big nickel slot cramp

that awkward moment when my first post in 2011 was on december 26

2011-12-26T02:23:00.006-05:00

It's 2:30 in the morning, the day after Christmas and - since I can't sleep - I'm obviously googling myself. And I came across this blog. It's insane for me to see that I blogged 177 times in 2007, 100 times in 2008, 56 times in 2009, and just 8 times last year. I don't have the wherewithal to create a line graph right now illustrating this steep decline, but I'm assuming it's not pretty. Even uglier is the fact that I haven't documented a piece of life on bnsc in almost a year and a half. Since I'm wide awake, and since I haven't blogged at all in 2011, I thought December 26 was as good a day as any to make a brief reappearance. Even though the people who read this blog likely follow me on Twitter - and/or know me in real life - I still feel compelled to write something really general here to chronicle my life on the internet...which I'll probably happen upon when I google myself again in 2013.

My last post in July 2010 was about moving (what a great title I came up with that day). I was moving to a new apartment, moving to a new school, moving, too, into a new full-time position. I was a boy on the move, apparently. And now I'm not really sure where I am. It's hard for me to believe that I'm three semesters into my M.A., that I'm two classes and my thesis away from graduating, and that I have no immediate plans to go back to school. I don't know what I want in life generally, but school has always been a constant since age 4 (or 3...or 5? when did I start pre-school? I went for 2 years...). How long can I really go without being able to say that I'm in school? Additionally, how long will it take me to write this post? Twenty minutes later and I'm getting nowhere. I've already read over what I've written approximately 37 times, and it's all too clear to me why my blogging stopped: I'm a slow writer. I was always the worst at not knowing when to just upload a photo and be done with it.

I could post photos here that have been all over facebook, twitter, and/or instagram, but that seems sort of pointless now. I think I have a picture that I've never posted online, and that photo is of me consuming my first alcoholic beverage. It happened on Tuesday, November 22, just a couple weeks before my 24th birthday, and it was glorious and sad and arbitrary all at once. Glorious because it was alcohol, sad because I was almost 24, and arbitrary because, well, two days before Thanksgiving - and two and a half weeks before my birthday - isn't really when I imagined I'd be sipping my first adult beverage. But it was sort of perfect. Several people on Twitter suggested that my first drink be an amaretto sour, and that's what I ultimately drank (and I've had a lot of amaretto sours since then, though not in awhile, actually). Here's a photo (unedited) that one of my friends took of me holding it. I wonder if this was before or after I asked how to hold it? Look how happy I am!

I feel like I've done a lot of embarrassing things in my first month as a drinker, but I'm pleased with my progress. I thought about starting a blog to chronicle my drinking adventures (I thought it would be fun to do a sort of "I'm 24 and just started drinking! Read this funny blog about it!), but ultimately - though not shockingly - got too lazy to start it. I'm sort of glad I didn't. Even though it's been almost a year and a half since this blog has seen action, and even though I have no immediate plans to begin blogging again, it somehow feels really right to be posting about this here. I've been through a lot with this blog, and I think it deserves to share a drink with me. Let's all toast to another year alive, to new friends and acquaintances, to lessons learned, to the wonderful experiences I hope 2012 has in store for all of us. I'm excited. Cheers!

moving

2010-07-28T21:09:00.005-05:00

Two and a half weeks later, I'm finally writing to say that I'm moving into the place discussed in my last post (with Fred and Ethel the cats). It's happening this weekend, and it's hard for me to describe what my thoughts are at the moment. Though I'm incredibly excited to be moving to this particular neighborhood, this is literally the first time, as strange as it sounds, that I'll be living anywhere other than my house or my school. I'm very used to packing and moving from one room to another, or from a room here back to my dad's house in Pennsylvania. Now I'm moving to a space that is neither of those, and I still haven't come to terms with the fact that I no longer live and work in the same building. I have to actually travel somewhere to go to work? And, come next month, to go to school? If this isn't an occasion to say WOE IS ME, then I'm just not sure what is.

I've been so caught up in my moving situation that sometimes I almost forget I'm starting graduate school in a month. I'm hoping school + work + some semblance of a social life can all peacefully coexist but, since classes start in just over a month, I do still have time to enjoy what's left of summer before my life possibly comes to an end.

I know this blog is literally about nothing and that it's going absolutely nowhere, so I think I'm just going to stop. I thought this post would be super emotional and cause some tears, but it's really not doing anything. Maybe after I move I'll have something more meaningful to say.

i'd love a place to live

2010-07-10T16:34:00.004-05:00

Remember when I used to blog about my hair, like, every day (or blog in general)? I miss that. My hair = a journey, and right now I'm pretty pleased with where it's taking me. I'm also pleased with my new(ish) phone. It's a pretty pretty droid and it makes me so happy. So happy, in fact, that I just took a picture with it (#cutecouple).

I'm getting really excited about grad school/being a real person. Job/housing/classes/loans are slowly coming together. I just started reading a book for one of my classes, and I saw a condo on Thursday that I really like. I hate that people ask me "did you get the place?" or "did you make an offer?" Unfortunately this isn't an episode of House Hunters. I am essentially being interviewed by people and they have to CHOOSE whether or not they want me to live with them. I'm feeling really positive about this one, though. The guy who lives there is really great, and he has two cats named Fred and Ethel - which is weird, since when I was younger my family had two cats named Ricky and Lucy (Ricky was the girl, and Lucy was the boy, like Ricki Lake and Luciano Pavarotti?). I can't wait to hear back from him, because just getting an email back, good or bad, is such an accomplishment in the room-hunting game that I'm playing. I just want to know where I'll be living in a month.

When I hear something, I'll be sure to let everyone know!

new shoes!

2010-05-31T18:25:00.004-05:00

I keep forgetting to blog and I just ordered Chinese, so I thought while I wait for that I could possibly write something here.

So I graduated three weeks ago. I haven't been to the bank yet (oops?) to deposit my graduation money, which really needs to happen soon. I can't explain this, except that those checks/bills are my connection to my undergraduate self, to my family who lives elsewhere, and to a feeling of attainment that only a graduation ceremony can engender. But I will probably go to the bank tomorrow.

I wanted to post my new running shoes here because I think they are very pretty and deserve pictures on my very famous website.

The insides are my favorite part! Aren't they cool!? Going to the gym now is very fun! I can see how people become addicted to working out. I am also very obsessed with Clif Bars which are chunks of heaven with 23 vitamins and minerals. If you have other healthy suggestions please let me know!

My Chinese food got here in 12 minutes (new record?) which sounds unsafe but also incredible. It either takes 15 minutes of 45 minutes at this place, so if you don't get it by about the 18-minute mark you know you're in for a long wait. Now I think I am going to be sick.

some thoughts i'm having

2010-04-30T00:59:00.019-05:00

On Thursday a little before two in the morning, I finished my last undergraduate paper in the basement of the library. And I wanted to vomit. It wasn't that my paper was that poorly written (or maybe it was), it was that I thought back to moving into my room freshman year, to my mom crying as she left me in a different state with no one to watch over me, to my life as an 18 year old college student without direction. And quite frankly I didn't know how I got to where I was. As I tried to finish my paper, I wrote on Twitter that concluding this paper was concluding such a huge part of my life - and I was reminded by Kristin via a Facebook wall post that I tend to get dramatic about these things. Over four years ago in March 2006, I wrote on my Xanga (in a rather dramatic way) about having 50 days left as a senior in high school. Woe was me, a soon-to-be high school graduate, excited but terrified about what was happening, or going to happen soon.

In college I found my voice, many times over. All of the friends I've made at Marymount, all of my professors, my classes, my bosses, jobs, and acquaintances - they all culminated in an experience I never thought possible. Though somehow it happened. Show me something I wrote in high school and I will blush with embarrassment. Show me a picture of myself back then, and I'll probably get really uncomfortable and have to leave the room. And show me an article of clothing I wore and I will, still today, wonder why I thought wearing a size large was ever the right decision. Whoever Patrick was in 2006 is not who Patrick is today and, as irreligious as I am, I'd like to say a huge amen.

I am so thrilled to be going to a well-regarded graduate school to study something because I am interested and want to, and I couldn't be more excited, after almost 22 and a half years, to be (almost) in the real world. I didn't know how I would possibly survive in college, or how I would afford to buy deodorant, but everything works out. That's why I'm trying not to freak out about the future. Though it seems impossible now, and though this also makes me want to vomit, I'm positive that I'll be okay.

deposit

2010-04-19T19:50:00.003-05:00

I sent in my deposit today for graduate school at The George Washington University. I feel really good about the fact that I'm going to a school named for our first president, and even better that the deposit was only $100 vs. Georgetown's $500 request. Getting a GW email and registering for classes soon excites me so much, though the thought of graduating in less than three weeks is pretty cool too (only cool because I have summer plans/a vague idea of what I'm doing in the fall). Commencement will be the first time that my family will be here together in one space, which I guess is fine - I'm still unsure about where to do a post-graduation meal. Do I operate under the assumption (like my mom says) that this is "my day" and that I should pick whatever I want? Or like what? Sucks that it's on Mothers Day because it will probably be full everywhere. Also, my internship technically ends this week which is sad. It was the perfect place for me to be this semester and I'll miss working there, but it's very close to my new school so that's cool? Anyway, I'm currently in the library ~studying~ for my Modern Poetry final on Thursday, so I guess I should get back to/start that.

thought i'd say hi

2010-03-07T00:28:00.003-05:00

I didn't blog at all in February? Cool. I have been really consumed in waiting for graduate school decisions/being a senior/whatever. I am 2 for 2 so far in acceptances to Brandeis and Georgetown but George Washington is making me wait so so long. I feel very strongly that I would have heard already had it not been for blizzard week last month, but as a result I am assuming they are really behind (which is understandable). I'll then need to see what my financial situation is/who gives me the most money to make my decision. I am really hoping for a miracle, but we'll see what happens. Like I have a job for the summer which is positive, but I'm still pretty uneasy about everything. I've also recently been contemplating submitting an abstract to be considered for the student research conference at my school, but I'm not sure that I've done anything worthwhile/I feel really inadequate. I would consider my senior seminar paper or a sociology project, both which I did last semester, but I'm not sure that it's good enough or what they're looking for which is frustrating. I also need to buy a cap and gown/other things which could be cheaper and like who really knows if I'm even graduating, because I sure don't. Like I took all the classes I think I should have, but I'd love to be told that I'm good to go. I don't have tons to say outside of those topics. I ordered Chinese food tonight and it took 16 minutes between me calling them to order and them calling me to say they were here. So strong. What are your thoughts about my life?

new glasses?

2010-01-31T15:42:00.007-05:00

How embarrassing that I haven't blogged since January04. I'm currently in the library for a reason that is not yet clearly defined, which is why I am turning to this creative outlet while I consider what else I could do with my life. Recently I bought two new pairs of glasses, one which I am wearing at the moment so I thought I would share/PhotoBooth is so so committed to making me look severely challenged. They're larger frames which people seem to really like.

