an activity I enjoy.
- We watched the Oscars. I didn't think I'd get as much enjoyment out of it as I did... But it was pretty easy to pick fun at.
- BMT sandwiches (basil, mozzarella, and tomato)
- My movie and dinner date with my good, but often unheard from, friend Chris. He chose Friday the 13th. icky. It's always nice to catch up though.
- I applied for my old Market job!!!! It would be like Christmas if I got it!!
- I know how much my Wesley loves me and cares for my well-being.

The Bad:
- We spent a lot if time with Matt and Sam this weekend (that's not the bad). Matt is moving back to Rhode Island this coming weekend (that's the bad). We know he'll be happier there... But it's like one of those inevitable break-ups: everyone knows it needs to happen and it'll be better in the long run but it still doesn't hurt less. At the very least though, I think it'll give us a good reason to go to New England more often.
- I didn't get any work done.

The Ugly:
- If you read my last post, you'll get a sense of The Ugly. I wrote quite extensively about it to my mother today so I think I'm done actively thinking about. But if I think I'm having blog snoopers, it might get deleted.
-Goldie's god awful dress she wore to the oscars.

This is my first post written entirely from my iPod. To me, thats special AND it's probably the closest I've ever been to carpal tunnel!!!

Enraged

I am not a fighter. That's not to say, of course, that I'm a pacifist who lets everyone walk all over me... But I don't look for conflict, I don't enjoy conflict, and I generally try to avoid it at all costs.

I am also not a bad person. Meaning, I am respectful, work hard for what I have and where I'd like to go, I maintain healthy relationship, both romantic and friendly, I don't go out of my way to ensure other peoples misery, I don't lie, cheat, or steal, I'm not conniving or scheming, and I like trying new things.

I am also 22 years old. I like to drink in moderation, I smoke cigarettes, I like to go out to the movies and to restaurants, I like to spend money on my hobbies and interest's, and the one person I should be concerned with is me.

I'm not saying all this toot my own horn but primarily, I think, to convince myself that when people viciously attack my personality, my way of life, and my manner of doing things, that it is unwarranted.

As I've said, I don't like conflict so when someone says, "I demand that you say 'Hello' to me every time you walk by me," I do. It's not difficult nor out of my way. So I do. When someone says, "Don't do laundry past 9pm! There's no reason for that! You're going to burn the house down!" then fine, I won't do laundry past 9pm. When someone says, "You are going to pay rent and make dinner on this night," then I shall pay rent and make dinner on that night. So I do all these things, be pleasant, do my best to avoid interfering with people's day-to-day lives, don't bother their stuff, rarely eat their food, and just do my best to live in peace... and it's not enough. Of course.

What really gets to me is that when some people fight, they aren't fighting to solve any problems. They are fighting to yell intentionally hurtful words at you. Er, me, rather.

...

Unfortunately I had a 12-hour interruption so this blog will have to end there... I still get the angry shakes and that upset stomach, anxious feeling that you tend to get when you know you're in trouble and haven't yet faced the consequences. The whole thing is bologna.

AH!!

I went to see Friday the 13th with my friend Chris last night... I hate, hate, HATE scary movies!! I'm so tense and jumpy the whole time. My whole body literally hurts afterwards (because I sit in my seat in the fetal position like a little bitch). But, I have found that a couple of glasses of wine after such an awful experience makes feel much better and less paranoid.

I realize that my photo blog has suffered somewhat this week but don't worry! I ghave plans for all my pictures, I just need to get around to getting them up. As soon as I get grumpy up, I'm giving him a Mohawk so I suspect that'll be today's picture... So don't give up on it just yet!!!

Short N Sweet

Ah ha!!!!!

I've finally discovered how to blog from my iPod!!

Not that I NEED too... But I CAN and that's all that matters :)

I will be watching Choke then napping before work... Should any one need to find me

Wineing and Cleaning

Yay! Thursday!

Wait... no? Dammit. It's only Wednesday. Wishful thinking...

Since the people that run DelVal are half-retarded (no offense to retarded people of all levels) tomorrow is a Monday schedule... which means I go from no classes to class from 8-4:20. Super!

We went to Pottstown to pick up the motorbike pieces last night. They look AWESOME! Unfortunately, the sun hasn't been out so I haven't had the chance to take any pictures of the little beauties. The paint job Wes decided on (black paint, red pearl, matte finish) goes for about $3,000... and he paid $84 for it. Nevermind the 30 or so hours the boys spent sanding the damn thing. It is lovely though! The pearl only really comes out in strong inandescent or sun light... otherwise is just looks flat black. It's a really mysterious trick! So hopefully pictures soon!

Tonight we're cleaning the bike (read: the frame and componants) and getting ready to put her back together (then I can stop blogging about it and we can actually ride it!!!).

Things that are currently exciting:
- Being that much closer to done with the bike
- I rented Choke through iTunes today (I have 30 days to watch it and a 24 hours period to finish it once I've started it)
- The slight bit of snow we had today because if it's not going to be 70 degrees, it should be snowing
- Ordered my graduation announcements
- Having psychology two days in a row
- No work tonight!
- Which means I'm drinking my bottle of Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio by Beringer (while cleaning the bike)!!
- The weekend is just around the corner

Blah, Blah, Blah. Oh! I've decided my next piercing is going to be a navel (inverse, perhaps?). It'll be my first below-the-neck piercing. I find that mildly exciting.

blah blah boring

haw jeeze... no post since Thursday?

I've really been too tired and uninterested in this blog to want to write everyday. My photoblog is a completely different story though. It's not that I find that one easier to maintain, it's just more exciting I think because it's (usually) quick, to the point, and visually stimulating. I love reading and writing, but pictures say a lot more and even leave some up to the imagination.

