Melissa Right Now

This cupcake. Oh, this cupcake.

2010-02-27T19:16:00.004-05:00

SO I don't say a lot of swear words. That's just who I am.

But HOLY SHIT. I just had the best cupcake I've ever had in my entire life. Some kind of vegan confection at Roots Cafe, the place I give all of my money to. It tasted like my uncle's chocolate chip cake with hazelnut or something frosting on top. I can't stop thinking about it. Oh man. Oh man. Oh man.

Best day of my life, and all because I feel guilty taking up a table with my compy if all I buy is a coffee.

Mash Soda

2010-02-24T09:38:00.003-05:00

I woke up this morning with a mighty thirst*. A MIGHTY THIRST to be quenched. I wanted not water, not coffee, not tea. I wanted soda. I don't usually keep soda on hand, though. So I packed up and headed over to my neighborhood coffee shop and got one of these guys: a Lemon Peel Ginger Root Mash Soda. HOLY ESS - the website bills it as an "EXTREME WATER DRINK"!!!

ANYWAY. It's really good. Everyone should drink these.

*This may be related to the bottle of chardonnay I split with my roommate last night.

Feelin' Crafty

2010-02-22T10:16:00.003-05:00

Why, oh why, is Michael's Crafts so far away from my house?? Queens, you give me nothing but trouble.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/02/how-to_cherry_brooch.html

Some Favorite Things

2010-02-14T02:26:00.002-05:00

1. Using my laptop in bed.
2. Curly's Vegetarian Lunch.
3. Finding pants that are long enough.
4. Pizza.
5. Jokes - whether funny or unfunny.
6. Dogs and cats.
7. Pretending I have no responsibilities.
8. Sleeping late.
9. Good conversations.

Bathrobe = BEST PURCHASE EVER

2010-02-06T12:21:00.004-05:00

I took a trip to ~~the Pits of Hell~~ Brooklyn Target yesterday and made a number of purchases, one of which was a coral jersey bathrobe as a late birthday present for myself. I used to have a long terrycloth bathrobe, but I didn't get much use out of it (it was too warm and heavy to really wear around).

Anyway, one day into my new bathrobe purchase, I am convinced that this is one of the top ten things I've ever spent money on. Reason Number One. I reside in the front bedroom of my house, with three big windows facing the street. I usually hop out of the shower, and get dressed in a hurry because I don't want the neighbors to see me naked. Today, however, I lounged about in my new bathrobe for a full 15 minutes, watching youtube videos of Doris Day, before deciding to pull on my favorite t-shirt and jeans.

You probably know which t-shirt I'm talking about.

But anyway, I foresee many potential uses for my new bathrobe. Who would have thought a loungewear garment could be such a wonderful timewaster?

Gossip

2010-01-18T17:15:00.003-05:00

I don't have any. Wish I did - I'd like to have some more exciting things going on right now.

But sadly, just the same-old, same-old.

I have a new blog about dinosaurs.

2010-01-03T21:44:00.001-05:00

Click here.

It's mostly a way to amuse myself (much like this blog), but you can read along if you'd like.

Goals

2009-12-26T10:03:00.003-05:00

Since I'm done with school in May, people have begun asking me what I'm going to do after graduation. I don't quite know what kind of job I want, but my goal is to have an apartment in Brooklyn with a small backyard (big enough that my aspirational dog can go to the bathroom out there but small enough that I don't have to own a lawnmower). So, anyway I'm going to need a job that will fund my dreams of yard renting. Maybe I can work backward from there.

Grad School

2009-12-17T09:19:00.004-05:00

I love grad school. I do not love discussion classes... I'm sorry, I just usually don't care what other people have to say. Especially when they clearly have not done the reading and are just spouting off bs. However, I am now done with classes forever!

And, now I have a thesis advisor AND an approved thesis topic. Yayyyyyyyy!

No eating in the library. Seriously.

2009-12-13T15:28:00.004-05:00

Oh my god, people, you are not supposed to eat in the silent study area of the library.

I can not concentrate when I hear the girl at the carrel next to me chowing down on a bag of chips. "Munch crunch crunch" followed by her no-doubt greasy hand snaking into the crinkly foil bag for more every 30 seconds.

The assault on my ears is rude and distracting.

Comfort Food

2009-12-07T10:39:00.004-05:00

I hate the term "comfort food."

Here is why:
1. I don't turn to food for "comfort." That's what drinks are for.
2. It doesn't even make sense - when I'm feeling sad, I'm supposed to reach for macaroni and cheese or some other similar heavy, starchy food? Or desserts? Why? The whole term nurtures an unhealthy relationship with food based on emotion and nostalgia.

HAND TURKEYS, Y'ALL

2009-11-22T15:36:00.004-05:00

I cannot wait for Thanksgiving food. I am going to eat soooo many mashed potatoes. Check out these awesome hand turkeys.

Also, panic!! I still need to get a dress to wear to the X10/Geoboy Hitchin' in the Wren Chapel on Saturday afternoon. I mean, here is the issue, guys. So I have casual dresses for work and school but they aren't fancy enough for a wedding. Then I have fancier dresses for evening partyings. I have a plan black dress, but it is (much) too short for all the kneeling, etc. that goes on at proper Catholic wedding dealies. I don't have dresses that are the right amount of fancy for daytime weddings. And neither do any stores I am willing to give my money too. Hittin' up Goodwill tomorrow in the hopes that I'll find something nice. Last resort is Target. Blech.

Alone Time

2009-11-03T16:09:00.003-05:00

I am surrounded by people constantly and I think it's destroying my creativity. I haven't had any great ideas in a while, and I think it's because I haven't had time to myself to think about anything. I'm just so busy!

Geez, leave me alone already. Jerks.