This library chair is pretty. The other pair I purchased is similar to the one I already had but black instead of brown. Additionally, I know I look overly annoyed/depressed in the first one but today's not my day for taking photos of myself/when is it?

My internship is going really well (I think) and I'm really enjoying it - not having to cross any streets to get to Subway for lunch to get a double meat BMT is making my life so good at the moment. [To learn more about where I intern, please visit rainn.org]. My classes are also fine/whatever. They're not classes that involve oceans of homework so my life for now isn't completely stressful. I am more stressed about what I will be doing with my life after this semester. I should be receiving graduate school decisions in the next month which is positive/terrifying. For now I'm thrilled about the prospect of getting a grilled chicken sandwich for dinner and watching the Grammys later and possibly doing some internship journaling on the side. We'll see.

feeling just GREat

2010-01-04T23:54:00.004-05:00

I am looking above my desk and realizing that, despite what my Link Larkin calendar says, it is NOT December 2009 anymore. I really need a new wall calendar but I haven't found one yet that really speaks to me. In an unrelated vein, today I took the GREs which were simultaneously nauseating/not bad. My verbal/math scores are okay. I do NOT understand GRE scoring - my math score is higher but my verbal score falls within a higher percentile? Average scores, as reported on the arbitrary websites I looked at, don't look that great. Mine are definitely higher, but I'm also troubled by some of the statistics I have seen which HAVE to be wrong. I have two sites confirming that my verbal score is higher than Harvard's average? That is obviously incorrect. Now I also feel better and worse about my chances of getting into my schools. Like my scores are fine but also not really. So so stressful. I need a support group in this really strong way but my google searches for such a thing are performed in vain. Does anyone have any resources for me? I essentially just need to write statements of purpose and I'm done. Hopefully in a later post I'll have good news re: grad school acceptance!

every two minutes

2009-12-25T01:55:00.005-05:00

I never tweeted or told anyone about my last post which I feel is a shame since the title is so so good. Additionally, it's Christmas? I got some great gifts from my secret Santa tonight (I just typed secret Satan, oops). I had Alison and Alison had me! What are the chances? My sisters and I + my brother-in-law exchanged names this year for the first time and that's what happened. She was not in attendance, but she got me two nice shirts, nice socks, and a calendar - I'm very excited to wear them in life/to my internship! To that end, I'm interning at RAINN this spring, the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization, and I could not be more thrilled. It is really rewarding not to have used my school's career/internship center in order to find/apply to/interview for this position. Sarah interned there for the online hotline so that's how I even knew what it was. I'd love to share some statistics with you, which are all available on RAINN's website.

1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

College-age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.

Every two minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.

Only 6 percent of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.

SO HORRIFYING.

There are oceans of statistics available for your perusal on their site. I will be journaling for my internship (in order to earn academic credit, in addition to writing a paper), so maybe some of that can be turned into blog posts here. Or actually, I might be blogging for my school, too, so I would post it there. I'm really not sure. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

Oh, BA/MA

2009-12-22T13:13:00.004-05:00

I am horrified by the number of people posting on Facebook that they got a 4.0 this semester, mainly because they all go to state schools and, if their reputations/pictures are true, then I'm confused as to when they find time to study in between getting drunk. I have nothing against state schools/people who drink but I think it's really shocking. I guess this is why, as a current college student, I can't really take Bachelor's degrees seriously. It happens outside state school systems, too, and results in society's devaluation of these degrees at large - and my direct observations would indicate that anyone who can pay for a degree, whether or not it happens in four years, will eventually get one. St. John's University's student newspaper published this story re: this topic. I am so so interested in graduate school and really hope I get into one of the programs to which I am applying, but I'm so troubled when people think the programs I'm applying to are stupid or that there is no work in that field. Some people are really supportive, which is very nice of them. I just wish naysayers would stop being so rude to this end because it does really upset me. I have a lot of thoughts about this and would love to chat individually with anyone who is interested!

hey there

2009-12-14T22:11:00.002-05:00

Sorry, I know that it has been five and a half weeks or so since I last blogged, which is by far the longest I have gone without blogging since beginning BNSC, but it is my senior year after all and my last blog re: lori was so so good I couldn't cover it up. You understand, don't you? It's like Christmas Eve right now for me in this really strange way in that grades are due by noon tomorrow so sleeping tonight is not going to happen. I am extremely concerned about one of my grades. Never before have I been so uncertain about a grade to the extent that I'm not sure whether it will be an A- or a C+. Both are really feasible outcomes as far as I'm concerned but that is a really trivial matter to everyone but me. I have a lot to chat about re: getting mugged, securing an internship, etc., but I'd love to dedicate a few posts to those items throughout winter break. Right now I am literally calculating what my GPA would be if I get a B in that class. Tragic results. I also extended the calculation to include what it would be if I got straight As next semester and it is SHOCKING how much one B could affect my cumulative GPA. It depresses me so much. Anyway, I am currently very obsessed with Kris Allen's album and rewatching the Glee finale. Chills every time. What have you been up to?

a lament re: lori & pictures

2009-11-05T23:58:00.006-05:00

I am really sorry Lori. I know you are used to me writing about you by now, used to, even, me talking about you using my webcam (an arguably more personal, forthright medium). Again, I am sorry - you did, after all, give me life. Why, then, are you slowly - and rather deliberately - trying to saw away at the very life you provided me in a decidedly monstrous fashion? You know what I'm talking about. THE PICTURES. It seems like a distant memory, doesn't it? Those pictures you posted on Facebook of me and the girls - your prized triplets - during your summer sojourn in D.C.? I have not forgotten. And how could I? Any goodnatured person - any righteous human being - would not dare to post, let alone tag, pictures of that nature. And what resulted from my vehement protests?: an empty promise. Despite your claim that you would remove them with majority consent, and in light of said majority, you have failed to take action. I had to step in and take appropriate measures myself. Yes, I admit, uploading a picture of myself and tagging it as you was perhaps extreme - but I had to make sure your friends knew what I looked like. And yet somehow, unexplainably, your "friends" have not said a word. You said you did not like the picture because I was "making a face," and this same allegation was proffered with respect to my newest uploaded photograph. My wall post to you may have been slightly preemptive in saying "you can't tell me this picture isn't good." I can admit my mistakes. But again - and I'm sensing a pattern! - you replied "you always make faces." Faces! And to think, you the fountainhead of the very countenance so questioned! I have just about had it with your insistence that my faces pollute my pictures, that they somehow deny them what could have been a remarkable photo! Comment after comment on the actual picture confirms what I already suspect, but your voice is noticeably (and consistently) missing from that equation. Perhaps this issue can be peaceably reconciled - perhaps not. What I am sure of is the continuation of my many "faces." And for that, I am not sorry.

skip this post

2009-10-28T23:23:00.002-05:00

I feel like a crazy person because I have checked out books from my library on three separate occasions in the past two days. Oceans of books. I'm so troubled by people who have never checked out a book before (or who have never been to the library period) while I have at least a dozen sitting around my room at the moment. My roommate must have really interesting thoughts about some of the titles: Feminist theory in practice and process, Ernest Hemingway: machismo and masochism, Second wave: a reader in feminist theory, Hemingway's genders: rereading the Hemingway text. The list goes on. This semester is so much work but really good for me. Next semester should be positive - three classes + internship. I had a meeting with my advisor last Friday which went so smoothly. I paused to open my MacBook for a little iCal presentation which was so impressive. Now I can register on Monday for the last time as an undergrad, sad sad. I still need to actually find an internship, but I'm trying not to worry. I've applied for one that I'd really love to get but we'll see what happens. I don't think I made my resume as great as it could have been so I will improve it for future use. This post is so jumbled and not humorous at all. Oops.

allison is a liar

2009-10-24T01:29:00.004-05:00

Last weekend was open house at my school which = me touring around large groups. Each open house, one of the student ambassadors gives a speech - and this time it was Allison. Oh yes, Allison, the one who stuck the, well, nevermind. Anyway, I knew my name was going to be mentioned somewhere in the speech but the details I was given beforehand were really blurry. And for good reason. When my name came up it was in reference to her meeting me at first-year orientation - a very tender experience. But then she said she beat me at poker. WHAT A FIB! I couldn't believe the falsehood, this outright declaration which simply cannot be backed up with any credible substantiation. Who cares if I shouted in the middle of her speech? It's not my fault she LIED. After her speech, when ten or so families crowded around me for a tour, I made an important announcement: Allison is a liar. And, when families joined a few seconds later, I provided an overview of what they had missed: Allison, the girl who just gave the speech, is a liar. I know this is a harsh position to take, but I had no choice. When we saw Allison just a little ahead of us on our tour, I couldn't help myself from shouting "OH, there's Allison the LIAR, I hope she's not LYING to you on your tour." I think it was effective, or at least a good way to eat some time in between buildings. At the end of the tour, when I thought I was late, Allison's group appeared behind us. Oh LOOK, there's Allison, BEHIND us - oh how late she is! What justice. But in the end, what a great bit for us. We worked that all day, and I can't imagine having a better bit until I perhaps give a speech in the spring. "Good morning everyone. You may have seen my dear friend Allison at the registration table. Well SHE IS A LIAR. Have a great tour." It's either that or Mean Girls quotes and racist jokes. And nothing in between.

equality

2009-10-12T14:33:00.003-05:00

Going to the Equality March this weekend would have been v v fun and historic, but I was in bed for a greater part of it. My nose is running! I am using all of my roommate's tissues! These are the problems I am dealing with at the moment. I did see some equality stuff on the ground later on though.

portrait

2009-09-23T23:17:00.003-05:00

So very precious. :)

discarded signs

2009-09-13T00:44:00.004-05:00

Left outside the White House.

photoblog: bn w. sbb

2009-08-30T22:59:00.004-05:00

Barnes and Noble (to do homework) and a delicious pizza happened tonight with Sarah. I sat under Women's Studies. Sarah had Gay&Lesbian. I'm pretty sure she almost bought this book. Enjoy these photos I took after doing some reading about Marx.

congrats/cheer up

2009-08-28T14:34:00.003-05:00

I was supposed to blog about my sister's engagement, or rather, my sister was supposed to send me an email describing the history of the relationship she's in with her now-fiance. This of course never happened. I have grown bored and it's been (I think) months since the prospect of producing such a blog surfaced while she was visiting me in DC/VA this summer. As a result BNSC has never congratulated this particular sister on her engagement, so I am doing so now. And, if this sister wishes to submit said document to me in the future, one that, I think, was intended to chronicle her six-year relationship, she is most welcome to do so. I will not post a picture without first asking, but perhaps in the near future permission will be granted to that end. As an aside, I am hoping this post will cheer my sister up because, if you are friends with her on Facebook, you may have noticed her very blatant negativity in recent status updates. She obviously hasn't read The Secret! You have to send positive thoughts out into the universe or there is simply no hope. Below are her five most recent thoughts. Send some positivity her way in the comments section!

