I was tagged by sallycandance , so here we go!!! Also, I think I am going to post my happy things about the previous day, since I will definitely forget to post at the end of the day after all the good things have happened. Today's post is a little long because I haven't updated in a while...</lj>

* * * * *

The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day. Tag 8 people to do the same.

DAY ONE (yesterday, December 11, 2008):

1.) I thought my beloved dwarf pufferfish McNugget was going to die. I've been putting McNugget's heater on for a few hours while I am monitoring him and in the room with him, to regulate the temperature. However, because the tank is small (only 5 gallons), it could easily overheat. Well, yesterday morning before going in to teach, I saw that I had accidentally left McNugget's heater on ALL NIGHT and had completely overheated the aquarium. McNugget was looking very lifeless. I immediately took him out of the tank, put him in cooler water, and tried to revive him. I could see his gills were moving, and his tail was sometimes moving, but that was all. I was SO UPSET. I did a 50% water change and added cool water to even out the temperature, and then put McNugget back in the tank. Then I had to go to school to teach. I worried about McNugget all day. He really looked dead (except for his gills moving). On Thursdays, I usually go straight from teaching to my new temp job at the Museum, but I decided to go home first to check on McNugget. Lo and behold, he had swam up to his plant and was chilling there. I shook the plant and he began to swim agound. I think he is going to make it! I was so happy, I was almost crying! I am hoping he will make a full recovery. He seems to be a little exhausted and less self-motivated to swim around (he does a lot of hanging out in his plant since it happened). But, that was a pretty traumatic experience, so I hope he will come around soon.

2.) Linda, my professor, came to observe me teaching in my classroom. The lesson went really well, and Linda had great things to say about my teaching. She said I was very intuitive, and had great instincts to go over to the students that needed help the most. She thought that some of the explanations I made to the kids were really good (demonstrating on the fly what is meant by a 3/4 profile, for example; not assuming the students know what that is). She said I am going to be a "wonderful art teacher," and when my mentor teacher Desiree was there, she added how I am going to build an amazing program wherever I go! It was awesome to get all of those great and supportive compliments! ALSO exciting is the fact that Linda has a school in mind for me that needs a really strong art teacher. It's an elementary school near Brooklyn College. Something to think about!! Linda comments, "They will hire whoever I send them." Linda is one of my best advocates at finding a job, so I am extremely excited that she is already thinking of places that would be a good fit for me. She has a lot of contacts and is such a great resource, and it is awesome how supportive she is of me!

3.) I got a manicure and pedicure which was long overdue and I think I just needed to do something relaxing and pampering for myself (especially after the stress of worrying over McNugget)! I got a festive purple color!

4.) I went to see Marty play at a Toys for Tots benefit in Bayonne last night! It was really fun, despite the nasty weather! I brought four toys I'd gotten at Target -- a Barbie, a baby doll, a Transformer (Robots in Disguise!), and a Mr. Potato Head! So, while I am sad I will not be able to afford Operation Santa Claus this year, I definitely feel better that I was able to contribute some toys to needy children! Marty did a great job and it was fun seeing him play solo since he hasn't really done that in a while! We got a little drenched, but it was cool. It made me feel very festive, and I am looking forward to Marty's BIG holiday event, Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza. Marty will be playing with Spiraling, and also in the house band!

OK, I am tagging....
zama60  cleodee  v_mina_harker  igraine120  un_sedentary  lea724 whitetigergeek and pgwfolc 
...but, don't feel obligated, and also: if I didn't tag you, feel free to participate!

</lj></lj></lj></lj></lj></lj></lj></lj>

Who Should Paint You: Gustav Klimt

Sensual and gorgeous, you would inspire an enchanting portrait.. With just enough classic appeal to be hung in any museum!

Good omens:
Post-interview: blimp sighting, hovering over Brooklyn.
Someone-new (smart!creative!attrrrractive!) to be excited about.
My cupcakes, being the "hit" of the party.
The re-planting and re-growth of seeds.
My first female betta!