Friday we went to see Misstallica and Tragedy... but bailed before Guns and Roses so missed Tragedy. Misstallica was insane and a whole lotta fun. The David Bowie tribute band that went on first was... interesting to say the least. I'm not familiar enough with the Ziggie Stardust aspect of Bowie to have been moved or terribly interested in what was going on on stage. The singers outfit was the only thing that kept my attention (can't use words to describe it).

From Philly we went to The Horse in Perkasie. We had tickets for free drinks and it's tons closer to 'home.' Our first two drinks were free (the bartender likes us) and there were almost multiple fights and someone told me that my style was much more "beat box" than Mikes. That made me giggle.

Saturday started well... we went for coffee and breakfast then decided to head straight for the movies... we saw He's Just Not That Into You (my choice, obviously, which Wesley stayed awake for AND sat quietly through!). Then, back at the house afterwards, there were some 'discussions' that led to quite a bit of anger from our end... but the promise of dinner and wine at Matt's that evening was exciting (salmon, asparagus, brown rice, and strawberry and spinach salad!!!).

Sunday (NOT Saturday) was bike-painting day. Tonight we'll get to see the finished pieces... I'm wicked excited!

I tried to nap for a couple of hours Sunday (NOT Saturday) evening before my 11-hour shift at the goose... it didn't go well and it ended up being more like 12 hours... so I crashed Monday morning. I worked again last night and just got off work an hour and a half ago and came straight to campus. I'm supposed to be doing my lab for class in another two hours... but my attention span is non-existent. I think that's the only thing that keeps this blog alive during the semester: my attempt at avoiding actual work.

I smell like hoagie and coffee. My eyes feel like sandpaper. My brain is fried. I just wanna be in bed :(

WOW! It sure is windy!

THANK GOD IT'S THURSDAY!

Thursdays are my Fridays... technically the end-of-my-week. I have one class on Friday... but as of Thursday evenings, I'm ready to just chillax. The craziness of school-work-school-homework-school-work really beats me up. Today though, I got back to the house, sent Wes on his way and then settled down for some baking and sewing. Um, yeah. Baking. And sewing. I made banana bread with the mushy banana's from work and fixed a couple of holes in some or our favorite sweatshirts. My baking skills are much better than my sewing skills, but I can manage with a needle and thread.

Yesterday I went to Lilly's with one of my managers from WaWa. She and her husband make a lot of money (he owns a Domino's franchise) and they have no kids so she likes to take our her employees I guess. I got the red hot chile peppers sandwich and she got the allman brothers wrap. My sandwich was good... it was like a home-made sandwich... only better! I think I'm going to do a review of Lilly's for my next RamPages blog. I'd like to go at least one more time, maybe two, before I form an official opinion about the place.

So... Valentines Day this weekend. It's a made-up holiday so Wes and I don't typically "celebrate." Meh. I think we usually get/do practical stuff for each other because that's more important than lavishes.

Spaghetti and Meatballs tonight at Matt's (to replace my Wine&Tattoo night...). The bike should be all painted by the end of this weekend... BUT no bolts to put anything back on! It'll be done soon though... it's wicked exciting!

Too Frustrated for Words

I'm a fat racist. No... I'm not saying that I'm fat and racist, I'm saying that I have a problem with fat people... and it all stemmed from my idiot "advisor."

He's a closet eater with an ego bigger than his waist. I can't concentrate on what he's saying through all the fat jiggling around his jowls. He walks like a penguine and breathes like an asthmatic that just ran a marathon. He's disgusting and in love with himself. Oh, and has no idea what fuck is going on, ever. I've given up going to him to be "advised" because he has no concept of anything.

All this anger stems from the fact that I thought my employment program was done and taken care of... until I went to the Career Office and inquired as to why my grade hadn't shown up on my transcript. And they were like, "oh, well, we don't have your capstone or resumee." AHHHHHHHHH. The fat man told me to send them to him and he would grade them and send them over to the office. That was in November, it's not February, and I'm just finding out with was never fucking followed through with!!!!

The worst part about it is that this past semester was the only semester I didn't make Dean's List... and I easily could've IF I'D GOTTEN THOSE FUCKING CREDITS. I literally missed it by 0.06 points.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH >:(

I need to hurt a fat person.

Puff the Magic Dragon

Attention! All pot-users who have insisted that it's "harmless," here's some news for ya:

Marijuana Linked to Aggressive Testicular Cancer

Yup. Stop smoking pot. Protect your balls.

Hahaha. Actually, I know better than to believe everything I read (especially all these whack studies) but since I don't like pot, I like this study (only slightly biased, right?).

Anywho... I feel confident about both tests today... so I'll be able to sleep peacefully before work. Blah.

In a flash...

This weekend!:

Friday we stayed in and watched Burn After Reading and Fargo while sipping vodka and rum. It was a cheap and relaxing evening. Plus, it was the first time Wesley and I had spent time together, just the two of us, all stinking week.

Yesterday I got Wes up early (10:30am) and we got around and went out for coffee... and a long drive. It was awesome. The weather was great and the tunez were good. We came back, putzed for a bit around the house, then headed down to Philly to meet up with Matt and Sam and go to the car show. Their friends Fank and Jade (Frank'nJade as Matt calls them) came and picked us up (yeah... 6 people in a little four-door). Frank is a valet and so gets free parking at his hotel... a convenient two blocks from the convention center! Plus his work gave him a bunch of tickets for the show... so we ended up NOT spending $16 that we had thought we were going to. Super cool!