1. does not want tomorrow to come
2. my body hurts
3. does not want to go to work
4. does not want to pack for school
5. doesn't want summer to end soon

oops

2009-08-27T22:46:00.009-05:00

Grape Crush is very yummy.

My school now has an Orange Crush fountain drink option (formerly Orange Twister) where I daily get my panini(s) so I've been consuming a lot of that (though also purchasing Orange Fantas from vending machines when necessary - I still hold a strong allegiance to the OF). Tonight I bought a GC in a decidedly spontaneous manner and have a lot of positive thoughts about it.

School is back in session? I'm currently enrolled in 21 credits however six of those will be done in the next couple weeks. I'm not really sure how it came to be that I am a senior in college, but whatever. Like, where am I going to be in a year from now? So much to consider. My current consideration is why so many people around me have created Twitters in the past few days. My friend Allison, my boss, my MOM? Lori is officially tweeting up a storm (well, not quite yet) so you should follow her @Tripparent. She really loves that name (she is the parent of triplets, get it?) and has been using it for as long as I can remember. Can I share a funny screencap?

WHOOPS, SORRY.

questionable mcdonald's lighting

2009-08-08T00:24:00.004-05:00

I have a lot of questions about the lighting fixtures at the Hamburg McDonald's. I know we have the largest Cabela's in the world, but really? These wooden/antler spectacles effectively add to the location's chosen theme though I can't say I am especially fond of them. I shouldn't complain though. It's a pretty nice McDonald's. Don't tell anyone, but I splurged and got a double cheeseburger the other day instead of a mcdouble. The extra slice was so nice! And only nineteen cents more? Very satisfying. If you have strong thoughts about McD leave me a comment. I could definitely have a lengthy chat about it.

lunges

2009-08-05T22:40:00.004-05:00

Thank you again for this phone, and thank you also for teaching me this fun trick.

Ohhh Emily. I think you said it's okay for me to post this after you previewed it today? Our phone chat was most enjoyable this afternoon. I am totally fine living vicariously through you and not doing what you do myself. Please go to GWU.

Can we also discuss this situation seen at Dunkin Donuts tonight?:

Lots of lunges going on. Do you have any thoughts on the matter?

you're all i need to get by

2009-08-03T22:12:00.003-05:00

I don't think my mom realizes how happy her Fanta supply makes me! I always wanta Fanta.

And look at her kitty presenting the sylvan view! Thank you Rooney.

creepy

2009-08-02T00:10:00.006-05:00

I am home, or rather in Pennsylvania. Is this really home anymore? I'd like to regard VA/DC as home now because that's really where I live/want to be but I feel bad disposing of PA so early! I've seen four friends and some family so far which is nice but I want to go back already. Off topic but my iPhone (thank youuu) takes pretty pictures so I'll probably start taking really creepy photos and posting them here! Maybe you will see yourself here soon?

Lori after dinner (she did NOT know I was taking a picture and won't until she sees this)! I wish she would have had her glasses on. She looks fancy in her glasses. New profile pic? jkjk

Kristin and Erin. Just a few 21-year-olds kickin it at a diner on a Saturday night. Posed, obvi. Let me know if you want this on FB! Or just upload it yourself.

hair update!

2009-07-20T16:34:00.007-05:00

I was very recently helping my friend craft an article when I remembered that I enjoy writing and that I have a blog which, quite tragically, hasn't seen much action lately. A lot actually happens to me but I never write it down. I would like to report, however, that I haven't cut my hair in nearly two months. The growing out process is going fairly well, mostly because my hair care of late is strictly regimented. I've started to shower at night, wear a beanie and hood over night to flatten my hair, and then assess the situation in the morning. It almost always works. Without this process my hair would stick straight up, an unfortunate reminder of the number of cowlicks that reside on top of my head. Actually, this geographic description warrants closer consideration. Several weeks ago when I got my hair cleaned up in the back and on the sides (by a professional), the Vietnamese woman actually surmised that I have a cowlick within my right sideburn - though I'm not sure on what grounds she conjured such an idea. Nevertheless, my hair is unbecoming without this exercise. Perhaps a picture of me playing with my hair at work (taken just moments ago) will help illuminate this posting. Actually, it probably won't. Oh well.

visit from kristin

2009-07-11T19:32:00.004-05:00

Kristin came to see me yesterday for a little while which was fun. She had oddly never been to the Jefferson Memorial so that was the only place we really planned to go. We also stopped by the White House and Real World House - the two most important houses in D.C. - and enjoyed some smoothies and Noodles and Company as well. I'd like to publicly complain about my phone's camera for a moment - it's not working very well! The pictures are coming out very much like I painted them myself which is very artistic but not appreciated (I don't mean to say that I could paint that well, just that they look painted)! I'll show you what I mean.

What is wrong?

hi thanks

2009-06-15T07:24:00.003-05:00

Hi hi. I started working this morning at 7:30 and now, an hour later, I've decided a blog is necessary (I fear that otherwise I will most certainly fall asleep!). I'd first like to thank everyone who responded to my last vlog and shared their opinions with me regarding McIntosh's white privilege reading. These responses helped me so much when writing my paper (since they were the basis of it) and some of them were really outstanding. I had so much to work with, in fact, that my two-to-three page paper ended up being a full six pages! This is also because I'm ridiculous, but for now I will blame the amount of material I had. My introductory paragraph is a 300-word tragedy that explains my methodology/propounds some operational definitions that are really imperative and generally set the tone for a really long and blah paper. It's not bad or anything, I've just reread it so many times that I can't even talk about it anymore.

It's now after 9 and I still can't function properly. I have a granola bar in my bag that I could indulge in, or I could continue to lick my thumb and clean the layers of dirt off my baby Macbook. It was so dirty! How on earth did it acquire so much filth? Some sort of sidewalk/patio power cleaner would have been preferable were I not cleaning something so delicate like my computer! Additionally, I am trying to conceive of what to do with my family when a few individuals come down to DC in two weeks. My only idea thus far is to take them to see the Real World house since production on that begins soon, but my mom REALLY wants DC to be New York and only wants to go to places that could theoretically be in New York (so no historical stuff). This could be problematic but I will try my best to please them. If anyone happens to have any suggestions they would be much appreciated! I think I will end with that and leave this office soon as there is no reason for me to be here. Adieu!

help needed for sociology assignment!

2009-06-08T19:42:00.005-05:00

As my new vlog (rather plea for help) mentions, I need help with a Sociology assignment. If you would like to help me, please read the following excerpt from Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack" and email your responses to the subsequent questions to me at patrickryne@gmail.com (not as a comment to this post). Please tell me your name, what racial/ethnic category you identify as, and whatever else you'd like to tell me (but please answer the questions!). Thank you SO much!

1. I can, if I wish, arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

2. I can avoid spending time with people whom I was trained to mistrust and who have learned to mistrust my kind or me.

3. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

4. I can be reasonably sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

5. I can go shopping alone most of the time, fairly well assured that I will not be followed or harassed by store detectives.

6. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely and positively represented.

7. When I am told about our national heritage or about civilization, I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.

8. I can be sure that my children will be given curricular materials that testify to the existence of their race.

9. If I want to, I can be pretty sure of finding a publisher for this piece on white privilege.

10. I can be fairly sure of having my voice heard in a group in which I am the only member of my race.

11. I can be casual about whether or not to listen to another woman s voice in a group in which she is the only member of her race.

12. I can go into a book shop and count on finding the writing of my race represented, into a supermarket and find the staple foods that fit within my cultural traditions, into a hairdresser s shop and find someone who can deal with my hair.

13. Whether I use checks, credit cards, or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance that I am financially reliable.

14. I could arrange to protect our young children most of the time from people who might not like them.

15. I did not have to education our children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection.

16. I can be pretty sure that my children s teachers and employers will tolerate them if they fit school and workplace norms; my chief worries about them do not concern others attitudes toward their race.

17. I can talk with my mouth full and not have people put this down to my color.

18. I can swear, or dress in secondhand clothes, or not answer letters, without having people attribute these choices to the bad morals, the poverty, or the illiteracy of my race.

19. I can speak in public to a powerful male group without putting my race on trial.

20. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race.

21. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.

22. I can remain oblivious to the language and customs of persons of color who constitute the world s majority without feeling in my culture any penalty for such oblivion.

23. I can criticize our government and talk about how much I fear its policies and behavior without being seen as a cultural outsider.

24. I can be reasonably sure that if I ask for the person in charge, I will be facing a person of my race.

25. If a traffic cop pulls me over or if the IRS audits my tax return, I can be sure I haven t been singled out because of my race.

26. I can easily buy posters, postcards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys, and children s magazines featuring people of my race.

27. I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out of place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance, or feared.

28. I can be pretty sure that an argument with a colleague of another race is more likely to jeopardize her chances for advancement than to jeopardize mine.

29. I can be fairly sure that if I argue for the promotion of a person of another race, or a program centering on race, this is not likely to cost me heavily within my present setting, even if my colleagues disagree with me.

30. If I declare there is a racial issue at hand, or there isn t a racial issue at hand, my race will lend me more credibility for either position than a person of color will have.

31. I can choose to ignore developments in minority writing and minority activist programs, or disparage them, or learn from them, but in any case, I can find ways to be more or less protected from negative consequences of any of these choices.

32. My culture gives me little fear about ignoring the perspectives and powers of people of other races.

33. I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing, or body odor will be taken as a reflection on my race.

34. I can worry about racism without being seen as self-interested or self-seeking.

35. I can take a job with an affirmative action employer without having my co-workers on the job suspect that I got it because of my race.

36. If my day, week, or year is going badly, I need not ask of each negative episode or situation whether it has racial overtones.

37. I can be pretty sure of finding people who would be willing to talk with me and advise me about my next steps, professionally.

38. I can think over many options, social, political, imaginative, or professional, without asking whether a person of my race would be accepted or allowed to do what I want to do.

39. I can be late to a meeting without having the lateness reflect on my race.

40. I can choose public accommodation without fearing that people of my race cannot get in or will be mistreated in the places I have chosen.

41. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me.

42. I can arrange my activities so that I will never have to experience feelings of rejection owing to my race.

43. If I have low creditability as a leader, I can be sure that my race is not the problem.

44. I can easily find academic courses and institutions that give attention only to people of my race.

45. I can expect figurative language and imagery in all of the arts to testify to experiences of my race.

46. I can choose blemish cover or bandages in flesh color and have them more or less match my skin.

PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS:

1. Do you think white people have these privileges that McIntosh identifies?

2. Have you had experiences yourself that illustrate these privileges if you are white, OR, if you are not white, have you seen white people experience these privileges (or have you NOT received them).

