HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY HEDDASISSY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAI!!

Happy Birthday SASSY! :)

--to my twin. She's the best.

Happy Very Merry Scandalous Birthday to you!

Happy Belated Blog Announced Bday to Drew. (Was Sept 15th) If I figure out how to post movie clips to blogger I will also include a rendition of Kriss Kross "Jump" that earned free beer.

Also, have an interview on Wednesday. Wish me luck.

Rapid Eye Movement

The past few days have been a blur of activity around the household. Starting with the return from the family reunion in Okoboji, and discovering to my dismay that my mother broke her leg. Or rather, her fibula at the base of where it connects to the ankle. For those of you medics out there, that's right, the hip bone is connected to the leg bone and the leg bone is no longer connected to the ankle bone for mom (at least until November) I feel so bad for her :( For such an active person to be inactive will be tough. My first joke though was that because she's immobile, she's easy to get by mobile. She's been on the cell quite a bit. Luckily my mother is a fantastic woman, and has many many friends here in IC that have been out to visit her and bring her food, and at the same time my friend Cassi has been staying with the Winklers, and she's been great at pitching in with the family chores. I love that girl...not just for her attitude but her wonderous ability to have so much energy when it comes to household duties that aren't even hers. She's a guest for goodness sake, and yet, she's washing dishes and clearing the table just like me. She's my bestest twin sister ever. :)
In related news, I was hesitant to go due to mom's injury, but leaving her in capable hands (and feet of others) I did head up to Ames to help with the move in process for the Astrophysicist in training. It was a very smooth gig and his folks and sis were very nice, (they even got me a cake, gift and dinner for my birthday! How very very very thoughtful of them! THANK YOU!)
The rest of the birthday festivities commenced in IC this weekend, which included a wonderful birthday cake designed by Maggie for Laura, Elissa and myself. Thank you!!! Special thanks to Laura for sharing her nighttime activities with me. Such fun.
Thanks to everyone who called, emailed, facebooked (and yah, that's gonna be in Webster's in a few years) and well-wished in person. You all make my time here on Earth that much more enjoyable. (Sounds sappy I know...but it's true)
This next week will consist of working, and helping mom and then this weekend will be Madison for Beerfest. Should be an interesting time.

P.S. Happy Birthday also to Casey and Ryan.

Happy Birthday Erik!
(this is past due, as his birthday was actually on 06/08, but alas, blogger wasn't cooperating, and I was also quite busy after the initial 3 tries.

And yes, I did decorate the cookie cake.

Happy Birthday Maggie

My first phone interview for a library job is coming up! Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Happy Birthday Will!

Happy Birthday Jon!

Listening to: Streaming Itunes Music One
Mood: eh, whatever

So, this weekend was pretty fun, despite my hawks losing to ISU. Blah! Oh well, at least it doesn't count for the Big Ten Season, and really, I think we'd have played better if Tate was in the whole game. Friday I ran errands with Rena, and I was proud of myself. I cooked parmesan ranch chicken and steamed veggies and ate grapes. So very good and healthy of me right? Then I met Christa at Ashton and we went to see the Hitchcock double feature at IUB City lights. That was alot of fun. We say Strangers on a Train and Shadow of a Doubt. I have to say, that old school hitchcock, ala 1940's style, has a romantic quality about it, even though the sound was not synced well to the movement of the mouths. It slightly resembled badly dubed japanese movies. However, I was still entertained. Perhaps the most interesting portion of the evening was when Christa, who always gets very invovled in movies while she's watching them, shouted out "JERK" very loudly at one of the characters, who, in deed, was acting like a jerk. I just laughed a little though, because she's usually so amicable and peaceful, so to hear her get animated about anything, much less a movie, and to shout, in an auditorium where other people were present, was pretty funny. Yesterday I tackled my first assignment for Info in the Humanities...it did not go well. I did finish the rough draft by 3 am though. I had such a case of writer's block, it was quite horrible. This was not helped by the fact that some of the IC friends were watching pirates and hanging out together. At least they talked to me online for awhile, and the phone was passed around some. Still, I think that's the hardest part about being in grad school right now in another state. It's knowing they are doing something that's fun, when I'm not. Course I did have my fun moments for the weekend too, so I can't complain too much. I also stayed up way too late on thursday night, and did nothing productive, even though i'd had coffee in order to stay up and be productive, but, instead, I talked online, and then read Tuttle's latest play. I love that he still sends me the rough drafts. I hope he didn't find my comments to punchy, as I finished reading about 3 am, and then read Rule of 4 for another two hours. Went to bed at 5 am. I really need to get out of that habit and start paying attention to school and school reading. I have to revise my paper, I have to start these long term projects, and I have to really start my exercise and diet program to keep me sane before heading home for jaime's wedding in October. We hope to have a game night soon too. :) We've got a few slis kids that are board game players, so that will be exciting if it can happen. I also would still like to go into Chicago some weekend with Traci to visit Erik, so her around Chicago (she's not been downtown yet) and perhaps go clubbing with some Iowa friends who can make the drive over. I must send a bday shout out to the bride to be, Jaime will turn 25 tomorrow. ;) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Tonight after family guy, i will go to starbucks and try to really concentrate and get some studying done. Then tomorrow morning, another week will start again. Hopefully things will go better at work, and my topic ideas will pan out for all of my projects.
that's the update folks. BTW, certain people need to send me an email. It is LONG overdue. No matter how busy you are at a new job, that is no excuse to not keep in touch and drop me a line and tell me about what the job entails, your life, and your thoughts. This means you Will!!! (and yes, I'm doing this in the blog, on the chance you still read it every once in awhile)
peace out

