So Summer Comes To An End Again...

Well, this is almost the end of the summer. Not technically, of course, since it's around until September 21st, but in the sense that matters, the sense that counts, it's winding down quick. I went home last weekend for the last time until probably Columbus Day or Thanksgiving, and it was lovely to spend a few days relaxing and getting away from the high stress of city life. Then, this past week has been super busy: seeing everyone that's back in the city after the summer break, trying (and failing) to get back into being excited about classes, and figuring out how I'm going to manage my time taking five classes and working 20 hours/week.

The most exciting part of the past few weeks, though, is our new couch (in the photo at the top of this post). We actually moved it in today, and was it ever an ordeal! Luckily, we had Aubrey's boyfriend Patrick and Emma's boyfriend Andrew there to help us. All in all, it took a couple of hours to move it about seven blocks and up our two flights of stairs. And while there was a bit of a plaster casualty and a lot of cursing, everyone eventually pulled together to get it done, and we celebrated with extra-large Slurpees (have I mentioned how happy I am that I live two blocks from 7-11?) and lounging on our new living room centerpiece.

I actually am pretty excited about starting school again. It's going to be the first semester where I can take all classes in my major, and while I'm getting a bunch of not-so-fun requirements out of the way (Research Methods, for example), I'm really pumped for Personality Theories and Developmental Psychology. I know that I've picked the right major for me, and I'm really glad that I'm going to be spending the next two years taking classes like The Counseling Interview and Group Dynamics. I can't wait!

All in all, this summer has been...different than what I expected. At the outset, I imagined it would be the best summer of my life. And while there were some down times, overall, it was a pretty damn good one. I wish I felt more rested and ready to go back to school, but hey, I can sleep when I'm dead, right?

A Lighter Note

Well, my last few posts have been a bit...serious. And I'm not all about the sturm und drang. So it's time for a bit of a recap of what's going on in my life.

• I had a really nice weekend. On Saturday, Jimmy and I went to the Regal in Battery Park to see The Kids Are All Right and Despicable Me. Both were very good movies (in very different ways, of course). I wasn't really sure what to expect from The Kids Are All Right; I knew from previews and a few news stories that it was about a lesbian couple that had raised two kids, that were then interested in meeting the sperm donor that had made their existence possible. It was a really well-written story, and I thought Julianne Moore and Annette Bening did a good job of portraying a believable couple. The movie made me cry (of course) and so once it was over I was ready for a cute, fun film. Despicable Me was just that. We were definitely the oldest people in the theater that didn't have kids with us, but it was just such a fun movie that I didn't even feel out of place. Other than wandering, hot and hungry, around the (terrifying on a weekend night) Financial District for a while in search of an open downtown R station (which was my fault, I should have researched weekend service changes before going to an area of town I'm not familiar with; damn my New York cockiness!), and taking the seventeen escalators each way to actually get to the theater part of the Regal building, we had a lovely time. We went back to my place and ordered delivery BBQ, and then spent the evening hanging out, playing Apples to Apples with Emma, Aubrey, Patrick, and Andrew, and heckling guidos from the rooftop: always good uses for a Saturday evening. Sunday was a lazy day. I meant to clean the apartment, but spent most of the day watching episodes of Bones on Netflix. Whoops.
• I'm still working extra hours this week, since Camilla is on vacation (lucky!). It's leaving me pretty tired, but it's going to be totally worth it when I get my paycheck. The thought of impending book costs and tuition bills...sigh.
• I'm heading to Jersey this weekend to see Richie star in Into The Woods. I've never seen the show, and so all of my friends are keeping totally quiet on everything having to do with it (since they want me to be surprised). Either way, I'll just be happy to get out of the city one last time before school starts back up. Plus, I'm going with Ella, maybe Jimmy, and probably seeing Gerard there! Hooray!
• Other than that, there really isn't too much going on. The next few weeks are going to consist of trying to save as much money as possible for books, registering for classes (I guess I should actually get on that...whoops...), and prepping for Welcome Week. It's going to get a lot busier around the office, what with classes starting back up, and I'm so excited to get to see all of my friends that have gone home for the summer!

Vacation!

So I've taken a full week off of work; something I've never before done, but which was an excellent idea. I went home last Friday, and stayed until yesterday afternoon.