So: I felt good about how it went. I was told a decision would be made by now... so far, no announcement has been made... I feel badly for those who have said they;d keep their fingers crossed for me... since last week... sorry if anyone's fingers become twisted and arthritic. Maybe we should all switch to knocking on wood, for the greater good of our fingers (but to the dismay of our knuckles).

Here I am in DC! One last night here, and I feel like I need to be here for a longlonglong time before I'll even scratch the surface of getting the feel of this city. Here are some things I've learned.

The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall, and rumor-has-it, it is sinking at a rate of a quarter-inch per year. (Unconfirmed.)

DC is easy to navigate! Even if you're me!

The Reflecting Pool kicks ass unless it is goose and duck-infested. In the event of a duck or a goose infestation, it is most important to walk ot sit at a reasonable distance AWAY from the Reflecting Pool.

The Jefferson Memorial looks just like the Pantheon in Greece, which means it looks just like Hendrick's Chapel in Syracuse. It is at the Tidal Basin, which is a great place to walk around, and to REFLECT. I watched the sun set here.

Old people are the weirdest tourists. A busload of them came to the Jefferson Memorial. They were very unhappy about climbing stairs. One old woman asked another (more spry) old woman to take her camera and photograph the statue of Thomas Jefferson for her. I wondered why you'd want to have a photo of a statue you'd never actually seen. What would that mean to you.

Restaurants here in DC close early! I had to search and search and search far and wide to find a place that was still serving food after 8 PM.

Some things change, some things stay the same. Sometimes the hospital you were born in gets torn down and re-built elsewhere.

Sometimes you miss somebody, and you see them again, and it is like no time has passed by. And at the same time, it is like eons have passed by.

+ + + + +

There's a full moon out tonight. It is hanging huge and yellow, and here in DC (and also from my 7-hour bus-ride) I can see all the little craters and nuances on its surface. It makes my brain swim a little to think too hard about it. A sphere in orbit--another world (uninhabited)--that looks just like a paper cut-out from down here. I used to think (and still do) that a really good full moon looks strikingly similar to an old paper-plate. One with grease-stains soaked through (evidence of pizza?), forming the dark shades of craters. One which was left out, overnight, on a picnic-table and rained-on, so that the edge flattened out, leaving a white perfect-circle with the leftover grease-spots of a former meal.

+ + + + +

This hotel is extremely nice. Jesse's company is paying for it, since he has been here on business. Except for when Jesse went on business calls and later to the wedding (where he is now), we have felt extremely under-dressed to be here. It is a stone's throw from the White House. We walked past it last night. We found there to be surprisingly little visible security. We saw one guard watching us pass by.

+ + + + +

Overheard: "I don't think it's any different than any other city." (Old lady, near the Jefferson Memorial, at dusk. Everything white and aglow, and the sky a deep, deep indigo.)

+ + + + +

Overheard (Two women, while walking in Downtown DC.)
Woman 1: "It's not too cheap, and it's not too expensive."
Woman 2: "It's pretty great."
Woman 1: (agreeing.) "It's medium."

+ + + + +

It was my goal to find and purchase a William Howard Taft souvenir. He is my favorite president. I didn't find a tacky presidential souvenir shop until 8:30 PM. There was all this Taft memorabilia in the window, with a sign that said: This Month's Presidential Birthdays! The lights were on, there was a woman inside at the counter. But the store had closed at 8.

+ + + + +

I felt like writing some personal things today. I bought a journal at Barnes and Noble, even though I have about 18,000 journals at home. I didn't have a single one with me. I also bought a map of DC, so I wouldn't get lost. I didn't. I went to the Jefferson Memorial and wrotewrotewrote.

+ + + + +

Sometimes I don't know what to feel or how to communicate. Sometimes I just roll with the punches, and hope. Sometimes I feel I-like-you, do-you-like-me. Sometimes I'm 14 years old. Sometimes I'm 24. Sometimes I don't speak up. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I have blue eyes and sometimes they are green. I am: shifting. I am: a spectrum. I am still learning me. I don't know what I want. I know what I want.

