This morning, my dad and I woke up early and took a walk on Marginal Way, a paved path that hugs the cove/shoreline in Ogunquit. We saw the sun after it had just risen and climbed down the rocks to look at snails in little tide pools. We returned to the hotel, showered, then had an amazing breakfast at Amore Restaurant. (YUM.)

Today was a lot cooler than yesterday, but I still wore flip flops. :)

We left our hotel in Ogunquit, and headed to Freeport. On the way, we visited Eartha, who is the world's largest globe! At Freeport, we shopped at L.L. Bean (so fun!). I got a skirt, two tops, and a pair of capris. We had lunch on the waterfront -- I had a FISHWICH. It was DELISH.

Then, we went to Camden, another maritime town. On the way we did some pottery shopping (fun!). Once in Camden, we settled into our hotel -- it is sooo nice and fun! We walked around the town a bit and looked in various stores. Then we had a yummy dinner at a place famous for its chowder.

I am VERY FULL. We are doing a lot of good eating! 

I fell in love with a piece of art -- a print of four squids -- titled "Eeny Meanie Miny Moe." I mght have to get it tomorrow.

This morning, my parents and I set out for Maine! We had a lovely drive. It is an absolutely warm and beautiful sunny day, so the ride was oh-so-pleasant. In the car, we have been playing a fun game where we look for restaurants and businesses that bear the names of our relatives. The goal is to get every family member! (An example, "Ben's Autobody, Inc." and "Swamp John's Jewelry.") I am keeping a list.

We got an 11am "snack" at McDonald's, then a late lunch in Maine at "Bob's Clam Hut," a restaurant that also had a family member's name in it! Bob's Clam Hut also had a cut-out of Elvis (bearng the phrase, "Stand By Your Clam") and a mural of Gilligan's Island characters eating clams. MY KIND OF PLACE. Seriously! The clam roll I had was faboo.

We went to a trading post that my dad always talks about. I actually got two sundresses there, although I was not intending to buy anything! I also got some postcards and am sending them out tomorrow.

I am having a great time having some "down time" with my folks, and it is a great reward after finishing grad school! My parents are really fun and cute to travel with. :)

We arrived at our hotel, and we are staying here at the Mariner's for one night. It is really nice, with a great view. After unpacking, we rode out to see the beach, which was very pretty. We just walked around (it was kinda cold out by the beach!). Then we headed towards Barnacle Billy's, a seafood restaurant. We walked around some shops then had dinner. My dad got the full lobster meal, but my mom and I were still kinda full from lunch, so we opted for a cup of soup and we split an order of steamer clams (YUM!!). My dad shared his lobster so I got to try some. Awesome! I will likely have a full lobster somewhere, but I did not want to do it when I was feeling full already!

After eating all of this good food, we had ICE CREAM. Oh dear, I will have to eat healthy upon my return, because I can see where this trip is going!!! Haha.

We are exhausted and my parents have already fallen asleep. I am here, catching up with the internet! My Twitter page (also "alliegee") has some live action Maine updates, for those who simply cannot wait to see what hijinx I am up to.

My mom is STILL in the hospital with the cellulitis infection in her arm!! I am bummed for her because she doesn't even FEEL sick; she just is very bored and there to be kept on the IV meds. If I didn't have so many stupid errands to do, I would have gone back to NJ to visit and hang out with her.

Yesterday was my dad's birthday, so I am sad he had a boring birthday! I called him up and said happy birthday, and told him we would celebrate this weekend.

On Friday I am departing with my parents to have a long weekend trip to Maine! They had planned the trip a while back, but recently invited me to come with them! I accepted and am excited to go!

It sounds like my mom will be out of the hospital in time to still go with us as planned. I hope so!!! It will also be extra fun for my mom to get away after being stuck in the hospital all of this time!

Anyway depending on when I get my substitute teaching application in, I will go home to NJ. Maybe this evening or tomorrow sometime.