Going back home for my birthday (I can't believe I'm twenty) was exactly what I needed. I've been so stressed out and stretched thin around here that having a few days at home, with nothing to do but eat, sit in the sun, and have fun with my family, was absolutely perfect. I even went into Deposit (very briefly) and stopped into the Big M to see my old co-workers.

The best part of being home was on Sunday, when I went to my aunt and uncle's house and spent the day lounging in the pool and eating summer barbecue food: spiedies, corn, clams, mac salad, watermelon... Summer is definitely my favorite season, and going home reminded me why.

Summer in New York City is mostly about the fact that it's hot (really, really hot) and it smells like garbage. While rooftop parties and adorable dresses are pluses, overall, summer in NYC kind of sucks. But upstate, surrounded by trees and flowers and walking barefoot through the grass around my mom's gardens, you forget about the fact that it's 100 degrees outside, and can only think about how good everything smells and how lovely the birds sound and how nice the sunshine feels against your skin. And there is absolutely nothing in the world better than riding in the car with the windows down, belting along to the horrible country music on the radio.

As nice as being home was, though, Wednesday rolled around and it was time for me to head back to Brooklyn. The trip back was horrific (I almost missed my train, then had to schlep four bags weighing a collective hundred pounds through four subways and three blocks) but I got home to an air-conditioned apartment and a wonderful welcome from Emma.

Tomorrow is our big Amelia & Emma Birthday Extravaganza...and I'm super excited! A lot of people are coming, and it'll be the first time most of them are seeing the apartment...along with being the only time all summer that everyone that's been spending the summer in NYC will be getting together! I spent most of today cleaning (in between grocery shopping and getting a wonderful mani/pedi) and I'm happy to say that the place looks amazing. Here's hoping for a nice clear night tomorrow so we can while away the evening on the roof!

Highlight Reel

I know I haven't posted in a while (again)...there just either is absolutely nothing going on, or I'm so busy I don't have a moment for thought. Here's a lowdown on what's been going on lately:

• I painted my living room! It's green. Bright green. Like, almost neon. I love it, though, and luckily my roomies do too.
• I went to the Pride parade, and afterwards wandered through the PrideFest in the West Village. It was a lot of fun (though it was wicked hot that day), and we had a ball. I've never seen so many great-looking men in very little clothing all in one place before, and I've lived in NYC for almost two years (holy cow, has it really been that long?!?!?!)
• My mom and brother came down to the city to bring me my box spring, and we went to the Yankees/Mariners game. We had AMAZING seats, and the Yanks lost, so it was a great day. Not so great, however, was Danny's realization that he really hates NYC (like, more than we thought) and being all freaked out on the subway. He said he's never going to come visit me again, and it doesn't surprise me at all.
• I sprained my ankle last Friday night (me+ballet/gymnastics attempts=injuries; this is nothing new, and one would think I would've realized it by now) and spent my entire 4th of July long weekend alone in my apartment. Sigh. On the up side (actually, I don't know that this is something I should be broadcasting, but whatever), I watched every Judd Apatow movie in our house (this includes Superbad, Knocked Up, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall).
• Both my boss and my co-worker are gone this week, so I get to work 9-4 all week. Which means waking up at 7:30 in the morning. Have I mentioned I'm not a morning person? At all?
• Last Thursday Emma and I went to to get our nails done, and on the way back stopped in at a little consignment shop down the street. I found the most glorious alice+olivia dress I've ever seen, on sale, and I bought it. Happy Early Birthday to me!
• I'm going home in a little over a week, and I can't wait. Four days of celebrating my birthday and lounging at the lake. It's going to be magnificent.
• My ex-teacher (and moving helper) Ms. Jenson got married! Congrats!
• I saw Eclipse (illegally online, of course). Best line: Taylor Lautner tells Robert Pattinson "After all, I am hotter than you." That was the only redeeming part of the film, honestly. That and Kellan Lutz.

Well that's really about all the interesting news in these parts. I'll post more when I come up with an interesting topic (or the next time I'm super bored).

In the grand ol' Catskill Mountains, by the Delaware...

Being an adult is hard.

Living in my own apartment, paying rent and buying things like toilet paper and lightbulbs, has made me realize how sucky being a grown-up can be sometimes.

