The semester is over, the year is almost up and I'm just realizing that this blog is almost one year old! Well... one year from when I remembered that I had a blog. :)
I have been less active this semester and I'm really really going to try harder next year to do more than one post per month. I'm not sure if it's that I'm just used to the shenanigans of students so I don't feel the need to vent about it as much, or if I'm getting apathetic, or even if it's just that I'm more patient.
Truth be told, the semester kind of flew by for me. I am regretful that I feel like I didn't connect with this semester's class as well as in the past and that has kind of bugged me. I'm still trying to pinpoint why it worked out that way and why it bugs me so much.
I've also been very aware of how quickly people are coming into and going from my life, especially students. Again, this is the nature of the job and working in an academic environment, but unlike friends from childhood, high school, college or post-college life, it will be difficult to keep up with most of them. We're not Facebook friends, we don't follow each other on Twitter, and most of them will move on and not look back.
I am insanely curious to know how they're all going to end up. I know that when I was a senior in college, I never could have predicted my life would have gone the way that it has...
I may not have known where I was going to live, but I knew where I didn't want it to be (the north or a big city, obviously)
...and I was SO SURE of what I wanted out of life,
...and who I wanted to be with,
...and of course NONE of that really worked out the way that I thought.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Loss and love
Well, it's already the end of the semester and I can't believe that I've been so sparse with my blogging. I will try harder next semester! And it's not a crazy story about student apathy that's driving me to blog this time...it's unfortunately another untimely goodbye to an old friend.
Just a few hours ago, I got back from my up-and-back drive to Richmond to bid farewell to Marlo. She is someone that could most accurately be described as a family friend, but she was so much more.
A few blog posts have addressed my childhood and being raised in the filipino community in Richmond in the 70's and 80's, including this one as a tribute to my friend and "sister" A. That post also gives you a small taste of what it was like to grow up with this "family."
It can be hard, even for ProMo, to understand the ties that I have with my Richmond filipino family, especially since I don't go home often. In fact since my parents moved away in 2003, I've only been back a handful of times at best. And since I graduated from high school in the early 90's, there are a bunch of families who have moved in, kids who have grown up, and bonds that appear stronger...and very well may be. But all it takes for me is to go back to the church I grew up in and see all my "aunties" to feel like that little awkward kid with the coke bottle glasses surrounded by love, laughter and lots and lots of food.
Just a few hours ago, I got back from my up-and-back drive to Richmond to bid farewell to Marlo. She is someone that could most accurately be described as a family friend, but she was so much more.
A few blog posts have addressed my childhood and being raised in the filipino community in Richmond in the 70's and 80's, including this one as a tribute to my friend and "sister" A. That post also gives you a small taste of what it was like to grow up with this "family."
It can be hard, even for ProMo, to understand the ties that I have with my Richmond filipino family, especially since I don't go home often. In fact since my parents moved away in 2003, I've only been back a handful of times at best. And since I graduated from high school in the early 90's, there are a bunch of families who have moved in, kids who have grown up, and bonds that appear stronger...and very well may be. But all it takes for me is to go back to the church I grew up in and see all my "aunties" to feel like that little awkward kid with the coke bottle glasses surrounded by love, laughter and lots and lots of food.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Changing of the Guard
Despite my lack of posts through this fall, life has not actually been all that boring. On the contrary, it's been a pretty good year so far! We've had a bunch of house guests (because of football season), I've only gone out of town a couple of times, and most shockingly, I haven't minded sticking around. :)
I have to admit that a lot of this has to do with the changing of the guard of my teaching assistant, or TA. I'm still not sure what it says about me that I relate to my TA's more than my colleagues, but nevertheless, the two that I've had so far have become two of my closest friends.
I have to admit that a lot of this has to do with the changing of the guard of my teaching assistant, or TA. I'm still not sure what it says about me that I relate to my TA's more than my colleagues, but nevertheless, the two that I've had so far have become two of my closest friends.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Mentors
This week I had the pleasure of going back to Duke, which I always love! I was asked to be on an alumni panel for the engineering school.
Yes, you read correctly. I was asked to be on an alumni panel.
I KNOW. It's crazy right?! I mean, I know I give advice to students almost every day as a part of my job, but usually it's along the variety of "Can you force add me to this class?" or "Which of these advanced electives is the easiest?" or "What do you mean I can't graduate on time?!"
I honestly never thought that I would actually be asked to be on a panel of alumni doling out pearls of wisdom for students on my stellar career. I was a pretty middle-of-the-road student at Duke and I've had anything but a conventional path after leaving there. But it turns out that I have had some pretty useful experiences to reflect on.
One of the questions was about mentors. At first, this one tripped me up a little bit. Without a clear career path, I've never really sat back and thought of who has been most influential in my professional life. I've had some good bosses, but I wouldn't say that any of them really shaped my future. Then I thought of one of my professors who clearly affected my life: Dr. J. He kept me interested in engineering, he was the first college professor to show that he cared, he was a great teacher, and he was respectful, funny, and smart. I had him for 2 or 3 classes and it was in one of these classes that I had my first all-nighter.
Actually it was an all-four-nighter. I was awake for four days. Straight. OK, I took one 1-hour nap and one 2-hour nap in that time, but I was awake for 93 out of 96 hours.
Diet of choice? Doritos and diet snapple.
Hallucinations? Numerous. My friend Cat's favorite was the one where I thought there were fairies all around my room. Yes, I know they weren't real but that doesn't mean I didn't see them.
But it was all worth it. The project I was working on turned out great (even though I sacrificed studying for a final exam or two along the way) and it was probably the most satisfied and accomplished, academically, that I felt in my whole time there. It wasn't because I had my best grades that semester, but because someone showed that they believed in me when I didn't. I was frustrated with the project and Dr. J didn't coddle me, but he knew how to bring out the best work in me. He turned someone who was slightly apathetic into someone who was extremely determined and motivated.
Sometimes our biggest accomplishments and character-builders come from just building relationships and taking time to let people help beyond just directing your work or teaching you facts in a classroom.
From the second I got on that campus as a freshman, I felt a lot of pressure to be successful. And it was such an incredibly competitive environment that it made me question and, frankly, underestimate my own intelligence. My confidence went from shaky to almost zero. That's where Dr. J came in and whether he realized it or not, he encouraged me to believe and see that I was as smart as he thought I was.
I don't know what he's doing now (though I do know that he's no longer in academia) or if he realizes how much he affected my life. My best way to pay tribute to him is to try to pay it forward and try to bring out the best in others. I'm not the smartest teacher that my students will have, but I hope that I can help them be the best that they can be, because you never know when that middle-of-the-road student will be on the verge of calling it quits or thinking that they're less than they are.
Yes, you read correctly. I was asked to be on an alumni panel.
I KNOW. It's crazy right?! I mean, I know I give advice to students almost every day as a part of my job, but usually it's along the variety of "Can you force add me to this class?" or "Which of these advanced electives is the easiest?" or "What do you mean I can't graduate on time?!"
I honestly never thought that I would actually be asked to be on a panel of alumni doling out pearls of wisdom for students on my stellar career. I was a pretty middle-of-the-road student at Duke and I've had anything but a conventional path after leaving there. But it turns out that I have had some pretty useful experiences to reflect on.
One of the questions was about mentors. At first, this one tripped me up a little bit. Without a clear career path, I've never really sat back and thought of who has been most influential in my professional life. I've had some good bosses, but I wouldn't say that any of them really shaped my future. Then I thought of one of my professors who clearly affected my life: Dr. J. He kept me interested in engineering, he was the first college professor to show that he cared, he was a great teacher, and he was respectful, funny, and smart. I had him for 2 or 3 classes and it was in one of these classes that I had my first all-nighter.
Actually it was an all-four-nighter. I was awake for four days. Straight. OK, I took one 1-hour nap and one 2-hour nap in that time, but I was awake for 93 out of 96 hours.
Diet of choice? Doritos and diet snapple.
Hallucinations? Numerous. My friend Cat's favorite was the one where I thought there were fairies all around my room. Yes, I know they weren't real but that doesn't mean I didn't see them.
But it was all worth it. The project I was working on turned out great (even though I sacrificed studying for a final exam or two along the way) and it was probably the most satisfied and accomplished, academically, that I felt in my whole time there. It wasn't because I had my best grades that semester, but because someone showed that they believed in me when I didn't. I was frustrated with the project and Dr. J didn't coddle me, but he knew how to bring out the best work in me. He turned someone who was slightly apathetic into someone who was extremely determined and motivated.
Sometimes our biggest accomplishments and character-builders come from just building relationships and taking time to let people help beyond just directing your work or teaching you facts in a classroom.
From the second I got on that campus as a freshman, I felt a lot of pressure to be successful. And it was such an incredibly competitive environment that it made me question and, frankly, underestimate my own intelligence. My confidence went from shaky to almost zero. That's where Dr. J came in and whether he realized it or not, he encouraged me to believe and see that I was as smart as he thought I was.
I don't know what he's doing now (though I do know that he's no longer in academia) or if he realizes how much he affected my life. My best way to pay tribute to him is to try to pay it forward and try to bring out the best in others. I'm not the smartest teacher that my students will have, but I hope that I can help them be the best that they can be, because you never know when that middle-of-the-road student will be on the verge of calling it quits or thinking that they're less than they are.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Going Jersey
I consider myself a pretty nice, relatively even-tempered person. In fact, while I am quite opinionated, I am more concerned about putting people off so I try not to be too loud about said opinions unless I'm really pushed.
I think a lot of that has to do with my dual background: asian and southern. Between the two cultures, I was not really encouraged to speak my mind too much. I was pretty comfortable with that, which was a huge reason why I was hesitant to move to the New York City area. But...
I distinctly remember when that all changed. I had lived in Hoboken and worked in Manhattan for only a couple of months. I was still getting used to parallel parking, maneuvering a mass-transit system and not making eye contact, but the trigger was something fairly innocuous.
I was at a CVS store and as the cashier handed me my change, I said, "Thank you." So far so good, right? Well, she looked at me like I had 3 heads, glared at me and mumbled something back that didn't even resemble "You're Welcome."
