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This is me and Jason.... this might be our best pic together so far. This is also probably the best pic I have of my Yeoman Rand wig!!
Maryanna thinks, based on the pictures of me in the wig, that I should go blonde! Oh, my!
- Mood:
sleepy
It was a lovely and successful Halloween night! I had a blast! First off, the weather was rather rainy so I was glad to not be out in the parade. Second, I was very-very excited to see Jason perform with one of his bands. It was my first time seeing him play out, so it was very fun! Third, my Yeoman Rand costume was a HIT! Well, she is obscure, so I knew not a lot of people would "get it." However most people said it was awesome and cool, and recognized me as a Star Trek girl.
But then... only 1 person REALLY got it! He was an older dude and definitely a Trekkie. He came up to me and said, "Hello, are you Janice?" I said "YES!" He said, "I'm a fan of the show and I'm a fan of Janice. You wear it well!" I was thrilled to be recognized/appreciated by someone! Doris predicted that there would be very few recognitions.
Jason's show was excellent!! Sullivan Hall was a cool venue and the band (especially Jason, not that I'm biased or anything - lol) sounded amazing! It was tough getting around though since it was really close to the parade. However, that also made it really exciting -- seeing all of the cool costumes and stuff go by. It was almost like we were IN the parade, simply by being near it!
Overall a superrrrr Halloween! :) I hope everyone else had fun, too!
- Mood:
happy
This year I had an elaborate costume idea planned with Ryan... we were going to be the 1930s era "Universal monsters," featuring me as the Bride of Frankenstein. Well, a few monsters dropped out, so we are tabling that idea till next year. Then, my roomie Alexandra and I were going to be beauty pageant children, however, she was feeling a little broke, so she couldn't really swing the cost of the pageant stuff. (Neither could I for that matter.)
So... I was struggling with an idea for a costume. It was Susan who actually suggested "someone from Star Trek." No sooner than she said that, I realized it was meant to be!
YEOMAN RAND!!!!
And so, I purchased a red mini dress at American Apparrel and crafted a Starfleet logo out of gold fabric. I tacked on a black collar onto the dress, and voila! It was done. Then comes the hard part. The Yeoman Rand WIG!!!! For those of you who are not Trekkies, behold:
Rand's 'do is a basketwoven beehive! What I ended up doing is purchasing two blonde wigs from Party City. My plan was to mount one atop the other to achieve the beehive, then to weave the top front of the hair. Well, I am not ready to post a pic yet, but this much I'll say....
...under no circumstances did I think it would EVER come out this great!!! I am seriously SO SO proud of it!!! Pictures will come soon!!! I love Halloween!!
Here's wishing you all a wonderful All Hallow's Eve! :)
- Mood:
creative
First off, there has not been an art teacher in over a year at this school. Before that, there was no art teacher. The kids WANT art and are EXCITED about doing art. They are really enthusiastic.
I was most worried about teaching the "big kids," specifically 7th and 8th grade. I was totally expecting the worst, and I have no experience with that age group. Well, they totally surprised me! They are two of my best classes! On my first day of school, a big tall 8th grade boy came up to me and very politely said, "Nice to meet you! Are you the new art teacher? What's your name?" My aunt remarked that it was the "Stepford 8th graders!" They are seriously SUCH nice kids, and it is a joy teaching them.
My most difficult classes are actually 3rd and 4th grade. It's not that they are "Bad," per se. Mostly it is just because they are loud and can get rowdy at times.
The little kids, kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade, have art twice a week. They are done with their collages, which are about them. I'll share some photos soon. I brought home the first grade collages, and I will mount them on a piece of paper to create a display in the school. I had each child write a sentence or two about their artwork, so I'll mount that below each collage. It'll be great to see my students' art up in all of the halls! I will take photos of my displays! :)
A crazy thing happened the other day. After school one day I was organizing some materials and putting them in the closet. I saw kids getting ready to leave, putting on jackets, etc. Then I saw some parents picking up their children. Suddenly I look up and see someone I know! It was one of my MANAGERS from VS! She has been on leave from VS for a few weeks because she was taking care of a sick family member, so she didn't even know that I had gotten a teaching job. Well, - lo and behold! - my manager's child goes to the school. She is a 4th grader! How crazy and random to see someone I know there!! I couldn't believe it!