Don't get me wrong, I love living on my own. I can come and go as I please, with no rules or regulations, and I can bring friends over without having to sign them in first (the best thing EVER). I can be as loud as I want (as long as my roomies are cool with it, which they are; this is a perk both of living on the top floor and living above an apartment in which a band practices pretty much 24/7). I can paint (which I did this weekend, and I am SO happy with). I can sunbathe on the roof all day. Yeah, living on my own definitely has its perks.

But there's a part of me that's really ready to go home for a bit. I'll be heading up to Deposit for a long weekend in about a month, and I'm more excited than I've been in a long time. Here's a few reasons why:

• Staying at home. This has pretty much innumerable perks: free laundry, a bed that I made perfectly comfortable long ago, a fully-stocked fridge, a big loving dog, and the freedom to lounge on the couch in front of the TV all day, never changing out of my pajamas. Plus, you know, my mom is there.
• Summer in the Catskills. It's beautiful, definitely my favorite season to be home, and I know the tiger lilies next to our porch will be blooming.
• Chilling with my family. It's going to be my birthday weekend (20!) and I'm going to see pretty much everyone. We're going to have a party at my aunt and uncle's house, and I fully plan on spending most of the day going between the pool and sunning on the deck. On that note:
• My birthday! I love birthdays (especially mine), and while I'm going to have a big party at the apartment to celebrate both my and Emma's birthdays, I'm excited to kick off the festivities at home.
• Seeing my friends. It's also going to be Lumberjack Festival weekend, so I plan on heading over to Fireman's Park one day to see everyone that I haven't seen since winter!
• My mom is going to come down and pick me up, and when she does, she's going to bring the box spring for my bed. I never before realized how important a box spring is, and it'll be nice to not be sleeping on a mattress on top of slats anymore.

So yeah, I'd say it's going to be pretty nice to head home for a few days. I'm not sure how long I'm going to stay, but at least a few days upstate will be just what I need, I think.

Hot Town, Summer in the City

I love summer.

But I feel like I don't really have anything interesting to write about. I'm steadily getting through my reading, working every day, and searching for another job. The apartment is good, my roommates are excellent, and for the most part, all of my friends and family are doing well and are happy.

A lack of drama certainly makes for boring/nonexistent posts!

I know, I know, I should be happy that things are going well. And don't get me wrong, I am. But I feel like I've hit a wall as far as posting things goes.

I just read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, by Steig Larsson. I had heard a lot about it, and I always feel silly when I haven't read the books that seem to be in the forefront of a lot of conversations. So I picked it up on sale at Target last weekend, and finished it last night.

It was pretty good. It made for easy, interesting reading (once I got all the Swedish names straight), and I certainly was entertained. Is it the next great novel? No. But I understand why it's become so popular. I think it's in the same thread as The Da Vinci Code, in that it's a fast-paced mystery with two interesting protagonists and a satisfying conclusion. I've read better mystery novels that have far less mass approval, but hey, I'd rather people read this than Twilight.

Speaking of those sparkly (is there a proper way to spell that word? AP Stylebook?) vampires, the next movie in the "saga" is coming out soon. I've read all the books, and seen both movies that have come out so far (illegally online, of course). I don't know why, since it goes against all of my better judgement, but for some reason I can't stop myself. I think I mostly just like to enjoy the "so bad it's good" phenomenon.

Also, today, I painted my room! This is something I've been wanting to do ever since I moved in (as of today, I've been sleeping here for a month) and since I got my tax refund a few days ago, I decided it was time. I worked pretty much nonstop for about six hours today, but it was SO worth it. The room looks great!

GLEE

I am a Gleek.

Big-time. I love the show. I watch it every week, and I download the songs. I've watched a few episodes more than once, and I know I'll rewatch every episode before the new season starts in the fall.

That's why last Tuesday was so bittersweet for me. The season finale was everything I'd hoped it would be (and more) but it was still the end of a wonderful season.