Car show was funish. There were A LOT of people there and they all just rushed-rushed-rushed. Plus we were all trying to keep track of each other the whole time. I think it would've been less exhausting if it had just been the two of us. We went back to Sam's where a fight between the roommates broke out. We hadn't been planning on staying in Philly for the night so Wes and I left after a half an hour of yelling. We got back and ended up crossing the street to sit on John's back deck with him and Kyle for some drinks and cigarettes. We ended up being out there for 3 hours I think. It was pleasant... Until Kyle and Johns girlfriends showed up. They were both miserable for whatever reason and misery loves company. The party broke up soon after that.

Got Wes up at 9:30am today (I KNOW!!!) and we loaded up the bike pieces and headed down to Pottstown to meet up with Matt and his workplace, Pollocks. It took a couple of hours to completely prep everything (well... almost everything) for priming, but once everything was cleaned and taped and hanging, the painting went really fast. The wheels didn't get done yet because we're going to do them in one clean shot. Prime; paint; gloss. There will be less "layers" so that it won't chip from stones on the road. The front and left fairings need to be fiberglassed where cracks are and then they'll be ready. The plan, I think, is to paint the bike flat black and then, in a finishing coat, add some red pearl. So... essentially the bike itself won't be shiny or glossy, but it'll have that little something-something that'll make you look twice.

I'm really enjoying being the photo-journalist for the whole bike endeavour. Ultimately, we'd like to do a write up and submit that and a ton of the pictures to a bike magazine and maybe end up with a few page spread. That would be super awesome!

From there we ventured into Pottstown on a mission for lunch. Pottstown is like a zombie town. Literally. When people walk, you half except their arms to be out in front of them and their mouths open in a dumb, hungry gaze. It's ghetto and secretive all at once. There is something strange about everyone. Since we were all dressed to get dirty, we kinda fit right in... which was slighty alarming. It was a gloriously warm, sunny day (for the middle of February) and there were maybe 3 people on the sidewalks. Strange, strange. I wonder if the darkness shows up after sun-down?

Tonight... studying for Stats and Psych tests tomorrow. Blah. We have next Monday off from classes so it gives me an extra night to work... which is AWESOME.

The school is making it difficult to get my refund monday and my parents haven't recieved my W-2 from WaWa yet. Glorious. >:(

Can't believe it's Sunday night already...

Review!!!!

Alrighty... I don't have the patience to update since the last time I wrote... So this is my restaurant review for The Porterhouse. Enjoy!!!

For the college student with a desire for great but reasonably priced food and beer that is brewed on site to compliment the restaurants menu, The Porterhouse Brew Pub and Restaurant in Lahaska can’t be beat.

The Porterhouse is a ten minute drive from campus, straight up 202 North in Peddlers Village. It’s unassuming from the outside but guests are welcomed by the 10 vats of fermenting beer behind a wall of glass. There’s a view of the vineyards from the upper-level seating area and the overall effect of the restaurant is friendliness.

Frequented by suits-and-ties, young families, and couples young and old, The Porterhouse caters to those with a desire for great food in a comfortable atmosphere who don’t want to break the bank. The ambiance is relaxing while not too dark. Most of the employee’s are Philly sports fans so there is a good chance that one of the multiple flat-screen TV’s will be tuned in to the evenings game. Don’t worry though ladies, the volume is kept low so as to prevent that sports bar vibe.

The best time to go is Tuesday thru Thursday evenings. This is when you’ll be able to mingle with the regulars and get great one-on-one service from your wait staff or bartender. This is also the best time for more intimate dinners. Beware! If you plan on going on a Friday or Saturday evening, go early! For one, the lunch menu will be much gentler on your wallet and secondly, it’s not unusual to encounter one-hour waits as early as 6 o’clock.

For the uncertain diner, the wait staff is generous in suggesting menu items that are popular and wine or beer selections that will compliment your meal. Waiters and bartenders are great resources for a superb meal that most diners take for granted!

It’s difficult to go wrong with any of the appetizers, soups, sandwiches and salads though. These college-kid-friendly items are simple, slightly adventurous, extremely satisfying and priced well. Their renowned burgers are less than $10 (unless you upgrade to the sweet potato fries which is highly recommended by the author) as are their fresh salads and flavorful appetizers. For diners who have more sophisticated palates and a great appreciation for well cooked steaks (and, perhaps, slightly deeper pockets) the selection and the quality of Porterhouse steaks rivals those of steak houses.

Gabe, the man in charge, is often found mingling, greeting, and serving dinners. When asked how he wants people to feel when they walk into the restaurant he says simply, “Welcomed!” In these tough economic times, the restaurant industry is suffering. People realize that it’s much more cost-effective to go to a grocery store than dine out. As Gabe points out though, “…We have our regulars and our menu is consistent 99% of the time, the portion sizes are good, and the prices are modest. That’s why people keep coming back.” And when asked to pick his favorite item from the lunch menu? He considers all his options (it is an extensive menu), verbally debates with himself, then, fifteen minutes later announces, “The buffalo chicken sandwich is my favorite!”

To recap, students with grumbling bellies and thin wallets can enjoy numerous menu items for less than $10. For the best deals, go in the afternoon and eat from the lunch menu. To avoid the crowds and enjoy an intimate dinner with your sweetheart or good friends while getting attentive service, go on a weeknight. For those who get giddy about food and wine/beer pairings, ask for suggestions from the wait staff. For a couple, an appetizer to share and a sandwich or a salad each will put the bill at a comfy $30. Skip the appetizer and save $10. If your parents are visiting and offer to take you out for dinner, take the opportunity to cash in on Mom and Dad’s generosity and go to The Porterhouse and get your steak and seafood entrée’s. Just make sure to say thanks!!

whoops!