Last week, I placed my order for supplies. They should be arriving at the school by the time I teach next. Way excited!! I hope the order I placed was good. I found it kind of difficult to order paper when I couldn't feel it and see if it was good or not. Also, tempera paint -- it is hard to know if I got a good kind or not. Some school-grade tempera is really runny and the pigment is really weak. Hope it is good!
All of the other teachers are really nice -- I like them all! Everyone has been very helpful. The principal is a wonderful lady, and I like working with her a lot!
Very very happy with my teaching job. It is great being in the classroom!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood: sleepy
I have a job teaching art two days a week at a Catholic school, grades k-8! I am thrilled to be teaching! I love the principal; she's a great lady! :) Yesterday I went to the school to sign paperwork and to visit, look at what supplies they had, and to tour the school. Two 6th grade girls, D and D showed me around. They were so sweet! This was my favorite part of the tour:
D: "Also... I don't want to creep you out or anything, but we think there may be a GHOST."
Other D: "One time I was in that room over there and the piano started playing BY ITSELF!"
Me: "Oh! I hope it's a friendly ghost!"
I am going to be teaching on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It is a lovely school, and it takes me about an hour to get there from my place.
Anyway, I have a LOT of planning to do before next Wednesday. Wish me luck!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
excited
On an unrelated note, Aly let me download the complete remastered Beatles collection because she'd gotten it as a "press sample." I have been enjoying it thoroughly! It is fantastic, and I never had all of the albums before.
So... I decided to create a series of ringtones/sounds for my phone, using the remastered Beatles. My phone is Beatles-themed, which I find extremely cute and fun. A general phone call plays "Here Comes the Sun." A text message is the "Beep-beep, beep-beep, yeah!" part of "Drive My Car." A few people have custom ringtones, too. When Doris calls, it is "Good Day Sunshine," and when my mom (Lucy) calls, it is "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."
HOW, you might ask, did non-tech-savvy me figure out how to make ringtones?! Well, first of all, I did not begin by doing it the easy way. I tried to create mini songs on Garage Band, drag them onto an SD chip and put them on the phone. NONE of that worked!
THEN I discovered Myxer, which allowed me to make custom ringtones online, and then it texted them to me, all for FREE!!!! I am spreading the word about this, because I was so, so skeptical that Myxer was not going to work, was going to charge me for the service somehow, etc. But it did NOT. It was 100% free, and was exactly what I was looking for. My ringtones sound great and I am enjoying them sooo much!
- Mood:
awake
As always, when I disappear from LJ-ville, it usually means BIG THINGS are going on, and I SHOULD be writing about them. Let me see, now.
The major thing in my life now is my career. I chose a FINE TIME to graduate with a MA in education: right in the middle of a citywide hiring freeze that affects new teachers in NYC. Public schools can't hire us. So, I had landed a position at a public elementary school, but they were unable to hire me. Later, a public high school was interested in me, but again -- couldn't hire me. Very, very frustrating!
What's a girl to do?
The answer: seek positions that are unaffected by the freeze: namely charter schools, private schools, and schools outside of NYC. I looked at New Jersey schools, and charter schools and private schools.
A couple weeks ago I had two interviews. One was with a charter school (K-2nd grades) for a full-time position. The other with a Catholic school (K-8th grades) for a part-time position (2 days a week). Good news: I was offered the Catholic school job!!! I am waiting to hear from the charter school about their decision. that position is preferable obviously with full-time salary and benefits! However, if it doesn't pan out, I will gladly accept the job at the Catholic school and continue to fill my time with hours at Victoria's Secret.
Overall, I know that in some capacity, I will soon be IN A CLASSROOM, and MAKING ART WITH KIDS! This makes me VERY HAPPY! :) I just don't know if it will be full-time or part-time.
