Weekend Review

Friday: Went to get my car, then to get my emissions inspection. Instead of the inspection I had to make an appointment, so I went home for an hour, then back out for the inspection, only right when I got there I got the call that my horn was in, so I went and had that fixed, and then went back and finally got the stupid inspection. Went back home and cleaned my apartment and took a shower, then drove to Richmond. Chatted with my grandparents, and visited with our new German neighbors. Read homework.

Saturday: Read in bed, then went for a run. Went with the grandparents to lunch, then home to read more. Almost took a long nap, but drank coffee and read more instead. Went to the Italian Festival in Church Hill with Sam and pet a pig, then went to Captain Buzzy's to chat. Went to aunt's house for some food and more chatting into the night.

Sunday: Read in bed. Had lots of family over for lunch. Did stretches with Sunni, then read more. Took Grandpa with me to church, where he apparently made note of all the dudes with tattoos wearing shorts. Back home to read, a short break for dinner, more reading, a short break to post on my blog, and now ready for more reading.

You know what's not conducive to an afternoon of productive homework?

Stuffing yourself at a delicious Indian buffet for lunch. That's what.

completely spoiled

I'll be the first to admit my grandparents spoil me. I'm in Richmond for the weekend and my sheets have been washed and the bed is made, clean towels are set out in the bathroom, the kitchen is stocked with skim milk and pistachios, and there are even fresh flowers in my room.

I know some of you think I only come to Richmond to do my laundry and eat good free food, but it's not true. Really. I come to hang out with my grandparents.

But I'll also be the first to admit that those other things make a pretty sweet bonus.

Back behind the wheel, and the horn works, too.

I finally got my car back. Finally. And just in time, too. I got a call yesterday from the car rental place that my insurance money was up and starting today I would have to pay for it myself. So I called the repair shop (again) and they said it's ready. Note they didn't call to tell me it's ready, I called them. Anyway, this was some pretty good timing. After watching The Office with the girls last night a friend helped me return my rental car and get to my apartment, and this morning another friend picked me up and took me to get my (finally) repaired car.

Only problem? They discovered this morning that my horn didn't work. But they'd ordered the part already. This made me feel uneasy. I had plans to drive to Richmond, and is it a bad idea to drive without a horn? The lady at the desk said she doesn't use her horn. "Do you usually use your horn?" she asked. Well, no, if you're asking if I'm one of those road ragers always poised to honk obnoxiously, that's not me. But what if someone slowly backs toward me and I don't have a horn to stop them from crunching my brand new hood and bumper?

Anyway, long story short, I left without the horn but in about three hours they called and said they had it, so I was able to get that fixed. I also passed my emissions test and applied my new registration sticker to the license. And everything seems to be working fine because I made it safely to Richmond.

Of course now that I have my own 2000 car back I'm missing the power windows that actually work on all four windows, the air vent that doesn't constantly flip up and can actually point where I direct it, and the cd player of that 2007 rental car...

Who knows what tonight is???

It's the season premier of The Office! Yessss.

I expected this, but it's still annoying.

I haven't mentioned it lately, so you might not realize that I still don't have my car back after my accident a month ago. Every day the new expected date of completion changes. The original estimate was for September 12. Then they called and said it might be ready late on Friday the 14th, or on Monday the 17th. That Monday afternoon I called and they said maybe Thursday the 20th. Friday the 21st I called and they said today, the 24th. Today I called and now they say it should be ready tomorrow. I won't believe it until I see it.

Weekend Review

Friday: Read all morning in bed, ate, read some more, finally got showered and dressed, drove to Foster's Market in Chapel Hill to eat a scone and read more, drove back to Raleigh to read more. This sounds like a lot of reading, and it was, but I'm pretty sure I did some puttering in there, too, and at the end of the day did not feel like I'd done enough.

Saturday: Got up and met Tess and Elizabeth to head to the NC State vs. Clemson football game. Sat in traffic on Hillsborough for almost an hour and then realized one of the other girls didn't have her ID to get into the game (which, thinking back, I don't think they ever checked anyway...), so drove back to her place and got it, then took a different route back to the stadium and quickly got in. Started counting how many times Elizabeth was jeered at for wearing orange and purple. Watched State lose from close seats in the end zone. Melted into a boiling puddle of sweat. Left during fourth quarter tired and hungry. Grabbed a sandwich on the way home and took a shower. Tried to read but took a nap instead. Started reading again around 8pm. Stopped reading to meet Tess for ice cream at 9:30. Read more from 11 until 3am.