Mood: somber
Listening to: CNN
Classes are done for the first week. I am looking forward to the weekend and having some fun. My headache is finally gone. I've had fun catching up with the friends back home this week. Happy birthday shout out to Aaron is in order. I think it's funny that Cassi called to ask me if she could go to my parents house and borrow season four of buffy, which I forgot there, when I moved back to B-town. Call is out to the parents for a nice time that she can stop by and do that...will be interesting to hear their reactions - as Cas was like the 2nd daughter there this summer anyways. I'm somewhat apprehensive about other things related to school, but i think that stuff will all get worked out when I've got topics picked for all of these projects and start to get the time management in place. I'd like to schedule exercise time at least half an hour every day. I'll work up to that though, as I am lacking the "in shape" factor that i had last semester at IU. I like that they offer free classes in kickboxing and dance here, and will partake I hope. I am looking forward to visiting the Trojan Horse tomorrow night with Erik. Hooray for actually experiencing decent ethnic food. I have decided that I CAN actually cook some stuff successfully at my apartment, but that I am lazy about doing so. The apartment is also looking more "lived in" mostly because there are dishes in the sink, and I did actually hang the posters and a few pics are on the fridge now. I couldn't go to Sandusky with Misa and Lis this weekend (cause i work sunday night and monday morning) blah...but, on the good note Erik will visit and that'll make it okay I think.
I am feeling somber though, as I listen to and see pictures of the aftermath of katrina. I went to New Orleans the summer after my freshman year of college and really enjoyed myself down there. Even met some people at Cafe du monde that were from the Iowa Writer's Workshop. (small world iowa moments happen almost everywhere I go it seems) It is hard to think that the coast is now under water. My thoughts are with Kamber and her boyfriend (who was to start med school at Tulane now) I hope that you guys are safe and sound and doing all right. My hope is that everybody can recover quickly and the town will be able to rebuild as soon as possible, and I am sure that will be the case, as resiliance is the only real retaliation against such a disaster.
I was happy today though, because I got to speak some "art history-eze" with Aaron, who is preping to spend next summer in Spain. I have learned about so many famous paintings and monuments, and been so fortunate to see a number of them in my short 24 years of life (and have a much longer list of ones I hope to see before I die). At any rate, it was nice to show my dorky and over zealous "art history" side to another of the friends. BTW, he says he'll attempt to teach me the rules of cricket, or at least what he can understand of them at some point. And I will close this by saying, I enjoy watching the History Channel and am currently watching Modern Marvels: Paint.
So ya, summation: i can't watch more about katrina, and instead need to just be dorky for awhile.,

listening to: Counting Crows August and Everything After

Kind of fitting to be listening to an album titled August and Everything After, while I contemplate just what might be out there for me after this August. What lies in store for me at what I've started to call my adoptive home that is three states away?
This is such a rough sort of transitional time for me I think, mostly because I feel so disjointed about where I am in my life, and where I want to be, or if I even really think I know where I want to be. Case and point - I have my life scattered in three places. A storage unit in Indiana, a storage unit in Iowa, and then at my parent's home here. It's just strange to use the term scattered, but I think in a way, my head feels that it's also somewhat scattered now.