I should hear from the charter school tomorrow about their decision. Hope, hope, hope!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
hopeful
I myself used to shy away from push-up bras, thinking they'd make me look too big, or un-natural. I have learned the error of my ways, and am now sporting the newest addition to my bra wardrobe, the Dream Angels push-up. It comes in lots of stunning colors (I have the navy one), looks and feels natural, gives great shaping, and -- best of all! -- doesn't make me look like a dairy cow! The detailing on this bra is very feminine and pretty, and it looks smooth under clothing.
Dream Angels bras are distinct in that they are made with memory foam, so they really conform to your shape.
For anyone interested in acquiring a push-up bra, head to your local Victoria's Secret... there is a promotion going on right now where you receive a free panty with the purchase of a push-up bra! Woo!
OK - off I go to work!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
content
Up until now, I have been using the external HD as a back up, but keeping the files on my computer as well. Maybe that's just a waste!
Would love to clear up some space on my computer, but I am afraid of losing photos or having them be difficult to access. Thoughts?
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
curious
* Work at VS continues to go well, although I didn't get as many hours as I hoped to get these past couple weeks. Trouble is, when business at a store is slow, they have to adjust their staffing accordingly. I really enjoy it, and will be going in this morning from 9:30-3 PM. I have worked in almost every room now! I really love helping with bras, and the room with the push-up bras is my fave! It's a small enough room that I am able to keep it totally neat and clean on my own without help. It is also fun to help customers find the bra they are looking for.
* Working for Pamela is also going well! I am helping her both with organizing her artwork and with some personal projects. I am making her an address book and organizing her contacts into a new email address, so that is something I can do from home. It is great! We also have had the greatest intentions of going swimming after I work with her at her house. So far we have only gone once (Pamela loves near a city pool -- which is BEAUTIFUL and FREE!). Every time I bring my swimsuit since that day, it has RAINED! Bummer.
* I have to ask at VS today, but my dad has asked me to come into the hardware store for a 5-day stretch in August! I think it would be super fun, and I hope VS allows me to do that. Plus, it would definitely be good pay because it would be full time hours for those 5 days. Crossed fingers that it works out!!
* SUSAN AND BOB GOT KITTENS!!! They are two little girls named Waffles and Edith, and I love them!!! I have decided to be their godmother. They are so cute!!
* Susan and Bob also got a Wii as a wedding present. (Seriously: Best wedding present ever!) Susan and I are addicted to the game "Trauma Center: New Blood." So addicted, in fact, that I got "Trauma Center" for Nintendo DS. :)
* Went with Aly to an event sponsored by PlayStation. It was their 2009 holiday launch, and we got to see the games that will be coming out this fall in time for Christmas. Let me just express my EXTREME EXCITEMENT over The Beatles: Rock Band!!!! I got to try it out and it is SO much fun! It makes me want to get a PlayStation 3. (Or an XBox 360. Or a Wii.) Seriously. At the event, they had mic stands, and I even attempted my goal of both singing AND playing guitar at the same time! This makes me think Doris and I have to rig someting up so that we can sing and play at the same time! If each of us can be 2 Beatles, we could be a whole band!
* My friend Jaime got me addicted to the Facebook game, "Farm Town." It's basically a farming Sim. It sounds lame, I know. I was skeptical at first, too. But now I love Farm Town!
* I am on a really weird sleep schedule. I need to get normalized! I am staying up really late and not even sleeping all that well. I don't know what my deal is, except when I work late at VS, I feel the need to stay up and chill before going directly to bed. And sometimes that's super late to begin with!
* In art news, my cousin Katie comissioned me to do a drawing for her sister-in-law, Kelly. She sent me some photographs to choose from. I did a pencil drawing of her with her baby son, Anson. It came out really nice! I was pleased with it. Katie will be giving it to Kelly this weekend, so I am eager to see how the gift goes over! I saw a picture of it now that Katie had it matted and framed, and it looks great!
* I finalls saw "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." I really enjoyed it! Because of my VS schedule I was not able to see it in Long Island with Megan and Scott, like I usually do. But I saw it with my friend Sam, and it was really fun! I thinkt he move was very fast paced, and it might be difficult for someone to understand who hasn't read the books. I think at this point, it is an assumption that you've done your required reading! ;) Those actors have really grown up with the movies, and I am so impressed with their acting, especially since they were so young to begin with!