In other news, I am AWAKE now (woke up at 5 AM) because a mosquito is in my bedroom and I can hear it buzzing around me and trying to eat me alive. It got me a bit hysterical, so I woke up. I think I might attempt to fall back asleep in a little bit... I was hoping I would see it and be able to kill it and get back to sleep. I did see it once, but I missed my chance! It's wild how something so teeny tiny could make me so crazy!!

Last week I enjoyed a DELIGHTFUL spring break. It was quite action-packed, though, and busy. Here is what I did.

1.) Spent 4 days in Georgia. My mom and I flew down and we helped to throw a baby shower for my cousin Ben and his wife Kelly! I also got to visit with my Grandma, my aunts and uncles, and see 18-month old little Sara (my cousin Max and his wife Kim's little one). It was areally nice time. I am also excited because I got to meet my cousin Lanie's fiance, Sean. They are getting married in June and I'll be going down to GA for the wedding, so it was great to meet him prior to the Big Day! I was also happy because I got to spend a lot of time with my cousin Katie.

2.) I spent one day in NJ with my mom and dad. My mom and I went shopping!

3.) THEN I had a massive Thesis Fest with Jaime. I spent 3 days and 2 nights at her house. We got a LOT of work done. We also did a lot of goofing around. We got some new FISH! My fish is a betta named Herman! Hers is a gourami named Jiesamfoek (they are named after our thesis advisor)!! As always it was a fun and productive Thesis Fest!

4.) Friday night we stopped thesis-ing and I met Paul (pgwfolc) and we went to see the movie "Coraline" in 3D! We both agreed it was really great, and even better that we got to see it in 3D! Hooray! It was also great to meet Paul, who has been my online friend for a long time, but we only just met this weekend!! We were friends through the Lois & Clark message board, so it was apropos to see "Coraline" together, since it features the vocals of Teri Hatcher (she did a great job)!

5.) On Saturday I had a SUPERFUN DAY that featured me doing NO WORK. First off, it was GorgeousWarmSunnyBeautiful out. It was also my friend Jim's birthday, and a week prior to Aly's moving day (she is moving to an apartment upstairs in her same building). Aly organized a get together in honor of Jim's birthday. I went to Aly's and waited with her while there was an open house in her apartment. Then we both went to brunch where we met Jim, Colter, and Amy. We had a GREAT brunch, then it looked like it was just going to be an overall great day. I ran home to get my computer (I actually THOUGHT I was going to work onmy thesis, but I was wrong!). I met Aly, Jim, Colter, and Amy for a secondary open house at Aly's, then once it was over we went to Prospect Park and I taught Amy how to hula hoop! Like me she was an adult beginner, and I certainly know how that feels! (See video in previous entry.) After the park hangout, Jim had to leave to go to a wedding (yes, on his birthday)! But I was invited to Jaime's 30th birthday FIESTA. So I called Jaime to see if I could bring three friends along and she said YES! So - me, Colter, Amy, and Aly went to Jaime's where we partied with her and her friends! It was super awesome - good food and drinks and fun and even a little Rock Band (I believe I sang "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Eye of the Tiger"). Now everyone knows I'm a diva. :) The night ended back at Aly's, where she game me and Amy some items from her giant "box o' beauty" (samples she gets from doing her beauty blogging). Amy drove me home and it was just nice getting to know her more (previously we were more like acquaintances, but now we are better friends!).

6.) On Sunday I met up with Susan. She was back from PARIS where she had been with BOB! Bob's still there, on tour, but they got to have a nice vacation together. So cool! I only saw Susan briefly, but she gave me a GIFT FROM FRANCE: a SQUID WHISK!!!!!! Seriously - it is so awesome!!!