My birthday was a huge success by all accounts of the attendees who cared to share their thoughts on the event. I am blessed with some absolutely wonderful and thoughtful friends and family, not only those that attended the little fete I threw here at my folks, but the many friends and family that sent well wishes via phone calls and emails. Perhaps that's what leads me to feel so connected and distant at the same time. I can not tell you the immense pleasure I get from having people remember me, and remembering to call or contact me, even if it's only one day a year for my birthday. I pride myself in being able to keep in touch with the friends of the past, so that I can continue to keep them as friends in the present and future. So finding e-cards from friends in Nebraska that I haven't seen in probably three years, or talked to at least since christmas is really nice and surprising. realizing that I've gained a whole new group of people who care about me and what goes on in my life and how I'm feeling and what I'll be doing to celebrate also makes me feel so loved and such love for the Bloomington crew.

At the same time, it's going to be really really really hard to go back there. It's nothing against my friends at school, because they are fantastic, and I am really looking forward to my one bedroom place, and many movie nights and japanese food. But, at the same time, I think I harken back to an earlier post from the summer. Upon initially coming home, i was apprehensive about how much I've changed, how much my friends from IC have changed, and also, to some extent how well I'd fit back into this life I used to have. Well, it's interesting, because I see now how my life could continue to be here in Iowa City. Also an earlier post was relating to my sense of comfortable friendships here, and there is something really great about people who simply have alot of ammunition with which to make fun of you, and you know they aren't judging you, but just enjoy your company. It's really quite bittersweet. I am going to miss my friends so terribly when i move back, as well as my parents. I'm not taking for granted the last few days I have to spend here with them. And hopefully many of them will take me up on my invitation to come and visit me in B-town and explore the campus/brown county/indy with me.
I know a part of me is reluctant to go back simply because it will be a switch from calling about 20 ppl to see what they are doing each night, to calling one for a study session. My grad school life and my "summer" me life are on such opposite ends of the spectrum. Here, I am going out each night or staying up late, playing video games, or watching movies with friends, then working in the mornings (or whatever random hours at barnes and noble) and then doing it all again the next day. it's become such a comfortable existence so quickly. It's hard to believe that almost three whole months have gone by already. At IU my life also consists of working, but my nights are also filled with working and studying and everything school-related. And only a few choice ppl to call, so I guess I know what is in store for me for this August and Everything After.

I just hope there are good things on the horizon back in B-town to help me get back into the swing of things quickly, because I don't want to be homesick for Iowa all over again. It's soo easy to fall back into a comfortable pattern with the people that know you best, it's like you pick up where you left off and nothing has changed. I realized the other night that I actually came back to Iowa 5 times while i was technically living in Indiana. I don't know if that's alot or a little for a recently turned 24 year old who was spending her first real year away from her hometown. Looking back on the year as a whole there were many moments that I'd wished I'd stayed in Iowa. It's sort of sad to admit, but at the same time I think somewhat healthy. these were of course times when i was dealing with rougher issues and drama at schoool, that of course, make you want to "run home to mommy" - but ya know, in the grand scheme of things, I survived. That is most important I think. Survival. So perhaps all that August and Everything After will hold for me this time around in a hope for survival and for better things ahead. Or if nothing else at least a few phonecalls from friends are around the bend.