I am highly ambivalent about roller shoes

2009-10-12T11:05:00.003-04:00

I want some of these rollershoes so bad that it makes me hate them and the children who get to play with them.

At least I'm housebroken.

2009-10-10T16:55:00.003-04:00

Guess what! The Big Lebowski is now a Netflix Watch Instantly movie. I may never do homework again.

Things I'm Good At

2009-10-06T22:59:00.002-04:00

I feel like I need a self-esteem booster. Bear with me, folks, as I make a list of things I'm good at.

Recycling
Staying cool under pressure
Baking bread
Fixing things that are broken
Spelling
Drawing
Sewing patches on holey clothing
Getting things done at the last minute
Walking very fast
Standardized tests
Waking up at the right moment if I fall asleep on the train
Writing papers
Cooking pasta

Sicke

2009-09-21T13:23:00.003-04:00

Saturday morning I was upbeat and well. Saturday afternoon I fell ill, the depths of which disease I feel I have yet to reach and see no likelihood of escape in the near future. O, what foul illness plagues me thus? An infection of the sinuses, I expect. I desire only sleep and soup, yet a grave workload lies before me. I visit the physician this afternoon. Hopefully she will prescribe some potion or remedy, so that I may regain my full faculties by this weekend.

Bangs

2009-09-09T09:39:00.003-04:00

Why are hairstylists so bad at cutting bangs? It's their job.

I need to get mine trimmed but I don't trust anyone except for Missy at Red Salon in Richmond, VA to do it right. Sigh. Looks like I'll be going shaggy until Thanksgiving.

Collections

2009-09-01T19:00:00.003-04:00

I think collections are annoying, creepy, and on some level morbid. But, for the most part, that applies to collections of things you look at and don't use (ceramic elephant figurines, books you've already read, etc.). Are collections of things you do use (shoes, mp3s, etc.) just as weird?

"Oh. I have to go over there now."

2009-08-24T12:05:00.004-04:00

Is what a drunken young man slurred, as he backed away from me at the bar on Friday, while I tried to explain my views on the difference between boxing and mixed martial arts.

You know what I like?

2009-08-18T12:24:00.001-04:00

Corntainers.

Project

2009-08-14T12:28:00.002-04:00

I'm starting a new project. As such, I need to know about your project. Capital P projects I mean.

Career Goals

2009-07-25T15:00:00.005-04:00

I think in 20-25 years the career I would like to have would be piloting a rocketship and collecting space junk. In the meantime, I think I should learn to drive stick.

Kashi Go Lean Crunch. ISTHEBEST.

2009-07-20T16:09:00.002-04:00

Oh my gosh. Kashi Go Lean Crunch! It is the best of all cereals. The best of all breakfasts! The BEST OF ALL FOOD!!!

I could eat it in a house. I could eat it with a mouse. I could eat it with a fox. I could eat it in a box.

I think about it all day long.

EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT KASHI GO LEAN CRUNCH.

3 Awesome Things

2009-07-12T22:14:00.002-04:00

1. This summer is really picking up. I now have an internship and things to do with my time. In fact, I have too many things to do with my time. Not nearly enough time to do all of the things I'm supposed to do.

2. I'm moving into a new place in Park Slope next weekend with two awesome and lovely roommates.

3. I had a king-sized KitKat for dinner today.

Math

2009-06-24T10:20:00.003-04:00

I've always considered myself to be pretty terrible at math. But I realized something the other day. In fact, I am not terrible at it. (Disinterested, maybe.) I was just always the least good at math of all the people in my honors math classes. I mean... I took calculus (twice). That has to count for something, right? I think if I had approached math with a tad more maturity (like now maybe) I'd actually do very well. Or if I hadn't been pushed against my will (ahem high school guidance counselor) into said honors classes in which I was not comfortable, I may have developed more confidence and interest in the subject.

That is what I have to say about math.

But anyway, what I was really thinking about was when I was in Algebra 2 and I made this sweet poster of Yoda and instead of talking about the Force, I made him talking about trigonometry.

I'm working on two cross stitch projects. They are coming along pretty well.

Dino-splosion

2009-06-20T16:05:00.002-04:00

I am wearing my favorite t-shirt today.

I seem to be losing track of times and days and weeks lately. Also missing: my attention span (what little there was in the first place). But all in all, I've been having a good week or two (or three? - I don't even know).

But anyway, look at this!

http://www.explodingdog.com/title/todayisspecial.html

No money, mo problems

2009-06-15T17:12:00.004-04:00

Guys. Listen. I'm so poor right now! I mean, I have food and a place to live. But I have no money for activities or beers.

So I'm trying my best to find free things to do. So far, it's not too hard. It just sucks having to turn people down when they want to go out or something. At least I have plenty of time to hunt for jobs. Blah!

The Imposter

2009-05-28T21:13:00.004-04:00

I kind of feel like I'm always faking it. Like I'm wearing a costume. I still feel like I somehow tricked the NYU admissions people into letting me in... with my fancy words and GRE scores. What a charlatan!

I don't really know how to explain. I guess that's just part of learning as you go along though.

But anyway, I'm thinking I should start working toward goals. Not sure what they should be yet, but at least I'm thinking about... thinking about them. Yes, this is a new development.

In other news, my dad told me yesterday that I need to stop wasting time and think about settling down (as in gettin' hitched). Hah! I mean... hah! Seriously.

By the Seat of My Pants!

2009-05-24T13:30:00.005-04:00

I haven't lived in the same place for over a year in 8 years. I'm tired of moving around. I'm in my current apartment for the next two months, then moving... somewhere. Hopefully I can stay there for a while.

I have to say though, I've enjoyed my past few nomadic weeks. I have just a few more ahead.

Ludicrous Speed

2009-05-19T00:40:00.002-04:00

I realized I've been going pretty much nonstop for the past few weeks. This weekend is relaxation time! Serious.