So... the great Michael Phelps made a boo-boo. Meh. He's not any less of an amazing person for his bong sucking. Really though, media has spent too much time on this. How old is? 23? For crying out loud! I read an article through msn.com about it... and some of the comments people are leaving are priceless:

- He's probably having pre-marital sex too.
- I'm going to buy an Omega watch and wear it sitting at the pool in my Speedo's (this one is concerning the decision of Omega and Speedo to not remove their Phelps endorsements)
- WOO-HOO ... companies with sense. who cares...let him have fun !
- He actually got his 9th gold medal in Beijing in the "taking bongloads freestyle" event...tee hee hee.
- Personally, instead of wasting money on drugs (shouldn't he feel good without them? If I had his money I would...) I'd go get my palate stretched. I hate his smile - his mouth is twice as wide as his teeth. Instead of spending all that money on swimming, his mother should have had his teeth fixed!
- No one smoking pot ever dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan.
- Pot is good for you. Makes you a better driver, a better lover, maybe a better athlete, cures insomnia, anorexia, cancer, common cold, plebitis, shrinks brain tumors, solves the homeless problem, improves public trainsit, and gives hiphop artists something to do while waiting for mtv to come around and do a crib show. Good stuff.
- But it does explain why he eats so much.

These, of course, are the light-hearted and funny ones (oh! and short ones). I'm pleased to see that most people think it's ridiculous how blown up this has become. I don't like pot in any way, shape or form. But Mike does, so we should just let him smoke in peace.

Oi! I have that religion class today...

So it's official!! I'm writing a foodie blog for the school!

I guess they're trying to get rid of the actual paper and just do an online thing... which makes sense I suppose. DelVal isn't necessarily known for it's outstanding journalistic endeavours, it may surprise you to discover. I'm going to be reviewing area "hot spots," more-or-less. I need to do some restaurant-reviews-reading to get an idea of just exactly how to go about doing it... But I think I'm going to do The PorterHouse for my first one (oh c'mon, everyone should've known that was coming!) and then I'll have more time to prep for my second one. Woo!

Weekend was swell... Wes, Mike and I went to Red Robbins for dinner on Friday night (they have a 27oz margarita!!). I got the french onion soup because that's usually my yummy-but-cheap fall-back... not so in this case. I guess a place known for its burgers can't be expected to make half-decent onion soup, unfortunately. From there we went to The Horse (formally, The White Horse) which was dead for a Friday night. Good for us. Bad for the owners. There were literally just enough people there to fill the bar. We really liked it, obviously, because it's a lot of chatting with the bartenders and making good with the guy that runs the place plus we're not being pushed around and having a tough time getting service. A BUSCH rep was there so we got free junk and free beer (I opted for the Labatt's over the Bud Light... ick) so all was swell.

Saturday was relax and recover day. Wes and Mike went to Mike's brothers house... I stayed behind. And napped. It was glorious. They're taking a hiatus from stinky Sean because he has a habit of hooking up with everyones ex-girlfriends (I think he's up to 5 or 6 and still going strong)... which is uber shitty of him. The worst BO ever, has a "fiance," and still manages to find other girls that will get naked with him? What is this world coming to!!!???

Sunday we went to the pet store and food for the pig. I finally broke down and bought him a giant ball because he's a little tub-tub and we don't let him run around as much as we used to in Gwynedd. Sadly, piggie did not appreciate the ball as much as we did. He literally just sat in it for an hour and was like, "What the F*%# do you want me to do?" Oh well. I'll keep trying it... hopefully he'll get the hang of it.

Then to Andrews for the superbowl! Tons of food and tequila, good friends, and a great football game. It was a pretty fun evening. Poor Andrew though... he mixed his first drink a little strong and missed the end of the game I think. I was rooting hard for the Cardinals and they almost had it... but almost isn't enough. Epic game though!

This will be my first full week of classes. I'm exhausted already.

OH! And yes, I gave my blog a snowy-facelift. I realize that the picture at the top of my page doesn't fit properly... and it really annoys me... but I haven't taken the time to fix it (obviously). I shall later. Maybe.

SNO DAYZ

WEEEEEE!!!!

I always experience the initial excitement of knowing that there's no class on snow days... but then I'm left with, "Well what eff do I do now?" I had my day all planned, my homework all done and then the rug was pulled out from under me. Luckily, I'm swell at thinking on the fly. So here's the plan for today:

- Stalk blogs while eating my Honey Kix. This consists of hitting the "Next Blog >>" link on the top of blogs and see if I come across anything worth reading. Mostly it's just blogs that were started, have a couple of posts, and then forgotten about.
- Watch Kat Von D on the Rachel Ray show (does that sound like an odd collaboration to anyone besides me?).
- Take better pictures of Wesley's naked motorcycle when his mom leaves. I'll need both garage ports so that there's enough room and that's the only reason I'm waiting for her to leave. Seriously.
- Have lunch.
- Do my BioChem lab. WOO acids and bases and moles OH MY!
- Fix up my psych paper. It's not that I'm unhappy with it, it could just be better. I wrote it yesterday morning, before class, when my eyes were half closed and my brain was completely off. It could just use a little refining.
- Do my two remaining Stats quizzes. It's actually the same quiz but we can take it up to three times and only the best grade counts. I think I missed 2 of 10 on my first try. It's an easy 100% so I'm going to return to it.
- Have second lunch.
- Might call the guy about the blog. Haven't decided yet.
- Go grocery shopping for dinner tonight (Cubans!!!).
- Return Hancock.
- Nap. Putz. I don't know. I'm leaving this spot open.
- Make dinner.
- Nap.
- Work.