Back to the Grind

Well, Spring Break was a welcome change from IUB and the humdrum life of sus the grad student. Instead I was Sus the traveler, Sus the MLS student with librarians to interview, Sus the friend back from out of town (this last one I find especially appealing).
So the first is great because well, let's face it, I LOVE to travel, and also, I'm fortunate enough that for xmas my parents bought me a ticket to visit Steve in San Fran (and they came along which meant things got paid for not out of my own pocket...hooray) Can I just say how great my parents are? I love them so much, and not because they pay for me to take exciting vacations, but because they are actually *gasp* quite cool to hang out with and converse with. I think even if I had to pay for my own ticket i would have jumped at the chance to spend some quality time with the rents. For that matter, I'd say the same about Steve now to. We've worked hard on our relationship over the past years, alot of growing up and communication, and now I"m happy to say I would even enjoy spending time visiting him regardless of the parents being along, or probably even the awesome locations he seems to pick to live in :) And let me say San Fran was an awesome choice for living - Well done Steve :) I had a BLAST out there...and enjoyed pretty much every minute of my journey out there. (plane flights not withstanding) Saw the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, the SFMOMA (see below), Yeurba Buena Gardens (our hotel was right near it), the SF Aquarium, Hard Rock Cafe, tall ships, Monteray Bay, the M. Bay Aquarium, Seaside, Calif., Carmel, Calif, San Jose, some of Stanford Campus, Sunnyvale (and YES< it made me think of Sunnydale and Buffy the V.Slayer.) and the PACIFIC Ocean - both in San Fran side, and also from the 17 mile drive - which kicked, and also means I saw spy glass, pebble beach and some other golf courses, and houses I can hope to dream to own someday!
The SFMOMA provided me the op to be studious and a good student and inquisitive and interview the librarian at the SFMOMA about her position, library etc etc, it was well worth the time and will hopefully also help w. the paper i'm writing (ACK!) Plus the exhibitions were way cool,a nd I felt all professional and grown-up for setting up the tour/interview and exploring.
But, let me tell you why this last is the best. Now that I am no longer in Iowa City, I have gained this awesome status as the out-of-town friend that all of the IC friends should make it a priority to see while she's back. This is a great thing to me. Because I absolutely adore my friends back home, and love them to death, so it is only natural that when I am back in town I want to see all of them that I can and spend as much time as possible hanging out with them. I am happy to report that it was reciprical in most cases. Dude, totally just spelled that wrong - spell check didn't rescue me there. So first, thanks to all of you who made yourselves available to me, even for the smallest amount of time, it was much appreciated and I will see you all again soon (ACK!!! not much time left before I finish the first year of grad school - well hopefully finish)
Speaking of friends....secondly, SOOO many upcoming birthdays to send shout outs. Christa and Traci, this month, Rena, Q and Becks next month...happy birthdays folks!
all right, that said, I really should get a move on...I am wet from soaking rain, and soaked from wet rain..(and kickboxing) so must dry off and begin the process of trying to get ALL these things done...ACK! (back to the stress!)

Loyalties and Parties

All day today my away message varied from "I hate snow" "I despise snow" "Snow sucks" and "When I'm grown up, I want to live somewhere warm" mostly this is due to my cabin fever of sorts, because I was stuck inside the house for the ENTIRE day. Blah. There was this huge storm that's moved through Iowa (will not be done until tomorrow afternoon) and it started with sleet and ice, and now is snowing. So the grounds are not only icy, but snowy to. Just the kind of weather I really LOVE being around. *ahem* cough, sarcasm. I also hate when the weather means my plans get cancelled. Just proves Mother Nature really does rule our lives, and rightly so - as we've recently seen how powerful it can be, and sadly at that. But tonight we were going to make ghetto gingerbread houses, and it was going to be fun, I just know it. We did it a few years ago and I thought it was a blast. I like being creative, and I especially like when I can be creative at the same time as other people and we can share the creative vibes. OH well, only a few more days in Iowa, until back in Indy I will not have time to do anything but study, attend classes, study, read for classes, hopefully work out occasionally, figure out housing for next year, and maybe do dinner a few times with some friends. That will suck...means to an end, means to an end. I'll just keep telling myself that. I meet with my internship advisor in the morning (if I can get OUT and drive on the roads) I hope that she doesn't think I'm a total moron, and that I have no business being an art librarian. I'm worried she'll think I'm not ready for it...
This past weekend was a total blast. I haven't been out to party that consistantly in FOREVER. Firstly we went out for Eben's bday on Thurs night, fun times. At least my hair looked really spiff and cute. Was a small West high Reunion, and Jana and Pete got to come along as well. Then on Friday night we did the new year's styles. All the pics are up on the web. it was a blast...I love those folks, thanks for celebrating with me you guys! Sat I was on full recovery mode. I did almost nothing the whole day. I fell asleep at like 10:30 that night too. Sunday night we went to Jakes for Kimi's 21st. That was also quite fun, took me back a ways to last year and many years previous when we'd go there to dance and have a good time just grooving the night away. Jakes is also the bar that is somewhat known as the "hook up" bar, though Sunday night, during break, there weren't too many ppl out. We did have a few guys that danced with kimi and me for a bit, but mostly it was just the group on the floor. Then Monday night we went to the Field House to help her celebrate with Pitchers, I drove though, and was bummed that they didn't have the dance floor open that night, but it was okay, it was a very relaxed and chill evening to help Kimi reach official legal age. Tonight I've stayed in, due to the weather...tomorrow night, I'll watch the hawk men open their big ten season. I am definately a hawkeye at heart, having spent 22 years of my life cheering on my black and gold. - so when I'm in Indy I will have to find a sportsbar that'll show the bball games so I can stay on top of things, and go IU basketball too - I watched the IU women take on the UI women the other night, and had my Iowa sweatshirt on, especially because I went with my mom, and she's also a UI grad. I cheered for the IU girls when they made good plays, but ultimately, I find my loyalty sports wise must rest with the hawks still - not to mention that after the hailmary pass to end the Capital One Bowl, I'm pretty impressed with how lucky my Hawk football team was, with the end of their season. Only 3 more days in Iowa...hopefully the weather will be good for the drive back on Sat. night folks.