3. Do you think these privileges are an important part of understanding race relations today? Why or why not?

THANK YOU!

sytycd makes me really emotional

2009-06-03T23:57:00.003-05:00

It's been much longer than I thought since I last posted! My blog-every-day-May thing ended rather abruptly long ago. Additionally I missed my two year blogiversary which is sort of problematic. Work is so time-consuming, as is class, and this weekend starting tomorrow (Thursday) is going to be super crazy on campus. But speaking of class, I was discussion boarding again tonight as I tend to do and one lesson was learned: don't write while watching So You Think You Can Dance. I prefaced my discussion board posting with "I'm sorry for whatever I write, but I'm watching So You Think You Can Dance at the moment and it's making me really emotional." My professor LOVES the show so it acted as a way to relate to her while bringing an element of simultaneous humor and unfortunateness to my overall statement. In the middle of my posting I arbitrarily added, in parentheses, "Sorry, one of my favorite dancers was just sent home." What a night. I'm now working as a security guard for a Vermont middle school that is staying on campus this week. When I got here the male chaperones were convened outside the elevator and greeted me which was nice of them. They stayed for a while yelling at people as I just stood by and laughed at their poor attempts to humor me. I had a lot of issues with several things they said and their gendering of certain items was very strange indeed. It's very interesting to witness the politics of punishing middle school boys. One of them snuck out with some girls (actually, his ex-girlfriend, and his current girlfriend is here too - scandalous!) so while one of the chaperones went to retrieve him I brought up for consideration the topic of what his punishment would be. Their brainstorming session was very heated and several options were proffered to the group (I suggested killing him which went over really well). I'll be interested in finding out what does actually happen! Additionally, I wish my blog were popular again. If someone would comment that would be really positive.

new friends

2009-05-22T23:13:00.003-05:00

I made a lot of friends tonight with the high school students who have been staying here! I don't usually sit at the desk in the hall they stay in but tonight I was hanging out there and I daresay I'm their new favorite worker (sucks that they're leaving in the morning). One of the girls friended me on her phone and I friended four more when I got back to my room. They were singing to me because one of the girls is going to NYU this summer for some sort of singing thing so that was really fun. I was like omg I went to Julliard one summer!..just kidding. They believed me though. Maybe I'm just imagining it but I think that I just lie a lot to people (I mean recently). Like I know I've blogged and vlogged about lying in my Facebook statuses and stuff but carrying that over into interpersonal conversations is something new for me. I wish I had several other examples to illustrate this point but I'm struggling to think of any at the moment. This to me seems very abnormal and needs to be addressed as soon as possible, though I think it's so funny when I say something unbelievable and people are like WHAT REALLY?! Does that make me a bad person? I sure hope not, because there are plenty of other things that probably qualify me as a bad person outside of this practice. I'm not talking about discussion boards tonight! Later later.

i'm really sorry about this post

2009-05-21T20:54:00.004-05:00

I'm getting like overly obsessed with my online class to the point that I check its Blackboard site disturbingly often and repeatedly go back to reread discussion board postings and several sections of the syllabus that I enjoy. I am actually really alarmed at the moment. Last night I was up really late responding to this one guy's posting and my reply ended up being like three times as long as his initial statement. I had A LOT to say and I strongly believe that he won't comprehend a lot of what I said. I was just like speaking to this video's notion of reconciling cognitive dissonance, blah blah blah. I know that literally no one cares about anything I have to say anymore (except maybe Sarah?) but this is my life right now. Sad sad. This blog is more like my journal now anyway because essentially no one actually reads it anymore. I bet my mom doesn't even read it. Linking it on Twitter helps zero percent. Wow, we really are in a recession. I told that story SO many times today and I can't tell if my friends are entertained by my nonsense or if they want to shoot me in the face (I'll assume the latter). To top it all off I'm at work right now and this chair is super uncomfortable and all I want to do is read new discussion board postings but no one is doing the mother effing assignment. I'm leaving.

new shoes

2009-05-20T23:04:00.005-05:00

I bought these flip flops today at h&m because the pair I was wearing (also from h&m) was about to fall apart. Sad sad.

Additionally, I just noticed the heart formed on the right! So good.

prank call

2009-05-19T20:39:00.003-05:00

Hi hi. I'm currently at work sipping on some Coke and listening to the radio, still reflecting on tonight's episode of American Idol (go Kris). Additionally, I'm still very obsessed with my online class and have been constantly logging on to check new discussion board posts, grades, and student homepages that my fellow classmates eventually need to publish. This is so much to take in! I got some very excellent feedback from my professor already on some of my submitted work and can't wait to connect even more. Guh. I'm so sorry that this is all I talk about with anyone ever. In addition, four of my coworkers are sitting together in a different residence hall while I'm here alone and they just tried to prank call me. WOW. Bold. I'd like for them to know that prank calling coworkers is so two summers ago. Additionally, next time they try it, they should make sure no one is laughing in the background. Such amateurs, I can't even tell you. They called three times: the first time they were so unprepared they just hung up without saying anything, the second time was their "prank" which I just hung up on, and the third time was to make sure I knew it was them. WHAT? Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for letting me know! They're all fired. In other news I buzzed my hair off today. I also buzzed my friend's hair and I'm pretty positive that I did a really terrible job. Like absolutely horrible. Oh well. Here is a picture!

I'm not actually that bored/sad. I have off work tomorrow!

picture post: i'm lazy

2009-05-17T22:13:00.003-05:00

After working for much of the day and completing multiple assignments for my online sociology course, I'd love for you to just view these pictures of me being bored rather than read anything right now. I really need to buzz my hair one of these days, but I'm so so busy! I did find time to trim my facial hair today which was positive. My arms are so little! Bye.

delicious treats for me

2009-05-16T22:20:00.002-05:00

True to form, this first group has already given me stuff (besides the intangible insight that only Christian therapists like themselves can give). They just left me lots of cookies, brownies, candies, and mints that I'm pretty excited about eating. Also I hate them for giving it all to me because I do NOT need all this crap sitting in my room. The cookies are so so good though and I can only predict that the brownies will be a tasty mixture of deliciousness and delectability of the chocolate sort. Guh! Woe is me. Anyway, I've done four small assignments now already for my online sociology class which I think is going to be really awesome. The professor responded to my email today in a really kind way so I'm super excited to work with her this summer. I had to write on/in a discussion board about race in the United States today and I discussed the Internet (in this case YouTube) as a perpetuator of harmful racial stereotypes and linked some videos that did so. For example, I think it was my friend/coworker who showed me the Top 60 Ghetto Names video - have you seen it? So weird, but so hilarious, and also viral in that it has reached almost two million views already. My posting notes "This video is obviously hyperbolic but nonetheless troublesome in its accessibility to possibly naive viewers who will not discern its obvious humor from what may be understood as truth." I'm hoping my posting makes sense and that people have really interesting things to say about it. We'll see what happens with that.

back to class

2009-05-15T22:38:00.002-05:00

SUMMER HAS BEGUN! The first group checked in today which was largely successful. I'm still hanging around the desk downstairs as I write this at 11:40 p.m. and I've been here since 9 a.m. It's been a long day indeed. Something very exciting happened today though - my first online course (the sociology not the history) was put on Blackboard! Essentially this means I have access to everything having to do with the class. I was a nerd and did a few minor assignments and then, predictably, I emailed my professor ALREADY. I just recently blogged about this, well, about this addiction of mine. She just has SO MUCH on the site and has put so much work into everything that I needed to thank her for her preparation and dedication which I feel is a normal thing to do? Maybe? There are only twelve people in the class right now so I'm hoping they're all stupid and she likes me the best. She said that at the end of the week she is going to summarize all we've completed because we do like online discussions or whatever so I'm hoping it's constantly "As Patrick brilliantly pointed out this week..." etc. Maybe I'm getting way too far ahead of myself, but I have literally been checking every day for the last several weeks for this course to be added so I spent several hours today reading through all the posted materials. I'm so sad. And I'm so sorry if you read this.

sabotage

2009-05-14T22:26:00.004-05:00

I was on the metro this evening and a man walked on with a roll of Dora the Explorer wrapping paper. Additionally, a separate man got on who I am 99.9 percent sure I saw last night on the metro. It's weird to me that things like that can happen.

Tonight on the shuttle (which was late) I was graced with the presence of the strangest shuttle driver ever and soon became privy to a cell phone conversation he was having (though I'm semi-convinced he was just talking to himself). He was discussing how one of his good friends somehow betrayed him or whatever and then went into detail about his really cruel retaliation. He said he put a personal ad online for his friend with very suggestive details about his sex life and preferences and whatever else. He also put A LOT of contact information including his workplace address and home address I believe? Moreover he created everything from a freshly-made email address on a public computer at George Mason so that he couldn't be traced. Then when the guy tried to get it removed from the site they wouldn't let him because he had no proof it was about him or that it was at all detrimental? Oh and then the driver was like "and his last name is Fox, so you can imagine all the ways I was able to twist that in the ad HAHAHAHA" but it was essentially more of a Dr. Evil laugh than anything playful. I can't believe that A) he did that B) he is telling someone on the phone and is telling me as well and C) he is still alive because his driving is so so reckless sometimes. On his cell phone too! It makes me so scared. Additionally I applied for some sort of online media internship which could be cool.

calamities

2009-05-13T22:05:00.004-05:00

I saw Sarah tonight for some Mama Lucia, Target, and dessert action which is becoming very typical. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time this evening - but upon getting onto the metro my night was semi-calamitous. Sarah took the leftover pizza last week so I took it tonight and I also happened to be carrying a very oversized Target bag containing a pillow, pillow case, and $6 cardigan (what?). These items combined with me having to coordinate carrying my tote bag and listening to my iPod led to a very unbalanced metro ride. OH, and there was a Capitals game, so the metro was filled to capacity. And it wasn't a happy throng of Capitals fans either. They had just lost game 7 of whatever series they're in so they weren't particularly cheerful. Essentially my tote bag, Target bag, and pizza box took up the amount of space that another person could have filled and it was very hard to balance this all and hang on while the train was in motion. Some guy got on who I think was employed by metro and started calling me pizza man in a fun way but I was just like I'M SO SORRY. Once I got back to school I immediately realized that I left my phone on the shuttle but thankfully ran into a security guard who radioed to the shuttle to look for it. That situation could have been more unfortunate though not having my phone and having to walk up to the guard shack was still really annoying. Then as I was putting the pizza into my fridge, water leaked out and spread all over my floor which took several trips to the bathroom in order to secure enough paper towels to clean up to mess. So upsetting. I haven't even really started unpacking my room yet so hopefully that will get done around early June? I'll take pictures like I did last summer!

vomit

2009-05-11T21:57:00.004-05:00

Hi I'm blogging and I'm still in my spring semester room. My friend moved out of my new room today because she just graduated yesterday and the room still needs to be cleaned. I'll move tomorrow after that's been done. I've vaguely packed up most of my room but I plan on just throwing much of it into the cart as is. Yesterday I went through all the lounges on campus with two of my coworkers and rescued an abandoned carpet which is pretty nice. They were taking a lot of items but the one carpet was good enough for me. I'll post a picture of it once I unroll it in my new room. It's blue, if I remember correctly. And there might be stripes. Or are they dots? I'm actually not really sure what it looks like, but there weren't any visible vomit stains so I rolled it up and put it in my room. Speaking of vomit there has been vomit in one of the sinks in my bathroom for about two days now. Someone opened the window in there so it doesn't really smell anymore, but I hate looking at it when I walk in there every few hours. Or maybe I'm just immune to it now. In any case I'll be gone tomorrow, though I'm sure it will be cleaned then too. Should I have taken a picture of it to post here? If I get several requests for that, and it's still there in the morning, I could maybe make that happen. Patty.