Looks like a legit day to me! Oh! And I am definitely taking my camera with me tonight to take pictures tomorrow morning of campus. I'm not letting another awesome picture-taking opportunity pass me up, Gosh Darn!

Broken Knees and Tired Eyes

oy... it's too late... or early?... I dunno...

I got off work at 7:30 and decided that I should come right to campus and dick around for three hours until my 10:50 class... what an awful idea!!!! "I have a paper to write" I told myself. C'mon now, like that's going to get done this morning? I'm pooped, to be quite honest. I'm such an idiot for scheduling this class at this time.

I'm 22 with 100-year-old knees. Two years ago, when I had my accident, I royally effed up my knees and stupidly never went to have them looked at. Then, at Campbell's, my knee slid out sideways and I still didn't have them looked at. I'm not what set them off this time. It might be the weather or that I'm not drinking enough water (having too little water in my system does funny things to me) but they hurt. They feel weak and wobbly. It irritates me.

I emailed my honors professor about my silly blog E&E idea... and he actually came back with something very useful. I guess one of the English professors is currently setting up a blog to replace the school newspaper, The RamPages (clever, I know). My honors professor suggested I get into contact with this gentleman and inquire about hosting a food/drink blog. I wrote up a quick email, sent it, and heard back from him rather quickly. He was uber enthusiastic about the idea! I'm not sure what my focus or direction is going to be yet... But I'm excited to talk with him further about this. Should be interesting!

I'm in the "quiet study" dungeon-part of the library... and there is some ancient woman with a stroke-victim-face down here hacking her head off. How pleasant.

I'm really excited to go home and go to bed. With any luck... I'll be all cozy and tucked in by 1.

My First Religion Paper... Ugh

Emily Trostle
Three Religions
Prayer
01.26.2009


I don’t pray. This being the case, I am having a tough time writing a two page paper about my approach to prayer. But I’ll try.

I think I used to pray. When I was very young and my mind highly impressionable adults prayed and told me to pray. So I probably did. What did I pray about? Who knows? I was too young to be aware of what I was doing and why others around me were doing it.

At some point though, praying struck me as silly. I felt silly doing it and others looked silly doing it. I didn’t feel at peace, “heard,” relaxed, nor closer to anyone. I just felt silly. I imagine that’s when I stopped praying. To me, it didn’t (and still doesn’t) make sense.

As a non-prayer, the Bible selections that we were asked to read sounded condescending and slightly contradictory. One selection suggested that people pray and practice in private, unlike those “hypocrites.” I think it’s the use of the “hypocrite” at least three times and the word “pagan” numerous times that turns me off to these selections. Another selection said that people should be out in the streets, praying with their arms up. Seemingly so that others could watch them and recognize these people as the “ideal” and be envious of them.

Either way, praying doesn’t sound appealing to me. I’m not out to convince people that pray that I don’t agree with it and therefore they should stop… But for my lifestyle and my beliefs, it’s unnecessary.

44 Things You don't Really Need to Know About Me... But now do!

I stole this from MySpace... cuz I don't currently have the imagination to come up with something of my own.

1.Do you like blue cheese? I like ALL cheese (except American "cheese")
2.Have you ever smoked? Indeed
3.Do you own a gun? I hate guns
4.What flavor of Kool-Aid was your favorite? I don't drink that liquid sugar junk
5.Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Yeah... I don't like strangers "down there"
6.What do you think of hot dogs? Gross. Disgusting. Foul.
7.Favorite Christmas movie? Nightmare Before Christmas
8.Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Water and/or coffee
9.Can you do push ups? Yis
10.What's your favorite piece of jewelry? Anything my Wesley has gotten me
11.Favorite hobby? Food and Wine adventures and playing with my new camera
12. Do you have A.D.D? No thanks
13.What's one trait you hate about yourself? I'm a poor college kid
14.Middle name? Marie
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I'm hungry, I'm tired, I don't want to do homework
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. Water, coffee, wine
17.Current worry? Where I put my calculator after my Calc final last semester
18.Current hate right now? Not in a hateful mood currently
19.Favorite place to be? Restaurants!!!!
20.How did you bring in the New year? Kissed my Wesley in Rhode Island!
21. Where would you like to go? I want to go back to Europe.
22. Name three people who might complete this: No one
23.Do you own slippers? My sister got me slippers that look like boots last Christmas!!
24.What shirt are you wearing right now? The EST shirt Wes brought home for me
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Can't say I've had the luxury
26.Can you whistle? Indeed
27.Favorite color? Green, purple, gold
28.Would you be a pirate? I love rum!!!
29.What songs do you sing in the AM? Upbeat stuff to get me going
30.Favorite Girl's Name? Sophie
31.Favorite boy's name? I had such a good one the other day and now I can't remember!
32. What's in your pocket right now? Bobby pins!
33.Last thing that made you laugh? Probably Matt and Wes doing T-Rex Emily impression
34. What vehicle do you drive? VW Passat!
35.Worst injury you've ever had? My mom broke my arm once. In a non-abusive way haha!!!
36.Do you love where you live? I can't say that my roommates are particularly agreeable
37.How many TVs do you have in your house? Wes and I have one. His parents, two.
38.Who is your loudest friend? I stay away from loud people
39.Do you have any pets? Piggie and Spidey!
40.Does someone have a crush on you? A lot of drunken WaWa customers
41.Your favorite book(s)? See my literature list (down and to the left!!!)
42.Do you collect anything? Wine bottles!
43.Favorite Sports Team? I always root for the winning team
44.What song do you want played at your funeral? Well I won't be alive to hear it, so what does it matter?

