hello from utah!
man, am i tired! i just got finished teaching a 9 day junior whitewater school to 7 teenagers. it was super fun, hot, lots-o-mosquitos, but definately worth it. the highlight of the trip may have been seeing my grandparents on the side of the road on the last night at camp! (it's a long story...i'll write more later).
so now i just finished 2 days of preparing for our next trip. i have 1 on the water with 6 guides and 24 people, and we're launching the same numbers tomorrow. CRAZY! it never gets this busy in utah! it's good for work, but man am i tired! and i don't get to hang out with uintah as much as i want. luckily she has some amazing grandparents next door that love her to pieces....they spoil her rotten, even more so than me!
i just wanted to let everyone know that i'm surviving out here! having a lot of fun for sure, trying not to stress out about stuff, and enjoying the summer! more later, i promise...it'll have to wait for my next day off :)
June 26, 2006
June 13, 2006
hello from utah!
i know, i know...it's been WAY TOO LONG! the joys of living in utah, no wireless access anywhere, and it takes days just to get dial up. so i'm sitting here in the library, trying to get work done on my couple days off.
so i'm HERE! and life is great! the first couple trips have launched and we've had some really good people, good weather, and just fun in general. i got to row my own boat on the last trip, and it was SO nice to be on the river again...the canyon hasn't changed and is still as gorgeous as ever. it reminded me of why i spend my summers in utah....
when i'm not on the river i've been cleaning up the guide house. it's kind of white trashy (which is unavoidable in utah), but could use a lot of work to clean it up a bit. so i've been painting the inside (the kitchen and the office) and the outside (the chicken coop where some guides sleep). i've also landscaped the whole yard so it doesn't look like a trailer park. and i cut the grass with a beer in my hand. i'm in heaven:)
and i'm sure most of you have heard that i've adopted a sweet little orange kitty that i named "uintah" (the name of the mountains around here). she's adorable but loves to play. and i mean at 4:30 in the morning when the roosters across the street start crowing. that kind of sucks, but otherwise she's great. i accidently rolled over on her last night when i was sleeping and she let out the cutest little "meow!"...awww, poor baby :)
so saturday my friend isaac and i are teaching an 8 day junior whitewater school. i'm SO excited, i think i'm one of the only guides that has never taught a school! hopefully the mosquitos aren't out in full force, otherwise we will be lucky to escape the put-in without getting west nile. i'll let you know how things go!
another post will follow as soon as i get my internet running...hope all is well my dear friends!!
so i'm HERE! and life is great! the first couple trips have launched and we've had some really good people, good weather, and just fun in general. i got to row my own boat on the last trip, and it was SO nice to be on the river again...the canyon hasn't changed and is still as gorgeous as ever. it reminded me of why i spend my summers in utah....
when i'm not on the river i've been cleaning up the guide house. it's kind of white trashy (which is unavoidable in utah), but could use a lot of work to clean it up a bit. so i've been painting the inside (the kitchen and the office) and the outside (the chicken coop where some guides sleep). i've also landscaped the whole yard so it doesn't look like a trailer park. and i cut the grass with a beer in my hand. i'm in heaven:)
and i'm sure most of you have heard that i've adopted a sweet little orange kitty that i named "uintah" (the name of the mountains around here). she's adorable but loves to play. and i mean at 4:30 in the morning when the roosters across the street start crowing. that kind of sucks, but otherwise she's great. i accidently rolled over on her last night when i was sleeping and she let out the cutest little "meow!"...awww, poor baby :)
so saturday my friend isaac and i are teaching an 8 day junior whitewater school. i'm SO excited, i think i'm one of the only guides that has never taught a school! hopefully the mosquitos aren't out in full force, otherwise we will be lucky to escape the put-in without getting west nile. i'll let you know how things go!
another post will follow as soon as i get my internet running...hope all is well my dear friends!!