Also, Spaceballs is available as a "watch instantly" movie on Netflix. FYI. "Change my order to the soup!"

Don't Hate

2009-05-05T23:39:00.003-04:00

Dear People in the Library,
I hate you. I hate all of you. Especially:
1. The many people who put their stuff down at a computer and leave. For hours. I hate you.
2. The people having a conversation in the silent study area. I hate you.
3. Whoever took the chairs from the computer lab. I hate you.
4. People partying in the group study rooms. Everyone can hear you, even when you actually close the door. I hate you.
5. The person whose cell phone keeps ringing, but you aren't answering it because you left your desk ages ago. I hate you.

Sincerely.

Memes

2009-04-27T14:59:00.002-04:00

Memes I'm tired of:
Zombies
Bacon

Memes that may live on:
Kitties

Loud and Proud

2009-04-22T11:15:00.003-04:00

I hate Fight Club.

Sorry, I have no pity for the middle class white male filled with anxiety because gender roles and power had become slightly destabilized at the end of the 20th century. Those poor, poor victims of the system, rebelling against a reality that no longer confirms their sense of entitlement. Somewhere the world's tiniest violin is playing.

As Brian McNair says, it's "...a childish celebration of bare knuckle male violence as an antidote to alleged oppression by the system/parent (personified by IKEA, the phenomenon of group therapy, and the figure Helena Bonham Carter..."

I'll admit, when I first saw the movie, I was drawn in, fooled by it's coolness, yet wincing at its misogynistic undertones. As years passed, I'd just quietly avoid the subject. But now. Now I am willing to stand up and proudly say, "I hate Fight Club." It's a movie for teenage boys about men who behave like teenagers.

Are you trying to read my diary?

2009-04-21T12:59:00.004-04:00

I made two hilarious observations yesterday on the bus ride home... I thought to myself, I'll have to blog about these amazing insights when I get home.

And at that point my ideas completely vanished. There was a guy sitting next to me on the bus jamming really hard to his ipod - as in full body jamming. It was hilarious. And distracting.

Which brings me to my point. This happens to me a lot. I forget the things I think about. I would like to record them, but means I think I need to start carrying around some kind of journal... Ugh.

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=69447&title=diary

My Hoodie

2009-04-12T18:49:00.002-04:00

When I was in high school I had this sweet black hoodie with a TOUGH orange Chinese dragon printed on the back. It mysteriously disappeared sometime when I was a freshman in college I think. Anyway, I miss that hoodie. I mourn its loss every spring when the weather starts to consistently hit about 65 degrees and it's too warm for a coat and not warm enough for no coat. That time is not yet, but I am beginning my mourning period early this year.

SO, on my list of things to do, I am adding: find a sweet and tough hoodie to fill the hole that was left by that awesome one I used to have. Still working on the learning-to-juggle goal too.

Distraction

2009-04-05T21:13:00.008-04:00

I don't know what's wrong with me lately, but my ability to focus is completely shot. I'm constantly thinking about 5 things at once. I can't seem to get anything done all the way or well or in a reasonable amount of time. What's wrong with me??? Am I not getting enough B vitamins? Omega-3s?

I need a study lair the likes of which haven't been seen since Spring '05.

Behold.

Look how studious we are, now that we have a study lair.

We see you out there.

Interlopers beware!

Opposite Sides of the Earth

2009-03-25T21:12:00.001-04:00

I came across the word "antipode" twice today. What are the chances?

Communication

2009-03-23T12:42:00.001-04:00

I don't know which is worse: having a professor who doesn't use email... or one who does.

Clarissa

2009-03-04T09:13:00.003-05:00

Oh man - so let me tell you about Clarissa Explains It All, which was probably my favorite television show growing up. Or of all time. It was about a girl who had a COMPUTER and lots of IDEAS, a FERGface brother, a best friend SAM, and a caiman ELVIS. Her mom liked to cook tofu, which, in the '90s, was gross.

Clarissa was played by Melissa Joan Hart. As you can see, we have the same first name: AWESOME! But there's more. My middle name is JEAN, named after my maternal grandmother. My paternal grandmother's name? JOAN. Oh man, we almost had the same first and middle names!!! WHAT.

So basically, what I am saying, is that I claim the show. It can be no one else's favorite show. Because I am claiming it now. CLAIM!

Cold Drama

2009-02-24T17:18:00.004-05:00

This weather has caught me unawares. It is cold cold cold cold. I was walking with Tiffany today, outside, and mentioned that I was anxious for it to warm up, and indicated that I believed the recent sub-freezing weather must be part of a temporary cold snap. I expressed my desire for the cold snap to end within the next few days.

"Ha," she laughed. "Ha ha."

Apparently this is normal. This bitter cold and blustery wind is just part of a regular February in New York. I thought with March approaching, milder temperatures must be on the way. How wrong I was. According to Tiffany I cannot expect springtime until at least April. At least.

I mentioned my conversation with Tiffany to my coworker Emily as we waited for cars to pass on our way back from a dinner run to Qdoba. She tapped an iced over puddle next to the sidewalk with her toe, and said, "yeah, you kind of have to expect snow through the end of March."

March? March?! I am getting restless. I've been spending my free time reading hiking guides for nearby mountains and daydreaming about biking to campus and eating lunch in the park. When? When??

Taproot Foundation

2009-02-16T21:20:00.003-05:00

One of my classmates told me about an organization she volunteers for called the Taproot Foundation. It's a pretty big organization that basically provides free marketing for non-profits. You send them your resume and they match you to a project. I thought applying my professional skills in the service of others sounded like a wonderful way to spend my free time (since I have so much of that nowadays), so I applied. To volunteer. For free.

Well, I heard back from them today. Apparently I don't have enough years of marketing experience to work for them. For free.