I was shocked, semi-insulted, and...about 5 minutes later...really irritated.
And thus began my slow yet steady transition, for the better, I think, of standing up for myself more. That 5 minute reaction time decreased until, very slowly, I became used to giving an immediate reaction that was a little more expressive than a look of shock and hurt. In fact, it can get a little angry. And occasionally, I will go beyond that.
I will Go Jersey.
Long before Jersey Shore became well-known for the almost weekly brawls, I credited living in the NYC metro area with bringing out a certain...pugnacious side of me. It's not that I would intentionally pick fights, but when pushed to the limit, my sweet demeanor could turn. Quickly.
My friends and I started calling this, "going Jersey." It would come out at predictable moments: when people cut me off on the Turnpike, when oglers would get too aggressive on the streets of the city and of course, when people yelled at me.
A classic story of going Jersey happened while I was in, of all places, Baltimore. ProMo and I were passing through on our way south to visit our parents, and after a fun night out with some friends, we decided to get a slice of pizza to eat in the car before we hit the road. Now, at this point my car...excuse me...my Pontiac Sunfire sedan...was pretty banged up from, well, living in Jersey and staying generally parked on the streets.
They call them "bumpers" for a reason.
So there we are, ProMo and I, listening to some rap music, windows down, singing along, eating our pizza and savoring each delicious, greasy bite as if our lives depended on it. Just then a car pulls up ahead and attempts to parallel park in the spot in front of us. Now I know that I was and am biased, but even to the novice parallel parker, this spot was a no-brainer. The driver (a female) seems hesitant. She tries, fails, and re-tries. ProMo and I, in a fantastic mood, are happily cheering her on. She almost has it. I, in the driver's seat and still singing, jamming, and eating pizza, gesture for her to keep backing up. The windows are down in the car and ProMo and I are both saying things like, "keep going! You've got it!"
Actually, she's still having trouble. Our cheerleading is not helping. At this point, her boyfriend gets out of the car to help. Our eyes start rolling. Now all three of us are coaching her.
She is close to my front bumper but this is her best attempt yet at actually getting into the spot. Boyfriend looks nervous. ProMo and I are STILL gesturing for her to keep backing up. Between greasy bites and singing, I'm saying things like, "That's what bumpers are for!" and "My car is crap anyway!" and my personal favorite, "Keep going until you hit resistance! Trust me!"
And again, this was a HUGE spot.
Boyfriend's worried look is slowly turning into a look of annoyance. In my head I'm thinking, "Surely this annoyed and suddenly sour face isn't directed towards me. I'm coaching her, for goodness sake." He then opens his mouth and yells...YELLS!... "MOVE!...BACK!"
ProMo and I are dumbfounded. Silent. Music is still blasting but I am acutely aware of at least 2 seconds of silence as I blink and stare with pizza grease dripping from the side of my mouth.
At that point, I'm not exactly sure what happened. I remember lots of yelling and gesturing (if you know me, you know I talk A LOT with my hands), pointing and cursing from both me AND ProMo. Pretty sure pizza bits were flying out of my mouth too. At some point, ProMo either stopped for a breath or realized what we were doing and stopped which made my final words all that much clearer: "...AND BY THE WAY I COULD PARK TWO F-ING CARS IN THAT SPOT!!"
Now it's boyfriend's turn to stare and blink. He quickly and quietly gets into girlfriend's car and they speed off, abadoning the spot and presumably their dreams of pizza for the night.
It's quiet (except for the rap music), I'm still fuming and ProMo says quietly..."I think maybe it's time for us to move away from Jersey..."
And that, my friends, is what it means to Go Jersey.
I think a lot of that has to do with my dual background: asian and southern. Between the two cultures, I was not really encouraged to speak my mind too much. I was pretty comfortable with that, which was a huge reason why I was hesitant to move to the New York City area. But...
I distinctly remember when that all changed. I had lived in Hoboken and worked in Manhattan for only a couple of months. I was still getting used to parallel parking, maneuvering a mass-transit system and not making eye contact, but the trigger was something fairly innocuous.
I was at a CVS store and as the cashier handed me my change, I said, "Thank you." So far so good, right? Well, she looked at me like I had 3 heads, glared at me and mumbled something back that didn't even resemble "You're Welcome."
I was shocked, semi-insulted, and...about 5 minutes later...really irritated.
And thus began my slow yet steady transition, for the better, I think, of standing up for myself more. That 5 minute reaction time decreased until, very slowly, I became used to giving an immediate reaction that was a little more expressive than a look of shock and hurt. In fact, it can get a little angry. And occasionally, I will go beyond that.
I will Go Jersey.
Long before Jersey Shore became well-known for the almost weekly brawls, I credited living in the NYC metro area with bringing out a certain...pugnacious side of me. It's not that I would intentionally pick fights, but when pushed to the limit, my sweet demeanor could turn. Quickly.
My friends and I started calling this, "going Jersey." It would come out at predictable moments: when people cut me off on the Turnpike, when oglers would get too aggressive on the streets of the city and of course, when people yelled at me.
A classic story of going Jersey happened while I was in, of all places, Baltimore. ProMo and I were passing through on our way south to visit our parents, and after a fun night out with some friends, we decided to get a slice of pizza to eat in the car before we hit the road. Now, at this point my car...excuse me...my Pontiac Sunfire sedan...was pretty banged up from, well, living in Jersey and staying generally parked on the streets.
They call them "bumpers" for a reason.
So there we are, ProMo and I, listening to some rap music, windows down, singing along, eating our pizza and savoring each delicious, greasy bite as if our lives depended on it. Just then a car pulls up ahead and attempts to parallel park in the spot in front of us. Now I know that I was and am biased, but even to the novice parallel parker, this spot was a no-brainer. The driver (a female) seems hesitant. She tries, fails, and re-tries. ProMo and I, in a fantastic mood, are happily cheering her on. She almost has it. I, in the driver's seat and still singing, jamming, and eating pizza, gesture for her to keep backing up. The windows are down in the car and ProMo and I are both saying things like, "keep going! You've got it!"
Actually, she's still having trouble. Our cheerleading is not helping. At this point, her boyfriend gets out of the car to help. Our eyes start rolling. Now all three of us are coaching her.
She is close to my front bumper but this is her best attempt yet at actually getting into the spot. Boyfriend looks nervous. ProMo and I are STILL gesturing for her to keep backing up. Between greasy bites and singing, I'm saying things like, "That's what bumpers are for!" and "My car is crap anyway!" and my personal favorite, "Keep going until you hit resistance! Trust me!"
And again, this was a HUGE spot.
Boyfriend's worried look is slowly turning into a look of annoyance. In my head I'm thinking, "Surely this annoyed and suddenly sour face isn't directed towards me. I'm coaching her, for goodness sake." He then opens his mouth and yells...YELLS!... "MOVE!...BACK!"
ProMo and I are dumbfounded. Silent. Music is still blasting but I am acutely aware of at least 2 seconds of silence as I blink and stare with pizza grease dripping from the side of my mouth.
At that point, I'm not exactly sure what happened. I remember lots of yelling and gesturing (if you know me, you know I talk A LOT with my hands), pointing and cursing from both me AND ProMo. Pretty sure pizza bits were flying out of my mouth too. At some point, ProMo either stopped for a breath or realized what we were doing and stopped which made my final words all that much clearer: "...AND BY THE WAY I COULD PARK TWO F-ING CARS IN THAT SPOT!!"
Now it's boyfriend's turn to stare and blink. He quickly and quietly gets into girlfriend's car and they speed off, abadoning the spot and presumably their dreams of pizza for the night.
It's quiet (except for the rap music), I'm still fuming and ProMo says quietly..."I think maybe it's time for us to move away from Jersey..."
And that, my friends, is what it means to Go Jersey.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thankful
This week, I have started a few blog posts related to funny stories from the weekend, my dogs, my klutziness, and other assorted encounters I've had recently. But in the back of my head, I know what I really want to do is write something related to 9/11.
I started to just post an email that I wrote to my family and friends 2 days after 9/11/01 but it was (a) too long and (b) just a little too raw, still, for me to do it.
If you're a regular reader, you may already know that I was in the middle of chemotherapy (but not actually getting chemo that day) and working in Manhattan when two planes flew into the Twin Towers just a few short blocks from my office.
Growing up, I never thought I'd live or work in the New York City area. So it's pretty ironic that it is one of the places that I feel most connected to. I guess it's natural considering everything that happened in my life in the 3 1/2 years that I lived there.
I know my story and experience is one among billions, and you've probably seen or read a few of them this week as they are all over the TV and news. If you were alive and old enough to remember that day, it is impossible to not have your own story. And even though I rarely have a problem speaking my mind, I find it difficult to find the words that I want to say in this particular blog post.
I remember every thought and feeling I had that day.
Of course there were the big memories of sights, sounds and smells that I won't forget. But, whether it's a self-defense mechanism or not, I also distinctly remember the little things that made me smile, gave me some hope and reminded me to be thankful for the things that I had.
Another theme that you'll probably notice in this blog is that I get really attached to my friends. I am forever tied to the ones that I worked with that day who, while time and distance have lead us to not communicate often anymore, I will always consider a huge and special part of my life. Not only did I experience every second of the morning of 9/11/01 with them, but they were also there for me in so many ways during my 8 months of chemo. While I try not to use people's real names on this blog, I can't help but thank them by their true (first only) names here, just in case they read this:
Tiff, Rob, Pete, Russ, Steve and especially my buddy Billy.
We've all moved on with life but I know that as long as I live I will never forget them.
So instead of re-living and expressing my thoughts and feelings from that day and the days and weeks afterwards, I'll simply say that I am so thankful for life, love and friendship. We shouldn't need a tragedy or an anniversary of a tragedy to remind us that life is so very short.
Live, laugh, love.
I started to just post an email that I wrote to my family and friends 2 days after 9/11/01 but it was (a) too long and (b) just a little too raw, still, for me to do it.