May 25, 2006
goodbye beantown
yes, i've said my goodbyes to the best city in the east....
i had quite an eventful last week in boston. i finished my wilderness first responder (WFR) class on an island off the coast of south boston. it was a pretty rad place, and we even got to do a night time search and rescue. i was a secondary responder, which meant i got to talk on the radio. it was awesome...who doesn't like ending every sentence with "copy?" or "10-4"!!
then i basically partied for 2 days with my BC friends to celebrate our graduation and my goodbye. i was in charge of picking the venue, and of course i picked the shady-est dive bar in boston. now what did you expect?? some of the higlights include:
eating lots of free popcorn
taking shots of whiskey with my professor
beating 2 guys at pool
and getting beer poured on my head by a guy who was pissed off that i wouldn't go home with him. (it was a good thing that i wasn't in a bad mood, otherwise i would've kicked him in the balls! but in my stupor i didn't realize he had intentionally poured it on me...i thought it was "spilled". oh well, the bartender felt bad and gave me a free shot. SWEET!)
after a semi-hungover flight home, i made it to my mom's house. we've been putzing around the property...she bought this little go cart 4 wheel drive looking thing called a "mule". we took it out 4 wheeling and i thought i would tip it for sure! i've been spending some quality time with reggie, and preparing for my flight to utah. i wish i had more time to hang, but the river calls!!
i had quite an eventful last week in boston. i finished my wilderness first responder (WFR) class on an island off the coast of south boston. it was a pretty rad place, and we even got to do a night time search and rescue. i was a secondary responder, which meant i got to talk on the radio. it was awesome...who doesn't like ending every sentence with "copy?" or "10-4"!!
then i basically partied for 2 days with my BC friends to celebrate our graduation and my goodbye. i was in charge of picking the venue, and of course i picked the shady-est dive bar in boston. now what did you expect?? some of the higlights include:
eating lots of free popcorn
taking shots of whiskey with my professor
beating 2 guys at pool
and getting beer poured on my head by a guy who was pissed off that i wouldn't go home with him. (it was a good thing that i wasn't in a bad mood, otherwise i would've kicked him in the balls! but in my stupor i didn't realize he had intentionally poured it on me...i thought it was "spilled". oh well, the bartender felt bad and gave me a free shot. SWEET!)
after a semi-hungover flight home, i made it to my mom's house. we've been putzing around the property...she bought this little go cart 4 wheel drive looking thing called a "mule". we took it out 4 wheeling and i thought i would tip it for sure! i've been spending some quality time with reggie, and preparing for my flight to utah. i wish i had more time to hang, but the river calls!!
May 13, 2006
viva las vegas.....
what a weekend! jenny, my mom, my brother, and i ventured into the hot desert to spend a weekend tanning and gambling in las vegas. it was the shit, seriously :) i won $150 playing the quarter slots, and my mom won $300 playing the craps table! and i got to see some old friends from santa cruz which was AWESOME.
we basically spent the weekend lounging by the pool, playing bocci with my grandparents, drinking special mojitos, and gambling. and i'm not a big gambler, but i was winning. now i know how people become gambling addicts! anyway the only thing that sucked was the fact that my flight home was delayed. i was supposed to get into boston at 7pm and i didn't get home til 12am. yeah, sitting in the airport sucked for sure. but at least they have fat tire beer on tap there!
now i'm back in boston, trying to pack my stuff up and get ready to go. i start my wilderness first responder class tomorrow off the coast of boston. it should be fun, but the weather was been REALLY nasty and i'm supposed to take a ferry out there that could be cancelled. it's too bad, my friend clarissa has been visiting and it's been pouring rain. we haven't been able to do anything but go down the street to get coffee and groceries. we came home soaked tonight, but brightened our spirits with a bottle of wine, yummy dinner, and office space.
only 1 more week to go in boston! i'm sooooo sad but excited at the same time. i can't believe these past 2 years have gone by so fast!!!
we basically spent the weekend lounging by the pool, playing bocci with my grandparents, drinking special mojitos, and gambling. and i'm not a big gambler, but i was winning. now i know how people become gambling addicts! anyway the only thing that sucked was the fact that my flight home was delayed. i was supposed to get into boston at 7pm and i didn't get home til 12am. yeah, sitting in the airport sucked for sure. but at least they have fat tire beer on tap there!
now i'm back in boston, trying to pack my stuff up and get ready to go. i start my wilderness first responder class tomorrow off the coast of boston. it should be fun, but the weather was been REALLY nasty and i'm supposed to take a ferry out there that could be cancelled. it's too bad, my friend clarissa has been visiting and it's been pouring rain. we haven't been able to do anything but go down the street to get coffee and groceries. we came home soaked tonight, but brightened our spirits with a bottle of wine, yummy dinner, and office space.
only 1 more week to go in boston! i'm sooooo sad but excited at the same time. i can't believe these past 2 years have gone by so fast!!!