I guess I'm just not cut out for selfless volunteerism, seeing as how I'm a 20-something graduate student with only a part time job, boundless energy, and practically no other responsibilities. No, not the kind of person you'd want volunteering for you at all.

Om Nom

2009-02-10T22:08:00.003-05:00

Do you ever get home from the grocery store and realize you have so many new and interesting kinds of foods that you just want to nibble on all of them? And then for dinner you have, for example, vegetarian chicken nuggets with ketchup, Spaghettios, a Baby Ruth, Kashi Go Lean Crunch with soy milk, and a bottle of Trader Joe's simpler times pilsner?

Bam. Tuesday.

Finidng a Comfortable Seat in Bobst: A Rant

2009-02-01T20:35:00.008-05:00

Bobst Library is the suckingest library of all libraries.

It is crowded, ugly, and uses space inefficiently.

Only certain areas (which are few and far between) are wired for internet access (computers running on Linux aren't allowed access to NYU wireless).

The bathrooms are in desperate need of renovations (in addition to obvious cosmetic issues, many stalls are missing door latches and purse hooks).

The furniture is mismatched, ugly, and old, and many pieces are damaged as well.

But the worst thing is the chairs. See, there are several species of chairs in Bobst. There are plain wooden ones in various designs and stages of disrepair. There are wooden seats with cushioned back rests. There are cushiony rolly chairs. And then there are the BEST chairs. They are the kind that are made of mesh fabric stretched over the frame in a space-age design that is not uncomfortable nor broken. These chairs have evil twins that have a back of this magic not uncomfortable material with a terrible plastic seat, and those ones are to be avoided.

However, back to the magic mesh ergonomic space aged chairs. If I can find one of those when I go study at Bobst, I am not filled with rage at how much the place sucks. The basement computer labs, which are admittedly pretty nice, are filled with them. But those areas fill up pretty fast. So I usually have to spend at least 15 minutes searching through the building, looking for one of the magic chairs. And people know. Everyone snags those chairs, leaving the crappy other ones unoccupied. It's a battle.

I never thought I'd say this, but I guess Earl Gregg Swem Library just spoiled me. I mean, once the renovations were finished, of course.

I guess what's most upsetting about the Bobst situation is that I am paying basically $9 million dollars to go to NYU. I paid only a fraction of that for W&M. A fraction of a fraction of $9 million, really. And W&M found the cash in its tiny budget to provide an up-to-date comfortable library where people actually went to study, and even to socialize.

NYU wouldn't want to make the library that inviting. Only people who are REALLY SERIOUS about their studies are willing to endure Bobst.

Hey Bobst: Get us more of these!

Juggling

2009-01-26T09:59:00.002-05:00

I'm a sucker for magic tricks. I don't know why, but they just delight me.

Now that it's so cold outside that I've begun barricading myself in my apartment unless it's absolutely necessary to go outdoors, I plan to teach myself how to juggle. I mean, juggling isn't really a magic trick, but it is a trick. And I think it's a good first step in my journey to find ways to amuse myself for extended periods of alone time. I mean, I can only watch so much tv.

So: by the end of February, I am hoping to have mastered juggling. I probably won't, though. I am terribly impatient and I also have terrible hand eye coordination. But I think it's a noble endeavor.

I'll keep you updated.

The Best of Intentions

2009-01-18T13:08:00.003-05:00

I was planning to come back to NY healthy, tan from my cruise, and with new cute bangs. Unfortunately my face broke out, I got sick, and had to cancel my haircut because I couldn't stop sneezing.

So instead I return pockmarked, red-nosed, shaggy, and congested.

That's what I get for vanity I guess.

Richmond-bound

2008-12-19T14:04:00.003-05:00

Here are the places I'd like to go when I get back to Richmond:
Chop Suey Books
821
Gutenberg Cafe (for breakfast)
Ellwood Thompson (for a Vegan Classic Wrap)
Mom's Siam
Need Supply
Plan 9
Ipanema Cafe
World of Mirth
Clementine
Harrison Street if it's open
And I suppose I should make a pilgrimage to The Village.

Schooling

2008-12-15T19:58:00.004-05:00

Did I mention how gloriously happy I am to be in school again?

Well I am. A lot happier with what I'm learning now than as an undergrad too. But maybe it's just that I'm more focused or mature than I was a few years ago.

Did I also mention how different NYU is from William and Mary? It is. Everyone here is so much nicer. In fact, I was talking about this to a girl I met at Edgar's birthday party whose name I now forget. She agreed with me anyway.

Maybe nicer isn't the right word. Less competitive, less on edge. I don't know... but I do know that I never realized until recently how much that W&M-style competitiveness and edginess had become a part of me, as well.

Anyhoo, I guess I'll try to quit.

I've also been thinking a lot about what I'd like to do when I finish school. I'm not too sure where I'll end up, but I'm getting anxious to find a place to stay for a few years at least.

Four Things

2008-12-09T21:35:00.003-05:00

I have a long list of books to read over winter break. Good thing I'm going on a CRUISE in January during which I will have lots of reading time while lounging in the Caribbean sunshine.

I had my first zombie nightmare in a while last night. Think it's because I saw the cover of Left 4 Dead at Game Stop. The curse won't go away!

Oh man I could eat pasta all day every day. It's just the best food.

I am bussing/bumming a ride to Richmond for Stuart's fancy holiday office party at the National on Friday and then coming back to New York on Saturday. I am excited about the fancy dress aspect of the occasion, as well as the fancy drinks and hors d'oeuvres. And of course spending time with my boyfriend who apparently refuses to visit me in NYC. Not as excited about spending 14 hours in transit in a 2 day period, but I guess it'll be okay. I can get some work done on the bus.

Blogzzzz

2008-11-24T12:38:00.001-05:00

Here is the truth about blogs.