Lighters and Literature

Did I nearly singe my eyebrow and eyelashes off today? Why, yes I did!!! Thanks for asking!!! (This is what happens when you let friends play with your lighters. They booby trap them!)

I got my book... High Voltage Tattoo The Book by Kat von D. I'll be in my bed, reading it for the remainder of the afternoon. If you need to reach me, you'll know where I am.

Get EXCITED!

I am astounded by the negativity of people at a time like this.

I visit msn.com daily. And it was no surprise that when I visited the site this morning, it was plastered with articles about Obama and the inauguration today. What did surprise me were the negative comments that people were leaving on the scrolling "feedback" bar. Some people were flat out saying that there was no way they were even acknowledging there was an inauguration today. Some people arguing that Obama is "only" 50% black, so what's the big deal? Some people griping about the amount of money being spent on today. And others questioning his lack of "experience."

I'm not an idealist and I realize that not everyone will be happy with our leader. But, whether or not someone voted for Obama, they should man-up and admit that this is history. That Obama is giving people hope and getting people excited about politics. Regarding his experience, he obviously full-fills the experience requirements established by our forefathers. They put these requirements into effect because they felt (and very rarely have our forefathers been wrong, even considering the hundreds of years between then and now) that it was enough to prepare someone to lead our country. And on being "only" 50% black? It's 50% more black than any other President. Obviously. The money? The way I "justify" the spending of this money... He is the 44th President of the United States. There have been only 43 people before him that have been able to say that. It's kind of a big deal. He deserves this day. Today is Barack Obama's day. The next four years are ours.

I have goosebumps. I'm excited!

Can we press rewind? Please?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm so irritated at myself!!!!

I half decided against bringing my camera last night and half forgot to bring it (read: I remember after I had left that I forgot it and had time to turn around and come back... but decided not too). I just don't feel safe keeping it in the back at work. People that shouldn't go into the back waltz in and out all the time. There are lockers back there... But I don't have a padlock to put on one...

So, of course, I drive by campus this morning, after work, and it is gorgeous. Baby blue and pastel pink skies with dainty, wispy clouds. The sun wasn't quite up yet so it was light out but the snow wasn't reflecting. The trees are blanketed in the softest looking snow I've ever seen and there were no kids in sight... AND I DIDN'T HAVE MY CAMERA!!!!

Consider this a lesson learned. Have camera. All the time. No matter what.

I'm going to try again Thursday... but I think it's supposed to be really warm tomorrow :(

Obama becomes our official President today!!!

Is it May yet?

I know I already wrote a huge friggin' blog today... but I feel compelled to keep going.

I've had Nick Drakes Five Leaves Left on my iTunes for years. I got it from Steve and I remember listening to it on and off throughout the years... but every time I put it on, it's like I'm rediscovering it's awesomness. I guess I just never get around to "out listening" it so it's still this amazing little gem every time. Brilliant man.

I've been reading my Psychology text book this afternoon. I'm excited for this class... but I don't need to take it... I have plenty of credits to graduate. I think I was uber bummed with how Philosophy turned out last semester that I'm holding Psychology up on a pedestal. We'll see. If it looks like it's going to be a pain and my other classes are going to be a lot of work... I'll take the easy-way-out and drop the class.

I have another presentation to give at the end of this semester for my honors program requirements. As terribley sad as it sounds... I think I might do one on this phenomenon we call "blogging." I haven't come up with a definitive outline yet (it's only January after all!!) but I'm going to try and get a good head-start on this one. Any better idea's for presentations? I really feel like I'm reaching here...

I might go take pictures of campus covered in snow tomorrow morning after work. If I send them in and they come out well they'll get posted on the DelVal website!!

After the Bombs

After these awesome weekends I don't really feel the need to go through every little thing... so I guess I'll just break down the highlights by days:

Friday:
Chillaxin at Matt and Sams. We made mojito's and ate crackers and cheese spent the night because it was too cold and I was too tired.

Saturday:
Slept in (glorious!). Went to Cheeburger Cheeburger for breakfast/lunch. Neither Wes nor Matt went for the one pounder... which was probably a good thing. Everyone (but me...) got shakes. I got a huge and extremely delicious salad. From there we shot back to Wes' parents house to clean ourselves up a bit. Then we all headed off to Limerick. Matt works there and we all wanted to see the nuke plant steam towers. Unfortunately no pictures... that's frowned upon. We shot down to Phoenixville for some coffee at Steel City Coffee House, an open mic venue that Wes had played at. Bottomless coffee kept us there for an extremely long time. We went back to Matt and Sams and had steak and Pad Thai... sounds odd but was sooooo good. We watched Hancock while drinking pina colada's . Sam and I started off strong and giggly but quickly got tired and fell asleep. Leaving the boys to sing and play guitar til their hearts content.

Sunday:
Slept in again! Made breakfast at the apartment: english muffins with eggs, sausage (unless you were Sam), and cheese. Wes and I broke for showers and to get some stuff done. We met back up for "Christmas dinner." Wes and I took Matt and Sam to Assi for seafood... we got a pound of scallops, two enormous salmon steaks, and 10 clams. They'd already gotten green beans, potatoes, Camembert and pastry, and salads stuffs. Needless to say, dinner was awesome!! Black Box Pinot Grigio was enjoyed all three nights and still had a huge glass left for me when we got home last night.