7.) I went to NJ to visit Claire and new baby Helia!!! I brought the ingredients for Pasta Rustico (my dad's special pasta and sauce recipe). I cooked dinner for Claire, her hubby, and her pal Loren. The four of us had a nice dinner, and I did a good job making Rustico. My dad will be proud! Baby Helia is the cutest baby EVER. I got to NJ, and Loren just put this sweet cute li'l baby in my arms and I just couldn't believe how adorable she was. I could have just held her all day! (But then - who would have made the Rustico??) :)

8.) Today it was raining and nasty. Back to school! I looked forward to seeing the kiddies. They are fun and I actually do look forward to seeing them when it is Monday. I gave a presentation about my thesis tonight at class. Claire was a trooper and came to class! Her dad drove her in with Baby Helia because Helia needs to breastfeed very regularly. I think Helia enjoyed my presentation. I was just glad to see her two days in a row! So fun!

Anyway, things are busy but GOOD!

So, I have spent the past week here in New Jersey, visiting my folks and Doris. :) It's February break for the schoolchildren, so I didn't have any student teaching this week. Because of Presidents' Day, I also didn't have grad classes! So -- here I am! It has been a good combination of fun, lazy, and productive.

Doris and I have spent a lot of time together which has been fun. We watched our fave Elvis movie, "Viva Las Vegas," which features Ann-Margret. We played some Rock Band (we are motivated by earning "money" with which to buy more clothes for our characters). I just gave my Rock Band character a bunch of tattoos... she now has two squids and an octopus, plus the letter "A". I will continue to get any tattoos of cephalopods, as I find them. Ah, living vicariously through my Rock Band character! We also did DDR on the Wii as our exercise activity! That was not without technical difficulties. At one point we were dancing on the wrong mat!!

Doris and I also hit the mall on Presidents' Day, in what we tern "The Best Presidents' Day Ever." It began at my house where I cooked breakfast. Then we went to the mall. I got three shirts at H&M. They are work shirts but they are cute too! (One has HORSESHOES on it as a pattern!) Doris got some things she needed, too, and we had fun! Then it was off to East for Conveyor Belt Sushi! After that, Doris helped me make a video (forthcoming) and we took a "break" for dinner.

Nightly, my parents and I have had Double Solitaire Tournaments. My mom usually wins. It is a really fun game that I don't often think of playing when I play cards!

My mom and I enjoyed a trip to Target yesterday. We got the best deals! My mom got some placemats for $0.48 each! I got some more expensive placemats for $0.72 (big spender that I am!). I got a lot of stationery items, too, including Elvis Thank You cards and post-it notes.


My mom has been feeding me well... that is a royal treat! Although we are eating healthy, I am trying to get my butt on the treadmill so that I can drop a few pounds this week (hopefully).

The BIG NEWS is, Doris and I are going to go to the AQUARIUM tomorrow (the one in Camden, NJ). I am ecstatic, because they not only have fish and sea creatures -- but they also have HIPPOS! I WILL MAKE A VIDEO!

My om and I have been watching a LOT of Elvis movies. For one, I had an Amazon.com order ship to my parents' house, and it contained 3 Elvis movies that I got for free with a gift certificate. Additionally I brought "Change of Habit," which my mom requested (it is the King's last movie, and it features Mary Tyler Moore as a nun). ALSO -- a highlight of the Elvis Movie Watching has been seeing "Girls! Girls! Girls!" -- a movie in which "Little Elvis" makes an appearance. ("Little Elvis" was Elvis' nickname for his... anatomy.) During the number "The Walls Have Ears," Elvis is visibly aroused! Don't know how that got past the censors!!

• 15:17 Chillaxing here on St. Simons Island, GA. #
• 22:46 In the dark, wearing my uncle's head-lamp in order to a.) Twitter and IM, and b.) not wake up my parents. #

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I am celebrating my birthday for an extended period of time, once more! On Friday, I went to NJ to celebrate with my folks. My mom made me flounder and spinach and my dad contributed French onion soup and home fried potatoes! Yummm! Flounder fillets were my pick (I get to choose every year.) My mom also made my Favorite Cake of All Time, Red Velvet. Thankfully, Doris came over to help me eat some of it!!

