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.
- Location:Ogunquit, ME
Of course, I would also need to take an Elvis movie, a Marilyn Monroe movie, and maybe some Lois & Clark. Here. I will round out my list (for all intents and purposes, I think a season counts as "1"):
1.) Gilligan's Island (Season 1); shows you how to cope with being stranded
2.) Clambake; features Elvis, and demonstrates how to enjoy beach life
3.) Some Like It Hot; features Marilyn, and is my favorite movie of all time
4.) Lois & Clark (Season 1); features many amazing rescues which would be inspiring while stranded
5.) Gilligan's Island (Season 2) or Lois & Clark (Season 2); it's a toss-up, but I think TV series offers more bang for your buck because there are lots of episodes (making them better than adding an additional Marilyn or Elvis movie)!
- Mood:
thoughtful
- 16:41 BLUE HAWAII-ing and working. #
- 18:16 Professional portfolio festival continues! #
- 20:07 Lois & Clark DVD time. :D #
- 06:33 OMG - was just about to hit the snooze button when a text came in from my cooperating teacher. WE HAVE A SNOW DAY! Awesome! #
- Mood:
bouncy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLKSxnu_
- 14:20 @TheDoifter: What you need now is a cough drop... in a blanket. #
- 14:21 @quasihip: Well, I finished it, so I think that's a pretty good measure of success! When I am back in Brooklyn, we will plan a Stitch&Bitch! #
- 14:22 Getting ready to watch a movie featuring Little Elvis. If you don't know about Little Elvis, then you're probably missing out. #
- 21:33 It was a delightful romp on the treadmill, indeed! #
- 10:26 McNugget: The Lost Film - tinyurl.com/cqxz5f #
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!!
- Mood:
cheerful
Oh my goodness, I taught my first lesson to first graders today. We did a clay exploration. I asked the kids a lot of questions, and they had such SMART answers, I just couldn't believe it! I asked for describing-words to explain what clay is like. Their words were incredible, and dead-on. Someone explained what "three-dimensional" was, and gave a perfect definition of sculpture. I think the lesson went really well. The dialogue was so great, I may have let it go on a bit too long, and could have dispatched them to their seats with their clay a little sooner, but that's something to do next time! WOO-HOO!
I have a fantastic placement with a great mentor teacher that graduated from my same program 2 years ago. I am loving working with her. She has a nice art room. The school is pleasant and not hard for me to get to (it is in Brooklyn).
I have been student teaching there for 2 weeks now, and the kids have really gotten used to me. They now call my name all the time and recognize me in the halls. I get lots of random hugs, and I have been painted at least three times by the kindergarteners (twice by J, and once by N, who shared his work, "This is me and my best friend, Ms. Galland.").
Seeing each kid just once a week is hard -- especially for memorizing their names! I wish I could know all the names by now, but we see almost every kid in the school, so that is a lot of names! I get a little bit better each day.
I am going to try to seek out every elementary job I can. Of course I will take any job I can get, but I just feel like the elementary setting might be my calling!
OK - wish I could write more, but I am sleepy. I can't even focus on this Elvis movie I've got on in the background ("Speedway"), I'm so tired!
- Mood:
tired
- 22:47 Working on an Obama-themed gelatin dessert! #
- 23:34 Layer Two of my Obama gelatin dessert: Complete! One more layer to go, then sleep. :) #
- 10:55 Inventorying my Elvis movies! #
- 11:43 My pipes are making a super-terrifying, super-loud noise. #
- 12:42 Making some un-fried chicken and registering for some standardized tests! #
- 13:14 On my TV: "The Trouble WIth Girls (and How to Get Into It)" #
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.
(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)
1.) There are very, very, very few people I "hate." I can usually see the good in everybody. I like most people. In order for me to truly "hate" someone, they'd probably have to do something to hurt one of my loved ones.
2.) I think about sea creatures A LOT. Maybe I was supposed to be a Marine Biologist in another life.