Today, since I didn't work last night or have class today, I'm just kind of moseying about. The "roommates" both have off today so I'm hermitting in the room. Finally put away all the clean laundry and took the trash, pizza box, and empty wrapping paper tubes out. I bought my registration code for my stupid stats class ($25!!!). I updated all the album art for my iTunes and iPod. I have some kind of disorder in which I get extremely irritated when that stupid black box with a question mark shows up in lieu of album art... so a coupe of hours and a lot of google-image searches later... everything is in order and all question marks have been gotten rid of.

I'm so glad it's snowing... it's so peaceful... listening to The Crane Wife and seeing snow.

Tomorrow I'm buying Kat Von D's book, High Voltage Tattoo. Also, I'm planning on going to her book signing in Philly on March 7th!!! Awesome!!! I'm curious to see her in person... sometimes she looks so good and other times... so weird. I'd like to find out which is her normal face.

Work tonight no lab tomorrow... not til next week. I'm not in school mode yet.

Hairz

Post 200!!!! Weeeeeee!

So... in lieu of my birthday and recieving a small amount of birthday money and in desparate need of some style... I took the plunge and cut my hairs off. Well, technically I paid someone to cut them off... but either way, this is the shortest I've been in a loooong time. I'm not scared of short hair, I just have a fat face and short hair brings attention to that. I've said it before, but, if I had the face/body for it, I would totally have "pixie" hair. Oh well...

The place I went, Images, I actually found online and had to call for pricing. $33 for a woman's haircut is the cheapest in the area and the (two) reviews it recieved were very good so I grabbed a mug of coffee, booted up the iPod, and walked over.

The young lady that I dealt with was very helpful. We decided an above the shoulder style with tons of layers. I looooooove layers!! Because it was my first haircut there I got $5 off and I got a student discount of $5 so my $33 haircut became a $23 haircut. I opted for the 5-minute conditioning (+$5) because my hair is in horrendous shape. I love my hair long, but the ends become destroyed and uber thin and really dry... Which is why we had to cut about ten inches off! So now, I'm short and sassy. Awesome!

Work was busy last night. Having the new do though put me in high spirits so it went fast. There was some snow this morning when I left work but it ended up being just a coating. I was hoping for three feet when I woke up from my nap... but was severely disappointed.

I'm not ready to start doing school work yet (yeah... I already have homework in four of my five classes) so I might go veg with a magazine or read my book (Echo Park by Michael Connelly).

Wine&Tattoo Night tonight so keep and eye on the photoblog for tonights wine selection (I might be buying a box of wine because I just read an article about how some boxed wines are absolutely superb. Oh!.. and because I'm a cheap bastard!).

Sorry this was a boring 200th post!!!

The last first day

It's true! Today is my last first day of undergraduate college!!!! And let me tell you... It feels GREAT!!! Even though I've had many "first days" of school, this one felt peculiar. Odd. Strange. After this semester, I'm done with DelVal. I was just standing outside and trying to remember where the Horticulture building is for my last class this afternoon and thought to myself, "DelVal didn't have non-Hort related classes in the Hort building when I was a freshman." My first class of the day, Stats for Science, was in the "New Britain Buildings," aka the-trailers-that-were-parked-a-half-mile-from-main-campus-as-"temporary"-classrooms. It was about forty degrees in there.

What does all this mean? Well, DelVal has grown too big for its own good. I think it's great that people are discovering this little gem of a college and all the unique majors it has to offer and the personality and closeness of it... but there just isn't room for all the students! For housing, it used to be that Super Seniors got first choice, then Juniors, then Sophomores and so on. They did a lottery by class so that the people that were here the longest and had the most seniority got first pick. Now? They do an entire campus lottery. So if there is enough housing for 1,400 students (including incoming freshmen) and you're number 1,200, you're not guaranteed housing no matter what your class standing is. As unfortunate as my living situation has been the past year and a half, I'm glad I had a place to go. I'd rather not have been a junior that's been kicked off campus and left to find an apartment costing way more than it costs to live on campus (as cheap as DelVal is not, Doylestown is even less cheap).

The new president has certainly made steps to beautify the campus and I'm sure there are talks of breaking ground on new dorm buildings (oh, and classrooms)... but this poses another dilemma. DelVal prides its self on its wonderfully maintained campus (what else would you expect with a bunch of farmers and plant people?) and it's 500 acres of preserved farm land. Where would they build? There are parts of campus that no one wants disturbed with icky man-made structures. Ideally, DelVal should make a contract with apartment complexes off-campus and set up some sort of shuttle to and from. My sister had an apartment like this her freshman year at Clarion. The school didn't own the apartment complex but it was off campus, all students, and you paid through the school. They even had the shuttle to bus students to and from the campus. DelVal is going to need to figure something out or they're going to have start breaking hearts and turn away perfectly good high school seniors and chase away current students with their housing system.

This morning I've already experienced Stats for Science and Biochemistry. The professor for Stats is someone I've had before... but don't particularly care for. He actually told us more than once NOT to take notes. I think he thinks that since he's a college professor, he's kind of a big deal. All our homework, quizzes and tests are through MathZone.com. He said that if we did everything on paper, he'd not have time to grade quizzes and would need a TA to grade homeworks... so the online thing benefitted everyone. Right... A TA? Really? His power points (which... ppts for a math class just don't make sense to me) are directly from the books publisher. He was not the one to put them together and decide what is important and what isn't... a bunch of people out to promote and make necessary the book did.

Biochem was a hoot though. I adore this particular professor and had her for organic. Her office is in Mandel and I've spent countless hours in that lobby and in the food room so she knows me... which is also kinda cool. She's got a great sense of humor and has the mind of a student. She just connects very well with the class and speaks a language we know. It's AWESOME.