Megan asked me, days ago: would you eat in a restaurant all by yourself? I hemmed and hawed. Said I probably wouldn't. Said if I did, I'd hurry out just as fast as I could. Today: 8:30 or 9 PM, I found a sushi restaurant all-by-myself and ate at the bar and drank Sapporo and read Vonnegut.

I am: a spectrum. I am still learning me.

This morning, everything is vivid-green and undulating. I think it’s going to rain. On my way to the bus stop, I felt two errant raindrops hit my forehead. I want a thunderstorm. I want to feel the power and energy of nature, and be reminded that I’m just a little speck compared to everything in the world. Sometimes I’m in my head so much I forget that. I want to feel passive, and watch the outside rage.

* * * * * * * * * *

Two nights ago, I awoke to the howls and growls of a stray cat in heat. It was a human sound, right outside my window—gravelly and eerie and sick. I realized what it was, but in my head, it was otherworldly and terrifying. I threw my covers over my head and pushed my fingers in my ears and willed it to go away.

* * * * * * * * * *

Today, when I crossed Eastern Parkway on my way to work, round, white flower petals were fluttering from one-tree-or-another. I couldn’t quite tell which. They fell like the first snow of the winter, softly and wistfully. It’s almost balmy—the air is thick with pending rain. But there is enough of a wind (pent-up energy?) to make me glad I brought my jacket. When I left this morning, Susan was still asleep. I wasn’t sure if she wanted to sleep that late, but I thought it would be good for her after several intense, stressful days—so I left as quietly as possible (a difficult task because we have the world’s squeakiest door). And I thought about her when I watched white flower-petals dance lightly to the street below.

* * * * * * * * * *

I’ve been helping Terri make a scrapbook in honor of her mom’s retirement. She’s come up with a list of fifty things her mom can do with her time, now that she’s retiring. Daily, I try and find cut paper and scrapbooking bits to illustrate all the possibilities. This may be the first scrapbook I’ve worked on that has nothing to do with photographs. Terri and I are slowly working on demolishing her 2004 calendar, cutting out images of nature and National Parks and places to visit. It makes me hungry for a little nature. It makes me happy to work on a scrapbook again.

* * * * * * * * * *

I finished A Prayer For Owen Meany and began God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. I am full of words. I should actually write some down once in a while.

* * * * * * * * * *

When she told me she might have to move out, when she told me it was a real possibility—that she might have to think about living in the Bronx, I shut my mouth. I uttered something silly, and said we should take things “one day at a time.” (Whatever that means.) She must not know how I feel. She must not, must not. I must not influence her in any way other than to support her wholeheartedly as I promised to do before we moved in together. I have tried to play it cool and un-phased and neutral. But she’s smart; she can probably read right between my lines. And I know I’ve slipped-up a few times. Still, I’ve tried. This must be her decision—this is her two-year commitment. I just want to see her happy. Would anything make me support her any less? No. I’d support her even if she was placed in a school on the moon.

* * * * * * * * * *

Zombies are real.
http://65.127.124.62/south_asia/4483241.stm.htm

* * * * * * * * * *

I accompanied you to the police station, to get fingerprinted. I wanted to see what the police station was like. I felt like a third-grader on a field-trip. We saw a man who’d rescued a baby bird. And we saw an undercover cop bring in a whore.

* * * * * * * * * *

Sometimes I get frustrated about things, about responsibilities. I try to be proactive and do something about it, to make decisions, to be a leader and a guide and an organizer. A mover and a shaker. But sometimes I feel like I’m casting pearls before swine. I can talk all I want but sometimes it doesn’t make a wit of difference.

* * * * * * * * * *

New experiences overwhelm me. New sensations—try them! Pull back. Think, think. Reflect. Go out on a limb and see what happens. Try something spontaneous. Get out of your skin, and get back in it feeling more real than ever before. Try it. On a whim. Disappointment? Maybe. Regret? No.

* * * * * * * * * *

I forgot his last name.

* * * * * * * * * *

Say hello to Brooklyn’s newest special education teacher… susanbean! I feel so incredibly proud of her sometimes. Well, really all the time. Sometimes I want to just burst. She sees a problem, wants to change it, and does. Sees a challenge and walks right into it, headfirst. She is: brave and brilliant and bright-eyed. I watch her in awe. She is going to do incredible things, every. single. day. She already does.