If you're a regular reader, you may already know that I was in the middle of chemotherapy (but not actually getting chemo that day) and working in Manhattan when two planes flew into the Twin Towers just a few short blocks from my office.
Growing up, I never thought I'd live or work in the New York City area. So it's pretty ironic that it is one of the places that I feel most connected to. I guess it's natural considering everything that happened in my life in the 3 1/2 years that I lived there.
I know my story and experience is one among billions, and you've probably seen or read a few of them this week as they are all over the TV and news. If you were alive and old enough to remember that day, it is impossible to not have your own story. And even though I rarely have a problem speaking my mind, I find it difficult to find the words that I want to say in this particular blog post.
I remember every thought and feeling I had that day.
Of course there were the big memories of sights, sounds and smells that I won't forget. But, whether it's a self-defense mechanism or not, I also distinctly remember the little things that made me smile, gave me some hope and reminded me to be thankful for the things that I had.
Another theme that you'll probably notice in this blog is that I get really attached to my friends. I am forever tied to the ones that I worked with that day who, while time and distance have lead us to not communicate often anymore, I will always consider a huge and special part of my life. Not only did I experience every second of the morning of 9/11/01 with them, but they were also there for me in so many ways during my 8 months of chemo. While I try not to use people's real names on this blog, I can't help but thank them by their true (first only) names here, just in case they read this:
Tiff, Rob, Pete, Russ, Steve and especially my buddy Billy.
We've all moved on with life but I know that as long as I live I will never forget them.
So instead of re-living and expressing my thoughts and feelings from that day and the days and weeks afterwards, I'll simply say that I am so thankful for life, love and friendship. We shouldn't need a tragedy or an anniversary of a tragedy to remind us that life is so very short.
Live, laugh, love.
 | |
| Taken June 2001 when some great friends who came to visit right after I was diagnosed and we snapped this pic from the park in Hoboken with lower Manhattan in the background. |
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Home Alone
ProMo is off on another international conference adventure which means over a week of "bachelorette" time for me! Since we've moved to the 'burg, this has happened pretty often, which is great for him and his career. For me, well...
Initially, I whine. I say that I'll be lonely. He and I hang out all the time and many days he's the only person that I talk to, so when he's gone I can go the entire day without talking to anyone. But after a day or so, I start getting used to it.
Then, the inner OCD geek comes out.
I kind of like...OK...I really like being in control of my schedule, meals, and of course the television. I should not admit this, but I even plan out all my meals (normal) and at least one household chore (not as normal) every day. I print off a schedule - which is actually supposed to be a meal planner - and I change the column of "snacks" to "chores." I really enjoy doing it and I follow it every time.
While I do get excited about it like the nerd that I am, I am also fully aware that my days are playing out like a scene (below) from the movie 40 Year Old Virgin.
Seriously. If I had little figurines to paint like Andy (Steve Carell) did in the movie, I probably would. Instead, I do one or all of the following: play Wii, sing karaoke or do sudoku puzzles.
It makes me wonder what I would be like if I were still single. While I would love to think I'd be sipping a glass of wine in a bubble bath every night, I'm pretty sure I'd just be curled up with some puzzles and a dog and maybe some Glee. And frankly, that wouldn't be so bad.
Initially, I whine. I say that I'll be lonely. He and I hang out all the time and many days he's the only person that I talk to, so when he's gone I can go the entire day without talking to anyone. But after a day or so, I start getting used to it.
Then, the inner OCD geek comes out.
I kind of like...OK...I really like being in control of my schedule, meals, and of course the television. I should not admit this, but I even plan out all my meals (normal) and at least one household chore (not as normal) every day. I print off a schedule - which is actually supposed to be a meal planner - and I change the column of "snacks" to "chores." I really enjoy doing it and I follow it every time.
 |
| I know. I'm not right. |
While I do get excited about it like the nerd that I am, I am also fully aware that my days are playing out like a scene (below) from the movie 40 Year Old Virgin.
Seriously. If I had little figurines to paint like Andy (Steve Carell) did in the movie, I probably would. Instead, I do one or all of the following: play Wii, sing karaoke or do sudoku puzzles.
It makes me wonder what I would be like if I were still single. While I would love to think I'd be sipping a glass of wine in a bubble bath every night, I'm pretty sure I'd just be curled up with some puzzles and a dog and maybe some Glee. And frankly, that wouldn't be so bad.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Almost famous, again
Book signings and promotional interviews...
What did I almost have in common with Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin and Tina Fey?
Over the summer, I was almost an author of a major publication! Seriously!
Here's the story...early in the summer, an established author put out a call for co-authors through some academic circles. And while the premise of the book was engineering, it wasn't a textbook. Instead, it was meant to be a collection of nuggets of info that one learns as an engineering student.
It was a book about engineering for non-engineers!
Right away, I got excited. I felt like there was SO MUCH that I could contribute to this book. It seemed like the perfect fit.
So I reached out to the author, forwarded him my resume and told him what I thought I could bring to the table. He promptly put me on his short list. What followed were a few weeks (which felt like months) of back and forth, bouncing ideas off of each other. The further we got into the process, the more I felt like I was getting into a relationship.
First, the awkward getting-to-know you phase.
He called and we chatted and learned more about each other. Of course, I tried to charm him with my personality. And while he was a pretty serious guy, he still laughed at my jokes and sounded interested in my teaching philosophy. He's an architect so we talked about how we both had preconceived notions of the other's occupation. I listened to him talk about his journey as an author and why he wanted to write this book. In the end, I hung up the phone and thought my chances were great.
First writing dates, that is. I was one of about 5 finalists so for the next step, I had to come up with a few writing samples on the topic that we would work on together. The goal, of course was to see if we had the right "chemistry." I quickly came up with a few ideas and sent them along.
At first, it was great. He had a bunch of suggestions and ideas that he bounced right back to me. We were both excited. I agreed with some of his ideas and disagreed with others, but when I made revisions, I always thought they were vast improvements. We were working together to make ourselves collectively better!
But then the reality of being in a relationship sets in...
I thought my ideas were fantastic and I began to think that this could be my moment of greatness. We spoke a few times and we emailed each other frequently. Every time I gave him samples that I thought could not go wrong, he would come back wanting something more, or something less.
It got harder for me to predict what he would want from me. I would tweak my samples and think that this would be the edit that clicked and he would offer me the job. But after a day or two, he would come back with more changes. I was sometimes confused and other times frustrated by his directives, and I perceived that he was probably equally frustrated and confused by me. We were both still hopeful, but we didn't seem to be communicating on the same plane.
This was where I kind of felt like I was on The Bachelor. He was having a hard time making a decision so he decided to call all the candidates one more time to talk about where we were in the process. We re-connected. He talked about what I brought to the table that he really liked, but also expressed his concerns over the things that I lacked. His problem was that none of us (his finalists) really were the "perfect package" for him, so he was trying spark that additional something in all of us to see who could rise to the top.
I said that I understood and that I still wanted to make it work. We said we would re-group and I would send him yet another edit that would hopefully show that I could bring that extra quality that he was looking for. Still, I could feel myself getting more detatched.
Maybe it was the amount of time the process had taken. Maybe I panicked when I thought of how much time I had already spent on it and I didn't feel like we had made any progress. Most likely, it was because I came to understand that he and I did not have the same vision for this book. And since he was the primary author, I knew that if I did get the job, I would likely continue to be frustrated and confused for the duration of the collaboration.
The Break Up
I love a good challenge so I hated to quit, but I couldn't see the relationship going in a good direction. After much deliberation, I emailed him and withdrew my name from consideration. He said he was disappointed, tried to get me to change my mind, but in the end, he respected my wishes. We wished each other well and moved on.
I hope he found what he was looking for and I am disappointed that I couldn't find the "magic" with him, but it just wasn't a good fit. And so it wasn't meant to be! My brush with (almost) fame was just a brush.
Oh well, there's always that dream to be on Big Brother...
What did I almost have in common with Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin and Tina Fey?
Over the summer, I was almost an author of a major publication! Seriously!
Here's the story...early in the summer, an established author put out a call for co-authors through some academic circles. And while the premise of the book was engineering, it wasn't a textbook. Instead, it was meant to be a collection of nuggets of info that one learns as an engineering student.
It was a book about engineering for non-engineers!
Right away, I got excited. I felt like there was SO MUCH that I could contribute to this book. It seemed like the perfect fit.
So I reached out to the author, forwarded him my resume and told him what I thought I could bring to the table. He promptly put me on his short list. What followed were a few weeks (which felt like months) of back and forth, bouncing ideas off of each other. The further we got into the process, the more I felt like I was getting into a relationship.
First, the awkward getting-to-know you phase.
He called and we chatted and learned more about each other. Of course, I tried to charm him with my personality. And while he was a pretty serious guy, he still laughed at my jokes and sounded interested in my teaching philosophy. He's an architect so we talked about how we both had preconceived notions of the other's occupation. I listened to him talk about his journey as an author and why he wanted to write this book. In the end, I hung up the phone and thought my chances were great.
Next, the bliss of the first dates.
First writing dates, that is. I was one of about 5 finalists so for the next step, I had to come up with a few writing samples on the topic that we would work on together. The goal, of course was to see if we had the right "chemistry." I quickly came up with a few ideas and sent them along.
At first, it was great. He had a bunch of suggestions and ideas that he bounced right back to me. We were both excited. I agreed with some of his ideas and disagreed with others, but when I made revisions, I always thought they were vast improvements. We were working together to make ourselves collectively better!
But then the reality of being in a relationship sets in...
I thought my ideas were fantastic and I began to think that this could be my moment of greatness. We spoke a few times and we emailed each other frequently. Every time I gave him samples that I thought could not go wrong, he would come back wanting something more, or something less.
It got harder for me to predict what he would want from me. I would tweak my samples and think that this would be the edit that clicked and he would offer me the job. But after a day or two, he would come back with more changes. I was sometimes confused and other times frustrated by his directives, and I perceived that he was probably equally frustrated and confused by me. We were both still hopeful, but we didn't seem to be communicating on the same plane.
We talk it out...