April 21, 2006
the light...the tunnel...
so i've just recovered from a case of strep throat. doesn't that sound like fun? like what you used to get when you were 7 years old and got to stay home from school? although now it's not that fun to stay home from work, knowing it's piling up on your desk. and assignments (i.e. FINALS) aren't writing themselves. but i'm proud to say that i've recovered...the nasties in my throat are gone, the phlegm is almost out, and i'm not sleeping for 18 hours a day. it's a lovely world, ain't it??
so i've come up with a really good metaphor to describe how i'm feeling about this whole i'm-finishing-grad-school-what-the-hell-am-i-gonna-do connundrum. it's like when you first see the light at the end of the tunnel, you get all excited because, hey, you're gettin' out! that's how i'm feeling now. but you know once you get closer, and the light gets brighter and brighter...so bright that it blinds you and you get all anxious and worried because you're not quite sure what's outside of the tunnel? like what makes you think the tunnel is so bad, anyway? well that's my prediction of how i will feel in approximately 3-4 weeks. scared as hell because i'm blinded by the light. (hey, isn't that an 80's song or something?) i digress. anyway, the good news is that the blindness lasts only for a split second, because pretty soon your eyes adjust to the outside world, and you have a better idea of where you are, where you're going, etc. my prediction of those feelings = approximately 5-6 months. i guess that's not a "split-second" blindess, but oh well.
only 1 more week of classes. it's pretty stinkin' unbelievable!!
so i've come up with a really good metaphor to describe how i'm feeling about this whole i'm-finishing-grad-school-what-the-hell-am-i-gonna-do connundrum. it's like when you first see the light at the end of the tunnel, you get all excited because, hey, you're gettin' out! that's how i'm feeling now. but you know once you get closer, and the light gets brighter and brighter...so bright that it blinds you and you get all anxious and worried because you're not quite sure what's outside of the tunnel? like what makes you think the tunnel is so bad, anyway? well that's my prediction of how i will feel in approximately 3-4 weeks. scared as hell because i'm blinded by the light. (hey, isn't that an 80's song or something?) i digress. anyway, the good news is that the blindness lasts only for a split second, because pretty soon your eyes adjust to the outside world, and you have a better idea of where you are, where you're going, etc. my prediction of those feelings = approximately 5-6 months. i guess that's not a "split-second" blindess, but oh well.
only 1 more week of classes. it's pretty stinkin' unbelievable!!
April 13, 2006
maaaa-tha's vineyard
yes friends, it's time to see some pics from the vineyard. i've been so busy with school that i didn't get a chance to post 'em when we got back. but needless to say, monkey and i had a really great time! we took the ferry out, and checked into our (GHETTO) motel in vineyard haven. yeah, it was ghetto for sure! then we walked down through the little streets and went into the shops. alot were closed becaues it was sunday, but we probably couldn't afford anything anyway so that was okay. with all the shops closed, we decided to have a photo shoot on the beach. yes, a photo shoot! we took pics on the beach, in the water, on the dock. many looked like they were straight outta dawson's creek! after that, we were very much the "early bird" old married couple becase we went to go eat dinner at like 5pm. i went to order a beer, but it turns out vineyard haven is a DRY TOWN! you know what that means? no alchohol! so i was sad to say the least that i couldn't have a beer with dinner! oh well, it was ok.
so the next day we got coffee and rode the little bus around the island. we were surrounded by 3 old couples from tennessee who were concerned with "what time the bus would pick them up", and kept saying so EVERY 2 minutes in their southern twangy accent. i was getting super annoyed and i swore to monkey that we would NEVER be like that when we're old and travelling. we stopped at the oldest town on the island (edgartown) and took pictures next to the lighthouse. it was so east coast and so pretty! if anyone ever comes to the east coast, you've gotta go to the island for a day, just to check it out! all in all it was a great trip. i didn't buy a floppy hat as promised, but i did get lots of pics in my searsucker pants :) enjoy!