starbucks barista failure :(

2009-05-10T20:49:00.005-05:00

I went to Starbucks today because I had time/gift cards STILL from Christmas which are pretty much gone now. I've recently reverted back to vanilla bean creme fraps after going through double chocolaty chip/strawberries and creme phases so I ordered a tall vanilla bean frap. There is no vanilla-flavored blended coffee equivalent (like double chocolaty chip could be mocha or java chip) so I felt pretty good about my order. The girl behind the counter said something back to me that sounded vaguely like what I ordered so I just nodded and went to wait by the bar. The same girl made the drink and handed me some sort of light-brown substance and I immediately inquired about the color (they're usually white). She was like yeah but you got three shots in it, you said triple tall, and I was like look lady I don't even like coffee. I'm very okay with her making me the wrong drink but I was really upset that she was like well you said triple tall and didn't just apologize. I mean she remade it for me but whatever. Then I immediately called my barista friend who lives in Canada of all places and asked if you could even get shots in a creme-based frap. You can, as it turns out, but it's very uncommon and he said he would have questioned that before making the drink. I strongly believed she was just making up the term "triple tall" but apparently it's real. I didn't notice until after I left that each extra shot cost 55 cents so she totally overcharged my gift card. Oh well. Happy Mother's Day.

double header

2009-05-10T10:48:00.005-05:00

I didn't blog yesterday so I should probably do two today? That's still not the same as blogging every day in May, but at least I'll (hopefully) still have 31 total. I wish I could say that I was out late last night celebrating my 300th blog post, but that was obviously not the case. And I also wish that I would have received a public outcry over my skipped blog, but that was also not what happened. I remember when my blog was a big deal. Everyone LOVED it! Now my views are down significantly as well as my comments! Oh, my comments. I can recall people using the comments section as a forum to talk to each other. I even blogged about that! Those were the days. But they're gone, gone, gone like the birds who migrate south for the winter. What a great simile!, which I'm sure isn't helping my viewership either. I believe that later today I may make my return to YouTube. It's been about two months so I think now that school is over it's about time that I start making more vlogs. I've actually gained a lot of subscribers in the past two months (well, maybe like 40) so I'm hoping that number continues to rise. We'll see! Hopefully people will react strongly to the fact that my hair is gone. That's totally fine though - I need a public outcry about something. Until next time - Patty.

post #300

2009-05-08T22:23:00.012-05:00

Hi this is my 300th post on this, the best blog ever produced by someone named Patrick from Hamburg, Pennsylvania (which I know is an oddly specific classification but I do happen to be the best in that category). I totally forgot until I just saw on my blogger dashboard that I have 299 posts so far. I'm now vaguely mentioning it but really have nothing to say about the situation. It's been fun? Here's to 300 more? I'm really bad at speeches.

Tonight I hung out with Sarah for dinner/Target/diner for dessert. It was a pretty positive experience which started with outstanding pizza (did you want me to take the pizza? I hope you got it out of your backseat!). We then went over to Target where I enjoy perusing the clothing and occasionally actually buy things. Tonight Sarah had the BRIGHT idea to search the children's section for jeans for me. Jackpot - children's jeans are SO much cheaper than adult jeans and I got a size 16 for so much less than my 28s usually cost! Cool cool. I also got a real pair of jeans on sale for like $7 ($6.94 maybe?) which was super successful. I think I have a really small lower body because my body is semi-swimmerish in that I have a longer torso. This, I would conjecture, allows me to fit into the kiddy jeans so perfectly. OH, I also got a really cool bag. Here's a screencap from the Target website:

Thoughts? I really enjoy it and it was only like $12. My computer and textbooks will fit really nicely so that's excellent. The end.

i <3 emailing

2009-05-07T21:58:00.007-05:00

Who is one to email over the summer months? Now that I'm done with the spring semester my inbox is quickly drying up, probably because the only people I usually ever email are my professors. I thanked them all for a great semester so those conversations are sort of ending and they're probably getting tired of me anyway. I can't imagine how annoying I am to deal with via email when they obviously have a million other things to do. I just really like emailing! Taking online classes this summer may or may not be good for me because I already know that I will be emailing my instructors several times per day regarding various aspects of the classes. I'd like to take this time to blame one of my friends (I don't know if I can mention her name?) for providing me with anecdotes about her experiences with emailing professors which is probably what got me into doing it. She just shared with me a small email for the purposes of this blog which nicely illustrates her relationship with a professor. The professor wrote "You DEFINITELY have to do this!!! let's talk." Notice the all caps 'definitely' in addition to the triple exclamation point usage. There is also an invitation for further dialogue. I could cite several examples from my own inbox but I'm not sure how ethical it is to quote personal emails albeit anonymously? I just wanted to encourage everyone to build really healthy relationships with their professors (if you're in college). I'm pretty sure professors enjoy it on some level (maybe Dr. Morris can speak to this?) because, I would imagine, it shows them that students are interested/alive. I know some people are probably vomiting right now but whatever. It is what it is. I've made it through a week of blogging every day!

four point otown

2009-05-06T21:49:00.004-05:00

I finally got my last grade today and it was a positive experience. My history professor gave me an A which was really generous of him so I got a 4.0 (true to form). Comment this post with your guess of my cumulative GPA - let's see who gets closest to the nearest thousandth? I promise this is the last little section regarding my grades, at least until my summer classes start. I got my summer Sociology textbook and it looks really good! It's called Rethinking the Color Line and has, I think, 49 individual race-related readings. Very very fun. In other news I didn't go to the gym today because I worked too late but I did go to KFC for lunch courtesy of Oprah. Thanks so much girl! I think that was a fair trade considering that I drank a diet citrus green tea when my friends were at the gym. Same thing. I'm sure that KFC had LITTLE effect on my body (sad face - it's hard to put an actual sad face in parentheses, i just realized, because it involves using parentheses). Speaking to KFC and its apparent effects on my body, I have a question concerning the body and its functions that maybe someone can help me with or at least webmd it for me. Is there some sort of disorder involving semi-excessive bowel movements due to the fact that all food negatively reacts with one's body? I feel like that's how I stay slim because a lot of things just go right through me. Sorry for the graphic nature of this blog (if you thought it was graphic? I didn't) - it was very unintended! But seriously what is wrong with me? Also guess my GPA! TTYTOMORROW!

i went to the gym today?

2009-05-05T21:59:00.005-05:00

Dear history professor, where is my grade? My clock just struck 11 p.m. and grades were due by noon today. Would you have been flexible with me had I turned my ten-page paper in this late? I'm trying to be understanding, but it's really hard - so please just post it! Thanks.

That is my current dilemma. I'm also really tired, due mostly to the fact that I went to the gym today. It was the first time that I had gone in about two and half years and I have to say that I don't love it. When I run, I sweat. A lot. It's actually really disgusting but I did end up walking/running two miles and biking another two. I might be back tomorrow if I'm not busy killing myself BECAUSE MY GRADE STILL ISN'T POSTED. Working out is always a summer resolution of mine but it usually doesn't happen, so maybe this summer will be the summer that changes! I have gained weight, though, so I actually need to go now and if you're yelling at me saying that I'm so skinny blah blah blah you can stfu. I'm not THAT tiny and could strongly benefit from some time in the fitness center. These are the facts.

Also today is my friend Kristine's birthday. I first started blogging with Kristine freshman year which ended pretty quickly. She is short and Asian and got pretty wasted tonight. With her family present. It was kind of ridiculous and I'll probably be tagged in some horrid photos on Facebook sometime in the near future. Her mom did give us bags of jelly beans though which made me extremely happy. Is that an Asian thing? Maybe it's a nice person thing, I wouldn't know. I'm just thankful she was thinking about MY needs on her daughter's birthday. Very nice and appreciated! THANKS! Let's look at two bad quality photos taken on my phone.

I guess that was after Kristine's necklace mysteriously fell off. Oh well, she still looked like a rockstar.

me whining about (what else) my hair

2009-05-04T21:38:00.008-05:00

In an astonishing development, one more of my grades has been posted online. Dr. Morris kindly published grades before the deadline of noon on Tuesday which was really nice of her. Tomorrow I will be so nutso until noon and then even more nutso if my residual grades aren't posted by then. And even MORE nutso (can you imagine?) if I don't get As. I'll be at work so my bosses will be the ones to hear me whining all day. Oh well! I can't help that I'm so popular. Guh, a Mean Girls quote already? This post is going downhill quickly.

I'd now like to turn everyone's attention to the issue of me being bald someday. It's going to happen people. Daily I see bald(ing) men and think that is my future! Woe is me! I thought that my receding hairline was a big deal, but when I ask people about my imminent baldness they think I'm retarded. Apparently it's not a huge deal and my hair is still very much growing in the areas it should be. Several sources have also told me that it's relative to my mom's dad's hair growth patterns. I strongly believe that his hair was semi-solid and feel a little relieved regarding this situation, but I still have my doubts. Baldness is just not something I had thought about as being a possible problem until recently. Life is full of problems! I might not get straight As every semester. I might lose all my possessions due to a hurricane. I might die tomorrow. I might someday be bald! Once again, woe is me! I'd now like to dedicate a song to my hair, and I believe it was Kelly Clarkson who once said that "my life would suck without you." Thank you, Kelly, for those eloquent words that really do capture how I feel about my hair. Hopefully I won't soon have to switch to her "since u been gone" as an elegy, if you will, for my hair. I don't ever want it to be gone! Discuss amongst yourselves.

a student's lament

2009-05-03T17:14:00.003-05:00

If you watch vloggers on YouTube you may have noticed that some of them participated in VEDA: Vlog Every Day April. After realizing yesterday that I had blogged on May 1 and May 2 I thought wouldn't it be fun to blog every day in May. It should be exciting - two summers ago I blogged every day just because, so it's weird now that I should set aside a month and explicitly state my intentions to do so. Please check back each day for my nonsense (thanks in advance!).

In other news, I'd really love to know my grades for the spring semester. I totally understand that professors need time to grade things, but I also view that as their fault for having papers due during finals week. I know I'm being really irrational. My foremost complaint is that A-s suck. Like really hard. Like worse than getting drawn into a black hole and plummeting to your death. I know that this does not apply to like anyone else, but here's the situation. When I get an A it essentially does nothing to my GPA or, if anything, raises it by 0.001 (say, from a 3.964 to a 3.965). When I get an A-, however, my GPA dramatically descends (say, from a 3.971 to a 3.964 - these may or may not be accurate numerical examples). To my taste, this is really upsetting. Once again I'd like to acknowledge my irrationality, but at some schools I would have a 4.0 which makes me cry a lot. I feel pretty positively about my grades this semester but sort of nervous as well. One never really knows until they're posted online which is super annoying. I'm not going to have any fingernails left by the time they're posted! Guh.

i hate when my computer's battery is dying!

