Sorry for my prolonged absence, friends. I know you were all just waiting on the edge of your seats for me to update. Well, now that I have a brief (rare) lull in my work, I can share with you some of my recent adventures.
The new job is going well. I was absolutely terrified on my first day: scared I might screw up, scared I'd screw up and ruin my boss's day, scared I'd screw up and ruin the Chief's life, etc. However, the girl who had the position before me has come in twice to show me the ropes and help me figure out all the little details. She's been a lifesaver. I'm jealous of the fact that she left the job so she could go to India for at least four months and set up an environmental policy program at a school there with one of her friends from college. Someday I'll get to do cool things like that, too.
The Chief is hilarious and one of the most brilliant guys I've ever met (as is necessary when you're a world-leader in Immunology research). He believes in yelling in place of intercoms, and often requests green tea in the afternoons. I think I'm going to like it here very much, though that doesn't mean I don't still live in fear of screwing up. I've just gotten better at hiding it.
This past weekend saw some very fun events. Friday night I got to see Dylan for the firs time since mid-May. God, that boy has grown! He's now standing on his own and running around like a speed demon in plane pajamas. He can even eat entire peaches on his own (one of the cutest things ever, as long as you take it away before he eats the pit). And the faces he makes! He's at the point where he can understand what's being said to him, but can only respond non-verbally. So basically, if you say something he doesn't like, he give you a frowny-"you're crazy" face. He screeches a lot, too, meaning he's right on the verge of speech but gets so excited to say something he just lets out sound instead of words. I'll be seeing a lot more of him as the summer winds down and fall heads towards us.
On Saturday night, Yuval and I went to his parents' annual BBQ, which was mostly overrun with friends of his sisters' from HS. I was intimated by their brazen hookah-smoking, something I've never done. But there were also some adult-types there, family friends, who were very engaging. I met a Greek man who worked at the company that, back in the 70's, invented what we now call "e-mail." He also invited Yuval (and I) to his annual lamb roast in September. Though I won't be eating the lamb (as I don't eat any baby animals of any kind), I will be partaking in the roasted chicken and other sundry items. I'm told it will be the most delicious meat I will ever have in my life.
Sunday saw me try something I've never done before: fly in small, one-engine aircraft. Yuval's Dad, Tsachi, is certified to fly one-prop, single engine planes, and so he took the two of us up in a Piper Cherokee Warrior III towards North Adams in the Berkshires. His mom had made plans for us to see an exhibition of Australian performance art called "Swoon!" at the Mass. Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA), so she and his sisters' drove there while we flew. It took me a good 20 minutes to stop being terrified of the way the plane swooped and trembled with every tiny gust of wind: nothing reminds you you're 4,000 feet in the air quite like a small plane. But it became a game to see how the wind would blow us about, and I ended up enjoying the flight immensely. Plus, western MA is beautiful from the air. The performance itself was short, but amazing. Made me want to go back in time to Movement for the Actor and introduce the concept of 15 ft. bendy poles for us to strap ourselves onto. If Australia's Strange Fruit are ever anywhere near you, go see them! Totally worth it. Daniel Kramer would flip out over them.
And that's all I got. I need to get back to work anyhow, seeing as this is the longest break I've ever taken in my almost-week on the job. Hospital's are busy place, dudez!
Read
The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud
Larklight by Philip Reeve
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation by M.T. Anderson
Seen
Deadwood: Season 3
Maxed Out
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The One
So! I'm all moved into my new place. A photo tour is available on Facebook, of course. I forgot how physically exhausting (and painful) moving is, and I definitely wouldn't have been able to do it without Yuval and Elaine and Brian. I love my new place, though! Small but cozy, I think. And since it's in the basement of the house, it stays cool without the need for air conditioning. I won't be hosting huge parties here or anything, but I think it's perfect.
Also in the world of new developments: I've got a new job! I start work on August 18th as the Administrative Associate II in the Office of the Chief of the Immunology Division at Children's Hospital Boston. I'm nervous about it, of course, but I think it will be a very good experience for me. More career-oriented, more experience in how a non-profit works.
Thursday morning Yuval and I leave for Cincinnati to visit my family for the weekend. We're going to see a Reds game on Friday night (yay!) and I'll be dragging him all over town to show him my old haunts. So excited!
And now, I leave you with a meme as copied from Adrienne.
44 "Odd" Things About Me
1. Do you like blue cheese? Not on its own, but as a dressing or mixed with other things.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes. I used to be a (light) smoker my freshman year in college. Then I figured out it's really gross and not at all pleasant when it's hot outside.