Sunday: Slept in and went to late church service. Went downtown to hear some opera singers and symphony players, but only heard two opera songs before the symphony members left and didn't like the opera ladies when they switched to show tunes, so left. Happened to drive by a coffee shop downtown and stopped, which turned out to be my new favorite place. Read until they closed at 5. Home to read more, then eat and watch tv. Talked to parents and puttered on internet, now ready to read more.

more on that movie, because apparently I'm obsessed

So I decided to make use of the internet and actually look up that movie Kevin Costner is filming (with my dad!) and it's called Swing Vote. And then I looked at the cast list, which includes Nathan Lane (Ryan saw him at the hotel a few weeks ago), Kelsey Grammer, Deniss Hopper, Stanley Tucci, and George Lopez. And if you keep scrolling down the list you come to... Joe Gallegos, who plays a reporter. I know Joe! In real life! We were friends in junior high (and lots of kids wanted us to be more than friends, but that didn't happen even after he gave me flowers for my birthday) and kept in touch through mutual friends in high school and a little in college. The last time I saw him was a couple years ago in Santa Fe- he met a friend and me downtown for drinks. Anyway, just another way I'm connected to this movie and Kevin Costner!

update on The Extra

I talked to my dad this morning about his experience with Kevin Costner. Get this- my dad stayed there while they filmed until almost four in the morning! Crazy Dad. But, he's totally going to be in the movie, if you know to look for him. I don't actually know the name of the movie, but next year before the election look out for a Kevin Costner movie about a presidential election that is so close it all depends on one voter, in Texico, New Mexico. And in some scene you will see Costner and his movie daughter or granddaughter or something, and in the background my dad will walk by! That's right- they pulled him from the crowd and had him walk by as they shot a scene seven times. He'll be the guy with a white beard and wearing a leather jacket.

extra!

Kevin Costner is in Santa Fe right now. My brother Ryan always keeps me updated on these things when he sees celebrities. The extra part of the story is that Costner (and some others I don't remember) are filming a movie now that requires a presidential debate scene with a big crowd, so they've woo-ed a crowd to the rodeo grounds with a free concert of Costner and his guitar and free raffle prizes. And apparently my dad has gone over to sit in the crowd and listen to music and be an extra in a movie.

He's always doing stuff like that. Not trying to be an extra, but trying to see movies being filmed. Years ago he took me downtown to stand in the street and watch Woody Harrelson film a dancing scene for some movie I don't remember and never saw. Dad and I also tried to catch some filming of Rent on the plaza once, but we were too late. When Jessica Simpson filmed Employee of the Month at the park across from our neighborhood dad and Ryan went to check it out, and were told by security to leave. My dad also keeps me updated on all the movies being filmed around New Mexico. The latest news was that the old state capitol building right next to the building where he works downtown was recently transformed into the White House for one day of shooting.

Clearly, that stuff is exciting for my father, and I bet he's having a great time tonight.

Looking North

I've been thinking about moving to New England. Ok, that's not really true. But I've definitely been thinking about how I've never been there but I bet I would love it and maybe when I'm finally done with school in three more years I'll go up there. I hear it gets pretty cold, but I think I can handle it. I used to want to go into the Peace Corps and I was eyeing those cold Eurasian countries. Ok I'll be honest, I mostly preferred those places because I'm afraid of bugs and snakes and heat with no air conditioning.

Anyway, here's what my past four years looked like:
-A semester of school in Tacoma
-A semester of school in London followed by a month of travelling around Europe
-My final semester of school in Tacoma, then a few months working and hanging out
-A year in Richmond at two different jobs
-A year of grad school in Raleigh
-A summer in Richmond
-and back to Raleigh.

As you can see, I move around a lot. In fact, in about a month I will have had my current apartment longer than I've lived in any one place since I graduated from high school and left Santa Fe. (Sort of. In some ways my grandparents' house in Richmond wins because I still go there all the time and always have my same room to live in. But you get the idea.)

So I guess I'm just getting antsy. Alas, I still have quite a while to go in North Carolina.

Welcome to my living room.

This is my living room. I got my first plant to put on top of the new bookshelf that I put together myself, so I thought I would share them with you all. If you come visit I'll make tea and we can sit and chat.

Weekend Review

Friday: Slept until 11, finally read a chapter, went to school for a meeting about my thesis, looked at a couple of books at the library, went to an HGSA meeting at Mitch's for two hours (ugh), came home and wasted lots of time, finally read one more chapter (I think?).

Saturday: Slept until 9, read, went for a run (finally- it's been over two weeks), read more, made biscuits for dinner, went to The Nanny Diaries with Elizabeth, came home to read more.

Sunday: Couldn't wake up in time for the early church service (early being 9:30) so slept more and read, then went to later service (11:30). Home to read and grade papers for the rest of the day, including some more I'm about to go do.

Sometimes when you follow the rules you end up in old lady shorts.

The summer of 1999, between my sophomore and junior years of high school, I spent eight weeks at a music camp in Michigan playing the piano and cello. The camp was hard core, and I was grateful I was a piano major and didn't have to deal with the crazy competitiveness that band and orchestra kids had to deal with because of chair placements. But that's a different story.

This camp has a strict uniform code that hasn't changed much since it started in 1928. Concert wear for girls includes navy corduroy knickers, knee-high light blue socks, and a light blue collared shirt (or white on Sundays) tucked in. Plus a red sweater. In the summer. When not performing, girls are allowed to wear navy shorts, and the light blue socks do not necessarily have to be knee high. But the shirt must always be tucked in.