3.) Since starting graduate school, there's something missing in my life. That something is READING FOR PLEASURE. It is absolutely killing my soul that I have to read boring articles all the time instead of actually reading good books!
4.) Speaking of books, I am a book snob. It is maybe the one thing I am a snob about. I despise "chick lit" and will think a little bit less of you if you actually enjoy it. My mom argues that there is a place for "chick lit," such as when you are on the beach. I think you can read a good book on the beach just as easily as you can read a crappy book.
5.) I don't really like talking on the telephone.
6.) I would MUCH RATHER be hot than cold. Cold weather is just super uncomfortable and unpleasant to me. I hate wearing winter clothes, too!
7.) Sometimes I think I'm in a music rut. I love music, but don't really know where to begin finding new stuff. Most of what I listen to is old music. That's why I love getting mix CDs from people!
8.) Eating out is one of my favorite activities, but it is probably the biggest problem I have with regard to spending too much money and gaining too much weight!
9.) I get into these "phases" where I only watch certain things on DVD. Sometimes, it is a TV show, like "Gilligan's Island" or "Lois & Clark." Sometimes it's Marilyn Monroe Movies. Currently, it is Elvis movies.
10.) I wish I had more time to do all of the artwork I want to do (and craft projects).
11.) My favorite flower is plain white daisies with yellow centers. I think they are the happiest flowers ever! I love having flowers in the house at all times (even though it is frivolous in these bad economic times).
12.) One of my favorite smells in the world is men's deodorant.
13.) I like to do things in a most efficient way. However, sometimes I waste a lot of time thinking about how best to be efficient.
14.) My favorite thing in the world to do is to give gifts. Especially homemade ones. I love to spoil my loved ones! I can't wait to have more time and money to do more of this.
15.) I believe when I am finally a teacher, my financial problems will be over.
16.) I have trouble planning long term things. I more of a "one day at a time" kinda girl.
17.) I still miss my dog Madison so much it hurts. She died in 2005.
18.) I want to take more dance classes as soon as I have time (ballet and tap). Although it is probably unrealistic for someone who's a 28-year-old beginner, I always wanted go en pointe. (I am a little girl who still wants to be a ballerina at heart!)
19.) I never had a video game until I got my Nintendo DS. I love it! I also love playing more "interactive" video games, like the Wii and Rock Band. I would like to get a Wii someday.
20.) I have the most amazing family in the world! My parents are incredible, and I love that my extended family is so close.
21.) I love eating pancakes for dinner.
22.) Finishing "logic" problems, sudokus, and crosswords make me feel smart!
23.) I never felt like I was missing out by being an only child. That's all thanks to my very closest, dearest friends and my cousins. :)
24.) I am a pack rat, and I hate throwing things away. However, the amount of clutter I have bothers me, too.
25.) I've tried to live my life in such a way that I don't have any regrets.
