Saturday, August 27, 2005
At the star
Welp, I've moved, and we have no internet yet. So just give me another week and I'll be back. Yeah. I have a lot to say, but I'm reduced to using coffee shops for email checking purposes only. So eat it.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Nothing ever happens on Mars
So Linda and I drove down south a few days ago to be with the family. She's alternately packing and stalking her friends. I'm flopping around reading Harry Potter with Christie and petting the cats and going to the dentist and getting my van fixed, in other words, I'm not very busy. In the evenings we've been watching movies "as a family." Last night Maria Elena brought over arroz con pollo and flan to celebrate Linda leaving and it was brilliant. Real food, not from a restaurant or the freezer: it's a good thing.
I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to move all my stuff next week. I've got 4 or 5 large pieces of furniture, and some of them won't fit in my van. I've already tried the whole batting my eyes at dudes with pick-up trucks thing, and it's not working. It takes 2 trips to get all the big stuff moved, and since I'm moving sort of far away, and can only move 3 of the 5 items myself, I can't just ask someone I barely know. I feel like I'd have to at least be dating the guy to ask him to help me with all that. :)
So I've been asking around about how much it costs to rent a trailer, but then, half of the drive involves mountains and the van is seriously struggling lately. And I don't even know if it's worth it. My couch is from Goodwill, but I have this awesome dresser from Pier 1 that I love. Maybe I should just sell it all on Craigslist, since there is a definite possibility I'll be moving again after this semester, and assuming I'm not dating a cowboy by then, I'd have the same problem.
I told my Dad after the van finally dies, I need a pick-up truck. He looked pained and mumbled something about bad gas mileage.
The current moving plan is to make my Aunt and Uncle drive up with me in their real (non-mini) van and load up and bring it all back and unload in one day. 10 hours of driving. They said they'd do it. Eek! Can you imagine? Should I tell them my room is on the 2nd floor? Should I tell them it probably won't all fit in one trip? Should I just sell my $40 Target bookshelves and buy new ones when I get there?
Moving always makes me feel small and grateful. I wish I could do it all by myself and not make really nice people get hot and sweaty. I guess I could if I slept on an air mattress and went back to entirely plastic collapsible furniture.
I told my mom that her van stinks, and she said "no way, YOUR van smells worse than mine!" and then we both said we didn't smell anything in our respective vans. Maybe car stink is like house stink, and you only smell it if you're not used to it. Because her van definitely smells like wet dog. I know my van doesn't actually smell fresh, but I didn't think it hit you in the face or anything. Anyways. I'm so glad the internet can know my thoughts on this issue now.
The last thing I want to say is that Lydia and Eric are married now, and it was a fun wedding. They memorized their vows, which impressed me. I've never seen that done before, and I don't think I'd be able to do it without messing it up, but they pulled it off. For the sermon the whole wedding party sat down, which made me nervous, of course, but the ceremony was over in an hour: perfect. At the reception there were different kinds of cakes she had friends bake and they were really good, like "oooh, taste this" good. Lots of the girls from school came, and Wim came, and of course everybody from church came, and I got to introduce them all to Linda, and it was so fun. For part of the reception I was the only link between the people at my table and I got to pick the topics of conversation and feel all popular. There was no alcohol, but on the plus side, the musicians they hired were attractive and sang songs that I knew.
Before the ceremony started Linda made friends with one of my classmates, and had loud whispered arguments about who was the most attractive groomsman. It was REALLY embarrassing, especially because they were still talking about it by the time we were in the receiving line. And they weren't whispering by then. Everyone heard them.
Okay I gotta go. Congratulations to Ben, who was also supposed to be getting married on the 13th!! I wish I could have been in both places at once. I hope it rocked.
I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to move all my stuff next week. I've got 4 or 5 large pieces of furniture, and some of them won't fit in my van. I've already tried the whole batting my eyes at dudes with pick-up trucks thing, and it's not working. It takes 2 trips to get all the big stuff moved, and since I'm moving sort of far away, and can only move 3 of the 5 items myself, I can't just ask someone I barely know. I feel like I'd have to at least be dating the guy to ask him to help me with all that. :)
So I've been asking around about how much it costs to rent a trailer, but then, half of the drive involves mountains and the van is seriously struggling lately. And I don't even know if it's worth it. My couch is from Goodwill, but I have this awesome dresser from Pier 1 that I love. Maybe I should just sell it all on Craigslist, since there is a definite possibility I'll be moving again after this semester, and assuming I'm not dating a cowboy by then, I'd have the same problem.
I told my Dad after the van finally dies, I need a pick-up truck. He looked pained and mumbled something about bad gas mileage.
The current moving plan is to make my Aunt and Uncle drive up with me in their real (non-mini) van and load up and bring it all back and unload in one day. 10 hours of driving. They said they'd do it. Eek! Can you imagine? Should I tell them my room is on the 2nd floor? Should I tell them it probably won't all fit in one trip? Should I just sell my $40 Target bookshelves and buy new ones when I get there?
Moving always makes me feel small and grateful. I wish I could do it all by myself and not make really nice people get hot and sweaty. I guess I could if I slept on an air mattress and went back to entirely plastic collapsible furniture.
I told my mom that her van stinks, and she said "no way, YOUR van smells worse than mine!" and then we both said we didn't smell anything in our respective vans. Maybe car stink is like house stink, and you only smell it if you're not used to it. Because her van definitely smells like wet dog. I know my van doesn't actually smell fresh, but I didn't think it hit you in the face or anything. Anyways. I'm so glad the internet can know my thoughts on this issue now.