isn't this a great pic? hahahah the view form our hotel. i told you it was ghetto!
so the next day we got coffee and rode the little bus around the island. we were surrounded by 3 old couples from tennessee who were concerned with "what time the bus would pick them up", and kept saying so EVERY 2 minutes in their southern twangy accent. i was getting super annoyed and i swore to monkey that we would NEVER be like that when we're old and travelling. we stopped at the oldest town on the island (edgartown) and took pictures next to the lighthouse. it was so east coast and so pretty! if anyone ever comes to the east coast, you've gotta go to the island for a day, just to check it out! all in all it was a great trip. i didn't buy a floppy hat as promised, but i did get lots of pics in my searsucker pants :) enjoy!
isn't this a great pic? hahahah the view form our hotel. i told you it was ghetto!
March 30, 2006
floppy hats and searsucker pants
floppy hats and searsucker pants, you ask?
well....this weekend monkey (my partner in crime) and i are taking the ferry to martha's vineyard. or as they would say here in massachusetts "the vineyard" or "maaah-tha's vineyaaahd" (crazy accents). anyway we're leaving on sunday night and just staying one night. but i definately have envisioned what our trip will be like there: it's gonna be sunny and warm, we're gonna rent some cruiser bikes and ride along the coastline and have picnics on the beach. i'm going to be wearing a big floppy white hat, very large jackie o. sunglasses, and blue searsucker (striped) pants. and we'll stop at bakeries and marvel at the victorian "gingerbread" houses.
in reality it will most likely be raining and/or foggy. i'll have my down coat on and no floppy hat. and the bakeries will be closed. and the bike store will be burnt down.
the good news is, it's supposed to be at least 50 degrees and partially cloudy. and we've got a hotel right on the beach. who needs bikes anyway? :) i'll definately keep ya'll informed. in the meantime, i gotta go get some big jackie o. sunglasses....
well....this weekend monkey (my partner in crime) and i are taking the ferry to martha's vineyard. or as they would say here in massachusetts "the vineyard" or "maaah-tha's vineyaaahd" (crazy accents). anyway we're leaving on sunday night and just staying one night. but i definately have envisioned what our trip will be like there: it's gonna be sunny and warm, we're gonna rent some cruiser bikes and ride along the coastline and have picnics on the beach. i'm going to be wearing a big floppy white hat, very large jackie o. sunglasses, and blue searsucker (striped) pants. and we'll stop at bakeries and marvel at the victorian "gingerbread" houses.
in reality it will most likely be raining and/or foggy. i'll have my down coat on and no floppy hat. and the bakeries will be closed. and the bike store will be burnt down.
the good news is, it's supposed to be at least 50 degrees and partially cloudy. and we've got a hotel right on the beach. who needs bikes anyway? :) i'll definately keep ya'll informed. in the meantime, i gotta go get some big jackie o. sunglasses....
March 21, 2006
almost like an orgasm....
yeah, so that's how my friend shannon (and fellow intern and social work student) described her feeling of accomplishment after our lobby day today. and i have to admit, it was quite a relaxing and very joyous moment in my eyes as well! yes my friends, the event that we put on was a success! we had over 500 teen parents there from all over massachusetts, and a whole bunch of legislators, reps, and press. they even covered it on the 5pm news. (now...don't say it was a slow news day!) it was great to see all of the girls we visited and presented advocacy training to. they were representing themselves and it made me feel all warm and gushy inside. go social work! :)
speaking of being warm...or NOT being warm, it's frikkin' FREEZING here in boston! it's almost april for christ's sakes! but monkey and i battled the cold for the annual south boston st. patricks day parade on sunday (aka drunken irish-fest). there were bagpipes and all...and no i didn't witness any puking in the streets, but then again we left a little earlier than most. i have to say that as much crap southie gets for putting on the parade, it made me feel all patriotic or something. must've been the cute policemen in their uniforms...