On Saturday, I went with my mom to go on a traditional birthday shopping trip. In lieu of gifts we hit the mall and get some new clothes! This year I had a couple missions:

• Super-warm winter coat (like a "sleeping bag coat")
• Shirts and tops for this weather that are cute and not ugly (so tired of sweaters)
• An umbrella
• Replacement black sneakers for my Nike sneakers that died
• Anti-parasite meds for McNugget (he has internal parasites)

We had extreme success, getting the coat first-thing. It is a charcoal gray knee-length down jacket but it actually has a shape to it so I do not look like a garbage bag has been put over my head. Also got a few cute tops to wear. I went into some higher-end shoe and sneaker stores and did not have success, but then in JC Penney's, they had the Sneakers of my Dreams (a perfect replacement for the dead ones!).

Also got my umbrella and McNugget's meds (had to go to TWO STORES to get what he needed). He is my spoiled baby. I am here in Brooklyn but have not been to my apartment yet, so I hope he is all right so that I can begin treating him for his parasites.

After shopping we enjoyed some of m dad's chili then I went to Doris' house where we watched Tropic Thunder and I crocheted! I was there till after 1 AM! We were just having fun, watching TV, and later, looking people from high school up on Facebook. (It happens.)

The following day I went on numerous family outings with my parents including to Costco and Border's. Later I went to Doris' and we played Rock Band and Wii with Daphne who was also in town! (I enjoy Wii Boxing, even though Daphne knocked me out.)

• 14:18 @TheDoifter: I'm all about Discount Yarn Warehouse! Let's talk. :) #
• 14:21 Doing Elm Street work... only doing it in my old office! Sweet! #
• 15:38 One of my top-secret Christmas projects, revealed: tinyurl.com/8fkt8x #
• 17:59 Going to new jersey to have birthday dinner with the rents! #

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• 14:19 Mr. T used to be my office mascot, but now that I'm at Elm Street, it's Charo. #
• 15:36 2009 wedding count (so far): 4 #
• 15:57 Looking forward to dinner with the folks tonight! They are coming with my Christmas presents. :) #
• 16:41 My parents are trying to drive to my Elm Street location using GPS navigation. Extreme! #
• 19:50 My dad just showed me how my aquarium heater works. All of these McNugget heating problems? Totally preventable. #
• 20:22 @rante Dude! Flat Stanley! Get on the ball! Read the book or accept Stan as a visitor. Lots of fun! #
• 07:49 @pgalland: My new temp job is with the Brooklyn Museum, but it is a special project not located AT the museum (it is at a separate annex). #
• 10:06 Enjoying one more day of Christmas music. :D :D :D #
• 10:40 What to wear tonight? It's so cold so I need to dress warm! Yet, I want to look cute. I hate winter clothes! #
• 11:43 Today on Credit Line Unsolved Mysteries: gloves are neither "plume sticks" nor "coiled ware cooking pots." Just where DID that # come from?! #

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• 06:27 I SO don't want to be awake... can't Christmas last forever?! #
• 09:35 Back in Brooklyn! Back to the grind! #
• 11:31 My dad made some awesome chicken salad, and I packed it for lunch. I'm pretty excited about it! #

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Today is my Dad's birthday! He is on vacation with my mom, plus my aunt and uncle, in Montana. I was disappointed I did not get to celebrate with him, so I found out what hotel he was going to be at, and I had cheese and crackers sent to his room with a note!! :)

Ain't nobody can call me a bad daughter! I hope he enjoys his surprise!!!

Doris and I have been developing a theory that seems to hold true, at least with our two sets of parents. In our experiences, it is our moms who "scoff" at our strange interests, but our dads who seem interested/excited about them.