This was where I kind of felt like I was on The Bachelor. He was having a hard time making a decision so he decided to call all the candidates one more time to talk about where we were in the process. We re-connected. He talked about what I brought to the table that he really liked, but also expressed his concerns over the things that I lacked. His problem was that none of us (his finalists) really were the "perfect package" for him, so he was trying spark that additional something in all of us to see who could rise to the top.
I said that I understood and that I still wanted to make it work. We said we would re-group and I would send him yet another edit that would hopefully show that I could bring that extra quality that he was looking for. Still, I could feel myself getting more detatched.
 |
| Will I get the proverbial "final rose"?! |
...then I decide to end it
Maybe it was the amount of time the process had taken. Maybe I panicked when I thought of how much time I had already spent on it and I didn't feel like we had made any progress. Most likely, it was because I came to understand that he and I did not have the same vision for this book. And since he was the primary author, I knew that if I did get the job, I would likely continue to be frustrated and confused for the duration of the collaboration.
I love a good challenge so I hated to quit, but I couldn't see the relationship going in a good direction. After much deliberation, I emailed him and withdrew my name from consideration. He said he was disappointed, tried to get me to change my mind, but in the end, he respected my wishes. We wished each other well and moved on.
I hope he found what he was looking for and I am disappointed that I couldn't find the "magic" with him, but it just wasn't a good fit. And so it wasn't meant to be! My brush with (almost) fame was just a brush.
Oh well, there's always that dream to be on Big Brother...
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Happy New (Academic) Year!
Top 10 things that make me grumpy at back-to-school time:
1. The town and university have an uncanny knack for starting construction approximately 3 weeks before the town quadruples in size.
2. The impending doom of listening to lame excuses. Do students think I'm that naive? Do they believe themselves? Tip: Before you give me an excuse, try it out on your roommates/siblings/dog. If any of them burst out laughing, don't try it with me.
3. Most of the drivers on the road have had their license for 5 years or less, turning the town into, more or less, a student-driving closed course.
4. To quote a colleague, "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."
5. Weighing the cost/benefit of going to a bar that is fun and plays good music, yet is crowded by sweaty, wasted college students who scream your name from across the bar. Yes, I can hear you and yes, I am ignoring you.
6. Gross public bathrooms. On campus, in restaurants, and especially in bars. Seriously - who potty trained you? And how long ago?
7. I am your advisor, not your mother. I will not do your work, look things up or make phone calls on your behalf...and neither should you mother, by the way.
8. Pedestrian traffic jams.
9. This. question. "So, do you work in the summer?"
10. Bouncers that give you a hard time even though you're (technically) old enough to be their mother. Yes, that is my real ID. You should not question it for the mere reason that no one under 21 would really have the cajones to use a fake ID that says that they're 37.
 |
| So. Not. Ready. For. This. |
Top 10 things that make me happy at back to school time! :)
1. Liveliness!! Nothing beats the energy of students coming back from summer break. This is the only time they're excited about doing work.
2. On campus eateries are actually open, which pretty much triples the number of places to eat in the 'burg.
3. More people to talk to. Followed up closely by...
4. More people that listen to, and with any luck, care about what I say.
5. A new TA to harass! Teaching assistant, personal assistant...same difference, right?
6. The return of college sports and rivalries...and tailgating. :)
7. Seeing what kind of fun new outfits and hair styles the students are trying to pull off this year.
8. Being thankful that I don't have to study or do homework on Sundays anymore.
9. Music, frisbee and sports on the Drillfield.
10. VISITORS!!
Heeerree we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Cinematic
For as much as I love/am semi-obsessed with pop culture, I surprisingly have a difficult time getting into movies. There are many classics that I've never seen, though I could probably tell you the plot line and/or the stars of the movie.
I attribute a lot of this to the fact that anything too violent or scary was either banned by my parents or gave me too many nightmares to even think about. As a side note, I had a LOT of nightmares as a kid so the thought of watching any kind of suspense or horror flick was almost laughably ridiculous. I had nightmares about Freddy Krueger...which was even more terrifying because I was convinced I was therefore going to die in my sleep.
So as a result, I developed a love for comedies and love stories. Yes, your typical chick flicks and 80's comedies. Needless to say, John Hughes films were in heavy rotation for me and of course I wanted to dress like Molly Ringwald and date a Brat Pack-er (when I wasn't pining after Duran Duran, Ralph Macchio, or River Phoenix).
In the 25-ish years since my discovery of the sweet yet hilarious genius of Hughes films, I've acquired a list of films - most that came out in the 90's or early 2000's - that I don't think got the recognition they deserved, even if they are movies that everyone knows. So here are some of my superlative movies that I feel, for one reason or another, did not and have not gotten the recognition that they deserve as "classics" in their own way.
It can be argued that this, as every Disney movie, is a classic. But I had to include it on this list because in my mind this is the best. Disney. movie. EVER.
There is no other Disney movie that I sing along to more than The Little Mermaid. Maybe it's because it came out when I was in high school and really into show tunes. Maybe it's because the chaperone/crab sounded like the guy from the 7-Up commercials (look it up, kids). I can't pinpoint the reason I loved it so.
All I know is that when I got my wisdom teeth out in college, the only thing I wanted to do was snuggle with my stuffed "Flounder" toy and watch The Little Mermaid over and over and over again.
Farley. Spade. And the world-wide introduction of "fat guy in a little coat."
Before digital video recorders, my roommate LAF and I would pop this into the VCR at least once a week and watch it. It got to the point that I could not only quote the entire movie, but I perfected the fast forward/stop timing to hit the (numerous) scenes that would bring me to tears with laughter. There are too many hilarious moments in this movie for me to quote right now....but here are some of my favorites (besides the aforementioned "fat guy" comment):
"Did I hear a 'niner' in there? Are you on a walkie talkie?"
"Your head is a thick candy shell."
"Bees! They're everywhere! Save yourself!"
"Brothers don't shake hands. BROTHERS GOTTA HUG!"
"Shut up, Richard."
I do believe that this movie was the beginning of my obsession with Ashton Kutcher. While I enjoyed him in That 70's Show, I frankly preferred the nerdy, awkward character of Eric (Topher Grace) to the dim, vain Kelso.
So I never thought much of him until I saw him as the romantic lead in this movie. He and Amanda Peete had really good chemistry, and you were never quite sure where the story was going to take you. Both characters were funny, believable, and if you're a sap like me, made your heart ache a little throughout the movie. Rent it and see for yourself.
Here's one of my favorite moments. Bon Jovi? Ashton Kutcher? What's not to like?
I remember hearing about this movie when it came out because it had Mandy Moore in it and I think this may have been one of her first "lead actress" roles, plus it was based on a very popular book (which I of course had not read). Then I remember hearing how over-the-top cheesy it was and, as with any movie based on a book, how the book was "soooo much better."
So I didn't bother to try to watch it. Until one day when I was out of town for work, in my hotel room alone after a long day. I had just finished working and, knowing full well that I had to wake up at 4 AM the next day, I flipped to TBS or TNT and the movie had just started...at 11 PM. I was of course riveted immediately, HAD to stay up to watch the end and sobbed my way to sleep shortly after 1 AM.
I don't know if it it was the lack of sleep and exhaustion, the storyline (which I didn't know much about before I watched it) or Mandy Moore. But I was not just tearing up...I was HEAVING SOBS and went through probably about half a box of tissues. Tearjerker, indeed.
Long before Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were the Bridesmaid and bride, we had Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair as a seriously hysterical trio of friends. They were rude and crude but hilarious and believable. Maybe the situations they got themselves into weren't so plausible, but can't you say the same about The Hangover [what's less believable...taking a road trip to crash a wedding and meet up with some guy you randomly met at a club or stealing Mike Tyson's tiger?]? The appeal was that I saw and heard so many of my own conversations with my crazy friends in it.
They were who we were, who we wanted to be, and who we were glad that we weren't.
Here's one choice scene. Oh, gravity...
I love everything about this movie. It is hilarious. It makes me cry. The actresses have amazing chemistry and make the story so riveting. After Mystic Pizza but before Pretty Woman, this movie helped the world "discover" Julia Roberts. She was gorgeous and a fantastic actress, more than holding her own against the likes of Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis.
And best of all, it's almost as quotable for me as Tommy Boy! Granted, in a much different way, but quotable nonetheless.
"My colors are blush and bashful...Pink is my signature color."
"You know what they say, if you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me!"
"The only thing that separates us from animals is our ability to accessorize"
"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion"
What would YOU add to this list? Tell me in the comments section!
I attribute a lot of this to the fact that anything too violent or scary was either banned by my parents or gave me too many nightmares to even think about. As a side note, I had a LOT of nightmares as a kid so the thought of watching any kind of suspense or horror flick was almost laughably ridiculous. I had nightmares about Freddy Krueger...which was even more terrifying because I was convinced I was therefore going to die in my sleep.
So as a result, I developed a love for comedies and love stories. Yes, your typical chick flicks and 80's comedies. Needless to say, John Hughes films were in heavy rotation for me and of course I wanted to dress like Molly Ringwald and date a Brat Pack-er (when I wasn't pining after Duran Duran, Ralph Macchio, or River Phoenix).
 |
| The "Brat Pack" in their St. Elmo's Fire heyday |
In the 25-ish years since my discovery of the sweet yet hilarious genius of Hughes films, I've acquired a list of films - most that came out in the 90's or early 2000's - that I don't think got the recognition they deserved, even if they are movies that everyone knows. So here are some of my superlative movies that I feel, for one reason or another, did not and have not gotten the recognition that they deserve as "classics" in their own way.
Best sign of Disney's resurgence, pre-Pixar:
It can be argued that this, as every Disney movie, is a classic. But I had to include it on this list because in my mind this is the best. Disney. movie. EVER.
There is no other Disney movie that I sing along to more than The Little Mermaid. Maybe it's because it came out when I was in high school and really into show tunes. Maybe it's because the chaperone/crab sounded like the guy from the 7-Up commercials (look it up, kids). I can't pinpoint the reason I loved it so.