- Mood:
lazy
- 19:18 Elvis movies are the cure for what ails ya! #
- 21:46 Getting a good night's sleep! #
- 07:23 First day of student teaching in an elementary school! PS 197, here I come! #
- 11:19 Little kids are awesome! First class of the day: kindergarten! #
- 11:59 twitpic.com/17h1k - #
- 14:24 I have to get better about my Water Drinking Habits. Trying to get to 40 oz. before heading to the Brooklyn Museum for the afternoon. #
- 20:02 OMG, the temperature in my apartment right now is PERFECT. Please, please let it stay that way!!! #
- 20:29 Target had three Elvis movies on one DVD for sale, a triple feature of Elvis!!! Trouble was, I owned 2 out of the 3 already. #
- 23:07 Did some trampoline-ing, caught up on my Desperate Housewives. The heat is STILL on! Ecstatic! #
- 23:21 Got a new scale at Target today. It's "The Biggest Loser" scale, which was the cheapest one they had. How much do you wanna bet it hates me? #
- 11:23 @pgalland: U-Bob updates, please! #
- 11:24 Just as I suspected: New scale hates me. However, hate can be very motivating. #
- 12:05 A must-read for everyone: tinyurl.com/3n2j2k #
- 15:16 Just had a lovely morning and afternoon with Susan! #
- 16:02 Deciding what to do first: watch more Elvis movies, pack for my trip, dismantle the Christmas tree, finish my room cleaning, or crochet. #
- 17:40 @TheDoifter: That's FANTASTIC!!!!! I am in awe. He is my hero. #
- 22:13 Almost ALMOST feel like I am getting sick. CANNOT let this happen. I am going away on Tuesday! Hitting up all my fave remedies! #
- 23:10 Am upset that two missing items have not been found even after my Big Clean: my kitty hat (knitted by me) and my digital camera's charger. #
- 10:16 Am SO MAD that I am getting SICK. POUT STOMP STAMP STOMP STOMP. #
- 14:56 Cleaning + Elvis movies = Awesome!!!!! #
- 17:08 Between cleaning and Elvis, I've been at work on my Pocket Shrine devoted to McNugget. It's coming out extremely cute (much like McNugget). #
- 19:10 Wishing I had a Mexican corn cob right about now. #
- 22:03 I have been burning candles in my room all day, and now I've come to realize a thin layer of soot is coating EVERYTHING. Weird! #
- 00:35 Just finished watching my 4th Elvis movie of the day. :) :) #
Today is one such day - I have been cleaning and to an outside person I think my room probably looks like I just shifted the mess from my floor to my bed (where there is now a big pile). HOWEVER, I have actually organized a great deal, but to the naked eye, this organization is not visible.
I have a journal/altered book I've been working on, and I save little things to put in it later on. I contained all the little things into a bag, and stopped to put some of the things into the actual book.
I made my General Piles of Mayhem into Organized Piles (craft supplies, stationery items, schoolwork stuff). The giant pile of schoolwork is now hidden in my bookshelf where it does not look unsightly any more.
I moved stuff off the floor so that I could Swiffer and vacuum.
I paused to work on my Pocket Shrine in honor of McNugget. It is coming out sooo cute. So far, I have replicated McNugget's environment in miniature. It's a baby Altoid tin covered in very fine blue glitter (water). At the bottom is some actual gravel from McNugget's tank, and a sprig of his favorite plastic plant (also a relic from his tank). McNugget himself will be represented by a fish magnet I have, I just have to repaint it in his color. The back of the tin shrine is covered in a collage of doodles I did of him during my grad classes. The front will be a photo of him, and the inside will have a saint.
Also while cleaning, I watched three Elvis movies ("Spinout," "Live a Little, Love a Little," and "Fun in Acapulco."), and I listened to two Mix CDs Doris made me. They are great!!
My goal for the day is to have the place actually look clean to an observer who is not me. I've been pretty embarrassed about the state of my bedroom to the point where I have not been letting people really look into it (and certainly have not invited anyone over).
I also need to pack for my Georgia trip! I will be leaving on Tuesday, and will be gone for one week! We'll spend a few days at my family's cabin, then we'll head to St. Simons Island for my grandma's birthday party!
I would love to accomplish more of Marty's blanket. I don't know -- I am kind of running out of hours in the day!
Tomorrow is Susan's birthday, so we are having brunch to celebrate her (and my) birthday! Then I am doing something with Marty later in the day, so it would be nice to not have to worry about packing for my trip tomorrow.