oh yeah, and my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin alison were in town 2 weekends ago. was that fun! we went to the sam adams brewery, fenway park, a celtics game, and to the aquarium. i swear i must've gained 5 pounds when they were here, since we drank a lot of beer, lounged around and ate, and kept going to get pastries (on aaron's request). don't ever ask him about mike's pastry shop in boston. he'll go nuts.
only 2 months til i go home! (well, to utah....) despite the cold, i am gonna miss this place...
speaking of being warm...or NOT being warm, it's frikkin' FREEZING here in boston! it's almost april for christ's sakes! but monkey and i battled the cold for the annual south boston st. patricks day parade on sunday (aka drunken irish-fest). there were bagpipes and all...and no i didn't witness any puking in the streets, but then again we left a little earlier than most. i have to say that as much crap southie gets for putting on the parade, it made me feel all patriotic or something. must've been the cute policemen in their uniforms...
oh yeah, and my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin alison were in town 2 weekends ago. was that fun! we went to the sam adams brewery, fenway park, a celtics game, and to the aquarium. i swear i must've gained 5 pounds when they were here, since we drank a lot of beer, lounged around and ate, and kept going to get pastries (on aaron's request). don't ever ask him about mike's pastry shop in boston. he'll go nuts.
only 2 months til i go home! (well, to utah....) despite the cold, i am gonna miss this place...
March 18, 2006
vegas party 2.0
well, you know you're getting old when you spend st. patricks day eating cupcakes, getting drunk off of 3 beers, and find joy in swiffering the floor at 12 am. yes friends, that was the extent of my st. patricks day celebration! well, i told myself that i couldn't go out because i have a mess of things to do this weekend, and i couldn't afford to be hungover (i'm saving that for sunday, when i head off to southie to watch the world famous boston st. patricks day parade!) so yeah, monkey and i were pretty pathetic....we ended up trying to watch law and order but it wasn't on. damn!
anyway i wanted to let everyone know that i will be in vegas the weekend of may 5-7th for my birthday, version 2.0! for those of you who don't know, i spent my 21st birthday in vegas. and yes, it was as crazy as you would expect, with me and 7 other girls! you know it was a success when someone had to puke before getting on the plane on the way home (sorry, judy!) it was great. and i'm inviting everyone that can make it to join me in the fun this year! i don't really promise a puking-ly good time (although you never know!) but i am getting old. we'll be on the strip, but i plan on spending most of my time lounging around the pool at my aunts house, drinking cocktails all day, and maybe even dancing at night?? please let me know if you can attend :)
anyway i wanted to let everyone know that i will be in vegas the weekend of may 5-7th for my birthday, version 2.0! for those of you who don't know, i spent my 21st birthday in vegas. and yes, it was as crazy as you would expect, with me and 7 other girls! you know it was a success when someone had to puke before getting on the plane on the way home (sorry, judy!) it was great. and i'm inviting everyone that can make it to join me in the fun this year! i don't really promise a puking-ly good time (although you never know!) but i am getting old. we'll be on the strip, but i plan on spending most of my time lounging around the pool at my aunts house, drinking cocktails all day, and maybe even dancing at night?? please let me know if you can attend :)
March 10, 2006
March 6, 2006
march madness
march madness is RIGHT! it's friggin' grand central chaotic station here in my life as a grad student, policy intern, babysitter, beer drinker, reader, etc....
in between midterms (1 due last week, 3 due in the upcoming weeks) my co-intern at the Alliance on Teen Pregancy and i are putting together a Lobby Day. march 21st at the MA state house. mark your calendars folks! right now we're busy running around trying to get speakers, getting rsvp's from legislators, calling catering companies, ordering displays, etc. and doing advocacy trainings for teen parents all over the state of massachusetts. tomorrow we have 2 in worcester (pronounced WOOO-sta!) and 2 next week in the wee corners of the state. crazy, i know.
AND.....my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin are coming to visit in 3 days! yeah, i'm so excited! i'm trying to put together a little itinerary for us, since i figure this may be the last time i'll really get to toot around boston. i'm thinking the sam adams brewery for sure, fenway, some clam chowda, you know the usual boston thing. if any of you bostonians have any suggestions, let me know!