* * * * * * * * * *

I feel full of things. I feel like I’m filling things. Images in an album, iced-tea in my Martha-Stewart-pitcher, water in a watering-can, flowers in a garden. My bean-garden has started to grow. They are not frail, they are strong, thick-stemmed little sprouts. They took their time coming up, but I think they’re going to be resilient. I want to make things grow. I want to make things beautiful. I’m in the mood to paint.

* * * * * * * * * *

How about that. I just looked out the window, and it’s sunny out. How quickly things change. How silly and human of me to predict rain!

To the fellow recent Syracuse grad, the hottie from the School of Management, member of CROW Fraternity--who showed up in Palmer Brothers yesterday,

Where are you? Come back! I don't even know your name! Perhaps if your dad wasn't standing there, you might have asked for my phone number. Where are you from? You left too many unanswered questions. I think you're just going to have to show up at Palmer's and take me out to lunch. And bring flowers.

Sincerely,
Allison (yes, that's my name), Palmer Brothers cashier, cute Art History grad.

Hey there!

Well, I am back from my Spring Break trip to Chicago! Now I have to get back into a "school" mindset. But first! I will recap the HIGHLIGHTS of my Spring Break.

My parents picked me up at 10 PM on Thursday. They aimed to be here at around 5 PM. The delay was due to a huge snowstorm that had hit the New Jersey/New York City area... Of all days! Plus, in Syracuse, for the first time EVER, it was beautiful and sunny out. Because of the late start, we stayed overnight in Binghamton and headed out early on Friday morning. My poor Daddy had to go to work after all the driving!! My Mom and I had an agenda to accomplish: mass amounts of shopping! It was a long but fun day.

The next day, Madison (world's finest dog) received a deluxe bath. After that, I hung out more with my mom, running errands, and mostly packing for my trip. In the evening, Mike came over and we met up with Jessica and her new boyfriend, Dave. The four of us had a double-date to Miyoshi, my favorite Japanese restaurant of all time. We had 5 or 6 different kinds of sushi, and split an entree, then shared 3 bowls of Japanese ice cream! (Red Bean, Green Tea, and Ginger--all three flavors were amazing! Very light and refreshing!)

At the crack of dawn... we were off to Chicago! Mike and I arrived around noon, and it was such a nice day, we drove around the neighborhood to see various landmarks from Mike's childhood. We then went to WISCONSIN! How unexpected to visit yet ANOTHER state! We went to the Mars Cheese Castle, which is a cheesy cheese store. We also went to Lake Geneva, which was fun but c-c-cold!

Well, all the days are blurring together, so I'll just list the things we did in no particular order: visited and had lunch with Mike's grandparents, took a drive through downtown Chicago and past Wrigley Field, saw Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park, ate Chicago-style pizza at Gino's East, went to the Art Institute of Chicago, went to the Shedd Aquarium downtown, saw a Drag Show at Northwestern University, ate breakfast (and witnessed a crime-scene!) at Walker brother's Pancake House, "broke in" to Mike's old High School to walk around, went to the White Hen (like 7-11) to buy scratch-off lottery tickets, went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade, went to the mall to get me a Chicago Cubs t-shirt, walked around Navy Pier, went in the Baha'i House of Worship, had frozen custard at Culver's with Mike's Aunt Lynda and cousin Angela, hung out with Mike's friend Shawn, ...and I am sure I am forgetting lots of other things!! But, as you can see, it was very fun!

THINGS I LEARNED:

1.) Mike and his mom told me that Chicago is the nation's fattest city, second to Houston, TX. After experiencing Chicago first hand, I can understand why. A sensible Jersey girl like myself orders a hot dog and puts ketchup on it. A Chicagoan gets a hot dog and puts so many toppings on it, you can barely see the hot dog. Not just puny toppings, either. For instance, when they put pickles on a hot dog, they put entire pickle SPEARS (not just the chips!) on top. They put two to three of them on there. I don't understand how the hot dog bun can sustain the weight of the toppings. I order an "apple pancake" for breakfast... What I recieve is the size, depth, and density of an entire apple pie. The only difference is, the apple topping is baked into pancake batter, rather than pie crust. I must have gained 20 pounds. I'm getting serious about losing weight and exercising now!! Crazy!