- 13:02 @ianschwartz: You could get a squid on Etsy. That's what I always do. www.cleodee.etsy.com #
- 13:13 Am planning on making a tiny pocket shrine devoted to McNugget. Am also planning on making a purse-sized first-aid kit. I need Altoid tins! #
- 20:27 Home and ready to clean! I've been looking forward to cleaning all day. Sad? You decide. #
- 20:27 Home and ready to clean! #
- 22:56 Celebrating Elvis' birthday!!! :D #
- Mood:
content
After work, I went into Manhattan and met up with Marty. We'd originally planned to have dinner in Hoboken and then go to hear a friend's band. We had a really nice Mexican dinner in Hoboken. Then, we decided to change plans, because we were right near a Blockbuster, so we decided to see a movie Marty's been wanting me to see for a long time, <i>Bubba Ho-Tep</i>. Marty knows how I feel about The King, so it was a great birthday choice! I really loved it. For those who don't know, it is about Elvis being alive and in a retirement home. He ends up having to fight off a mummy with the help of his friend who thinks he is JFK. This only just sounds like it would be a terrible movie; I was skeptical at first, wondering if it would be my sort of thing. In actuality I loved it for its creativity and I found it to be a well-done and funny movie! There are some style things that are really cool and well-done including flashbacks and memories, etc. The actors, especially Bruce Campbell as a "senior citizen Elvis," were all very good!
Anyway, as is tradition on my birthday, the weather is now terrible. Marty was a kind soul and drove me to the train station this morning. I will be celebrating my birthday with Aly tonight with SUSHI! We had been thinking of going to Manhattan, however, the weather is making us want to stay closer to home.
One mission for tonight: buy a new phone charger at the Verizon store (I left my other one in Leonia). I think it'll be useful to just keep one at my parents' house anyway, so having two will not be a big deal.
- Location:Brooklyn, NY
- Mood: cheerful
A famous person
The image of God
A dream
A political event
A holy person
A werewolf
A rural landscape
The last possible place on earth
Your worst nightmare
A road without end
A monster in disguise
A king or a queen
A proven miracle
Your favorite food
Your most prized possession
I found these but want to take better pictures of them:
A live wild animal
A new portrait of Elvis
A transmission of light through glass
On Saturday I went to Manhattan with Kristen and captured a bunch of images. On Sunday Jaime and I went to Coney Island and to Manhattan on a photo-mission! We got a LOT done, but I really wanted to get ALL of the things on the list!! It is a super fun project. As you can see all of the items on the list are really up to interpretation. I'm on my 3rd roll of film now.
This morning I got up at 5 AM and watched the sunrise from my roof and photographed it. It was so awesome, I'm almost inspired to get up at 5 AM again! It was gorgeous. Hopefully it looks as cool in black and white as it did in color. As the sun came up, it was hot pink! Really incredible!
One of my exciting moments this weekend was visiting the very subway grate where Marilyn Monroe's Seven-Year Itch "skirt blowing scene" was filmed. That was my choice for "a famous historical place."
I will try to get some of these things at the Botanic Garden tomorrow after work. If I feel really inspired I saw there was a booksigning at Borders where Oscar de la Hoya will be talking about his new memoir. Then I could get a picture of a famous person! Of course I'd have to go on my lunch hour and it might take too long...
I am thinking about finding a Burger King to function as my "king." (Too bad I don't know of any Drag Queens in NYC... I only know where to find them upstate!) It could be cute to get a sign pointing to Queens (the borough)! Hmm...
I haven't decided what my "prized possession" should be!
Aly and I are having sushi tomorrow so I can photograph my favorite food. I am thinking about trying to photograph the sushi chefs, if they'll let me!
Anyone know of any political events going on?? Between now and Wednesday? And where can I find an Elvis impersonator? There are never any Elvis impersonators when I need them.
- Mood:
busy
Anyway, I went home and instead of doing something productive, I just played a game with Alexandra and vegged out. I should have done laundry immediately upon arriving home, and cleaned the bathroom. But -- I didn't! Thursday I'll do it...
By the time I'd gotten home, Susan had completely moved out! I didn't even get to say goodbye!
Tonight is Linda's class. Fortunately, I know she'll be there.
In SAD NEWS, on Monday night my Yellow Betta (yet to be named) died. It was so sudden. He's been so shy and antisocial... It is possible that he never was well. Still -- ! A sad day for bettas.