All I know is that when I got my wisdom teeth out in college, the only thing I wanted to do was snuggle with my stuffed "Flounder" toy and watch The Little Mermaid over and over and over again.
Best flashback at a tragic comic genius - 90's version:
Farley. Spade. And the world-wide introduction of "fat guy in a little coat."
Before digital video recorders, my roommate LAF and I would pop this into the VCR at least once a week and watch it. It got to the point that I could not only quote the entire movie, but I perfected the fast forward/stop timing to hit the (numerous) scenes that would bring me to tears with laughter. There are too many hilarious moments in this movie for me to quote right now....but here are some of my favorites (besides the aforementioned "fat guy" comment):
"Did I hear a 'niner' in there? Are you on a walkie talkie?"
"Your head is a thick candy shell."
"Bees! They're everywhere! Save yourself!"
"Brothers don't shake hands. BROTHERS GOTTA HUG!"
"Shut up, Richard."
Best rom-com you've never heard of: A Lot Like Love
I do believe that this movie was the beginning of my obsession with Ashton Kutcher. While I enjoyed him in That 70's Show, I frankly preferred the nerdy, awkward character of Eric (Topher Grace) to the dim, vain Kelso.
 |
| Hotties |
So I never thought much of him until I saw him as the romantic lead in this movie. He and Amanda Peete had really good chemistry, and you were never quite sure where the story was going to take you. Both characters were funny, believable, and if you're a sap like me, made your heart ache a little throughout the movie. Rent it and see for yourself.
Here's one of my favorite moments. Bon Jovi? Ashton Kutcher? What's not to like?
Cheesiest Tearjerker not called "The Notebook":
I remember hearing about this movie when it came out because it had Mandy Moore in it and I think this may have been one of her first "lead actress" roles, plus it was based on a very popular book (which I of course had not read). Then I remember hearing how over-the-top cheesy it was and, as with any movie based on a book, how the book was "soooo much better."
So I didn't bother to try to watch it. Until one day when I was out of town for work, in my hotel room alone after a long day. I had just finished working and, knowing full well that I had to wake up at 4 AM the next day, I flipped to TBS or TNT and the movie had just started...at 11 PM. I was of course riveted immediately, HAD to stay up to watch the end and sobbed my way to sleep shortly after 1 AM.
I don't know if it it was the lack of sleep and exhaustion, the storyline (which I didn't know much about before I watched it) or Mandy Moore. But I was not just tearing up...I was HEAVING SOBS and went through probably about half a box of tissues. Tearjerker, indeed.
The original "female-version-of-The Hangover":
Long before Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were the Bridesmaid and bride, we had Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate and Selma Blair as a seriously hysterical trio of friends. They were rude and crude but hilarious and believable. Maybe the situations they got themselves into weren't so plausible, but can't you say the same about The Hangover [what's less believable...taking a road trip to crash a wedding and meet up with some guy you randomly met at a club or stealing Mike Tyson's tiger?]? The appeal was that I saw and heard so many of my own conversations with my crazy friends in it.
They were who we were, who we wanted to be, and who we were glad that we weren't.
Here's one choice scene. Oh, gravity...
Movie that will always make me smile: Steel Magnolias
I love everything about this movie. It is hilarious. It makes me cry. The actresses have amazing chemistry and make the story so riveting. After Mystic Pizza but before Pretty Woman, this movie helped the world "discover" Julia Roberts. She was gorgeous and a fantastic actress, more than holding her own against the likes of Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Olympia Dukakis.
And best of all, it's almost as quotable for me as Tommy Boy! Granted, in a much different way, but quotable nonetheless.
"My colors are blush and bashful...Pink is my signature color."
"You know what they say, if you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me!"
"The only thing that separates us from animals is our ability to accessorize"
"Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion"
What would YOU add to this list? Tell me in the comments section!
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Crisis?
"Define mid-life crisis..."
ProMo and I traveled out of town yet again a couple of weekends ago to celebrate the birthday of one of our very good friends. She is our age...that is, late 30's....as were most of her guests. One of the circles that I found myself in was discussing at what age one could categorize his or her erratic actions as a mid-life crisis. To me, it always sounded like something reserved for tired, overweight, balding men who suddenly bought convertibles or sports cars. Not someone like me...right?
Right?!?
My previous blog post illustrates that this summer has been a little reflective for me and perhaps I should just read that to see the beginnings of a crisis...if it is indeed a crisis. Was it triggered by my birthday, aka the tangible transition from my "mid-30's" (acceptable, hip) to my "late-30's" (or as my friends have shortened it..."almost 40")? Or was it triggered by the realization that the current freshman were born after I had already graduated high school? I've always been OK with my age and birthdays, and I have changed my career path a few times (as have many of my Gen X peers), so what is causing this current sense of dread and panic?
Is it a mid-life crisis?
When I checked with wikipedia, here are the buzzwords from their definition.
"a period of dramatic self-doubt that is felt by some individuals in the 'middle years' or middle age of life, as a result of sensing the passing of their own youth and the imminence of their old age"
"triggered by transitions experienced in these years, such as extramarital affairs, andropause or menopause, the death of parents or other causes of grief, unemployment or underemployment, realizing that a job or career is hated but not knowing how else to earn an equivalent living,"
"result may be a desire to make significant changes in core aspects of day-to-day life or situation, such as in career, work-life balance, marriage, romantic relationships, big-ticket expenditures, or physical appearance."
So a logical conclusion from my wikipedia pop-quiz would be that I am indeed going through a mid-life crisis.
Another symptom? My enthusiastic attendance at the Britney Spears concert this weekend.
That said, it is also true that I have ALWAYS loved cheesy pop music, I have a clear tendency to get restless living in the same place for more than 3 years, and all who know me know my passion for travel and other "big-ticket expenditures."
So I am inclined to say that this is, in fact, not a mid-life crisis.
It's a pre-existing condition. :)
ProMo and I traveled out of town yet again a couple of weekends ago to celebrate the birthday of one of our very good friends. She is our age...that is, late 30's....as were most of her guests. One of the circles that I found myself in was discussing at what age one could categorize his or her erratic actions as a mid-life crisis. To me, it always sounded like something reserved for tired, overweight, balding men who suddenly bought convertibles or sports cars. Not someone like me...right?
Right?!?
My previous blog post illustrates that this summer has been a little reflective for me and perhaps I should just read that to see the beginnings of a crisis...if it is indeed a crisis. Was it triggered by my birthday, aka the tangible transition from my "mid-30's" (acceptable, hip) to my "late-30's" (or as my friends have shortened it..."almost 40")? Or was it triggered by the realization that the current freshman were born after I had already graduated high school? I've always been OK with my age and birthdays, and I have changed my career path a few times (as have many of my Gen X peers), so what is causing this current sense of dread and panic?
Is it a mid-life crisis?
When I checked with wikipedia, here are the buzzwords from their definition.
"a period of dramatic self-doubt that is felt by some individuals in the 'middle years' or middle age of life, as a result of sensing the passing of their own youth and the imminence of their old age"
"triggered by transitions experienced in these years, such as extramarital affairs, andropause or menopause, the death of parents or other causes of grief, unemployment or underemployment, realizing that a job or career is hated but not knowing how else to earn an equivalent living,"
"result may be a desire to make significant changes in core aspects of day-to-day life or situation, such as in career, work-life balance, marriage, romantic relationships, big-ticket expenditures, or physical appearance."
So a logical conclusion from my wikipedia pop-quiz would be that I am indeed going through a mid-life crisis.
Another symptom? My enthusiastic attendance at the Britney Spears concert this weekend.
That said, it is also true that I have ALWAYS loved cheesy pop music, I have a clear tendency to get restless living in the same place for more than 3 years, and all who know me know my passion for travel and other "big-ticket expenditures."
So I am inclined to say that this is, in fact, not a mid-life crisis.
It's a pre-existing condition. :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
So Moeny style and song
I have a post that I started last week and have worked on for a few days. BUT unfortunately, it isn't at the point where I feel like it's "just right." So in the meantime, I thought I'd share a couple of links to tide over any of you who may be looking for a little light summer entertainment. :)
Stylin' and profilin'
The first is my 15 minutes of not-exactly-fame! Back in the spring at the end of the semester, I was walking from my office to my car when I got stopped by a man with a camera who asked if he could take my picture. Now, when I get stopped on campus, it's usually because someone wants to ask for directions or a group of students are asking me to make a donation to some cause, so this was a little jarring for me. He then explained that he wrote a style blog for the local paper, the Roanoke Times. Never missing a chance for a photo op, I said sure! Here's the result:
http://blogs.roanoke.com/stylestreet/
A second listen
OK so...I am a bit of a Howard Stern fan. Have been since I lived in Hoboken. There, I said it.
We stopped listening to Howard out of necessity when he moved off of "terrestrial radio" and onto Sirius satellite radio. Living in Baltimore at the time, we didn't feel the need to splurge for satellite just to hear Howard. But once we moved here and realized that a good portion of our road trips were through radio "dead zones," we decide that satellite was a good option for us now. We love it for many reasons, but an added bonus we can listen to Howard again!
Anyway, this past week, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Howard's interview with Lady Gaga. I've listened to replays a couple of times throughout the weekend and I have to say that many of my opinions of her as a person and artist changed after this interview. And regardless of what your opinion of her may be, I urge you to view the video below.
This is the version of her song "Edge of Glory" that she performed in Howard's studio. It was simply her voice and a piano (which she played) but it completely changed my opinion of this song. I feel like the radio version of this song is extremely pop, nothing really unique or spectacular, and even its 80's influences (i.e. cheesy sax solo) couldn't really sway me.
Then I heard this version and the story behind it, and it was like a totally new song for me. I'm still not a 100% fan of the radio version, but now I can at least envision this and have a new appreciation for it.
Please please please...no matter what you think of Lady Gaga, I ask you to take about 5 minutes to watch this video!