3. Do you own a gun? Nope. Despite being from Texas, I've never even held one.
4. What flavor Kool-Aid was your favorite? Any kind that wasn't lemonade flavor.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, unless I'm going in for something I'm not sure about--then I always start imagining the doctor's going to tell me I have cancer.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Yummy. I don't care what's in them. My dad and I used to eat them raw with cheese when watching football.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Duh: A Muppet Christmas Carol.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Sometimes iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts, but mostly milk.
9. Can you do push ups? Yes, but only a maximum of 15-20: it depends on when my stomach gives out.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? The pearl necklace my late grandmother gave to me when I graduated high school.
11. Favorite hobby? Reading. I do it a lot.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Nope. One of my problems is that I have "tunnel vision" and tend to focus intensely on one thing at a time. Unless I'm at work, where I can multi-task like a mo fo.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? My proclivity for freaking out about the little details of things.
14. Middle name? McGinley, after the clan in Ireland that my mother's side is descended from. Also my mom's last name.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. 1) I'm really, really sleepy. 2) I love the Backstreet Boys. 3) I should be doing work instead of filling this out.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coke, juice, milk. Trying to drink more water at the insistence of a certain someone.
17. Current worry? That I have a cold sore developing. Probably from all the stress of moving. Damn.
18. Current hate right now? I agree with Adrienne: money. Money and my lack of enough of it to assuage my worry of constant impeding financial doom.
19. Favorite place to be? My apartment, cuddling and watching something on the TV.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? Dinner with Yuval at Uno's in Porter Square, a brief stay at a party hosted by Margaret's non-friend near MIT, and finally wine and champagne at Kat and Garrett's place in Davis Square where we watched the ball drop.
21. Where would you like to go? To Cincinnati to visit my family. Thankfully I'm doing that this Thursday. After that, North Carolina to visit Melissa.
22. Name three people who will complete this. Mayhap Anthony and Ryan will fill this out and make satirical comments along the way? And um...possibly Ken.
23. Do you own slippers? Not slippers, but mukluks. My uncle got me hooked on them. So comfy and warm!
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Fuchsia.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, too slippery. Plus I'd feel like a hooker.
26. Can you whistle? No. I can force air from my mouth in a way that vaguely resembles whistling, though.
27. Favorite color? Blue and green. Blue green?
28. Would you be a pirate? Much as I'd love to the awesome ass-kicking powers of a ninja, I have a low pain tolerance. So yes, I think a pirate's life is the life for me. Dabloons and high seas!
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Usually pieces I learned in my one year of voice lessons. And Disney songs, of course.
30. Favorite Girl's Name? Piper, Madeleine, Kate (just Kate, not short for anything)
31. Favorite boy's Name? Elijah, Caleb
32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing. These pants don't have pockets.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Learning that there's a new show on VH1 called "I Want to Work for Diddy."
34. Best bed sheets as a child? Soft ones.
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Probably the hit I took to the face from a broken broom handle being used as an improvised pinata bat the day before 2nd grade started at a new school. Nearly took out my eye, required six stitches along my right eyebrow and a butterfly stitch right below my eye. Also directly led to the worst first day of school ever.
36. Do you love where you live? I do now! Newton is much prettier and quieter and cleaner than Allston. Sure, there's no longer 8,000 restaurants around, but that's fine with me. Makes me less likely to spend money.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Just the one.
38. Who is your loudest friend? I would say Margaret. Loud in the best way possible.
39. How many dogs do you have? One back in Cincinnati, none in Boston. But, oh, how I want one!
40. Does someone have a crush on you? I would assume Yuval does. I hope.
41. What is your favorite book? Well, there are three titles that I can read over and over (which I do) and love each time. 1) The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, 2) Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones, 3) The Wrinkle in Time quartet by Madeleine L'Engle.
42. What is your favorite candy? Snickers and 3 Musketeers.
43. Favorite Sports Team? Cincinnati Reds. I will always have a soft spot for them.
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? "September" by Earth, Wind, & Fire.
Seen
JFK
Read
Enchantress From the Stars by Sylvia Engdahl
Also in the world of new developments: I've got a new job! I start work on August 18th as the Administrative Associate II in the Office of the Chief of the Immunology Division at Children's Hospital Boston. I'm nervous about it, of course, but I think it will be a very good experience for me. More career-oriented, more experience in how a non-profit works.
Thursday morning Yuval and I leave for Cincinnati to visit my family for the weekend. We're going to see a Reds game on Friday night (yay!) and I'll be dragging him all over town to show him my old haunts. So excited!