Going to this camp was a big deal for me. I thought about it for several years and worked hard to raise the necessary funds. I was so nervous about sending my audition tape and application that I later wrote about the application process for my college admissions essay. After I found out I was accepted (and even before, I'm sure) I pored over the literature they sent in the mail about camp life and what to pack.

I knew all about the uniform. Knickers and buttoned-up shirts were loaned by the camp (that's right, those things soaked up many a camper's sweat year after year), and you purchase-ordered your blue socks ahead of time. If you wanted shorts or light blue polo shirts you were on your own. But there were still rules.

According to multiple instructions, a girl's navy (and not denim) shorts were not to be shorter than the length of her fingertips. In fact, they called them "walking shorts." Now, if you girls would please stand up and notice how low your fingertips fall, and think back to high school and the days before hip long shorts, I think you will understand where this is going. Long shorts were not cool. But at camp, apparently they were the rule. I had to shop for a very long time before I could find long enough navy shorts that didn't have pleats and a high waist. The pairs I finally settled on were still extremely embarrassing. "It shouldn't be too bad," I convinced myself, "because all the other girls will have long shorts, too. Right?"

Wrong.

I arrived at camp with at least three pairs of long and unflattering shorts. I followed the rules. And I never saw a single other high school girl with long shorts like mine. Somehow they all knew they didn't need to worry about that rule. Or they simply chose fashion over obedience.

I was not a happy camper. And I sure sported those knickers proudly.

woohoo!

Guess who has been classified as a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes? ME!!! That's right. Not only does my address, driver's license, vehicle plates and registration, voter registration, and state tax payments classify me as a resident, but my school does, too. Whew.

the game is called "awesome shirts we should buy Andi"

Check out what Val and Nic have come up with so far:

link

really great weekend

Friday: Slept in after getting home late Thursday night. Read one measly chapter, then went to the store to find zucchini. The first store didn't have it, so I tried another. With zucchini and lots of cheese in tow, went home to make delicious zucchini squares. Immediately cut my thumb on a cheese grater, but wrapped it up in a paper towel to cover the blood and kept working. Also sliced cheese and frantically got myself ready, then left with zucchini squares and cheese for the graduate student and faculty reception at Oakview. Mingled and chatted away. Talked with a professor about Texas and the Oregon Trail while everyone else cleaned up. Went out with a group for (more) drinks afterwards.

Saturday: Up early to pack up my dirty laundry and hit the road for Richmond. Arrived in time for Mexican Saturday lunch. Took a nap. Went to the store to look for zucchini. The first store didn't have it. Recognize this?! Found it at a different store. Learned Ukrops doesn't sell beer, and sort of felt stupid for not knowing that already. Came home to make zucchini squares, but had happy hour with the grandparents instead. Started making zucchini squares, and used a food processor instead of slicing my thumb again. Frantically got myself ready and left with zucchini squares-turned-triangles and beer for the James and Jennifer Send-off. Chatted with lots of friends.

Sunday: Read another measly chapter in bed, then showered and ate delicious lunch with family. Read some more with tea and coffee while everyone else napped. Went to church and got teary-eyed over my real Murphys see-you-later. Home to watch some opera with Grandma and read. Scrounged up some dinner, and now about to read more.

"I think this one's a keeper."

On our never-ending quest to find decent Mexican food around here, the grandparents and I once again tried a new place today for Mexican Saturday. I learned from a recent survey about a couple of new places that are supposedly good. Then I read a review and decided we should try Cielito Lindo. Grandpa had the tilapia, I had good carne asada tacos, and Grandma and I both had margaritas. The place wasn't too far, was cute, and the waiter was friendly and put up with us very nicely (except for the part when Grandpa mentioned I'm from New Mexico and the waiter said "that's near Arizona, right?" Ugh. "Yes," I replied, "but it's much better than Arizona.")

It's still not what I'd like, but that's because New Mexico has spoiled me. Unlike many of the places we visit in Richmond, however, this is one we'll gladly visit again.

Finally.

Tonight I finally went to my first show down here in North Carolina. Well, not counting a few cover bands. Ever since I left Tacoma/Seattle I've really missed going to concerts. Tonight my friend Elizabeth and I went to Chapel Hill to see The Mountain Goats (but really it was just John Darnielle). It was great. I had forgotten about how I listened to a Mountain Goats cd on repeat as I packed up my apartment in Tacoma to move away. One of the lines is "I am gonna make it through this year if it kills me." I was prepared to use that as my theme song in my future home of Richmond, but luckily I didn't have to. Of course now with busy and hard school plus a thesis to write, I might have to reinstate it...

back to school: weekend of homework

Friday: Slept in, spent many hours working on my application for in-state tuition, ran errands, home to eat and read well into the night.

Saturday: Read and did homework, ate lunch, drove around looking for an open coffee shop with big enough table, finally found one and spent four hours working on my thesis, home for a crossword puzzle in front of the tv and a little more reading.

Sunday: Read, went to church, home for lunch, read, took three hour nap, ran errands, read.