As a background: she wrote this song as/after she was with her grandfather as he was dying. It was inspired by her (and her father's) feelings on watching her grandfather's last breaths and coming to terms with that moment. [You'll notice that she says, "That's about the tequila" after she sings the line "Another shot before we kiss the other side." This is in reference to the fact that she and her dad did a tequila shot when they took a moment to themselves and left the hospice just before (or after...I forget) her grandfather passed away.]
Stylin' and profilin'
The first is my 15 minutes of not-exactly-fame! Back in the spring at the end of the semester, I was walking from my office to my car when I got stopped by a man with a camera who asked if he could take my picture. Now, when I get stopped on campus, it's usually because someone wants to ask for directions or a group of students are asking me to make a donation to some cause, so this was a little jarring for me. He then explained that he wrote a style blog for the local paper, the Roanoke Times. Never missing a chance for a photo op, I said sure! Here's the result:
http://blogs.roanoke.com/stylestreet/
A second listen
OK so...I am a bit of a Howard Stern fan. Have been since I lived in Hoboken. There, I said it.
We stopped listening to Howard out of necessity when he moved off of "terrestrial radio" and onto Sirius satellite radio. Living in Baltimore at the time, we didn't feel the need to splurge for satellite just to hear Howard. But once we moved here and realized that a good portion of our road trips were through radio "dead zones," we decide that satellite was a good option for us now. We love it for many reasons, but an added bonus we can listen to Howard again!
Anyway, this past week, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Howard's interview with Lady Gaga. I've listened to replays a couple of times throughout the weekend and I have to say that many of my opinions of her as a person and artist changed after this interview. And regardless of what your opinion of her may be, I urge you to view the video below.
This is the version of her song "Edge of Glory" that she performed in Howard's studio. It was simply her voice and a piano (which she played) but it completely changed my opinion of this song. I feel like the radio version of this song is extremely pop, nothing really unique or spectacular, and even its 80's influences (i.e. cheesy sax solo) couldn't really sway me.
Then I heard this version and the story behind it, and it was like a totally new song for me. I'm still not a 100% fan of the radio version, but now I can at least envision this and have a new appreciation for it.
Please please please...no matter what you think of Lady Gaga, I ask you to take about 5 minutes to watch this video!
As a background: she wrote this song as/after she was with her grandfather as he was dying. It was inspired by her (and her father's) feelings on watching her grandfather's last breaths and coming to terms with that moment. [You'll notice that she says, "That's about the tequila" after she sings the line "Another shot before we kiss the other side." This is in reference to the fact that she and her dad did a tequila shot when they took a moment to themselves and left the hospice just before (or after...I forget) her grandfather passed away.]
Simply beautiful!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Disoriented
Orientation.
Every July, over a span of 3 weeks, groups of anxious 17/18-year-olds and their families descend on the 'burg and learn...well, I'm not exactly sure what they learn. Because I didn't go here. But whatever it is, they do it in circle formation, sitting outside, with an overly upbeat college kid in a maroon and orange polo shirt directing them.
While we are a mere 3 days into orientation for this year, ProMo and I are already grumbling about how all the lunch places downtown are crowded and how it's too soon to be inundated with students. This alone could make me grumpy but as I was walking back from lunch today, I recalled something that I already knew, but served as the latest in a stream of reminders that time is marching along more quickly than I would like.
They were born in 1993.
To my younger readers, this may not be a big deal. But to my contemporaries who may not work in a school-type environment, chew on this...
I had just gotten used to the fact that the students I've taught for the past couple of years were born in the late 80's and didn't know who the band Duran Duran is or understand my obsession with them.
Now I'm hit with a group that was born AFTER the heyday of not just Michael Jackson and Duran Duran, but New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer, Guns n Roses, The Cure, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana.
Nirvana!! Forget the 80's...most of the 90's is unmemorable for this crew.
Chalk it up to the latest reminder of my age that has happened in the very short time since we got back from Switzerland. It all started with, of course, my birthday in the end of June. Not everyone cares or even thinks about their birthday. Some don't even celebrate it.
My birthday is a date that I have always looked forward to. Not because I had fabulous, grand parties as a kid. (Actually, because of my summer birthday I never got the cupcake party in school and I was usually either out of town or most of my friends were.)
No, I loved it because it was all. about. ME! I cherished it, loved it and held it on such a pedestal that I gave it a name.
Oh, I still love it. But for the first time, I felt the slightest sense of dread that I hadn't felt before. Not at 30, like I thought I would. But at 37. All this despite the fact that everyone tells me I don't look my age and I still get carded in bars and restaurants. The truth is, whether or not I look it, I am...it.
37, that is.
I drowned my sorrows - literally - by having a backyard BBQ and (inflatable) pool party attended by some very cool people...the CEBs (plus a couple of G's). Average age: 23. The song "No Diggity" comes on my iPod. "Ooo...I love this song," I reminisce as I wade in my pool and sip my cold beverage. "It was popular when ProMo and I started dating!" The closest CEB replies, "Oh yeah, I was in, like 3rd or 4th grade!"
Thanks.
The next, slightly more subtle reminder was when we went down to Hilton Head over the 4th of July weekend. My family has been going there almost every summer since I was 6 or 7 and we always went about the same time of year (somewhere around my birthday and/or the 4th).
One of the beautiful, wonderful things about Hilton Head is that no matter how popular it gets, it never builds up too much. Because of this, and the uniqueness of the island itself (a mix of dense forest, spanish moss, lagoons and beaches), every trip down there brings me back to my youth. From walking on the same great paths to Harbor Town, to chilling on our straw mats on the beaches, to playing tennis, to seeing the myriad of minivans from Ohio...not much has changed.
That is, until I see that the people my age now have kids, and those kids are experiencing those same summers that I did. No, it's not 1987, it's 2011. I'm not the one doing the cannonballs off of the diving board, I'm the one shooting the kids the evil eye and sighing loudly.
Ah, youth.
Which brings me to last weekend when we went to NYC. Most people assumed we were "escaping" or partying, but in actuality, we spend most of our time catching up with our old city and visiting good friends. One of the best things about having lived there is the fact that when we go back, we don't need to worry about hitting any tourist traps, we can just focus on enjoying the city like locals.
We stayed with one of our closest friends (who is one of the rare people who can say he was roommates with both ProMo and myself) and spent most of the weekend eating, drinking, talking and laughing just like the old days. "Doesn't it seem like you lived here just yesterday?" our old roomie asked. "Yes, but it was 12 years ago," was ProMo's prompt reply.
Really? 12 years ago?
Really.
It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was training for marathons in Central Park, going to happy hour at Bull's Head, and enjoying fresh Italian food a little too much.
But it was. A really long time ago.
And...that brings me back to orientation. As I walked by yet another circle of orientation games, I studied their faces and picked up more than a hint of the freshmen-to-be checking each other (and their orientation leader) out.
Further down the Drillfield, I walked by a couple of parents - identifiable by their free "Ask Me About My Hokie!" reusable tote bags - and looked at them a little more closely. As I did, I realized that many of them looked like they could be my age. Or at the very least my sister's age. And I realized I was most likely (much) closer in age to them than the shiny-faced new crop of students.
Disoriented? Well, to quote my younger selves...
Right on.
Totally.
Word.
Fo shizzle.
Mos def.
Every July, over a span of 3 weeks, groups of anxious 17/18-year-olds and their families descend on the 'burg and learn...well, I'm not exactly sure what they learn. Because I didn't go here. But whatever it is, they do it in circle formation, sitting outside, with an overly upbeat college kid in a maroon and orange polo shirt directing them.
While we are a mere 3 days into orientation for this year, ProMo and I are already grumbling about how all the lunch places downtown are crowded and how it's too soon to be inundated with students. This alone could make me grumpy but as I was walking back from lunch today, I recalled something that I already knew, but served as the latest in a stream of reminders that time is marching along more quickly than I would like.
They were born in 1993.
 | |
| Me circa 1993 - when the current freshmen were born. | Flannel shirt? check. |
To my younger readers, this may not be a big deal. But to my contemporaries who may not work in a school-type environment, chew on this...
I had just gotten used to the fact that the students I've taught for the past couple of years were born in the late 80's and didn't know who the band Duran Duran is or understand my obsession with them.
 |
| Duran Duran? Hubba hubba. |
Now I'm hit with a group that was born AFTER the heyday of not just Michael Jackson and Duran Duran, but New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer, Guns n Roses, The Cure, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Nirvana.
Nirvana!! Forget the 80's...most of the 90's is unmemorable for this crew.
Chalk it up to the latest reminder of my age that has happened in the very short time since we got back from Switzerland. It all started with, of course, my birthday in the end of June. Not everyone cares or even thinks about their birthday. Some don't even celebrate it.
This is not my world.
My birthday is a date that I have always looked forward to. Not because I had fabulous, grand parties as a kid. (Actually, because of my summer birthday I never got the cupcake party in school and I was usually either out of town or most of my friends were.)
No, I loved it because it was all. about. ME! I cherished it, loved it and held it on such a pedestal that I gave it a name.
Stelabration!
 |
| The original Stelabration |
 |
| The start of a new tradition in B'more...Stelabration, Camden Yards style (my name's on there somewhere) |
Oh, I still love it. But for the first time, I felt the slightest sense of dread that I hadn't felt before. Not at 30, like I thought I would. But at 37. All this despite the fact that everyone tells me I don't look my age and I still get carded in bars and restaurants. The truth is, whether or not I look it, I am...it.
37, that is.
I drowned my sorrows - literally - by having a backyard BBQ and (inflatable) pool party attended by some very cool people...the CEBs (plus a couple of G's). Average age: 23. The song "No Diggity" comes on my iPod. "Ooo...I love this song," I reminisce as I wade in my pool and sip my cold beverage. "It was popular when ProMo and I started dating!" The closest CEB replies, "Oh yeah, I was in, like 3rd or 4th grade!"
Thanks.
The next, slightly more subtle reminder was when we went down to Hilton Head over the 4th of July weekend. My family has been going there almost every summer since I was 6 or 7 and we always went about the same time of year (somewhere around my birthday and/or the 4th).