2009-05-02T20:20:00.005-05:00

I have several questions for Facebook, one which is why I need to know any of the following information. These and other interests that my friends have are not necessary components to my Facebook homepage and a lot of them are really unnecessary likes/dislikes to advertise. Like I'm really glad you're a fan of the weekend and, now that you mention it, I am too, but that's not really something that I personally need to explicitly state anywhere, anytime. And what? You hate when your computer's battery is low? That's so strange! Not really...why are you telling me this? Also are you retarded? I have a lot of inquiries to make. What are your thoughts on the matter?

In conclusion WOW. No thank you. P.S. WOW.

spring 09 is dunzo

2009-05-01T13:15:00.002-05:00

I've been pretty much done with spring semester for quite some time now but it seems appropriate, on the last day of exams (and now that I've completed my last shift in Admissions) that I update BNSC with a little end-of-the-semester post. I know everyone says that semesters fly by, but WOW - spring 09 really did. I can still remember walking into each of my classes on the first day, especially Communications, where we went around the room and discussed our Internet experience. I knew from that day on that I'd really enjoy that class. And I did (and I'm not just saying that because Dr. Morris and her husband read my blog). Sociology was really amazing. History was excellent in that there were no exams, just lots of writing. And English was - well, it was English. It's what I do, though whether my efforts are good or bad is debatable. I'm pretty much a senior in college now which is pretty unbelievable (or I will be, technically, once I get the credits from my summer classes). I'm so old. But anyway. I start work next week with the Conference Center which is where I work every summer and that will definitely provide me with material to blog more often as it does every summer. This month I will also celebrate my two-year blogiversary. And by celebrate I mean that I will be mentioning it on May 30 and pretending to be excited about it. Awesome! Let's be honest, I will probably blog again like tomorrow. I have nothing to do :(

haircut post #4934

2009-04-19T21:43:00.003-05:00

It happened. It finally happened. I finally buzzed my head. Well, I didn't buzz it myself , Jeannette at the HairCuttery did - after she gave me a real haircut. The situation is that I was going to just trim the sides and back and then if it wasn't great I would get it all buzzed off. I actually did like it after she trimmed those portions, but then she kept going and gave me what I can only describe as a TRAIN WRECK. It was so bad you guys. I didn't want to, but I had to be like "just buzz it off" which I think made Jeannette a little angry because she "already gave me one haircut." I had to explain to her that buzzing is a very simple process and wouldn't take much longer (also, COME ON, had she really done $16 worth?). Oh Jeannette. Poor, poor Jeannette. At least now I'm bald again and won't have to condition my hair anymore. And I can buzz it whenever I want! What a blessing in disguise. I do promise to start growing it out again later this year though and I'll start earlier this time to ensure maximum growth. Deal? Sounds great. If there's nothing else to discuss then I'll post a few photos - black&white paired with sunglasses really does make anyone look vaguely okay.

my dubious school mascot

2009-04-14T22:37:00.003-05:00

Is life getting that bad that I'm forced to Facebook chat with my school's mascot for a little entertainment? Apparently so. But hey, look Dr. Morris, I provided a little shout-out to your blog (though neglected to actually link it). See for yourself what Bernie wants to do with me. I feel like he's little too frisky? Someone put a leash on that dog.

Bernie

come get a piece of free cake tomorrow in gerard lobby at 3... it's my b-day!

woof woof

11:30pmPatrick

i'm planning to wash my hair at that time

11:31pmBernie

maybe we can take a bath together... doggie style

cake first?

11:31pmPatrick

okay bernie i'll see what i can do...

11:31pmBernie

tell your friends regardless

11:31pmPatrick

can't make any promises

11:31pmBernie

where's the school spirit?

hah

woof woof

11:32pmPatrick

i am wearing an mu teeshirt at the moment

11:32pmBernie

there you go

see ya tomorrow

11:32pmPatrick

i really enjoy your commitment with the woof woofs

11:33pmBernie

heheh

11:33pmPatrick

you should have a blog, my communications professor keeps a blog through the lens of her dog

11:33pmBernie

will consider

11:34pmPatrick

sounds cool

new threadless shirts

2009-04-08T23:09:00.007-05:00

I got four new Threadless shirts in the mail today and quickly just snapped some photos to show here. I'm aware that I look retarded but that's really okay with me. They were taken in PhotoBooth so I had to press the button and then jump back to get into the frame and somehow try to look skinny/vaguely attractive in a very short amount of time. I like one of the four, can you guess which one? Also, the text on the shirts is inverted but that's also really okay with me. I've been googling how to remedy this situation and I am unable to figure it out at the moment. It's late. Sometime soon I need to take pictures of all 12 of my Threadless shirts and submit them to the site so I can get credit for more tees. That sounds really excellent. Without further ado, I present to you my new shirts. Tell me what you think? I'll provide links here: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. The guest star of this photoshoot is my National Book Festival poster hanging on my closet. Tonight, a star is born.

me and horatio

2009-04-01T21:31:00.006-05:00

I went to the National Portrait Gallery the past two afternoons/evenings (it's open until 7) to work on a project for my history class (HI325D - Topics in American History: Virginia and the Old South). I'd never been but I really enjoyed it, though I could have gone for a little more security upon entry into the museum. On day one an older Asian man just waved me by, and today a man told me to just keep my bag to the front of me. There was no search which I found somewhat disconcerting. Their protection of the actual portraits was much better though - in fact, when I was there with my friend Yolande yesterday we were told not to get too close to one of the paintings and we kindly obliged. Standing up for long periods of time while holding a notebook and writing superabundant notes about historical figures is not the best way to spend an afternoon, but it's not the worst either. I felt very strongly about not doing a scavenger hunt on a high school/middle school field trip, and I was also really happy about not being a southern tourist with doltish tendencies. I was a cool college student there to craft an essay, or something. One of the security guards walked by and was like "term paper?" and I was like yeah...and then I let him read my syllabus, which was much easier than trying to explain what I was doing. He seemed pleased. I ended the afternoon by taking a picture of me and Horatio Gates to prove to my professor that I actually went to the museum. Of course I went! I love museums! I never thought I'd name a picture "me and horatio" but it happened today. And, let's be honest, that probably won't be the last time. It's a horrible photograph but we only had so much private time together. Wow, look at my notebook at the ready like I was in the process of interviewing him when someone arbitrarily snapped a picture of us. So good.

hamburg people at marymount

2009-03-23T20:05:00.008-05:00

Something very exciting happened to me this past weekend at a Campus Visit Day held at my school which specifically catered to high school seniors (junior day is in two weeks). One of my coworkers came over to the registration table at which I was sitting and started going through the name tags that were very neatly organized. I think he wanted to see if there were any Pennsylvania people there (he's also a PA native) and I was essentially upset about the name tags possibly getting messed up UNTIL he pulled out a girl's tag from HAMBURG. I thought I was dreaming. Can we discuss the fact that I'm the only person from my school to ever go to Marymount? (or at least I think I am). To see someone from my home county would have been pleasant, but having someone from Hamburg in the crowd was a true delight. I wasn't sure what the girl looked like, so once the family arrived and she said her last name I pointed to my name tag (Patrick McNeil / Hamburg, PA) and was like OMG I'M FROM HAMBURG TOO, DO YOU KNOW ME? They did, as it turns out, and our connection was immediate. I memorized her tour information and made sure they were in my group, and I think this personal attention/knowledge of who they were was really positive for them to experience. Driving down to Arlington on Saturday they didn't know who they'd find at Marymount, and waking up that morning I didn't know that I'd be registering someone from Hamburg at my registration table. I really hope she comes! My boss told me today that people came up to her and mentioned me by name, and she then showed me a written evaluation that also noted me by name (as a "great guide"). It was probably the Hamburg people, but that's okay. I introduced the family to her, and I think she was just like "he's been talking about you all day..." I really wish I had photographic evidence. Oh well. At least I rocked the house per usual.

so you agree, you think you're really pretty

2009-03-16T18:09:00.007-05:00

Last night I was elected the 09/10 Student Ambassador Coordinator at the monthly ambassador meeting which was a very exciting moment in my life (not really). I think I should have taken the whole thing a tad more seriously than I did. I just stood there with my computer in my hand and vaguely mentioned the things I had bulleted on my word document (I couldn't be bothered to print out my speech and instead labeled myself as eco-friendly). There was a funny little anecdote I had planned to kick things off which I forgot to do and all the Mean Girls references I prepared were lost in my desire to end the meeting as soon as possible (I don't think my father, the inventor of Toaster Strudel, would like if you didn't vote for me...). Not to sound supercilious, but I had this speech a la Mean Girls planned for the moment I won to the end of "Kate Bell, that hair must have taken you hours, and you look really pretty tonight. And look at Allison Ames. She's wearing a sweatshirt and she still looks like a rock star." (Kate and Allison are ambassadors/bffs. HI.) I'm sorry if you've never seen Mean Girls because this will make absolutely no sense to you. The double stipend is an awesome facet of this new position but the double work is not great. I hope I'm not overthrown too quickly but I daresay it's inevitable. So sad.

Off topic, but I met with my advisor today and pretty much planned out the rest of my undergraduate existence. It's very strange to me that I only need that many courses left until I graduate. BANANAS. (PS I'm taking EN200, EN424, SOC200, SOC303, and SOC306 next fall I think so let me know yours!)

spring break, monologue, and pictures of ME!