Famous People

2008-11-21T09:19:00.001-05:00

Living in New York is pretty neat, because sometimes you see famous people in their natural habitat. Such as: Andy Samberg and Seth Meyers. And when they happen to be in the same bar as you (not even a fancy one, by the way) it's like you are practically having a drink with them. Because I mean, you're with them in the same room and all. And that makes you feel a little famous too.

Makes you feel pretty lucky. Or should I say me?

Don't be jealous.

Trader Joe's, A Return

2008-11-17T22:08:00.003-05:00

A while back I discussed my hatred for Trader Joe's. I must now write that my hatred has vanished.

The reason?
Their amazingly low prices? No.
Their convenient location? No.

The reason I've given Trader Joe's and their inordinately long lines a pass is because of this:

Trader Joe's Multigrain Country Bread.

It is... terrifyingly delicious. I can no longer eat other bread. Trader Joe's has ruined all other bread for me.

That is all.

Karaoke

2008-10-25T22:16:00.002-04:00

Last night I went to a Karaoke bar with some of my classmates - it was super fun!
But let me describe - it's like when you go to a bar and you've been there all night, and at the end of the night before last call they start playing guns n roses and poison songs and everyone sings along because they're drunk and it seems like a good idea. Except instead of the entire bar, you're in tiny room with 10 or so friends.

So yeah - pretty awesome.

Bathroom Surprise (It's Not What You Think)

2008-10-06T23:59:00.002-04:00

Tonight I procrastinated by cleaning my bathroom (for the first time). And guess what I found - a medicine cabinet!

And all this time, I thought it was only a mirror.

Point: The appearance of an object manufactured to reflect appearances is deceiving. Discuss.

My, what a provocative blog this is.

The New Yorkiest Weekend Yet

2008-09-28T13:39:00.006-04:00

My past 2 days have been filled with New York fun. Friday I went to the Museum of Modern Art and saw the Van Gogh exhibit (Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night), which was really cool. I also saw the Kirchner exhibit and some other paintings and sculptures that were doubtlessly very important and probably seminal. If I knew anything about art I would tell you what they were.

After the art, I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening shopping for a new pair of jeans, because I only came here with two pair... and one pair is now too big for me. So I was left with only one pair of jeans. Back when I only wore jeans on casual Fridays, that would have been fine. But now I wear them all the time! So I was basically wearing the same pants every single day. Anyway, after several hours of pants-length-related frustration I found the perfect pair at a shop called "The Jeans Store." I should have known.

Yesterday I went with Becca and her friend Lizzy to a Mets game, which was a great time. Especially because we won! Johan Santana pitched a complete game! Marlins suck! Baseball! On the subway back to Manhattan people kept checking the Chicago Milwaukee game with their fancy shmancy web enabled phones to see who was winning (we wanted the Brewers to lose) and announcing it to the whole car. What a community!

After that, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and once we got to Brooklyn we went to Jacques Torres Chocolate and got delicious frozen hot chocolates. Came back to Manhattan and after a pit stop at my apartment, we went to the Village Pourhouse to watch the Hokie game - the bar had two whole rooms devoted to Virginia Tech and there were approximately one million people there. And funnily enough, I went to high school with one of them. Rapids everywhere!

After that we went to another bar and met some of Becca's friends there, who were all very nice or maybe they were just amused at how drunk I was (and I WAS)... and then after that we got falafels! Yays!

As you can see, my weekend was New Yorky to the extreme. Also devoid of schoolwork. Subsequently I will be spending the next two days doing nothing but working and reading. Hooray!

De Somno

2008-09-09T02:59:00.003-04:00

I think I am the sleepiest person. But I have this problem. See, I get so worn out by the end of the day, that when it is finally time to go to bed, I am very happy. I mean, really, really happy and excited to go to sleep. But I get so psyched up that it becomes difficult to actually get to sleep. Hence, it is 3am and I've been reading about Marx for about 8 hours... and yet, here I am, snuggled up in my synthetic down quilt, posting blogs from my extra-long twin-size on my ultraportable compy...

Groceries

2008-09-02T00:53:00.002-04:00

Man, food is freaking expensive in the Big Apple. I mean, not just at restaurants but also at the grocery store!

My apartment building is only surrounded by corner shops, which I figured were expensive because they only sell small volumes of stuff. But today I went to Gristede's, a chain supermarket a few blocks away, and found the foodstuffs to be equally expensive. I use the term supermarket lightly. The place is still pretty tiny compared to good ole Krog's.

However, I did rejoice in finding a whole cold case full of Morningstar Farms fake meat products, which I thought I was going to have to do without after they were surprisingly absent from the Trader Joe's.

Oh yeah, Trader Joe's. Possibly the worst grocery store I've ever been too. I mean... the line of people with carts literally snaked around the entire store. You just had to wait in line as it inched forward to see if TJ's happened to be stocking the food you wanted. And then it didn't. Only weird veggie burgers by Dr. California or something that fall apart when you cook them. They do sell good tomato sauce though.

Sleepy Already

2008-08-28T19:52:00.002-04:00

See, the problem with living in a dorm room is that your desk is just entirely too close to your bed. I think I've napped every day since I moved in. Unfortunately this does terrible things to my ability to sleep at night. Which makes napping during the day not only desirable but necessary. It's just a vicious cycle. A terrible, terrible, delicious vicious cycle.

On the other hand, I have been filling my sleepless nights with schoolwork. So really, it hasn't been an entire loss. And I do my best work in the middle of the night, anyway. Yeah... so I guess this is a good thing after all. That's the ticket. Until I'm expected to perform in an educational or professional situation during daylight hours. Next week.

Oh yeah, I got a job today at the campus newspaper as a sales assistant. Hooray for me!

I'm Here!