One of the beautiful, wonderful things about Hilton Head is that no matter how popular it gets, it never builds up too much. Because of this, and the uniqueness of the island itself (a mix of dense forest, spanish moss, lagoons and beaches), every trip down there brings me back to my youth. From walking on the same great paths to Harbor Town, to chilling on our straw mats on the beaches, to playing tennis, to seeing the myriad of minivans from Ohio...not much has changed.
 |
| Stelabration, Hilton Head-style. We still own this timeshare and I'm pretty sure this table is still in there. |
That is, until I see that the people my age now have kids, and those kids are experiencing those same summers that I did. No, it's not 1987, it's 2011. I'm not the one doing the cannonballs off of the diving board, I'm the one shooting the kids the evil eye and sighing loudly.
Ah, youth.
Which brings me to last weekend when we went to NYC. Most people assumed we were "escaping" or partying, but in actuality, we spend most of our time catching up with our old city and visiting good friends. One of the best things about having lived there is the fact that when we go back, we don't need to worry about hitting any tourist traps, we can just focus on enjoying the city like locals.
We stayed with one of our closest friends (who is one of the rare people who can say he was roommates with both ProMo and myself) and spent most of the weekend eating, drinking, talking and laughing just like the old days. "Doesn't it seem like you lived here just yesterday?" our old roomie asked. "Yes, but it was 12 years ago," was ProMo's prompt reply.
Really? 12 years ago?
Really.
 |
| "The REAL Three's Company" My roomies and me...12 years ago. |
It doesn't seem like that long ago that I was training for marathons in Central Park, going to happy hour at Bull's Head, and enjoying fresh Italian food a little too much.
But it was. A really long time ago.
And...that brings me back to orientation. As I walked by yet another circle of orientation games, I studied their faces and picked up more than a hint of the freshmen-to-be checking each other (and their orientation leader) out.
Further down the Drillfield, I walked by a couple of parents - identifiable by their free "Ask Me About My Hokie!" reusable tote bags - and looked at them a little more closely. As I did, I realized that many of them looked like they could be my age. Or at the very least my sister's age. And I realized I was most likely (much) closer in age to them than the shiny-faced new crop of students.
Disoriented? Well, to quote my younger selves...
Right on.
Totally.
Word.
Fo shizzle.
Mos def.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Beautiful in any language
Buon Giorno! Bonjour! Guten Tag!
We're baaaccck! Back from our trip to the beautiful country of Switzerland. This was such an amazing experience. We crammed a lot of travel and education in with a ton of fun and relaxing. Though I was a little concerned about going with a group that was 75% male (and of the subset of students, it was 92% male, most of which I didn't know that well going into it), I ended up having what was easily one of my most memorable trips. Surprisingly, structural engineering grad students are lively, hilarious, sweet (at times), and of course really really nerdy (usually in a good way). So here are my greatest takeaways from the trip...
One of the coolest things about Switzerland is its diversity in culture and language. The feel in Riva (Italian)was completely different from Montreux (French) which was completely different from Zurich (rich...and German). Each area had such a distinct personality. This isn't necessarily much different from any other country, but since this was only my second trip to Europe, it made me have a real appreciation for the beauty of the different languages.
OK so admittedly, I was excited about the prospect of going to Switzerland and Italy and I was certainly interested in seeing the bridges, but I was pretty lukewarm on the thought of visiting structures labs. But since this was first and foremost a work trip, I kept an open mind. So even though I had my moments of grumpiness...
...it was an amazing experience. Here's a little taste of what we saw...and even though these look fake, at times, these are my actual photographs. :)
I was probably most excited about the food, and it didn't disappoint. What's not to like? Cheese? Good. Fresh baked bread? Good. Chocolate? Great. Beer and wine? Fantastic.
What's apparently even better? The Doner Kebab.
And what happens when you put them all together? You get the Epic Doner...
On our last day, as we were enjoying ridiculously expensive glasses of wine in Zurich at a little dive bar/cafe near our hotel, ProMo and I reflected on what our favorite experiences were.
Of course, the day that we toured and saw all the amazing bridges was one of ProMo's highlights...he was like a kid on Christmas morning with every bridge we drove up to... but I was surprised to hear that the daily evening trips to the bar in Riva was actually what he would take away as his greatest memory of the trip.
The sun didn't set until around 10 PM there, and our "family" dinners at the villa were usually over by 7. The bar was small, friendly, and always had enough seats for our group. They loved playing "American" music when we'd show up which consisted of two CDs: the 80's hair band CD and the current pop/dance/techno CD.
A typical evening would consist of sitting outside, ordering "una birra" (0.5 L) every few minutes, devouring the free snacks they gave us (ranging from the best cheesy poofs ever, to salami, to cake-like bread for dessert), having usually great, but occasionally heated, conversation, and just enjoying the world around us.
Overall, the trip made me so thankful that we had the resources and ability to experience it, but at the same time, it made me wish we could do something like that more often. It was beautiful but crazy, exhausting and exhilarating, decadent yet occasionally minimalist, but always memorable.
We're baaaccck! Back from our trip to the beautiful country of Switzerland. This was such an amazing experience. We crammed a lot of travel and education in with a ton of fun and relaxing. Though I was a little concerned about going with a group that was 75% male (and of the subset of students, it was 92% male, most of which I didn't know that well going into it), I ended up having what was easily one of my most memorable trips. Surprisingly, structural engineering grad students are lively, hilarious, sweet (at times), and of course really really nerdy (usually in a good way). So here are my greatest takeaways from the trip...
Language
One of the coolest things about Switzerland is its diversity in culture and language. The feel in Riva (Italian)was completely different from Montreux (French) which was completely different from Zurich (rich...and German). Each area had such a distinct personality. This isn't necessarily much different from any other country, but since this was only my second trip to Europe, it made me have a real appreciation for the beauty of the different languages.
 |
| View 1 from our apartment in Riva San Vitale... |
 |
| View 2 from our apartment! |
 |
| Me and the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux |
 |
| Beautiful Zurich |
Education
OK so admittedly, I was excited about the prospect of going to Switzerland and Italy and I was certainly interested in seeing the bridges, but I was pretty lukewarm on the thought of visiting structures labs. But since this was first and foremost a work trip, I kept an open mind. So even though I had my moments of grumpiness...
 |
| No really...I love touring labs. |
...it was an amazing experience. Here's a little taste of what we saw...and even though these look fake, at times, these are my actual photographs. :)
 |
| Nanin and Cascella Bridges |
 |
| Sunniberg Bridge |
 |
| Salginatobel Bridge |
 |
| Letziwald Bridge |
Food
I was probably most excited about the food, and it didn't disappoint. What's not to like? Cheese? Good. Fresh baked bread? Good. Chocolate? Great. Beer and wine? Fantastic.
What's apparently even better? The Doner Kebab.
And what happens when you put them all together? You get the Epic Doner...
(Video courtesy of YouTube and the CEBs)
Experience
On our last day, as we were enjoying ridiculously expensive glasses of wine in Zurich at a little dive bar/cafe near our hotel, ProMo and I reflected on what our favorite experiences were.
Of course, the day that we toured and saw all the amazing bridges was one of ProMo's highlights...he was like a kid on Christmas morning with every bridge we drove up to... but I was surprised to hear that the daily evening trips to the bar in Riva was actually what he would take away as his greatest memory of the trip.
The sun didn't set until around 10 PM there, and our "family" dinners at the villa were usually over by 7. The bar was small, friendly, and always had enough seats for our group. They loved playing "American" music when we'd show up which consisted of two CDs: the 80's hair band CD and the current pop/dance/techno CD.
A typical evening would consist of sitting outside, ordering "una birra" (0.5 L) every few minutes, devouring the free snacks they gave us (ranging from the best cheesy poofs ever, to salami, to cake-like bread for dessert), having usually great, but occasionally heated, conversation, and just enjoying the world around us.
Overall, the trip made me so thankful that we had the resources and ability to experience it, but at the same time, it made me wish we could do something like that more often. It was beautiful but crazy, exhausting and exhilarating, decadent yet occasionally minimalist, but always memorable.
arrivederci e grazie
au revoir et merci
Auf Wiedersehen und danke
 |
| The hills are alive... |
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
i turisti
i turisti = The tourists
...which is most definitely what ProMo and I are here in Switzerland! It is even more gorgeous than I imagined and I am even more befuddled by the language barrier than I thought, but we are having a great time!
There have been many surprises - pleasant and unpleasant - but some of my favorite things about the trip so far have been quotes! Since I try to not use full names on this blog, I'll try to keep these as general as possible, except when the context makes it that much funnier. For some, you may need to know the people or the situation to think they're funny but I've tried to pull the good (yet relatively clean) quotes from my collection. So without further ado...
While we're packing:
Me: I hope you're not bringing that watch.
ProMo: Why?
Me: You can't bring a fake Rolex to Switzerland!! That's a huge insult! That's like me showing up in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan without a burqa!!
While I'm trying to figure out how to speak basic Italian...when we're already here:
Me: How do you say "hello" in Italian?
ProMo: buon giorno?
Me: That sounds right. [pause] wait a minute...did you get that from an Olive Garden commercial?!
ProMo: Maybe. So?
Every night in Riva, we've hung out at a local bar with our group of predominantly male civil engineering students. Here are my favorite bits of conversations with the boys, who will be referred to as CEBs - civil engineering boys:
The one-liners...
Guys, let's not nerd up this sh!t.
Don't. poke. the bear!
Oh I know I'm a [wuss]. I'll take your tequila shot, but I need salt on that b*tch.
Paul, you're el chino. And that's all that matters.
Sargeant, report for duty.
We're going to need the macro setting on this.
Forget about the bridges, the labs, and all the other crap I organized. It's all about the beer.
Gold Bond is just like a thousand little fairies fanning your b***s.
She speaks a dead language. I'm not dead. We have nothing in common.
You look very vertical for being so short.
Digiorno!
And exchanges...
[Regarding a joke that was told in ProMo's class]
CEB#1: Did the international students get it?
CEB#2: Of course. Everyone speaks nerd.
CEB: Hey, you're drinking an orange juice!