One example is Lithops, or "Living Stones," which are small succulents (plants) -- like cacti without spines. Moms seem to HATE lithops, while dads seem interested in them.

Well, yesterday with all of my excitement over the Colossal Squid, I IMed my mom to tell her about it. Actual IM with Mom:

me: "the squid's eye is the largest in the animal kingdom!"
mom: "that big squid was ugly!" [referring to a Colossal Squid pic she saw in the newspaper]
me: "The size of DINNER PLATES!"
mom: "ewwwww. gross."
me: "the lens of its eye is the size of an orange!"
mom: "you would scream if you saw it coming at you while you were swimming. you wouldn't think it was cute at all."

[Please note the DISAPPROVAL of squids. Earlier she says "personally I really don't care" with regard to squid reproduction. Later she says that squids "are slimy and ugly and pulpy. jellyfish-like. gross."]

In the end, I asked my mom to please tell my dad about the fact about the squid's eye being as big as a dinner plate. I told her that Doris and I had a theory that Dads like to know that sort of thing, so it was an experiment to see how he would react. Today I get this email from her:

HYPOTHESIS CORRECT!
He [Dad] was thrilled with the squid fact re: the eye being the size of a dinner plate. The exact quote: "Wow! Cool!"

So, as you can see, Dads are MUCH more accepting of strange interests and facts, while Moms DO NOT APPROVE of them!!

+ + + + +

FOOTNOTE for the enjoyment of cleodee:
mom: "now little squids made of felt are cute. that is the kind of squid i could like. felt squids. ha ha."

YOUR SQUIDS are the ONLY SQUIDS my mom approves of!!! That is like... huge.

I am very excited to report that I spent last Friday and Saturday in Leonia High School, visiting my old art teachers and observing students in various art classes! It was SO MUCH FUN to see everybody! I observed Mrs. Racz's Ceramics classes all day on Thursday. On Friday, I observed Ms. Philip and Mrs. Breyer (formerly known as Miss Piscopo). I got to go to TWO fire drills on the same day, plus a Pep Rally.

Both days, I came home and got to do 3 miles of treadmilling. (Followed by 10 sets of 30 various crunches, and some stretches and leg lifts.) It is such a treat to have the treadmill!!! I did this routine for four days in a row, and it really feels like a great workout.

On Thursday and Friday, my dad and I got some father-daughter time. My mom was having a visit with my aunties in Colorado, so Daddy and I were on our own. It was fun!

Late Friday night, my mom returned from Colorado, and I got to spend some time with her. Most notably, on Saturday we went shoe shopping and each got two new pairs! I am pretty excited about my new pairs, because I'd almost bought both of them MONTHS ago, but there was a line in the store and a problem with the cash register. I decided not to wait it out, even though I really wanted the shoes! Anyway, much to my surprise, the shoes were STILL THERE! In my size! It was fate.

Saturday afternoon, Doris and I got together to play ROCK BAND. Doris has it, and I had been playing at Megan and Scott's house. However, Doris and I never played with each other before this weekend. It was SO fun. For the most part, Doris played drums and I played guitar, but them we switched so we both got to sing, and I finally tried drums for the first time. I also discovered that songs that are too hard for me on "Easy" are sometimes okay when I switch and play bass. We named our band "The Lucky Charms" as a homage to the band we made up as elementary school children (which prominently featured a keytar).

We stopped playing Rock Band and went to Miyoshi, my fave NJ sushi spot. I had a gift certificate for $30, and Doris and I together managed to spend $30.50! Amazing!!

Post-sushi, we played more Rock Band, then "Dance Dance Revolution" (it was my first time)!!! I didn't do too bad! Also, Doris' mom challenged me to a match! (She won!)

The following day, I went with Doris and her sister Amy, plus Amy's girlfriend Molly, and some other friends to have DIM SUM for the first time!! (It was a weekend of FIRSTS!) Also after Dim Sum, we went to do Pottery Painting. It was actually a lot of fun, and I am so excited to see the bowl I made! It is a cereal-sized bowl with Mola Molas on it (Ocean Sunfish). I think it will be really cute!