Just food preservation and psychology left for today. I'm selling my Calc book from last semester to one of the other food students... It'll be great to have $80 in my pocket... but it's going to go right back out for books for this semester... what a drag.

I'm making Asian-ish beef and rice tonight for dinner then off to work. I do not miss this aweful schedule of class during the day and work during the night... It'll all be over in a few months time...

I forgot to mention this!!!

UPDATE:

I found the website online where you can learn about the gallery that our friend Sam is currently in. It's called Project Basho. The show will be up until February 22 and is called Onward '09. Samatha Sheehan is our friends name and she has two prints showing (they're also for sale... should you be so inclined to want either her or her boyfriend in the nude and hanging on your wall!!!) entitled Matt and Self Portrait. The winning photographer, Sarah Kaufman, has two abslutely stunning photographs and she and the other winner (some old guy) will be having a show as Basho in the future. CHECK IT OUT!!!!!

The Climax

Ok, ok... So I have to catch my little blog up to the going-on's this past weekend!

Friday during the day was actually kind of blah. I didn't work the night before so was up when Wes went to work and stayed up for the remainder of the day (sometimes is weird to be awake during the day when there's no school). I did laundry in preparation for the weekend and probably straightened the bedroom up (because I know a certain someone snoops while no one is around). Wes got home, we packed, and went on our way!

Once we got to Sam's, we all decided that we would do dinner at New Deck then head directly from there to Mad Mex. New Deck was a nifty place but the table of people we sat next to were very loud. Not just like... absent mindedly loud, but like, obnoxious-off-the-wall loud. It was something we could laugh at though. After dinner and a round of drinks there we migrated to Mad Mex!!! We ended up getting the big round table across the restaurant from the bar! A couple of $7, 22oz margarita's later and it was already nearly midnight. We headed back to the house and started watching Batman Begins in Sams room because Sams roommates and their boyfriends were taking over the living room (where the pull-out couch is). Matt and I fell asleep. At one point in the night, Wes left the room to go smoke and heard both of Sams roommates having loud sex in their bedrooms (at which point he knew the pull-out would be available for sleeping now). So he woke me up and drug me to bed and everyone settled in for the night.

Saturday was Sams big day! She had two photos displayed at a gallery in Southish Philly. We didn't realize how big a deal it actually was until we found out that over 400 people from all over the world had submitted over 1,600 photo's to be considered for this show!!! Sam, the most local and one of the youngest photographers not only had two prints in the show but received an honorable mention from the judge!!! One of Wes and I's photos from our first shoot was submitted but it was the naked picture of Matt and Sams nude self-portrait that made it. You can see them standing next to their pictures at the gallery here!

After browsing and having some wine (from plastic cups none-the-less!) we went straight from the gallery to dinner at the Irish Pub. Then... To McGilligan's for $5 pitchers! I don't like icky beer (pabst, miller/bud/coors light) so Wes and I got Yeungling pitchers. We were there for a loooooong time and I had a waitress bully me about tip when we were leaving but I was still a good time.

From there we ended up back at Sams apartment and invited Jeff, Kyle, Mallory and Rob over. Unfortunately, they'd only been there for ten minutes when Sams psycho roommate went psycho (go figure!) and everyone left. We were all thinking that if it had only happened a half-hour later, when Mallory had had some drinks, psycho roommate probably would've gotten punched in the face. But everyone left and Kyle, Mallory and Rob went straight back to Perkasie. Wes, Matt, Sam and I ended up going to Jeff's for a bit to cool off and release some steam. When we got back to Sams all was quiet and we tucked in for the night.

Sunday we went to South Street for lunch and more pictures! We ended up at Tattooed Moms because it was cheap (half-priced sandwiches!!!) and Sam loves their vegetarian menu. It was really place actually. My friend Steve had always talked about going there for Pabst $1 pounders so I thought it was a crummy place... but it's really good eats during the day.

Sam took some more pictures of me and Wes. We started off in Repo Records but the lighting wasn't good so all of those pictures will probably come out blurry... From there we went to a street corner and then to a park right off South Street. I actually got to see a few of our prints from our first photo shoot and was really excited for her to take some more!

The trip back to Sellersville is always quiet and depressing... double for me since it was the official end to my birthday weekend and I had to go into work that night. It was a good weekend though spent with good friends!!!

Last night we went to see Yes Man with Jim Carrey and some new chick that Wes and Kyle now have a crush on. The movie is completely ridiculous but since it's Jim Carrey, it works.

First day of classes tomorrow... what a drag dood.

Darn you WaWa

I'll get to updating my photoblog eventually... I promise!

Last night at work was irritating. I'm bored of the people that come in every morning. Scowling every morning. Throwing their money on the counter and avoiding looking at me every morning. Look, I understand that you're on your way to work and that makes you the most miserable muthafucka around... but hooooooly shit. Imagine YOU times ONE HUNDRED and that's what I deal with. Do you make yourself miserable when you think about how miserable you project yourself to be to society? Well imagine how someone that has to deal your fucked up attitude every morning manages. I am there to offer you a fucking service. I am not your boss, your mother-in-law, your divorce lawyer, your mortage lender nor anyone else that may routinely shit on your day. Show some goddamn manners.

To add this awesome mood... I just reread one of the emails I got about my stupid religion class... on top of actually having to read parts of the Bible, I have to write a two page response to these questions:

What part does prayer play in your life?
Who taught you to pray?
What prompts you to pray? (I.e. trouble, disaster, joy, relationships)
Have some of your prayers been answered?
Do you keep a prayer journal?
when do you pray? Before meals? before going to sleep?

I can answer all of these questions simply by answering the first question: I do not pray. Period.

ugh ugh ugh.