well, the vacation is winding down. This morning I awoke to a sheet of ice not only covering my car, but the sidewalks, streets, and anything else in this town. Welcome to Winter weather. Blah. I totally need to move somewhere warm most of the year. This weekend has been a rather crazy display of partying and fun. Last night we went out to celebrate Kimi's 21st, and tonight we'll do it again with pitchers, though I'll drive tonight. Before that was new years eve, which was quite the crazy display to watch as well. Before that, Eben's 24th at the piano lounge, which was a fun time to. Vacation is on the wann, I need to get myself back into the habbit of getting up at a decent hour, rather than sleeping in, which i've finally grown accustomed to. It will be weird to return to Indy and have to put my nose to the grindstone again, especially with 4 actual grad school classes and a part time job - I imagine I'll be quite busy, but I do tend to think I opperate well under busy conditions. I felt like a slacker last semester without having a job, so at least that will make me feel some what more worthwhile and like I"m contributing more to paying for my higher higher education still. I've enjoyed my time here, primarily, and will miss the IC friends when I head back for school. I am eager to return though, so I can get another semester underway and then finished. I'm also eager to return to Indy to get some things figured out, but until then I'm all about just having a good time and enjoying the company of other folks!
hope you all had safe and happy new years!

Happy Halloween

Hey Everyone,
Happy Halloween! I hope you all had/have great days/evenings tonight and last night. For my part, everything was tons of fun. We went over to Traci's and carved pumpkins, then went out for Thai food at Esan Thai, SOOO good. yummy. Traci's friend Greg joined us as well, so the five of us went to dinner and then came back to the dorms to have some fun. We changed into costume (those of us who had them) and socialized, till going downtown. Traci and Greg headed home, cause Trac had been up until 5 am working on her paper, so I totally didn't blame her for going home. Greg seemed like a very nice guy too. Tom, Tanya and I hit the bar scene, for some dancing and fun. It was a great evening overall. Came back home around 2 am, and watched episodes of Family Guy on DVD and ate pad thai leftovers until we all pretty much crashed. Tons of fun. Happy 21st Birthday to Heathersissy as well! yay!

Monday Mornings

First off, have to wish a Happy 24th Birthday to Misa! Wow. You aren't a youngin any more are you? One year away from being a quarter of a century old huh? That being said, I hope you have a blast tonight. I'm there in spirit and via phone call, since this is the first one I will have missed in like six years of friendship!
Not much else to write today, just another manic monday. Very excited for Halloween weekend. Karaoke on Thursday night, pumpkins, parties, and possibly a visit from an out of town friend! Hooray! ;) Have great days ya'll!