2009-03-07T14:43:00.010-05:00

Spring break was a bust. I had one homework assignment which I've yet to complete and I essentially sat in my house every day doing nothing - and by doing nothing I mean having photoshoots and recording myself recite a certain Mean Girls monologue dozens of times in front of my camera. It was a lot of nonsense. I mean, congratulations to me for not having any cavities and for seeing a few of my friends throughout the week, but I'd kind of rather be at school getting the semester over with than living in my present state of dreariness. But yeah I really enjoy my classes this semester which might be because I'm doing so well? Dr. Morris gave me an A++ on my midterm which was very nice of her, and my Social Problems professor Dr. Grant gave me an A+ which was also super kind. I got just an A (what?) on my English midterm and my History class didn't have one. Dr. Grant actually chucked me the answer sheet to the midterm when I handed mine in and was like "How'd ya do?" It was a very classy maneuver that resulted in me knowing my grade before the break. I love that class - we're just watching Rape in the Congo all next week which should be a rather illuminating experience. Sometimes she lapses into calling me Robert who is one of her students at American I believe but it's kind of funny because the class is like IT'S PATRICK. She said Robert and I have to meet so I think she is trying to set me up but who knows. I do really like her most of the time. And of course my Communications class is very fun. Any class that allows me to blog and write a paper about Threadless is fine by me. Here is a sample from my photoshoot and the final version of my monologue. Enjoy!

a note on alcohol

2009-02-27T23:33:00.006-05:00

I was prompted to discuss alcohol use after I heard something tonight while I was at a get-together at my friend's apartment. Some guy who I don't know and don't want to know said something to the end of "I feel bad for people who don't drink because when they wake up in the morning that's the best they're going to feel all day." I turned around, told him I took offense to what he just said, and made a decision not to address that side of the room for the rest of the night. I'm not sure if I've discussed alcohol on my blog before but I've chosen not to dabble in that area of life. I'm 21 years old and have never consumed an alcoholic beverage which some people find to be a very repugnant piece of information. Judging people who do drink, especially underage, isn't necessarily what I'm interested in doing but I am opposed to those who see something strange or unnatural in my decision not to participate in that activity. I also have things to say about the logicality of his statement, that is to say that I personally feel horrible in the morning and would not qualify that as the best I feel all day. Essentially that boy is a moron. I am not exactly sure if I have made any points at all in this brief post but I wanted to comment on this matter while it is on my mind. With this topic in the foreground, I'd like to wish everyone a safe and exciting spring break. I have a dentist appointment on Tuesday so I'm pretty much booked full. (I'll blog more often during this break, hopefully).

group tour: misleading morris

2009-02-15T22:33:00.007-05:00

My school hosted a Scholars Day on Friday for students who received a certain scholarship or something for next fall. I sat on a student panel and then innocently made my way over to the dessert reception to indulge in some delicious treats and cider. Somehow in the process of me spilling my cider and never getting anything to eat I was roped into giving a tour to five families who I guess hadn't taken one earlier. As I've blogged about before, group tours are my time to shine and entertain multiple families at once. So what if I lapse into a stand up comedy routine sometimes? At one point I paused and told my inauguration/the day I almost broke my leg story which went over really well with my histrionic retelling of that unfortunate episode. I gave myself plenty of room to reenact my running, ill-timed leap, and subsequent somersaulting maneuver and I think it really added to my overall storytelling that day. That anecdotal digression got such good feedback, I can't even tell you. People were shaking my hand at the end. BUT the amazing part of my tour happened just after that story (this is for you Professor Morris!). I spotted Professor Morris walking my way (I was incidentally on my way to her class and ended my tour near the classroom) and told the people in my tour group to have a really good time when she walked by so that she'd be very impressed with my exceptional tour guide abilities. They got really into it, like one father practiced his fake laugh and asked if it was okay. SO GOOD. I said it was excellent and I think it went really well when Professor Morris unknowingly walked through our fortress of contrived happiness. I mean they were happy before but whatever. I probably shouldn't be giving tours.

Also today I made a Mean Girls reference and someone didn't get it and asked if my dad were really the inventor of Toaster Strudel. Really amazing.

i trimmed my beard

2009-02-08T14:01:00.008-05:00

I went to Target yesterday and bought a beard trimmer so I could tidy up the hair on my face that I've been referring to, probably inaccurately, as my beard. See the picture below to view me holding my beloved new instrument. I used it this morning without immediate success. I wasn't sure which size guide comb to use so I naively chose the largest one in order to avoid any mishaps. When I applied it to my face no hair fell off. Strike one. I moved to the next size and much to my chagrin all hair remained onboard. Strike two. Thankfully when I used the shortest length it actually worked, and the result is my countenance with nicely trimmed facial hair. I don't know if I've discussed this on my blog, but my facial hair is partly red (like BRIGHT orange) so it was interesting to see the detritus lying there in a panoply of brown and orange magic. I wanted to film myself trimming but it was actually really loud, like I'm very surprised my neighbors didn't complain/call the cops. Maybe next time when I know what I'm doing. Oh well, in the meantime you can watch my awesome Daily Mugshot. I think it's the greatest thing ever and you should all start doing it. Kthxbai.

No glasses. My eyesight is improving!

ISO hair suggestions

2009-01-31T23:50:00.007-05:00

Take a moment to watch this video, discuss amongst yourselves, and then we'll reconvene to chat.

I actually don't have a picture to show you at the moment because Nelly put some water-based wax in my hair that is not making me feel particularly excited about it. You don't really need a picture to vote for buzz or grow but I'll try to add one soon. I'm feeling very strongly about continuing the growing-out process but that could end tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I learned today that the Super Bowl is tomorrow? Nelly was telling me about it. I don't think she's ever cut my hair before but I was very pleased with her English and her ability to follow my instructions - I agreed to the wax because she said it wouldn't get sticky but she's obviously never tried it out herself. Unfortunate. After my haircut I dined with Sarah and we went to Target for a while which ended in me purchasing clothes (jeans and hoodie) which I never do there. The hoodie is essentially an exact replica (but different color) of one I just bought at Forever21 on Friday - and it was 50% off - so it was a necessary purchase. The jeans are a darker wash which was missing from my wardrobe so I feel like I accomplished a great deal tonight. Sarah and I took some classic Target mirror pics on my phone of course:

And one of me in the fitting room:

Thoughts on the matter?

ETA: Here is a picture I took today of my hair (in Payless HAHA):

WE ARE ONE: obama's inaugural concert

2009-01-19T15:12:00.019-05:00

I understand that I am clinically insane for several reasons. Standing outside in below-freezing weather for seven hours waiting for a concert to begin was not one of those reasons until yesterday. Allison, Kelliann, and I left Marymount at around 6:30 am and were in line for the We Are One concert by 7:30 to enter the Constitution Ave. and 19th St. entrance. The gates opened at 8 and once we got through the security check it was complete madness. The three of us started running in order to secure awesome seats and at one point came to this sort of dangling chain rope that wasn't extremely high but wasn't extremely low either. I guess I forgot how terribly cold and stiff I was. I forgot, too, that I was wearing skinny jeans. And, for some reason, I conjured up this mental image of me being some sort of all-star Olympic athlete. I took one look at that chain rope and decided to go for it, which may or may not have resulted in me falling on my face and gracefully somersaulting out of it. I dropped my Smartrip card and cell phone in the process but thankfully Kelliann was still behind me and grabbed them. I have photographic evidence to support my claim.

(Please excuse the excessive hair). I honestly thought it was broken for the first few hours that we were waiting. I wouldn't even look at it because I was convinced my bone was sticking out of my skin - and I wasn't going to miss seeing Obama and the dozens of celebrities who were there just for that! I just kept going because I was committed to getting a good seat, but I could hear people talking about it. "Oh look that boy just got right back up and ran!" or "Oh my god that boy just fell!" Allison says she heard it happen and thought something like "I wonder who that loser was." It was me.

It was obviously packed. We were sitting right behind a large group of GWU students who didn't know us but by the end of the concert we so knew them. As they addressed each other we slowly learned their names and talked about them like we've been chums for quite some time now. Keep in mind that we did not converse with them and they didn't know our names/notice us. Essentially we were hanging out with Moose, Mon, Harrison, Houston, Sam, Rebecca, and a dozen others for the entire day and creepily talking about them by name without their knowledge of this activity. I tried to get into their group photo but I don't think I made it with my last-minute attempt to get low enough. It was kind of insane. We'd just be like "oh my god look was Moose is doing!" or "can you believe what Mon just said?!" Let's also keep in mind that there was nothing else to do. Several times before noon I considered going home and not dying that way. My leg was bleeding and I couldn't feel my feet, but I was very concerned with learning more about Moose and Mon so I stayed. Sick.

Question: would you go to something like this if you are claustrophobic? The answer should be no, but some girl was not thinking ahead. She appeared to be a high school student and her mom was leading them out of the crowd with lots of explanation. "Excuse me, she's claustrophobic! I know, right? We have to get out of here." Or whatever. Why were you there? The strange thing is that they were coming from the front so they obviously got there very early. I was miffed by the situation. I was also miffed by people climbing into the tree closest to us. Some lady started climbing up and failed horribly until the crowd started shouting "TRY AGAIN" and someone helped her up. Then four others joined her. At one point an Obama cut-out was thrown up to them (the cut-out was owned by some very strange Norwegian women who essentially were there to take pictures of people with their cut-out) and a riot ensued. A boy eventually threw it back down which was potentially dangerous and also disrespectful. Like you can't just throw Barack Obama out of a tree! People booed which was so good. They were also trying to hang a Cuban flag that said "Cubans 4 Obama" and then an American flag and it was just a mess. We felt semi-famous because we were near "the tree" which we sort of just assumed everyone else at the concert knew about.

The concert itself, once it started at 2:30, was beyond amazing. Getting to see those countless celebrities, the Bidens, and the Obamas was an opportunity that will likely never be offered again. Look for the video somewhere online if you haven't already watched it. The performances were seriously incredible. Here are a few other photos from throughout the day:

Me doing the robot/waving while standing in line and Kelliann peeking out from behind. My coat was so puffy (I had five layers on)!

Allison and I waiting for the concert to begin.

My new best friend! Just kidding. He was actually really invading my space and couldn't speak English. I made Allison take a picture of us together.

I obviously left out a lot but I also know that if this post gets too long people will take one look at it and pass. If you have any questions about anything leave me a comment! I'm probably going to make a video version of this soon so look for that.

ETA:

now, blogging = homework

2009-01-19T13:07:00.009-05:00

When I opened up the syllabus for my Writing for the New Media class and saw that we are required to keep a blog, I had a lot of questions. Could my existing blog be used for the assignment? Are video blogs an acceptable form of blogging? Is there a certain topic or theme we must cover, or are my personal posts just fine? As it turns out, I will be able to continue posting on BNSC for the course's blogging assignment. Over the next 13 or 14 weeks I will be blogging once or twice a week specifically to fulfill the requirements for my class, and I'm hoping to blog as usual - except, well, a little more appropriately than I sometimes tend to write. Hey, at least I'll actually be blogging. Ever since the once-a-day blogs of summer '07 I've grown lazy about it. This assignment forces me to get back into a firm blogging routine and, if I'm lucky, will improve my writing in the process. We'll see how that goes.