....it's back to working on midterms for me. hope everyone else is enjoying this crazy month of march. oh yeah, where did february go, anyway???
in between midterms (1 due last week, 3 due in the upcoming weeks) my co-intern at the Alliance on Teen Pregancy and i are putting together a Lobby Day. march 21st at the MA state house. mark your calendars folks! right now we're busy running around trying to get speakers, getting rsvp's from legislators, calling catering companies, ordering displays, etc. and doing advocacy trainings for teen parents all over the state of massachusetts. tomorrow we have 2 in worcester (pronounced WOOO-sta!) and 2 next week in the wee corners of the state. crazy, i know.
AND.....my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin are coming to visit in 3 days! yeah, i'm so excited! i'm trying to put together a little itinerary for us, since i figure this may be the last time i'll really get to toot around boston. i'm thinking the sam adams brewery for sure, fenway, some clam chowda, you know the usual boston thing. if any of you bostonians have any suggestions, let me know!
....it's back to working on midterms for me. hope everyone else is enjoying this crazy month of march. oh yeah, where did february go, anyway???
February 21, 2006
honestly!!
...can i get some motivation over here? just a little bit? i'm struggling, my friends. it's like i am a senior in high school all over again, and have senioritis BAD! i'm so proud of myself that i'm not procrastinating on the "busy work" of the semester. but the big projects? well, i'm the QUEEN of procrastination in that department. kind of like this blog...i keep putting it off, and putting it off. do i think it will just write itself?
things are in full swing here at my internship at the Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. My fellow intern (Shannon...coincidentally) and i are in charge of putting together the annual Teen Parent lobby day at the state house. it's been a bunch of busy work and designing information, etc which i really love. but since we haven't had much contact with the programs/teens/legislators that will be at the event, i'm getting nervous that no one will show up! and we've put so much time into it! but as my supervisor says, it's surprising how quickly and wonderfully it comes together. so i guess i just gotta put some faith in the fact that my hard efforts will pay off.
he's probably reading this as we speak, but things are going well in the boy department. you know, hanging out, going to the irish pub to drink, watch the olympics, and chat with the irish bartender. watch silly movies and argue about politics. eat good food and way too many cookies. but it's nice.....
and for those of you who also adore my dog (my mom's dog) reggie, he had an unfortunate accident. well, he was kicked in the mouth by a horse, and lost one of his canine pointy teeth! he had to get it removed because it shattered in his mouth, and now he looks like a ghetto 1-tooth dog when he smiles. i think that my mom should put a gold tooth where the old one was. that would be cool :)
things are in full swing here at my internship at the Alliance on Teen Pregnancy. My fellow intern (Shannon...coincidentally) and i are in charge of putting together the annual Teen Parent lobby day at the state house. it's been a bunch of busy work and designing information, etc which i really love. but since we haven't had much contact with the programs/teens/legislators that will be at the event, i'm getting nervous that no one will show up! and we've put so much time into it! but as my supervisor says, it's surprising how quickly and wonderfully it comes together. so i guess i just gotta put some faith in the fact that my hard efforts will pay off.
he's probably reading this as we speak, but things are going well in the boy department. you know, hanging out, going to the irish pub to drink, watch the olympics, and chat with the irish bartender. watch silly movies and argue about politics. eat good food and way too many cookies. but it's nice.....
and for those of you who also adore my dog (my mom's dog) reggie, he had an unfortunate accident. well, he was kicked in the mouth by a horse, and lost one of his canine pointy teeth! he had to get it removed because it shattered in his mouth, and now he looks like a ghetto 1-tooth dog when he smiles. i think that my mom should put a gold tooth where the old one was. that would be cool :)
January 30, 2006
random thoughts....
i hate getting sucked into the whole celebrity news thing. why do we need to know about brad-gelina's baby? who cares about britney wanting a makeover? why did nick and jessica really get divorced? yes, i'm sure these are all things you are also comtemplating these days. and as i sit here, reading this week's Us Weekly, i'm disgusted with myself. but also very, very interested...(and in case you were wondering, the baby is supposedly due may 2...i day before mine!) hahahah. please save me from this trash! well, at least i don't watch tv. this is enough of a guilty pleasure for me.