American Girl, also a VT student...though not CE: Um, yeah...VODKA and orange juice.
CEB: Oh so you're drinking a screwdriver.
Girl: [looks freaked out, rolls eyes] yeah, whatever.
Me: No, it's really called a screwdriver.
Girl: [mumble, sigh, rolls eyes, still doesn't believe us]
CEB#1: I can't believe we started out with such an intellectual conversation and now we're talking about sh*t.
Me: Space turds are still intellectual!
CEB#2: I know! So, OK, there's a frozen turd, human shaped...is that turd more dense than me?
CEB#1: I don't think watermelon goes with beer.
CEB#2: Everything goes well with beer.
Waiter: Limoncino! [as he hands out shot glasses of what appears to be limoncello]
All of us: Limoncello!!
Waiter: No, LimonCINO!!
CEB#1:What's the difference between Limoncello and Limoncino?
CEB#2: Paul's involved.
LC from AK: Nobody from Wasilla should lead this country
CEB: Nobody from Wasilla should lead Wasilla
[Swiss guy says something in undiscernable Italian]
Us: What?
Siwss dude: eh...gum?
Us: Oh do we have gum? [Check quickly] No we don't have any gum
Swiss dude: No...[make motions and sounds like the Red Baron from Peanuts]
Us: GUN?!?!
Swiss dude: Si...GUN! [Big smile]
[Longest pause ever. Silence. Lone CEB speaks up...]
CEB: Um...so sorry, we don't have any guns.
[Swiss dude gives us a big smile, stares at us, puffs his cigarette]
Me: [After the obvious pause...]OK so how quickly can you guys finish those drinks!?
And of course, everyone's favorite...
THAT needs to go on the blog!
Annnndddd...on that note, here are a few pictures from the trip. The first is of most of the group on a hike of San Giorgio (translation - bigg @ss hike) with a follow up picture for scale. Now, if you know me, you should know that my idea of a "hike" is a wide, preferrably paved, trail. This was neither of those things. Two hours (yes, here they measure distance in time) straight up through creeks, loose rocks, mud, roots etc. And then back down, of course.
The second set is of us being semi-illegal as we were climbing on a bridge in Switzerland. This is just one of the amazing bridges that we've seen on this trip. More pics to come as these are from a colleague who is obviously MUCH better at posting pictures in a timely manner than I am. :)
Today we leave the Italian-speaking area of Ticino (pronounced "tee-cheeno") and head to the French-speaking areas of Lausanne and Montreux for 2 days before the trip ends in Zurich on Friday. I admit I am really sad to leave our little town of Riva, our sweet faculty apartment and of course our bar Osteria San Giorgio. The bridges have been gorgeous, amazing and awe-inspiring, the company has been fun and the atmosphere has been relaxed and (generally) upbeat. :) ...except when the CEBs occasionally want to brawl, climb on stuff and get large gaping wounds that are patched up with electrical tape, or scream obscenities during "tranquility hours"...
But in all seriousness, it has been an incredible experience to add to our list!
Until my next update, Ciao!!!
...which is most definitely what ProMo and I are here in Switzerland! It is even more gorgeous than I imagined and I am even more befuddled by the language barrier than I thought, but we are having a great time!
There have been many surprises - pleasant and unpleasant - but some of my favorite things about the trip so far have been quotes! Since I try to not use full names on this blog, I'll try to keep these as general as possible, except when the context makes it that much funnier. For some, you may need to know the people or the situation to think they're funny but I've tried to pull the good (yet relatively clean) quotes from my collection. So without further ado...
While we're packing:
Me: I hope you're not bringing that watch.
ProMo: Why?
Me: You can't bring a fake Rolex to Switzerland!! That's a huge insult! That's like me showing up in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan without a burqa!!
While I'm trying to figure out how to speak basic Italian...when we're already here:
Me: How do you say "hello" in Italian?
ProMo: buon giorno?
Me: That sounds right. [pause] wait a minute...did you get that from an Olive Garden commercial?!
ProMo: Maybe. So?
Every night in Riva, we've hung out at a local bar with our group of predominantly male civil engineering students. Here are my favorite bits of conversations with the boys, who will be referred to as CEBs - civil engineering boys:
The one-liners...
Guys, let's not nerd up this sh!t.
Don't. poke. the bear!
Oh I know I'm a [wuss]. I'll take your tequila shot, but I need salt on that b*tch.
Paul, you're el chino. And that's all that matters.
Sargeant, report for duty.
We're going to need the macro setting on this.
Forget about the bridges, the labs, and all the other crap I organized. It's all about the beer.
Gold Bond is just like a thousand little fairies fanning your b***s.
She speaks a dead language. I'm not dead. We have nothing in common.
You look very vertical for being so short.
Digiorno!
And exchanges...
[Regarding a joke that was told in ProMo's class]
CEB#1: Did the international students get it?
CEB#2: Of course. Everyone speaks nerd.
CEB: Hey, you're drinking an orange juice!
American Girl, also a VT student...though not CE: Um, yeah...VODKA and orange juice.
CEB: Oh so you're drinking a screwdriver.
Girl: [looks freaked out, rolls eyes] yeah, whatever.
Me: No, it's really called a screwdriver.
Girl: [mumble, sigh, rolls eyes, still doesn't believe us]
CEB#1: I can't believe we started out with such an intellectual conversation and now we're talking about sh*t.
Me: Space turds are still intellectual!
CEB#2: I know! So, OK, there's a frozen turd, human shaped...is that turd more dense than me?
CEB#1: I don't think watermelon goes with beer.
CEB#2: Everything goes well with beer.
Waiter: Limoncino! [as he hands out shot glasses of what appears to be limoncello]
All of us: Limoncello!!
Waiter: No, LimonCINO!!
CEB#1:What's the difference between Limoncello and Limoncino?
CEB#2: Paul's involved.
LC from AK: Nobody from Wasilla should lead this country
CEB: Nobody from Wasilla should lead Wasilla
[Swiss guy says something in undiscernable Italian]
Us: What?
Siwss dude: eh...gum?
Us: Oh do we have gum? [Check quickly] No we don't have any gum
Swiss dude: No...[make motions and sounds like the Red Baron from Peanuts]
Us: GUN?!?!
Swiss dude: Si...GUN! [Big smile]
[Longest pause ever. Silence. Lone CEB speaks up...]
CEB: Um...so sorry, we don't have any guns.
[Swiss dude gives us a big smile, stares at us, puffs his cigarette]
Me: [After the obvious pause...]OK so how quickly can you guys finish those drinks!?
And of course, everyone's favorite...
THAT needs to go on the blog!
Annnndddd...on that note, here are a few pictures from the trip. The first is of most of the group on a hike of San Giorgio (translation - bigg @ss hike) with a follow up picture for scale. Now, if you know me, you should know that my idea of a "hike" is a wide, preferrably paved, trail. This was neither of those things. Two hours (yes, here they measure distance in time) straight up through creeks, loose rocks, mud, roots etc. And then back down, of course.
The second set is of us being semi-illegal as we were climbing on a bridge in Switzerland. This is just one of the amazing bridges that we've seen on this trip. More pics to come as these are from a colleague who is obviously MUCH better at posting pictures in a timely manner than I am. :)
 |
At the top of San Giorgio. Don't be fooled. This was a crazy hard hike because we started at the base in Riva San Vitale... |
 |
| Us on the Nanin (or Cascella...they're right next to each other) Bridge designed by one of ProMo's idols, Christian Menn. Yes, his name is very similar to ProMo's) |
 |
| to give you some idea of the scope of the bridge. More pics to come when I can download my own (these are courtesy of a colleague!) |
Today we leave the Italian-speaking area of Ticino (pronounced "tee-cheeno") and head to the French-speaking areas of Lausanne and Montreux for 2 days before the trip ends in Zurich on Friday. I admit I am really sad to leave our little town of Riva, our sweet faculty apartment and of course our bar Osteria San Giorgio. The bridges have been gorgeous, amazing and awe-inspiring, the company has been fun and the atmosphere has been relaxed and (generally) upbeat. :) ...except when the CEBs occasionally want to brawl, climb on stuff and get large gaping wounds that are patched up with electrical tape, or scream obscenities during "tranquility hours"...
But in all seriousness, it has been an incredible experience to add to our list!
Until my next update, Ciao!!!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Swiss Miss
2 blogs at once! Craziness!
I'll be making my first trips to Switzerland and Italy and I am excited, but as it is a "work trip" and not a vacation, I am on someone else's schedule. If you know me, you know how difficult it is for me to give up the reins so this is a major accomplishment for me. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to playing tourist and checking out some historical structures and just seeing some new countries.
I hope to get a chance to blog while I'm abroad but if not, don't miss me too much! :) In the meantime, here is my wish list for things to happen in the U.S. while I'm not here:
Well, that's all I've got for tonight. Ciao!
I'll be making my first trips to Switzerland and Italy and I am excited, but as it is a "work trip" and not a vacation, I am on someone else's schedule. If you know me, you know how difficult it is for me to give up the reins so this is a major accomplishment for me. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to playing tourist and checking out some historical structures and just seeing some new countries.
I hope to get a chance to blog while I'm abroad but if not, don't miss me too much! :) In the meantime, here is my wish list for things to happen in the U.S. while I'm not here:
- For no natural disasters or major domestic crises. (Gotta start with the serious one.)
- For Marlon and Eli to not (a) injure themselves or (b) cause too much trouble at Flying Fur! - the dog spa
For "King James" to lose in the NBA Finals.(Oops! Already got that one.)- For UVA to win the College World Series!!
- For that cute girl with the short pixie haircut and round face and that dude named Wadi to NOT be eliminated on So You Think You Can Dance. I want to see them when I get back!
- For Christina Aguilera to pull herself together, for goodness sake (hair brush, properly fitting clothing, easy on the spray tan. It's not hard.) and...
- For Britney Spears to not get injured or go crazy so I can see her, as scheduled, in July!
Well, that's all I've got for tonight. Ciao!
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| The villa in Riva San Vitale where we'll be! |
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