Watching the last song come to an end, I reflected on the characters and how they've developed over the course of the season. There's Quinn, the new mother (who had quite possibly the shortest labor in the history of humankind, but hey, that's TV), who gave her baby up for adoption by Shelby (that lucky baby is going to be raised by IDINA MENZEL). Puck, who seems just as stupid as ever, but realizes he really does care for Quinn. Kurt, who has come to terms with his homosexuality, and whose father is kick-ass about accepting it. Mercedes, who I actually am liking less than I used to (I really did not like her at all in the Funk episode; I felt that she was being generally ridiculous, and her capitulation at the end was unrealistic), but who showed that she is still an excellent singer during the Journey performance. Tina and Artie, whose relationship makes me SO HAPPY. Rachel, who I still don't like, and Finn, who loves her (though I can't understand why). Mr. Shue, who finally confessed his love to Emma, but she's dating John Stamos the dentist now! And best of all, Sue. I've loved watching her develop all season, and the speech she gave at the end of the episode was probably my favorite part of the show yet. She may have grown a heart, but she's still good ol' Sue. And that's why we love her.

At the end of the day, it was a perfect evening, spent with the perfect people, watching the perfect end to a perfect first season.

I'll take it.

Jersey Shore

I know it's been a long time since my last post, but I have an excuse, I swear!

I've been SUPER busy.

What with work, seeing friends, and looking for a second job, I feel like I haven't had a second to calm down in a while.

That's why the past few days were just what I needed. I headed down to Point Pleasant Beach, NJ to spend Memorial Day with Richie's family.

I got up bright and early on Sunday morning and headed to Penn Station. I bought my NJ Transit ticket and hopped on the train. The trip down was really nice, actually; once we got past the city, it was mostly heading through a bunch of small towns along the shore. After about two hours, I arrived in Point Pleasant. I had always made fun of the town's name before, but I understand now why it's called that. It really is pleasant: a small town right on the ocean, with tons of friendly people (and a LOT of tourists). Driving around the area made me think of the places we stayed when we spent vacations around Myrtle Beach.

I had a really nice time there, and I understand now why Richie loves being there so much. I was ready to stay a few extra days, just sitting in the sun and eating his mom's cooking! It was also nice to spend time with some people that I haven't seen in a while, and to meet a bunch of very nice new people. More than anything, though, I'm so thankful that even though I wasn't able to spend the weekend with my own family, Richie's family took me in and made me feel at home.

I got very tan, and luckily did not run into any guidos (although I was very near Seaside Heights, where Jersey Shore was filmed). All in all, it really was exactly what I needed: I had been itching to get out of the city, and since I couldn't go to my home, heading down to the beach for a couple of days was just perfect.

But alas, now I'm back in NYC, working as usual. This week will consist of continuing the job hunt, as well as hopefully doing the painting in my room over the weekend (since I get paid on Firday- hooray!). I'm still not sure what color I want- I'm thinking maybe green- but I'm really anxious to get it done so that I don't have to live with beige walls anymore. Last week I also discovered an indoor ladder that heads up to the roof, which makes me feel a lot better than the one I've been using, which is attached to the fire escape; no matter how many times I do it, I also get afraid that I'm going to fall when I come over the side of the roof backwards! I think our new apartment is coming together nicely (hopefully soon we'll be getting a couch, so we can get rid of our "crack den sofa", which is really just Emma's old mattress on the floor of our living room) and I'm really happy it all seems to be happening. We're planning a big party in July, celebrating both Emma's and my birthday (since they're only five days apart), and I really hope everything is finished by then so that it can be kind of a housewarming party as well.

Well that's about it for now...I hope everyone had a good Memorial Day!

Summer Reading

I think I've mentioned before how much I love to read.

And now that I have a commute that's an hour each way, I have a lot more free time in which to do that. Summer is typically when I get the bulk of my leisurely reading done (since I don't have to read for classes- woohoo!), and I've made quite a list for myself this year. I've taken suggestions from friends, best-new-fiction lists, and other assorted sources. Hopefully I'll be able to get them all at Bobst, so I don't have to buy them!

So here's my list (the starred books are ones that I've finished):

• Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides*
• Atonement by Ian McEwan*
• A Member of the Family by Susan Merrell*
• The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen*
• Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by Susanna Clarke
• Unaccustomed Earth by Juhmpa Lahiri
• Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Oblivion by David Foster Wallace
• Runaway by Alice Munro
• Austerlitz by W. G. Sebald
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro*
• Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
• Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson*
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
• The Known World by Edward P. Jones
• 2666 by Roberto Bolano
• White Teeth by Zadie Smith
• Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel

I'm also trying to read some of the classics that I've never gotten through for one reason or another, including:

• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
• Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
• Lolita by Vladamir Nabokov*
• Ulysses by James Joyce
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley*
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood*

Any more suggestions?