it's quite a cold and dreary day here in boston. i thought we were supposed to get a big nor'easter....but it was just foggy this morning with no snow. i'm kind of looking forward to the snow (gasp!). we haven't had much this winter so far, and i know i'll be cursing myself when it snows in may. but whatever, i'm ready for it!
so things i am/we all should be thinking about this week:
what will our fearless leader say during his state of the union address this week?
will there ever be peace in the middle east with the new palestinian hamas goverment?
will the democrats attempt a filbuster to stop alito from becoming the new supreme court justice?
and finally...
what does jen think about all this brad/angelina nonsense? is she really "okay" with it??
comments, concerns, suggestions?? please let me know :)
it's quite a cold and dreary day here in boston. i thought we were supposed to get a big nor'easter....but it was just foggy this morning with no snow. i'm kind of looking forward to the snow (gasp!). we haven't had much this winter so far, and i know i'll be cursing myself when it snows in may. but whatever, i'm ready for it!
so things i am/we all should be thinking about this week:
what will our fearless leader say during his state of the union address this week?
will there ever be peace in the middle east with the new palestinian hamas goverment?
will the democrats attempt a filbuster to stop alito from becoming the new supreme court justice?
and finally...
what does jen think about all this brad/angelina nonsense? is she really "okay" with it??
comments, concerns, suggestions?? please let me know :)
January 17, 2006
i can see the finish line....
yes, i'm back in cold boston.
it's taken me a week to transition into "school mode"...well, i'm *almost* there! i did spend the last week sleeping in, printing off class materials, getting my computer fixed, and catching up with friends over beers. it was a great weekend too - monkey and i saw brokeback mountain. you've GOT to see it if you haven't already. and i don't want to hear any of this "it's just a gay cowboy bullshit" movie. get over yourself....it's amazing. and even if you don't appreciate the story line, the scenery alone will leave you wanting to book a plane ticket to wyoming. i'm not joking.
so i don't know if everyone has heard my summer plans...i will be managing the Utah operation of ARTA river trips (the company i've been working for for 5+ years). scary to think i'll be in charge, eh? i won't get to be on the river as much, but it'll give me the opportunity to relax (kind of) after a hectic spring semester, and give me time to look for jobs online. start thinking about making a trip out to Utah...you've got a place to stay, and a kick ass tour guide! and who knows, maybe i could hook you up with a river trip or somethin' - hey, i'm the new manager after all!
it's finally starting to feel like winter out here. last week was unseasonably warm - almost 60 degrees in january, what?? but today it's back to 20 something, and the wind chill a couple nights ago was 0 degrees. today it was sunny outside, so i wore a skirt (with tights, of course), and i was freezing cold. when will i learn that, unlike the west coast, when the sun is shining it's not necessarily warm outside? in fact it's probably colder? silly californians....
it's taken me a week to transition into "school mode"...well, i'm *almost* there! i did spend the last week sleeping in, printing off class materials, getting my computer fixed, and catching up with friends over beers. it was a great weekend too - monkey and i saw brokeback mountain. you've GOT to see it if you haven't already. and i don't want to hear any of this "it's just a gay cowboy bullshit" movie. get over yourself....it's amazing. and even if you don't appreciate the story line, the scenery alone will leave you wanting to book a plane ticket to wyoming. i'm not joking.
so i don't know if everyone has heard my summer plans...i will be managing the Utah operation of ARTA river trips (the company i've been working for for 5+ years). scary to think i'll be in charge, eh? i won't get to be on the river as much, but it'll give me the opportunity to relax (kind of) after a hectic spring semester, and give me time to look for jobs online. start thinking about making a trip out to Utah...you've got a place to stay, and a kick ass tour guide! and who knows, maybe i could hook you up with a river trip or somethin' - hey, i'm the new manager after all!
it's finally starting to feel like winter out here. last week was unseasonably warm - almost 60 degrees in january, what?? but today it's back to 20 something, and the wind chill a couple nights ago was 0 degrees. today it was sunny outside, so i wore a skirt (with tights, of course), and i was freezing cold. when will i learn that, unlike the west coast, when the sun is shining it's not necessarily warm outside? in fact it's probably colder? silly californians....