2008-08-24T18:12:00.005-04:00

Mom and I made it to my new apartment in NY this morning. It's pretty nice - I mean pretty much what you'd expect for an apartment style dorm. But I've got a HUGE window in my bedroom with a great view.

My room isn't as small as I thought it would be, which is nice. My closet is surprisingly large. And I've got a kitchen with a stove and refrigerator.

As you can see, I need to get some posters on the walls.

Here is my giant closet.

Here's the kitchen.

Anyway, that's pretty much my place. Tonight I'm going to some kind of building mixer, where there will be food and an ipod raffle. Then after that they're bussing us to Bed Bath and Beyond for some special after-hours shopping. Which is good, because there's definitely a lot of stuff I need to pick up.

Lunch Break

2008-08-19T13:20:00.007-04:00

Oh man, I went to Jason's Deli for the first time today and it was so oo ooooo tasty. I should have gone there sooner.

The only problem is that the sandwiches are too tall for my mouth and I got sandwich all over my face... I had the Ciabatta 'Bello... maybe next time I can order it on regular bread and not make such a mess.

Also, you get a side with your sandwich! So I got a cup of fresh fruit. Was it your average ramekin of mushy fruit cocktail? Oh, no, my friend. It was a soup cup filled with actual fresh fruit that was not mushy in the least bit. I approve.

I also got some new shoes at Rack Room Shoes - my old black heels came from Payless and they were starting to get a little beaten up and stinky. So I decided to invest in some quality leather shoes (even though I feel weird wearing leather), in the hopes that they will last a little longer and also maybe be better ventilated. And sturdier. So... anyway, I got these ones:

Yep. That's what I did on my lunch break.

New Digs

2008-08-12T14:32:00.000-04:00

Move In Date: Aug. 24

Party Pictures

2008-07-26T11:40:00.004-04:00

Look - Erik is home!

Mom built a Tiki Bar.

Here are Emily and Erik in the Tiki Bar.

Me and Stuart

Erik and Mom

Grown-ups Singing

Squatter

2008-07-24T22:12:00.003-04:00

I think someone is squatting in the apartment downstairs. There's not supposed to be anyone living there as far as I know, but while I was walking up the back stairs to my apartment I noticed the lights on and someone inside the kitchen cooking and not wearing pants...

Also, I still haven't gotten my deposit back from my old place at Shockoe Cary. Since it's been more than 45 days (the legally mandated time period in which they must return it) I emailed the guy at Fountainhead to check up. He said it should have gone out already, but he'd look into it... so of course 4 days later he emailed me and said it hadn't been sent yet because their accountant was "on vacation."

For 45 days? I don't think so.

So, anyway dude is supposed to email me when he finally sends it out.

Well, that was Tuesday. I'm still waiting.

My room

2008-07-17T22:46:00.003-04:00

My room is the messiest place you have ever seen. It looks like a tornado has come through here. Part of the reason is because I never bothered to unpack everything and just piled stuff on the floor when I needed to get something from the bottom of a box or whatever... Now all of the little piles are beginning to merge into one big pile. There is dust everywhere. And I am slowly working my way through my closet and getting rid of all of the clothes I do not absolutely love and wear at least once every two or three weeks. But anyway, those are now part of the pile too...

This weekend though. THIS WEEKEND. The tornado of messy will become a tornado of clean!!! My junk is getting put in order or taken to the thrift store. I can't wait.

Evening In

2008-07-11T20:14:00.005-04:00

It's Friday night and I am not doing anything!

It's awesome.

Anna and I just ate dinner at Lulu's - which opened up a few month's ago. I hadn't been yet. It's a little expensive and they don't have any vegetarian entrees (unless you order fancy shrimp macaroni and cheese with no shrimp for $18). I got a salad and tomato basil Gorgonzola soup though - and it was mega tasty. The design inside is pretty cool and the servers were nice. I don't know if I'd go again, but it was pretty fun. And I haven't hung out with Anna in a while so that was cool too.

After dinner we went to Cafe Gutenberg to see if we could catch sight of Greggers walking by, but we didn't see him. I did have a delicious iced Vietnamese coffee though.

I was going to go to Emily's house tonight and watch a movie and fix her compy but she was too sleepy. She just got her wisdom teeth removed and the pain meds are knocking her out.

So now I'm just lounging around. I didn't feel like going to the bar because I drank about 740 beers last weekend and figured I could use a break. So my plan for the evening is to lounge around on my couch and think about cleaning my room, but not actually do it. And then mess with my computer until I start nodding off with the tv on in the background. And then climb into bed around 11:30 or 12.

YEAH!! HARDCORE!!

Mozart, Meet Daffy

2008-06-30T17:19:00.002-04:00

It's a shame, but whenever I hear Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, all I can think about is that Looney Toons commercial that was set to the tune in the '80s-'90s.

Indeed, I have had enough of doing grown-up stuff.

Getting Rid of Stuff

2008-06-25T20:25:00.004-04:00

Even after the Great Purging of Spring 2008, when I got rid of about a third of my things, plus my 50+ book library, I still don't use even half of what I have left. I want to get rid of even more. Here's an interesting idea - reduce your possessions to 100 things or less. [Article] Not sure if I could get my collection of things down that far, but it's some motivation, at least.

Ew

2008-06-13T17:19:00.002-04:00

You know what phrase I hate?

"Licking your chops."

It just sounds so icky.

New Freckles

2008-06-06T16:52:00.003-04:00

Ever get a new freckle? I have a new one pop up every now and then, but I don't usually notice unless it's on a hand.

Well I got a new little freckle today, on my left index finger... And it's driving me crazy! I keep thinking it's an eraser shard or a crumb left over from lunch or something. I want to pick it off, but I know this is a poor decision based on what happened in the Great Right-Hand Freckle Caper of '97.