Overall it was a great weekend!!! I did SO MANY THINGS!

This week, it is Spring Break. I have work like normal, but I will not have any classes. (Hooray!)

I can't believe how long it has taken me to finally go to the cabin my parents co-own with my aunts and uncles. EVERYONE has visited the cabin, and I kept putting it off. But I felt it was high time to visit, and this surprise was the perfect time to do it!

The cabin is a couple hours away (driving) from the Atlanta airport, but Atlanta's the best place to fly into. Aunt June and Uncle John came and got me at the airport as they were passing through the Atlanta area on their way from St. Simon's Island (where they live). We stopped for a super-brief visit with my cousin Katie who lives just outside Atlanta. Then we drove to the cabin and through a bunch of traffic, making us later than we'd planned to be.

Once we got to the cabin, I remained in the car with my ukulele all tuned up and ready, while Aunt June and Uncle John greeted my parents. Their dog, Sierra, was still in the car with me. I hear Uncle John say, "Let me go get Sierra out of the car." Instead of getting her out, he opened the door and I stepped out, playing my uke!! My dad's jaw dropped and he was mostly speechless. My mom did a Macauley-Culkin-in-Home-Alone-style scream. It was great!! They were so shocked and surprised by my SCAM!

Anyhow -- after the initial shock, I set to work RELAXING. The cabin is SO GORGEOUS. It is in the woods and in the mountains, and the property is large so you don't really see or hear any neighbors. The cabin has four bedrooms, so it would be ideal to bring a bunch of friends some day. I especially loved the hot tub (!!!) and the fire place (!!!!).

It's fun because you can just get food and cook in the kitchen or on the grill. There are two bathrooms, and a washer/dryer. It has the calm, relaxing, peacefulness and beautiful scenery (a river passes through the yard!) that makes you feel like you're camping, however, the amenities (hot tub, real bathrooms, comfy beds) give you the comfort-of-home.

I spent a lot of time reading and playing my uke. There is a cute town you can drive to, to go shopping for antiques and things. That was our activity one day!

Aunt June and I baked a cake for my mom's birthday. We made Aunt Sharon's famous frosting and it came out perfect! I brought cone-shaped party hats, which turned out to be more fun that I'd have even imagined!

We got a lot of rain, but this was the kind of vacation that was NOT ruined by rain. In fact the rain was pretty nice -- we just kept the weather channel on the TV to make sure that we weren't in a tornado zone. The day I left, it was gorgeous and sunny, and we were able to walk around and see stuff a little better.

All in all, I now have Cabin Fever, and cannot WAIT to go to the cabin again. It was just SO relaxing and wonderful to be surrounded by nature!

Mom & Dad surprise: extreme-most grand-high success!!

This is actually a pretty good story... my dad hates to pack his suitcase when he goes away on a trip. He absolutely HATES it. Folding the clothes neatly, counting out enough shirts, socks, underwear, et al.

As a child, he used to "hire" me to do it for him. This would be for family vacations, business-related travel, or trips with his brothers (trips NOT with my mom and I).

My dad would devise a set of "prices." Folding a shirt might cost 25 cents. Ten cents per pair of socks or underwear folded and packed. 50 cents for pants. And so on.

I would get a laundry basket of my dad's clothes and ask him which things he wanted, and then I would diligently fold and pack for him. At the end, I'd give him a tally of shirts, pants, etc., all broken down. Usually the sum might be something like $9.10, however, my dad ALWAYS gave me a $20 bill! :-)

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I am going home to Jersey for one night to have dinner and ice-cream-cake with the 'rents and the dog! Should be super-nice!