January 7, 2006
almost home...
you know you're at a ghetto redneck bar when you have to use a piece of sheetrock to chalk up your cue stick. yes, my friends, as a farewell to my mom and her anxiety of flying to hawaii, we went at had a drink at the iron door saloon (said redneck, ghetto bar). one drink turned into 3, and before i knew it, my mom was not making her shots anymore....well, i wasn't really either! we eventually made it back to the house, only to find my step-dad waiting for us, all packed up and ready to leave. my mom was in no state to drive all the way to the bay area (she's a lightweight!) so kevin had to drive the whole way. and i heard all about it this morning at 8:15am, after kevin decided to wake me up. it was a very fun farewell party!
so now i'm left hear alone in the house with reggie. last night we bonded by watching a law and order marathon together, and i let him sleep on the bed. i've never had a dog that actually sleeps like a human on the bed - his head on the pillow and all! and then sometimes he turns upsidedown so he's laying on his back with his head on the pillow. awww....i'll miss him!
so my flight back home to boston leaves at 10am on monday. i'm NOT excited to return to the cold, but i am ready to finish off my LAST semester in grad school. whoohoo! i can't believe the time has gone by so fast....
so now i'm left hear alone in the house with reggie. last night we bonded by watching a law and order marathon together, and i let him sleep on the bed. i've never had a dog that actually sleeps like a human on the bed - his head on the pillow and all! and then sometimes he turns upsidedown so he's laying on his back with his head on the pillow. awww....i'll miss him!
so my flight back home to boston leaves at 10am on monday. i'm NOT excited to return to the cold, but i am ready to finish off my LAST semester in grad school. whoohoo! i can't believe the time has gone by so fast....
January 2, 2006
happy new years!
happy 2006!
usually my new years celebrations suck. i always make plans, they never work out, and i end up hanging out with my parents or watching tv or something and it blows (no offense to the parents, they are great!). so this year i made a different plan of attack. i promised myself i would make minimal plans. i would go to san francisco, stay with my friend, and see what happens. we called a whole bunch of others, told them to meet up with us (with no expectation that they would...didn't want to be disapointed). in the end, i was ringing in the new year with 3 of my closest friends, and a whole bunch of other new friends. i was having an awesome time until the power went out, then the cops had to escort everyone out of the bar (thankfully they let me take my beer with me!) the next morning we had this incredible breakfast and i was on my way back to groveland. i've driven so much over the past few days (up to sacramento, then to san francisco) that i'm ready to just chill at home until i go back to boston.
...you know you live in a small town when the only convenience store burns down, and the whole town knows within an hour. yes, breaking headlines here folks! tiano's, grovelands only real 7-11 type store nearly burned down after reportedly plugging too many things into the sockets after a power surge. yep, the "town mayor" (as he calls himself) was there and everyone and their brother. what a sight! though i wasn't there to witness the event, my mom provided me with all of the juicy gossip afterwards. everything happens in groveland when i move away...i'm missing all of the excitement!
usually my new years celebrations suck. i always make plans, they never work out, and i end up hanging out with my parents or watching tv or something and it blows (no offense to the parents, they are great!). so this year i made a different plan of attack. i promised myself i would make minimal plans. i would go to san francisco, stay with my friend, and see what happens. we called a whole bunch of others, told them to meet up with us (with no expectation that they would...didn't want to be disapointed). in the end, i was ringing in the new year with 3 of my closest friends, and a whole bunch of other new friends. i was having an awesome time until the power went out, then the cops had to escort everyone out of the bar (thankfully they let me take my beer with me!) the next morning we had this incredible breakfast and i was on my way back to groveland. i've driven so much over the past few days (up to sacramento, then to san francisco) that i'm ready to just chill at home until i go back to boston.
...you know you live in a small town when the only convenience store burns down, and the whole town knows within an hour. yes, breaking headlines here folks! tiano's, grovelands only real 7-11 type store nearly burned down after reportedly plugging too many things into the sockets after a power surge. yep, the "town mayor" (as he calls himself) was there and everyone and their brother. what a sight! though i wasn't there to witness the event, my mom provided me with all of the juicy gossip afterwards. everything happens in groveland when i move away...i'm missing all of the excitement!
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