Scar tissue, that's what.

So I'm going to have to get used to it. But getting used to a new little mark on my hand (one of few body parts in my general field of vision for most of the day ::peers down at hands resting on keyboard::) is very difficult.

Ever get a new hand freckle? Did it drive you crazy? I'd be interested in hearing how you managed to cope.

This is Just Depressing

2008-05-28T17:10:00.002-04:00

Dunkin' Donuts pulled a TV spot featuring talk show host and Food Network personality Rachael Ray this weekend after a Fox news commentator associated HER SCARF with terrorists.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24860437/from/ET/

Hardhitting journalism going on over at Faux News is MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Foodies

2008-05-21T14:11:00.009-04:00

I hate the term "foodie." It's just so pretentious (almost as much as the word pretentious itself). I mean seriously, when someone tells you they're a "foodie" don't you just want to punch them in the mouth? "Oh, you're a foodie? How about a taste of nuckle sandwich?"

I mean realy. Calling yourself a foodie is like saying you're a non-anorexic human... or a yuppie who likes to eat.

Long Time, No Blog

2008-05-14T20:42:00.003-04:00

Goodness - I've been doing a terrible job of keeping up with this blog.

Here's what's going on in my life.

1. I'm moving this weekend to a new place on Broad Street. I'm really excited (except for the actual moving part). My new room mate seems really nice and fun, plus I'll be able to ride my bike to work. That means I'll need to get a better bike.

2. Also this weekend is the Lebanese Food Festival... and Broad Appetit! Two food festivals in one weekend? It must be summertime. I am very happy because I love eating.

3. Stuart and I are going camping for Memorial Day. But not just any camping. We are going camping at a bluegrass festival in West Virginia where his roommate's band is playing. I can imagine the expression you're probably making right now, and I appreciate your concern. However I think it will be fun. I'm especially looking forward to the jug band workshop as well as the clogging demonstration. I WAS looking forward to the square dance until Stuart obstinately refused to participate. The only problem is that it takes 5 and a half hours to get there, as the google map flies. Add Memorial Day weekend traffic to that, and it's going to be quite the drive.

4. I started packing the day before yesterday, then last night I went out to dinner... and tonight I am still shirking my packing duties. I have my bedroom and the kitchen left... The kitchen is going to be the most annoying part, because there's not much in my room besides clothes and other adornments that are already in containers. I've been steadily getting rid of my things over the past few months - so I have about half as much junk moving out as I did moving in - hooray! I'll post pictures of my new place once I'm all moved in.

I think everyone feels this way...

2008-04-25T16:27:00.005-04:00

Sometimes (or most of the time) I think everyone in my family is crazy except for me.

This, however, usually leads to the big gnawing question that is: Maybe I'm actually the crazy one.

I'm pretty sure this isn't the case though, as I find myself to be quite stable most of the time.

Rain

2008-04-06T19:09:00.003-04:00

Oh man, I wish it would stop raining. I want to go to the Botanical Gardens and the Zoo.

Stuart and I were going to go to DC to see the cherry blossoms today but it was too rainy. I bet all of the blossoms have fallen off the trees by now.

The dogwoods are in bloom here.

Melissa's Super Alfredo

2008-03-28T18:30:00.002-04:00

This week I invented a new recipe for a delicious pasta dinner. You should give it a try. Or maybe you shouldn't, because once you eat this delicious meal, you will never want to eat anything else again.

Melissa’s Super Alfredo

Put on a pot of water to boil and then cook your pasta. I used a blend of penne and shells to finish off some boxes.

When you put the pasta in, melt about 1 tbs of butter (I used margarine) in a frying pan with some minced garlic (I used one big clove and one little clove). Once you start to smell the garlic cooking throw in some pine nuts. When they start to brown a little, throw in a few handfuls of veggie chicken strips (I used the Morningstar meal starters kind). Cook them until they’re golden brown. Put in another tbs of butter. And then throw in about 5 handfuls of rinsed, sliced mushrooms (it looks like a lot, but they get smaller when you cook them).

As they start to heat up, heat up some frozen peas in another pan. I used about a cup of frozen peas.

Don’t let the mushrooms cook for too long, you just want to warm them up a little. So put in another tbs or so of butter… maybe two… and let it melt and stir as you’re doing this so nothing burns. Once it’s done melting, pour in about 2/3 cup of light cream. Keep stirring and dump in about half a cup of Parmesan cheese (the shredded kind, not the granulated kind). Keep stirring until it’s melted (the sauce will still be a little lumpy). Then put some pepper in or whatever other spices you want.

Drain the peas if there is any excess water and dump them into the Alfredo mixture. Stir everything together.

Drain your pasta and serve.

Probably one of the more unhealthy things you could eat, but it’s way delicious. The way I made it, it served two… but could have served 4 if you had some salad and bread along with it. You will like it.

Snoozin'

2008-03-19T21:11:00.000-04:00

Today I was supposed to wake up at 6 and then go to a meeting for work at the Omni. Unfortunately my alarm clock did not go off and I didn't wake up until ::gasp:: 6:30. I made it pretty much on time and everything was okay in the end.

But anyway, I know what you're thinking. Whenever someone's alarm clock "doesn't go off," you automatically assume they set it for 6:00 PM instead of 6:00 AM. Or perhaps they simply forgot to turn it on. Or maybe, just maybe, this poor soul awoke on time, only to turn the alarm off, pull the cover over their head, and go back to sleep for 30 minutes.

Nope. Wrong.

It_just_didn't_go_off.

I checked. The am/pm setting was correct. And the switch was in the "on" position. Meaning I had turned it on the night before, and never flipped the switch to turn it off.

Meaning, my alarm simply did not go off this morning.