2.) They call the Chicago's suburbs "Chicagoland." This is a term kind of like the "Tri-State Area." TV and radio commercials, brochures, and ads all refer to Chicagoland. It's actually kind of cute.

3.) They aren't kidding around when they dye the river green. For St. Patrick's Day, they dye the river the most nuclear neon shade of green. It is incredible. I saw some ducks swimming around in it. I think their days are numbered. Another Chicago-St. Patty's Day sidenote: Green Beer isn't served until it is ACTUALLY St. Patrick's Day. (They don't start the green beer early, even though the parade is going, and the river is the color of Hi-C Ecto-Cooler.)

4.) If a man in a mask comes into your restaurant and slips you a note that says, "I have a gun, Give me all your money," you should run away from him. Chances are, he will turn and run out of the restaurant. This is what happened to the hostess a few minutes before we came in for our breakfast at Walker Brothers. While eating pancakes, we learned a lot about collecting evidence at the crime scene. We watched police officers tape off an area with yellow police line, dust for fingerprints, and take photos.

I'm back from my weekend of fun in Niagara Falls! It was so much fun! It was absolutely freezing, especially by the Falls. Still, the trip was so worth it!

The Falls were beautiful! The Niagara River was almost completely frozen. There were massive icicles all around the waterfall, and huge snow drifts. Very otherworldly. Mike and I went to view the Falls at night when they were illuminated, and also during the day. I took lots of photos!

We stayed at a super classy Super Eight motel, which was fun. We slept so well, that we didn't wake up until 12 noon! We very nearly missed check-out. Still everything worked out. We had a pancake brunch as soon as we checked out on Sunday. Then we walked around the strip, which is a road lined up with super cheesy stores and attractions!

I should mention that we had a very odd experience at the Hard Rock Cafe the night before. First, Mike pointed out that behind me was a Matt Zarit look-a-like. I turned around, and sure enough, there was "Matt"! We decided it would be really cool to take a picture of him. Mike pretended to take a picture of me, while really taking a picture of "Matt." After that, we saw a girl come into the restaraunt who looked IDENTICAL to my roommate, Sam! Now, the Matt look-a-like was a strong resemblance, but "Sam" was an exact replica! Now, Mike and I knew we HAD to take a picture. We finished our meal, tracked her down, and I took a picture of Mike with "Sam" in the background.

The night after, we ate at Kelsey's, a very cute little restaraunt. So much fun!

I should recap about Valentine's Night... I gave Mike his fish, and he loved it!! Mike gave me an angel teddy bear with my name on it. So cute! It was a great weekend, all-in-all!! I can't wait to see my photos!

He loved the fish!!
I'm off to Niagara Falls! I'll be back sometime tomorrow!

Happy Valentine's Day! Well, I guess it is technically the day after Valentine's Day. It is almost 1, and Mike won't be here till about 2:30! I feel like I am watching the clock, as I always do when I know he's on the way. Speaking of watching the clock, check this out. It's cool!

http://www.yugop.com/ver3/stuff/03/fla.html

Well I can write about this now, since Mike is en route to my apartment, and there's no way the surprise will be spoiled! I am extremely excited to give him his Valentine's Day gift. It is... a BETTA! (Yes, a fish!) Two weeks ago, when Mike was visiting, we went to Petco together to look at the fishies. Mike took a liking to one in particular, and he named him Budley Finn. I had to go to APO chapter meeting, so we left Petco, planning to return so Mike could get the fish. When we arrived, Petco was closed!

The next day (and after Mike had gone back home), Stacey took me to Petco to get Bud. It was hard to remember which fish he was, since they had restocked the Betta shelf. I think I found him! (If not, close enough!!) I got all the essentials--fishbowl, gravel, plant, food, net, and of course water conditioner. I set Bud up in his bowl, and today I tied red and white ribbons and a red rose onto the bowl. (All the accessories are in a gift bag, along with a journal that I wrote of all of Bud's daily activities, so that Mike wouldn't miss out on his early days.)