The last thing I want to say is that Lydia and Eric are married now, and it was a fun wedding. They memorized their vows, which impressed me. I've never seen that done before, and I don't think I'd be able to do it without messing it up, but they pulled it off. For the sermon the whole wedding party sat down, which made me nervous, of course, but the ceremony was over in an hour: perfect. At the reception there were different kinds of cakes she had friends bake and they were really good, like "oooh, taste this" good. Lots of the girls from school came, and Wim came, and of course everybody from church came, and I got to introduce them all to Linda, and it was so fun. For part of the reception I was the only link between the people at my table and I got to pick the topics of conversation and feel all popular. There was no alcohol, but on the plus side, the musicians they hired were attractive and sang songs that I knew.
Before the ceremony started Linda made friends with one of my classmates, and had loud whispered arguments about who was the most attractive groomsman. It was REALLY embarrassing, especially because they were still talking about it by the time we were in the receiving line. And they weren't whispering by then. Everyone heard them.
Okay I gotta go. Congratulations to Ben, who was also supposed to be getting married on the 13th!! I wish I could have been in both places at once. I hope it rocked.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Friday, August 12, 2005
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Stop it, Maddy...
Right now Linda's sitting on my couch talking on her cell again, using phrases like "oh my gosh they broke up again? No way!" But it's okay.
I've finished the summer semester, and she's been here for almost a week. It's gone by fast. We've been shopping, swing dancing, to the movies, cooking, highlighting, rock climbing, to the library, to church, a graduation, and out to eat at all my favorite places. Also we've been to Starbucks a lot because contrary to her personal belief, she is addicted to caffeine and a total slug until she gets some. Today we went to meet up with one of her new roommates, to see her room, and to check out my new house. It was fun. I got really excited to move in and took lots of pictures. Oh yeah! That's the other thing! I got a new camera. It rocks.
Well that's mostly why I haven't written, because I've been doing so much stuff. I'm a much more faithful blogger when I'm having a slow school life of boring.
By the way, I did really good on my final exams! I was happy. Even the oral. Even the presentation.
When we got back we went to Shakespeare in the Park and saw "A Winter's Tale" which was brilliant. We remembered a blanket. I was glad I lived here. Except that there was a couple on a blanket next to us eating some really garlicky Italian food that kept wafting. We were making faces about it when the girl in front of us went over to them and was all "I just want to tell y'all, I am totally inspired to bring my dinner with me next time I come to this! That garlic smells soo good!"
Okay so here's a bunch of pictures from our time so far. I got inspired by Em's big picture posting frenzy the other day and my new camera. I had lots more of Linda eating and of my house but I thought that might be overkill.
I've finished the summer semester, and she's been here for almost a week. It's gone by fast. We've been shopping, swing dancing, to the movies, cooking, highlighting, rock climbing, to the library, to church, a graduation, and out to eat at all my favorite places. Also we've been to Starbucks a lot because contrary to her personal belief, she is addicted to caffeine and a total slug until she gets some. Today we went to meet up with one of her new roommates, to see her room, and to check out my new house. It was fun. I got really excited to move in and took lots of pictures. Oh yeah! That's the other thing! I got a new camera. It rocks.
Well that's mostly why I haven't written, because I've been doing so much stuff. I'm a much more faithful blogger when I'm having a slow school life of boring.
By the way, I did really good on my final exams! I was happy. Even the oral. Even the presentation.
When we got back we went to Shakespeare in the Park and saw "A Winter's Tale" which was brilliant. We remembered a blanket. I was glad I lived here. Except that there was a couple on a blanket next to us eating some really garlicky Italian food that kept wafting. We were making faces about it when the girl in front of us went over to them and was all "I just want to tell y'all, I am totally inspired to bring my dinner with me next time I come to this! That garlic smells soo good!"
Okay so here's a bunch of pictures from our time so far. I got inspired by Em's big picture posting frenzy the other day and my new camera. I had lots more of Linda eating and of my house but I thought that might be overkill.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Back to classes
Here's a picture of some pregnant belly dancers. There were 3 of them at our Annual Meeting (of all the midwives) in DC this summer--it was really funny.This week I'm back in classes. My presentation went fine, and there were a lot of other interesting presentations too. It is fun to be with my classmates again, and sleep at night and be awake during the day. My hours this week are 9-4, so no shameless requests for schedule sympathy this time.
I've been studying a lot because I've got my oral exam on Thursday and my comprehensive exam on Friday, then I'm done with the semester! I've got a few weeks off. My plan is to spend the first one with Linda, the second one at home, and the third one moving. Then I come back to Nashville for a week of classes and to get my hands honored. Honoring of hands is a ceremony that we have before going off to Integration, the last semester of midwifery school. It's put on by our faculty and supposedly involves lots of handholding, feminist blessings (not praying!), music and crying. All the husbands & boyfriends get to come watch and feel awkward. I like that I am going into a profession that requires me to learn hand skills, but I'm sure this'll be interesting.
I think my brief flirtation with lice is over, so you can just go ahead and relax Christie.
Linda's coming the day after tomorrow! I can't wait. I've got so much I want to show her. I might actually pick her up from the airport too if she ever sends me her flight info.
Yesterday I went to the pet store and looked around at the rodents, birds, and fish. It was fun, but I didn't want any. The ferrets were all flopped out on their backs sleeping and looked dead. There was a little girl there picking out pet mice. Out of probably 20 white mice, she picked out 2 specific ones and put her fingers on the glass to keep track of where they were in the cage. It was cute. I would like to have a cat, but I need to wait until I'm not moving around as much, since having a cat limits your roommate and housing choices a lot. Sort of like being a smoker.
I should probably go back to sleep now.