I must not neglect the most important man in my life, my Daddy. For in these past two months since moving, I have also seen the many similarities I share with him. We have skin that tans quickly. We have the same little cleft in our chin. But above all, I have learned so much from him. Here are some highlights, off the top of my head.

Patience is a virtue. My dad is a man who waits and anticipates. He chooses something to do that's important, such as a big project, or a vacation. He saves. He shuffles vacation days around like a deck of cards. He makes time. He waits for the departure date to come.
He wants to make a table, so he buys the best materials. Waits for them to be shipped. Adheres pieces together with wood glue and clamps them together and waits 48 hours--he does not rush. He takes time.
He is patient. He waits and the result is special. That trip he's longed for. That spectacular granite-topped table. And then he hopes and waits for the next thing.
I try not to rush. I think I realize, like my dad, that if you rush, you will skim over the valuable things. Quality. Anticipation. It's important to remember what you're working for and what you want to do with your time. Be patient. Take your time. Do it right.

Do what you love. I went though a major breakdown about changing my major from communications design to art history. It had gotten to the point where I dreaded it--my stomach was sick to think of being in that classroom again. It was a place where art ceased to be fun. I had to get out--had to make a change. I thought of the joy I'd gotten from studio courses and art history classes. But then, there was this fear. What will I do with an art history degree?
I am sure my dad felt this same conflict when he traded in the suits and ties he'd worn when he had that fire inspection job. That high-stress, high-pressure job. I was too young to remember it. (Or was it before I was born?) But I have heard him tell it. He chose, instead, to mix paint in a hardware store. He is great with customers; he is incredible with color. (My eyes see color differently because of him.) The stress is less, and he is happier. As I was struggling with my choice--do I stick it out in comm. design for another year?-- my dad said, "Are you unhappy?" When I nodded, he said that my choice had been made.
I left comm. design for art history. Stripped the stress from my life like stripping peeling paint from a wall. Now I know that things truly happen for a reason. Here and now, in my apartment, commuting to a job at the Museum that I absolutely adore, I know that my dad has it right.

Hobbies are important. You have to make time to do the things you enjoy. My dad makes the time to go on a fly-fishing trip at least once a year. He needs the time with his brothers, the time spent in nature, the carefully stored and organized equipment, the hiking, the wading, the excitement of a good catch, and the joy of watching a fish swim away as it is released. On weekends and days off, my dad goes fishing whenever he gets the urge, with friends or alone.
My dad likes natural soap. Hot sauces and exotic spices and olive oil. He likes good coffee and good tea. He researches, learns about them. Selects and orders them, tries different kinds. He puts time and money into his interests. The hours and the dollars do not go wasted. He loves pottery and coin-collecting. He recently learned to scuba-dive.
He has taught me that these are things that are important. These things make a life. Little things that you love doing. You need to make time for yourself. Time to do whatever it is.
It's laughable how many hobbies I've accumulated in my 24 years. I have abundant collections--hippopotami, Pez dispensers, Marilyn Monroe paraphernalia, styros. I have hobbies--reading, writing, making art, crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, taking photos. But for those activities that are important to me, I make time for them.

Having a temper doesn't solve anything. My dad is the most cool-headed man on the planet. My temperament takes after his, directly. The best way, I have learned from him, to diffuse an agument is to maintain an air of cool. Use logic, not loudness. Don't lose your temper! When someone else does, you should either a.) stay cool and calm and collected, or b.) walk away leave them to blow off their temper on their own. Nothing makes a hot-tempered person madder than a cool-headed person. It's an excellent tool.
It's a tool I've always used myself. I've never been one to argue. Discussions work much better. When someone directs anger towards me, I simply let it wash over me like a wave. I do not react. I stay calm. I win.