In SQUID-RELATED news, my first Squid of the Month (from
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
cleodee's shop) came today. Susan got me Squid of the Month for Christmas (it's the gift that keeps on giving!)! It is an Elvis-movie-watching squid, and it is amazing!!!Happy 2008!
It was a lovely New Year's Eve! First, I went to Jessica's apartment, where Jeremy was cooking up a storm!! He made a delicious marinated chicken, mashed yams, green beans, and a yummy salad! For dessert he made a chocolate lava cake (individual mini souffles!) for each person! SO. GOOD. Doris and Daphne were also there, making it super fun. I had my uke, and played some tunes with the gals and Jeremy. We formed a "band" with me on uke, Jess on bass, Jeremy on clarinet, and Doris on keyboard (Doris made the keyboard sound like various instruments, including the pipe organ). We jammed to the kindergarten-style "hits" I know how to play, like "Clementine" and "When the Saints Go Marching In." It was utterly fab. Most amusing of all was the size comparison between Jess's instrument and mine. I believe Doris has photos... I'll have to get them from her!
After dessert, Doris had to go (she had to work the next day). The rest of us migrated to a party Jess's friend was having in Hell's Kitchen. It was fun because there was rooftop access and we could see the glow and confetti coming from Times Square! We drank champagne and I played lots of "Auld Lang Syne" on the uke. People love the uke! Mostly because it is such an adorable and novelty-style instrument. Soon when I have developed more "skillz," I may attract attention for that reason, but right now it is definitely the excitement of seeing an unusual instrument!
After the party, we went back to Jess's where Daphne and I spent the night. The following (rainy) day, Daph had to head back to Montreal, so she left early, but I had a leisurely morning. We all got up and showered one by one. I tried to put stuff on Jess's kitties, Frog and Toad, for Stuff on My Cat. (UKULELE ON MY CAT.) Then, Jeremy cooked up a storm ONCE AGAIN, making delicious French toast for breakfast. Jess's friend Da (who hung with us the night before) came over to have brunch with us. It was splendid. There was a fantastic assortment of spreads available for topping the French toasts. I think I might have tried all of the combinations of toppings one could have. Jeremy is an amazing cook. He is a keeper!!
After we had eaten and watched ukulele orchestra videos on YouTube, Jess drove me back to Brooklyn so she could get her winter coat which has been in our closet this whole time!! Then I had ROOMMATE CHRISTMAS with Susan, and got some amazing gifts!! She got me a much coveted trio of ELVIS PEZ DISPENSERS, a cookbook for making things out of boxed cake mix (my favorite kind of recipe! even includes some bundts!), and the gift on EVERYONE'S list, the SQUID OF THE MONTH CLUB from
cleodee's! The Squid of the Month Club is the gift that keeps on giving. (I find myself excited for my Feb. 1 squid's arrival.) There were even tampons in my stocking. Susan knows how to do it up right!! I think Susan liked her presents from me, which had a bit of a plant theme to them: there was a stake to put in a plant that says "Plants are people too." There was a blue hat, some earrings featuring a CRAB, and a SUNSHINE mini squid (it was a
cleodee Christmas!). Also the best present I got Susan was a terrarium that looks like a little tiny greenhouse. It is empty, so she can have a fun time choosing plants to go in it!That evening, I also gave Alexandra one of her presents (warm pajamas!!) because it was cold in the apartment and I thought she might like to put them on. Well -- she did! She dropped trou right there in the living room for immediate trying on, and then danced around in her new jammies! This was a very appreciated Christmas present, let me tell you!!! :) Soon, we will have ROOMMATE CHRISTMAS 2 and swap the remainder of the gifts!
That evening I sushi'ed with Bob and Susan, and later on we all (Bob, Susan, Alexandra, and me) sat in the living room and watched some MacGyver (I got Susan Season 2 for Christmas as well!). What a way to ring in 08 with so many of my favorite people. And squids. And ukuleles.
- Mood:
happy