* I have decided to keep my female pufferfish's name "Gilligan." Thanks to all who voted -- I think it was unanimous. I agree; I have been calling her "Gilligan" for too long now, it would be confusing to change her name. She is WAAAY cute. I just noticed the other day that one of the spots (right on the top of her head) resembles a heart!!! I changed her water yesterday, and the tank is just sparkling! My bettas are also doing swimmingly (pun intended). I have three: Otto, Owen, and Olaf. Owen is my oldest little guy and he is just doing GREAT!
* Working at VS has inspired me to do a special cleaning/organizing project. I have been going through my dresser drawers one at a time. I went through panties and bras and threw away old or ill-fitting ones, then tidied the drawer and stacked the bras in the way VS does (which does not crush the cups like my previous storage method did). I also sorted my sock drawer, my pajama drawer, and my sweatpant/exercise clothes drawer. T-shirt drawer: you're next!
* We have a fruit fly infestation again! I mean, it's not the worst infestaton one could get. It's certainly better than bed bugs, fleas, cockroaches, and KATYDIDS! The fruit flies are just ANNOYING and there are SO MANY of them. I have implemented my wine traps, which worked last time I had fruit flies. Crossed fingers that this does the trick.
* While my "relationship" with M officially terminated in January, I have attempted to do the "just friends" thing for the first time. I think it is going well. I have had time away from him to think and I feel like I understand things a bit better just recently. And, I can't help but be so excited for him in regards to how well his career in music is going! He is going some really really great things, and will be playing LOLLAPALOOZA in a couple weeks! Wow!
* Speaking of M, I will likely be doing an incredible costume project for him. He is being recruited as "George Harrison" for a Beatles tribute band, and he needs a Sargent Pepper suit (George wears the reddish one). I am so psyched! Nothing gets me going like a good costume project! It will be my first experience making PANTS. Crazy, right? Something about costume design will NEVER leave my soul! This suit will be CHALLENGING, and it has to fit well. It also has a lot of details. (A LOT.) Plus, since it is for M's tenure with the band, it has to be made well for multiple wearings. The band will wear assorted outfits throughout one show, so it should be easy to change in and out of. My brain is racing with ideas!
* I am feeling the need to really get serious about weight loss and exercise again. I don't know why I've gotten lazy about it. I keep putting it off, and it's the worst thing to put off!
* Just got word that my diploma is available to be picked up from Brooklyn College!!! Yeah, it's official! I'm a master! :)
* Aly and I are going to a Sephora event today. Fun!
Okay; time to shower and get ready for my day! Tally-ho!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood: awake
I cannot believe I made this error! I thought I had seen a stripe on the fish's belly, but it must have been a shadow! The question remains... what do I do about her name?
Poll #1432863 Name that fish
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9
What do I do about my fish's name?
Keep it Gilligan (even though she's a girl)
9 (100.0%)
Re-name the fish a feminine name (likely new name: "Mary Ann") 0 (0.0%)
- Mood:
shocked
Bra fittings by day
Amazon party at dusk
Later: ritual.
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
peaceful
Tomorrow, from 12-6, is my first "real" shift at VS. Looking forward to it!
The only reason I am still awake is because I just fed Gilligan, and he is just so cute when he eats. When he gets live blackworms, he sucks them up as if they are spaghetti! Just now, I gave him his first frozen food, a small piece of frozen bloodworms. He is digging them, big time. They are supposed to float at the top, but the filter has seized the chunk of them, holding them in one place. Gilligan is rushing up and pecking at them until he frees a single worm. When it is released from the suction of the filter, he high-speed-chases it down. I guess he is a natural hunter!
OK, despite his cuteness, I think my bed is calling my name!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood: sleepy
It has become increasingly difficult to not have a job for the summer. All teaching jobs start at the end of August/early September. Additionally, there is a HIRING FREEZE for new teachers (boo)! So I have a school that is very interested in me, they have an open position, and we just have to "wait and see" if the freeze lifts. It is a VERY scary prospect to not have a job totally lined up for the fall. I am just hoping and praying that the freeze lifts, and that I am able to get into the school that wants to hire me. In the meantime, I need to be working now, and to have a job so that I am not unemployed if the freeze should stay around.