And now, I leave you with a meme as copied from Adrienne.
44 "Odd" Things About Me
1. Do you like blue cheese? Not on its own, but as a dressing or mixed with other things.
2. Have you ever smoked? Yes. I used to be a (light) smoker my freshman year in college. Then I figured out it's really gross and not at all pleasant when it's hot outside.
3. Do you own a gun? Nope. Despite being from Texas, I've never even held one.
4. What flavor Kool-Aid was your favorite? Any kind that wasn't lemonade flavor.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, unless I'm going in for something I'm not sure about--then I always start imagining the doctor's going to tell me I have cancer.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Yummy. I don't care what's in them. My dad and I used to eat them raw with cheese when watching football.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Duh: A Muppet Christmas Carol.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Sometimes iced coffee from Dunkin' Donuts, but mostly milk.
9. Can you do push ups? Yes, but only a maximum of 15-20: it depends on when my stomach gives out.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? The pearl necklace my late grandmother gave to me when I graduated high school.
11. Favorite hobby? Reading. I do it a lot.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Nope. One of my problems is that I have "tunnel vision" and tend to focus intensely on one thing at a time. Unless I'm at work, where I can multi-task like a mo fo.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? My proclivity for freaking out about the little details of things.
14. Middle name? McGinley, after the clan in Ireland that my mother's side is descended from. Also my mom's last name.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment. 1) I'm really, really sleepy. 2) I love the Backstreet Boys. 3) I should be doing work instead of filling this out.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coke, juice, milk. Trying to drink more water at the insistence of a certain someone.
17. Current worry? That I have a cold sore developing. Probably from all the stress of moving. Damn.
18. Current hate right now? I agree with Adrienne: money. Money and my lack of enough of it to assuage my worry of constant impeding financial doom.
19. Favorite place to be? My apartment, cuddling and watching something on the TV.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? Dinner with Yuval at Uno's in Porter Square, a brief stay at a party hosted by Margaret's non-friend near MIT, and finally wine and champagne at Kat and Garrett's place in Davis Square where we watched the ball drop.
21. Where would you like to go? To Cincinnati to visit my family. Thankfully I'm doing that this Thursday. After that, North Carolina to visit Melissa.
22. Name three people who will complete this. Mayhap Anthony and Ryan will fill this out and make satirical comments along the way? And um...possibly Ken.
23. Do you own slippers? Not slippers, but mukluks. My uncle got me hooked on them. So comfy and warm!
24. What color shirt are you wearing right now? Fuchsia.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, too slippery. Plus I'd feel like a hooker.
26. Can you whistle? No. I can force air from my mouth in a way that vaguely resembles whistling, though.
27. Favorite color? Blue and green. Blue green?
28. Would you be a pirate? Much as I'd love to the awesome ass-kicking powers of a ninja, I have a low pain tolerance. So yes, I think a pirate's life is the life for me. Dabloons and high seas!
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Usually pieces I learned in my one year of voice lessons. And Disney songs, of course.
30. Favorite Girl's Name? Piper, Madeleine, Kate (just Kate, not short for anything)
31. Favorite boy's Name? Elijah, Caleb
32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing. These pants don't have pockets.
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Learning that there's a new show on VH1 called "I Want to Work for Diddy."
34. Best bed sheets as a child? Soft ones.
35. Worst injury you've ever had? Probably the hit I took to the face from a broken broom handle being used as an improvised pinata bat the day before 2nd grade started at a new school. Nearly took out my eye, required six stitches along my right eyebrow and a butterfly stitch right below my eye. Also directly led to the worst first day of school ever.
36. Do you love where you live? I do now! Newton is much prettier and quieter and cleaner than Allston. Sure, there's no longer 8,000 restaurants around, but that's fine with me. Makes me less likely to spend money.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? Just the one.
38. Who is your loudest friend? I would say Margaret. Loud in the best way possible.
39. How many dogs do you have? One back in Cincinnati, none in Boston. But, oh, how I want one!
40. Does someone have a crush on you? I would assume Yuval does. I hope.
41. What is your favorite book? Well, there are three titles that I can read over and over (which I do) and love each time. 1) The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, 2) Howl's Moving Castle by Dianna Wynne Jones, 3) The Wrinkle in Time quartet by Madeleine L'Engle.
42. What is your favorite candy? Snickers and 3 Musketeers.
43. Favorite Sports Team? Cincinnati Reds. I will always have a soft spot for them.
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? "September" by Earth, Wind, & Fire.
Seen
JFK
Read
Enchantress From the Stars by Sylvia Engdahl
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