I will have to report on Mike's reaction to the present. I hope he likes it!!! Also exciting is... we're going to NIAGARA FALLS tomorrow!! Yay! May everyone's Valentine's Day and National Condom Day be as great as can be!

There's a whole lotta good going on in my day!

First of all, this Friday is the APO (Alpha Phi Omega, my co-ed service fraternity) Induction ceremony. That's when those who have expressed interest oficially become pledges! I got an IM last night from the Pledgemaster and the Rush & Retention Vice-Prez that I will be having twins (2 little brothers) this semester--both girls! This means, for the record, that all of my littles have been girls. These two, Erin and Kristen, will be my 5th and 6th little! (Can you tell I'm proud?!) And... today after class, I bought their pledge books. I decided to do a "theme," so one gets a Wonder Woman book, and the other gets Catwoman! How cute is that? I can't wait to meet them tomorrow night!

My day continued to be great as my Art in America professor talked about Marilyn Monroe in-depth. I thanked him after class for such good Marilyn coverage, stating that I'm a big fan of hers. The professor promises more Marilyn to come! Good times!

I came back to my apartment to find that I'd received 2 pieces of PERSONAL mail (not even bills or junk)!! One postcard from Doris, with an attractive picture of Rutgers University on it, and a long, newsy letter from Lauren, my co-worker from home!! So much fun!! I can't wait to write back! I am old-fashioned, in that I love to write real letters on real paper. It's an art, and it's really going out of style. So, dear reader, if you like to write and receive letters, leave me a message and I'll gladfully be a pen pal to anyone who wants to.

Also, Mike just e-mailed me. He's purchased our plane tickets to Chicago for Spring Break. I'll get to visit his old stomping grounds, and eat some of that crazy pizza! I have never even been to Illinios, so I am excited!

Plus, I think at some point today, I'll help Sam pick out some fish for her fish tank. I always love to hang out in the fish aisle of the pet store! Fish are fun!

Also on my mind is Relay For Life, an American Cancer Society fundraiser I am helping to plan. Things were looking really rough, and it was hard to get people involved. Yet lately, I have been feeling really good about our progress! it is really starting to come together!

Things are good, in general.

It is February, 2003.

Apparently the groundhog saw its shadow, so I think that means we have a long winter ahead of us. Either way, it is always a long winter here in Syracuse, NY!

This February marks my first Valentine's Day with a boyfriend. This ought to be exciting! Michael and I are planning a weekend trip to Niagara Falls! It will be my first time there, and it will be exciting! (I have seen the Marilyn Monroe movie, "Niagara" so many times... I am itching to go!) Perhaps more spectacular than the falls themselves will be the quality time spent with Mike. (Everybody in unison, now: "AWWWWW!")

Mike and I have two milestones coming up... our first Valentine's Day together, then on March 6, our One-Year Anniversary. So very exciting! For those of you who don't know, I have never been with anyone for very long, so this is Big News!

Informative tidbit of the day: February 14th is not just Valentine's Day. It is also National Condom Day! (I think that is very apropos.) Log on to http://www.trojancondoms.com for a free condom, mailed discreetly to your door.

Okay, now I'm getting silly... It is time for me to go to bed. Goodnight, all!

So I've gotten a few comments/complements on my user photo... I figured I'd give credit where credit is due. This picture was taken in October by Mike. In the rest of the photo (what got cropped out), I'm playing his guitar. For the record, I don't know how to play the guitar. We were fooling around, taking "conceptual" photos... Me holding the guitar (literally) is like me holding him (figuratively). The idea is that when Mike gets around to recording some of the songs he's written, I was going to be on his album cover!

[ Mike, approving of my user photo: Ooh la la. A livejournal. How exotic. How cool is it that a beautiful picture of m'lady, taken by yours truly, is now zipping its way across cyberspace via your livejournal. Damn you're beautiful! :) ]

Aww.... Now I feel all warm and fuzzy!