Enter Victoria's Secret! I spent a few days pounding the pavement and searching for jobs. Two jobs were of particular interest to me -- Victoria's Secret and DSW. I have a great deal of retail experience, and I really enjoy it. Both stores are in the Atlantic Terminal Mall, which means they are VERY easy to get to from my place. I chose to only apply to stores that I love.
The experience at Victoria's Secret was great. I found out they were hiring, submitted an application to the store manager, and got an interview a few days later. I was hired the next day! Today I had my store orientation, which included seeing a video, getting familiar with the brand and with the core values, and a store tour. It was awesome how quickly I got to start!
I am very excited to be working here! The manager that I worked with today, as well as the store manager, were very impressive and seem like great people to work with. Also, I really enjoy working in retail, so I am confident this is a great fit for me! Plus I love Victoria's Secret!!
This week I'll also be doing some freelance work for my friend from grad school, who needs some computer work done. Since the Victoria's Secret job is part-time, I can also take on additional projects elsewhere. Anyway, it feels great to be working again!!! So happy! :)
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
grateful
My dear little pufferfish is named! I have gone with "Gilligan." :)
It came down to McMuffin vs. Giligan, and my pal Aly had a very good suggestion that helped me make a decision. She asked, "If you had a child, and God forbid he/she passed away, would you name the next child after him/her?" I replied, "No!"
And then I had my answer.
You see, McMuffin would have been a direct homage to McNugget, but do I really want this fish to be a "second" McNugget? While I miss McNugget terribly, I do not want my current fish to have to live up to the legendary McNugget. He is special and awesome in his own right!
And so, I give you Gilligan! He is a darling little fish. :)
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
pleased
A new dwarf pufferfish has joined my family!!! Meet him!!
Would you like to help name him? I have some ideas, but also could use some additional suggestions. I believe it is a boy. Ideas I have so far:
*Gilligan
*McMuffin
*Peanut
*Kilgore Trout
He is delightful already! Very alert and interested in his surroundings. He has been interacting with lots of his decorations, as you can see here. He is super-curious, which I think means he is liking his tank!!!
I have learned from my last experience with McNugget (my puffer that passed away). I began immediately treating his tank for internal parasites. Most puffers have them, and that's what eventually took McNugget. I hope to banish them before they impact this new fish's life.
Love him already!
- Mood:
chipper
Upon waking up, one of the first things I did was to take everything out of the pantry cabinet and to completely re-do it. The way it works is, there are 4 shelves of varying heights. Previously everyone has one shelf, and the very top is reserved for anyone's "extras." Oddly, the shelf with the most height was assigned to the person who usually has the LEAST pantry goods. As a result, a lot of space was not being used/distributed efficiently. What I did was give everyone 9-inches on every shelf, in a vertical direction. So each person now gets tall and short shelves. I figure everyone can rearrange it any way they want, maybe with lesser-used stuff on the taller shelves. I was so pleased with myself, I actually took "before" and "after" pictures. Lame, I know! Maybe I'll put them here. I think you can really see how much better the space is being used, and Alexandra and I can really see what we have better because it is not just crammed onto one tiny shelf.
Then, just now I did a huge fridge clean-out. I took everything out of each area as I cleaned it, tossed out old things, scrubbed and wiped every surface. It's a big job and it looks nice and clean now. I hope it doesn't get messy immediately!
Guess I am just a domestic goddess lately!
- Mood:
accomplished
Yesterday was the big day! Susan and Bob, two of my nearest and dearest, have gotten married!! The ceremony was in the morning, and took place beside the Japanese pond in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (where Susan and Bob had their first real date)! It took place in a tiny little ampitheater that I never even knew about -- although I have been to the Garden many, many times. It was a perfect spot for a wedding. The weather was spectacular! It was very sunny, and not too hot!