Fix it yourself. I believe I was probably about three when I started helping my dad fix stuff. I think it was important to him that I was not a 'helpless female' unable to fix things myself. I was taught the names of tools and how to use them. I was taught to do simple fix-it jobs. I helped Daddy with bigger projects.
As a result, I don't shy away from small fix-it tasks. Whether I'm installing a bag-organizer in the cabinet door, or hanging pictures, or running electrical cords through a small hole in the wall--I would not take on a task too big, but I certainly wouldn't be afraid to tackle a small one.

Be 'The Man.' The principle of The Man is this: when a guest from out-of-town comes, the person who's at home is The Man. The Man sometimes pays for stuff, like tolls and gasoline (when driving). In addition, The Man shows the guest a really good time. My dad values guests. He is a great entertainer. He knows the things that it will be important to visit if it's your first time in the area. The things to eat, the things to see, the things to do. He used to bring countless friends and family members to the top of the World Trade Center; how valuable is that experience to those guests now?
I have learned, since moving to New York, that it's a good place to be if you want to have company! Everyone wants to visit you. There is so much to do. I shopped at Macy's with Lizzi. Went to the Museum and to a Broadway play with Aunt Gale and Uncle Bud. Ate at John's Pizza with... everyone! We have lots more guests coming soon. I am going to be a good host; I am going to show them a good time!

Be a smart consumer. My dad is great at getting a deal. He helps everyone he knows to get plane tickets, because he can get them so cheap. When he makes a big purchase, he takes advantage of sales and rebates. He knows all about getting a new car for less than it's worth.
In addition, he is careful to call up his current services (phone company, credit cards, etc.) and see if he is getting the best price. More than a few times, he has gotten a significant discount by simply asking! He sticks up for himself. He is a conscious consumer. He does his homework.
He gets the most out of products and services. If he is dissatisfied, he lets it be known. He is often compensated for his trouble.
I have learned to stick up for myself and do my homework, too. Susan and I are putting a lot of money into our apartment, so when something's not right, we let the landlord know. When we arranged for cable and internet, we compared companies and learned the benefits of each. We try to be frugal and save. We take advantage of sales and coupons. I try to be a conscious consumer, like my dad is.

Susan said to me once, "Wow, your dad knows everything." It's true. My dad has this kind of quiet brilliance. And (best of all) he really makes me laugh.

It's pretty awesome being 23. First off, I had to work today (Brooklyn), so I put on my 3-piece suit (jacket, pants, and tank top thingy underneath). I looked super-cool. When I got there, Sing Yi gave me a book, Dogue, a spoof of Vogue magazine, featuring dogs. LOL! Hilarious!

We went to Tom's Diner for lunch to celebrate, and there were 7 of us! Stephanie, Terri, Sing Yi, Megan, Lilly, and Roberta all came! It was great! Everyone was so sweet. They even sang!!

After lunch, Megan and I were going off about the coolness of Ents (much to Sing Yi's dismay... she finds them "okay.. but boring"). So Sing Yi took out her new planner which features LoTR photos. There is one with Frodo and Sam riding on Treebeard. She scanned it, took a digital picture of Megan and I, and superimposed our heads over the heads of the hobbits, so it looks like Treebeard's giving us a lift! Hilarious!!!

I left work 5 minutes early and made excellent time! Ronnie gave me a happy birthday phone call!! Yay! And my 'rents decided to pick me up at the bus stop because it was getting crazy windy.

We had dinner (my choice: Penne with Puttanesca Sauce) and cake (Red Vevet)!! I didn't expect any gifts because I am going to go shopping with mom tomorrow.

Then... they hand me this huge wrapped box! Inside is... the Spongebob doll Uncle Bobby gave to me! It has a note: "Happy Birthday! We re-gifted!" LOL. Then when I take out Spongebob, there's an iPod sitting there!!! I nearly died!! What a surprise!!!

I am dying to use it, but my computer is not compatible yet. I have to upgrade because my OS X is not high enough. Grr. I am itching to try the thing out. It is so adorable! It will be great to take on my commute!

Yay! Thanks to all who sent birthday wishes!!! :-D