This shatters all of my understanding about alarm clocks AND alarm clock mishaps. Am I to believe that an alarm clock, the all-important timekeeper, perhaps iconic symbol of American industry, just didn't work today? I am baffled as to why it did not do its job. (Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the clock itself was purchased from a bargain end cap at Target for $2.99-ish.)

Nonetheless. I have to get up early again tomorrow and I am not taking any chances tonight. In addition to the faulty clock in question, I will be setting my cell phone alarm this evening, which can not be snoozed and the function for turning it off requires enough difficult button maneuvering that it will quell any overriding urge to roll over and go back to sleep in my warm, soft, snuggly, pillowy bed of solitude and contentedness.

Now that I think about it, it's probably time I head over that way right about now... I'm ready for some serious snoozin'.

My Super Hero Name

2008-03-12T15:45:00.000-04:00

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Chimp Eye

Your Superpower is Piracy

Your Weakness is Vince Vaughn

Your Weapon is Your Snot Claws

Your Mode of Transportation is Monster Truck

What's your Superhero Name?

It was just so fitting!

Biscuits

2008-03-03T07:57:00.000-05:00

I made biscuits this weekend... they are pretty good. In fact, I'm chewing on one now.

Here is the recipe. It only takes a few minutes and then you pop them in the oven.

2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup corn oil
1 beaten egg (optional)

Blend the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Combine the remaining ingredients and pour over the dry ingredients. Stir together lightly.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a buttered cookie sheet. Bake in a 450° oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Makes 12 to 14 biscuits.
http://www.oldetimecooking.com/Recipes/biscuits_bakingpowder.htm

I had to use vegetable oil instead of corn oil and they still turned out fine. Also had to use self rising flour instead of all purpose. Oh, and I opted for the egg.

Monster Truck Show

2008-02-24T13:47:00.000-05:00

MONSTER JAM!!!
Sara, Tawheed, Stuart, and Melissa attended the monster truck show Saturday, Feb. 24.
Tawheed got us box seats, so we had a prime view of all the action.
Thankfully, he also brought us some ear plugs.

First they started with a rousing tribute to the United States of America.

The Richmond Coliseum was sold out.

The valiant drivers crushed 11 cars.

The people in front of us were big Grave Digger fans.

They also liked the Black Stallion.

CRUSHIN'!

It was super intense.

Sara and Tawheed really got into the action.

Donut time!

They do it for the fans.

Fountainhead Services

2008-02-23T14:23:00.001-05:00

Possibly the most incompetent property management ever.

This time, they neglected to pay the satellite tv bill for my entire building, even though it's built into the cost of rent. Not that I need to watch tv, but it's nice to get something you've already paid for.

I'm so annoyed! Fountainhead has been consistently incapable of doing anything except collecting my rent and taking several weeks to fix anything broken.

If you find yourself looking for an apartment in Richmond, VA and it happens to be managed by Fountainhead, STAY AWAY.

Reflex Injury

2008-02-18T23:46:00.001-05:00

Item 1
Can you pull a throat muscle from sneezing too much/hard?
I think this is precisely what I did.

Item 2
The people who live in the apartment above mine are basically the worst people. Last night they started moving furniture at about 3am. This was unfortunate for me because it involved throwing books or shoes or something into a pile that was approximately 15 feet vertically from my bed. I think they were wearing work boots while they were at it. I hate them. On the other hand, maybe they were being evicted...

Watching

2008-02-16T20:40:00.000-05:00

I like watching tv and I like going to see movies... but I don't really like watching movies on tv. I mean really watching them. They can be on casually, while I'm doing other things (like cleaning my apartment, which, ostensibly, is what I'm doing right now). I think it's because I don't like paying attention to something for so long; hence the underused Netflix account. I've had the same movie sitting next to the tv for over a month...

This came up a few minutes ago when I was flipping through the channels and noticed that The Seventh Seal was coming on. My first reaction was, "SWEET. I'm totally watching this." Then 4 minutes passed and I realized it wasn't going to happen. It was just too serious - not the kind of movie you can cruise the internet to. That is what Empire Records is great for though, and that's what I ultimately clicked on.

In other news, I think someone tried to steal my car battery. My hood is kind of pinched in on one side and I had trouble opening it the other day when my car wouldn't start. Oh yeah, my car wouldn't start Thursday after work. So when I finally got the hood open, I noticed the pinched in part. Anyway, Friday during lunch time it started right up and I drove it around a bit and my hood kept unlatching. Not sure if the not starting and attempted battery theft are related... Anyway, I closed the hood really hard and now it is staying shut, and also my car is working again. Weird.

Anyway, maybe I should get to actually cleaning my apartment now. It is a chaotic mess... I've been so busy lately that I've just been putting my stuff in little piles all over the place, which is my way. I was all rarin' to clean a while ago, but I ate too much for dinner and now I'm feeling all lethargic.

First Post

2008-02-13T20:12:00.001-05:00

This is going to be a blog featuring the thoughts I'm thinking RIGHT NOW.

Here are the thoughts:

Currently I'm reading Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. I've been so busy lately that I haven't gotten very far, but I am looking forward to getting back to it. Maybe this weekend. I think it'll be dreary enough to warrant staying in and reading and being a hermit. It's pretty funny so far, but according to the back cover, it gets real spookyyyyyy. I love the way Neil Gaiman writes. He's very definitive in an accessible, intelligent, storytelling way.
Also - must remember to hit up Cafe Gutenberg this weekend before it closes. I will eat my fill of vegan biscuits and gravy. I will eat two fills even!
Tonight is the night of Project Runway. The contest is winding down. I am excited.
Spoiler alert: I was looking at pictures from fashion week on MSN yesterday, and one of them featured a model from Christian Siriano's collection. So I guess he made it to the final three at least. I didn't really have any doubts that he would though. Unless he crashed fashion week on his own. Ooooooh hmmmm...