The day before the wedding, Susan, me, her mom, and the four other bridesmaids met up at Dashing Diva to get manicures and pedicures. We then attended a rehearsal dinner, sans rehearsal (does that just make it a regular "dinner"?), hosted by Susan's parents at Scottadito. It was lovely! We had the "wine cellar" room to ourselves! It was a lovely dinner, and Susan presented me and the other people who had taken a part in the wedding with gifts. I received a really beautiful jewelry set including earrings and a matching necklace, handmade out of pennies!
Me, Susan's mom, and the bridesmaids slept over at Susan's house. Together, Lizzie and I practiced designing a hairstyle for Susan. (Two small twists came around the sides and met at the back for a side-bun, then a flower comb fastened around the bun.) The hair accessory was worn by Mari at her wedding last year! It was "something borrowed," along with the earrings Susan wore (also worn by Mari at her wedding).
We went to sleep and woke up early the next day to get ready. I got up first, to plug in my hot rollers. Then I set my hair. Mari was right behind me, applying a facial masque! (I did one, too!) We rushed at the end, trying to get everything done. Lizzie and I styled Susan's hair, and it came out great! Susan looked beautiful in her dress and sandals ("something new")! In case you're wondering about "something old," it was her engagement ring, which was her grandmother's. "Something blue" was her eyes and her underwear!
Danny, who is Susan's friend and the wedding photographer, came over to take pictures of us getting ready, then the troupe of us headed to the farmer's market at Grand Army Plaza to pick up flowers! We got six bunches of gorgeous, colorful assorted flowers! Mari and I brought ribbons, Susan's mom had shears and supplies. We made the flowers into beautiful bouquets -- each one different! Then we headed to the Garden for the ceremony!
At the Garden, I found Bob and got ahold of the ring (as the Maid of Honor, it is my job to give Susan Bob's ring when it is time). I saw my parents and got to say hello! We learned that the celebrant was running late, so Danny took out photos before the ceremony. It was such a nice setting in the Garden to take photos. I learned that you need complete shade for the best photos. (Spotty shade looks weird!)
When the celebrant --Bob's cousin, Bari -- arrived, we moved pretty quickly getting the wedding started. We were worried about sticking to the schedule set by the Garden (although no one from the Garden bothered us!). Bob and his groomsmen assembled at the front of the ampitheater, and I started the procession in, followed by bridesmaids Merry (Bob's sister), Lizzie (Susan's work friend), Julia (Susan's childhood friend), and Mari (Susan's dear friend). Then, Susan's dad escorted her to the front.
The ceremony was performed. Bari did a beautiful job! Every part of the ceremony was personal and relevant to Bob and Susan. There were lots of personal stories and anecdotes. Susan's mom did a reading of poem, followed by excerpts from a speech Susan gave in high school, tying the themes together. It was lovely, and a real tearjerker! I had to really focus to not cry! Mari did a reading from the "Velveteen Rabbit" which was also beautiful!
When the wedding was over, we headed to the reception brunch at Flatbush Farm restaurant. The reception was located in the outdoor courtyard of the restaurant, which was great since it was such a nice day. We had a menu to choose from several delicious selections! Bob's brother Larry was the Best Man, so he gave a toast. After that, I gave a toast. I think it went well! We all hung out and mingled, and it was really casual and nice! Bob's cousin Ariel made the wedding cake, which was made of cupcakes, all decorated together to form two "sheet cakes." The cake topper was the one that had topped Susan's parents' wedding cake!
Overall, it was a wonderful, beautiful day to celebrate two very special people to me!! I am so, so happy for them!
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
ecstatic
I have found the missing link between Star Trek and Marilyn Monroe. Yeoman Janice Rand, aka Grace Lee Whitney! She has an uncredited bit part in Some Like it Hot as one of the members of the all-girl band. Look for her in a black beret. At 3:37 she says, "Take off your corsets and spread out!"
You can see her better here:
...at 4:31, she is "Rosella."
I am always looking for missing links between my various interests! I decided to make a "missing link" tag for that very reason! :) Someday I am going to come up with a flow chart that links all of my interests. Kind of like a 6 degrees of separation...
- Location:my apartment
- Mood:
amused - Music:Some Like It Hot
8.) Miri
9.) Dagger of the Mind
- Mood:
calm