During our first class my professor (hi Dr. Morris!) actually asked us to go around and talk about our online experience, including blogging. That question was essentially designed for me. I mean, who else in my class has a blog with about 280 posts and a YouTube channel with over 20 vlogs? Probably no one. At the beginning of the following class she asked if she could show my blog as an example which I was obviously all about. I blog for a reason, and that is so people read what I write. It's for entertainment purposes, not as a personal, archival account of what I've done in my life (though it ends up serving that purpose as well). We also watched my resolutions vlog on the big screen which was scary/awesome. My classmates seemed to respond well to it, but I totally forgot about the part where I am critical of lent. Hopefully my irreligion didn't offend anyone, but blogs/vlogs are meant to be personal and opinionated so I can't really apologize for anything I publish. I'll still vlog and embed them here as a promotional tool, but I'm not going to count them as an actual blog for class. It's called WRITING for the New Media, after all. And, even though there is a sort of mental writing process that occurs while vlogging, in addition to the time it takes to edit the video, it's not the same as penning an exceptional written post. Let's see where this takes me.

video version of my last blog

2009-01-08T16:24:00.002-05:00

This is basically what I said in my last blog but whatever you can still watch it.

new year = new patrick

2009-01-04T02:52:00.009-05:00

The new year is turning me into a full-blown crazy person. For no reason at all I've decided that a new year equals a new Patrick! Just like that - like it's that easy. I had sort of already decided that my outlook on life would change such that I would be extremely participative in classes and be just generally a more forward person. My recent addition to this transformation is my renewed interest in improving my appearance. If you've ever seen someone and thought "I really want to be his friend," then I want my look to be something emblematic of that. I'm starting by correcting some of my hugest flaws. Actually I'm going to call them God's flaws since I really had zero influence in the selection of my physical features. Let's start with my Jew nose. I mean I'm in love with several Jewish people so it's nothing against them, but my nose is huge and bumpy. Today I bought glasses online that will hopefully act as a nose ornament and cover up some of my nasal shortcomings. I had glasses this summer that I didn't really enjoy very much and they broke. These seem really promising and people appear to like them (which will probably not happen once I actually start wearing them).

My other huge problem is my hair. From my abounding cowlicks to my uneven and receding hairline, it would be in everyone's best interest if I just covered it all up. A beanie or some sort of winter hat/cap should do the trick, right? This will also give me the opportunity to perhaps grow out my hair. I was thinking about it, and if at any time in the growing out process I become uncomfortable I can totally just buzz it off and problem solved. But I think it's worth a try. I'm looking for suggestions to that end, so links would be amazing. Also I'm really just looking for other style changes it might behoove me to make. Comment!

five down, three to go

2008-12-18T13:21:00.006-05:00

I love my friend Jenny. She gets straight A's, blogs so often, and is a genuinely good person. I was just reading her blog and realized how crappy mine is. Hers is so interesting, and she says a lot without needing to write much at all. I actually tried blogging a couple days ago but it didn't post correctly because my internet situation is not great right now. It was basically a reflection piece about how strange it is to me that I only have three semesters left at Marymount. It's probably good that no one ever read it. But really, I'm 21 already and only have three semesters to go in my undergraduate schooling? That makes zero sense to me. Even though I asked my sister Alison for GRE and LSAT books for Christmas, I'm still not quite fathoming how close to being done I really am. I'm wonderfully anticipative. But, I'm also decidedly terrified. I wish I weren't so old but, on the other hand, I wish I were already a real person with a comfortable living situation. What a maelstrom of emotions I'm experiencing! For now I guess I'll keep on just being Miley.

I can't take a picture to save my life today/ever. This is me being unsure. IDK. The black and white was necessary.

happy birthday patrick!

2008-12-08T20:15:00.002-05:00

on my racist tendencies

2008-11-23T22:32:00.001-05:00

today in school

2008-11-12T23:39:00.008-05:00

Today in my Oral Interpretation class we presented our drama performances. Before we started, my professor selected me to time the performances because I'm sane or something. While I was delivering my monologue the girl next to me timed and when I was finished I resumed the position. When it was time for this one boy to go, he first walked over to me and asked if I would signal to him when it got to two minutes thirty seconds (individuals were five minutes, pairs were ten to twelve) and then again when he got to five minutes "because he really wants to pass this class" or something. So whatever, I obliged. He introduces his piece, which was some weird filibuster nonsense, and then goes into his thing which ended in him falling onto the ground as if killed by some sort of invisible bullet. I looked at the clock: two minutes. My thoughts were "oh, what a treat, he's standing up and isn't hurt, I guess there's more to this senatorial soliloquy." Not happening. He said thank you and I clocked him in at two eleven. My professor noticed his brevity and was like "Patrick how long was that?" and I told her. So he cluelessly is like oh I wasn't sure how long that would be, I have another scene, blah blah, as if that doesn't notify my professor that he obviously didn't time himself ever. His second portion was one ten for a grand total of three twenty one. No good. I just thought it was funny that he wanted me to stop him when he got to five minutes as if his speech had some sort of option for extension or could cease if I waved my hand at him. Such a good moment for me as a comedian. Just kidding.

I was also just out and about on campus observing a musician and comedian who were both really great. I did feel that during the comedian I was competing with other people to be the loudest and most obnoxious laugher and I think I was solidly tied up with my friend. I wasn't ready for that much competition and had I known he was bringing that level of enthusiasm I would have prepared better. During the comedian's routine the comedian and I did have this moment where she stated her dislike for kids because they're disgusting or something and I, alone, applauded. And then a little later I was doing my usual godawful chortle and the comedian like stopped and was like look around you're the only one laughing. Whatever. I was so with her for the entire act. So good.

patrick is one of our stars!

2008-11-09T22:58:00.004-05:00

Hi if you still read this. Today's Campus Visit Day was so much better than two weeks ago, mostly because I wasn't dying. Even though I couldn't sleep last night I woke up today knowing that it would be an amazing day. Okay, not really, but what a great thought that is. It was amazing, as it turns out. This English major who looks like Harry Potter walked in wearing a Threadless shirt, and that basically made my life. I was manning the English table with the head of the department and excused myself for a minute to go get my schedule which I had left on the registration table. My coworker saw me and was like your friend just went inside or something. So I ran back to the table and he was standing there with his parents, and I sort of wedged myself behind the table and started taking questions. Wow, this is totally reminding me to look him up on facebook and do some unnecessary stalking. Nevermind, no luck. Let's chat about my tour. My group was a lot better than the last one and my abilities as a tour guide were brilliantly showcased. I've realized that group tours are really good for me because it's an opportunity for me to have an audience for the jokes that I have to tell. Near the end of the tour I took out my ID card and explained that it's the meal card/library card/building access card - an everything card if you will - and then I brought their attention to my ridiculous picture which was taken about two and a half years ago. I was like wow this totally doesn't even look like me anymore, I've lost about ten pounds, dress differently, and last semester I had this Britney moment and shaved all my hair off. They lost it. And I'm pretty sure they threw in a slow clap at the end. Then when I took them up to lunch one of the moms turned to the VP for Enrollment and was like Patrick was so good and he was like Patrick is one of our stars! So good. He really likes me. Most of the time when he walks past me he just looks at me and says "oh Patrick." I'm really pleased with my popularity at the moment.

Wow I really like writing I should blog more often.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

2008-11-06T21:17:00.002-05:00

i'm sick

2008-10-29T20:01:00.003-05:00

This is what it looked like before it fell off:

YOUTUBE SURVEY!

2008-10-15T20:04:00.001-05:00

i kind of almost died

2008-10-13T13:34:00.000-05:00

fall break plans

2008-10-08T19:12:00.006-05:00

Let's discuss my plans for fall break, which for me extends from this Friday to the following Wednesday afternoon. On Friday morning I'm leaving Marymount and - via shuttle, metro, and bus - going to Philadelphia to see my sister Nikki, my brother-in-law, and my two nephews. The following morning we will drive up to my sisters' school to watch one of them play field hockey and then I think there are plans for a group dinner. I will then be taken back to Hamburg until Wednesday morning, at which time my dad is driving me down to Baltimore for a train ride back to Washington. I don't know if anyone else will be home this weekend. Actually I know Kristin will be, and I'm pretty sure it is specifically because I am coming home. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or concerned with her obsession. While at home I should have more time to myself to make videos so hopefully there will be something great for me to discuss. I received a video request via my YouTube inbox to show a panini in one of my videos, so when I get back to school I will probably attempt to do that. This person has also requested that I do a video wearing my Obama shirt, but I think my Obama rally video covers that. Or I could show a panini wearing my Obama shirt and make that person's dreams come true.

Do you have any suggestions? Comment me.

ETA: I also just shaved my head.

Hi :D

2008-10-05T17:48:00.000-05:00

dear nancy

2008-10-03T16:16:00.007-05:00

Hi Nancy Everett.

I'm so glad you're in town for the USS Rochester 2008 Reunion, but when you're traveling on the metro with people like me, who live here and just wanna get home, please do not adopt me as your best friend while you're on your four-stop journey to your final destination, wherever that may be.

Your southern accent annoys me and, as a result of your drawl, I have no idea where in the south you told me you're from.

I am also indifferent about the cruise you and your friends are going on tonight. I hope it has good food too, and I'm sorry you haven't eaten since breakfast, but I have more pressing thoughts on my mind such as whether or not my bladder is going to be okay until I can get back to school and empty its contents.

It sucks that you haven't been on the metro in eight years, but please don't ask me if there have been any significant changes since you last rode it. Eight years ago I was in middle school in Pennsylvania, so maybe you should ask someone who's a little bit older and who has lived here for longer than two years.

Also, Nancy, yes it's cool that you're traveling with sailors from World War II, and that one of them is now so heavy that his mobility is dependent on his wheelchair, but I'm honestly more concerned about the Girls Aloud song I'm listening to right now and curiously considering what song might be next since my iPod is on shuffle at the moment.

On that note, can you keep it down a little? Your delegation of who's gonna do what when you get to your destination is a little unnecessary, as is your guessing of the side on which the doors are going to open. Once again, Girls Aloud are singing to me and you're ruining it. Single-handedly, Nancy, you're ruining everything.

I also suspect you have halitosis, which I know isn't your choice, but it is your choice to talk to me, and I'd really like if you'd stop.

Thanks so much,

Patrick

i'm in love with paninis

2008-09-25T21:38:00.001-05:00

conversation with kristin

2008-09-24T21:51:00.002-05:00

me: i never made a video tonight like i thought i might

kristin: boo

me: so i guess i will . . . some time

me: not even sure about the subject matter

me: my thoughts are 1. paninis

me: 2. BUY ME GIFTS!

kristin: 3. buy me paninis?

me: yes

kristin: haha

me: or rather a panini maker

kristin: and you would really do the work?

me: and a lifetime supply of ingredients

me: and a slave

kristin: hahaha

me: thoughts?

kristin: i heard they're selling those on ebay

me: hm...

kristin: slaves

kristin: idk about panini makers

introducing my mother

2008-09-20T19:24:00.001-05:00

o-m-g it's a b-l-o-g

2008-09-18T17:13:00.014-05:00

I think a real blog (with a B) is in order. It's been far too long since I've typed out a message to those who continue to check bnsc: those who are hopeful for something written and tired of hearing my voice, angelic as it is, over and over again. Blogging is where I started and, even though vlogging is fun, I really need to consider typing something out every once and a while and not just turning on my camera for a quick chat. My vlogging style consists of conceptualization, talking (usually in one take), editing together the bits in which I'm vocalizing and not just sitting there thinking, and then publishing the finished product on YouTube. Nothing fancy. And while vlogging has its merits, I'm a writer. Much like Oprah does between having a television show and building schools in Africa, I have to find a balance between writing blogs and producing vlogs.

I am able to write at present because it's Thursday evening and I, a college junior, have no classes on Friday. I think it's time to break the news to my mom that I dropped Dance Appreciation after class numero uno. If you recall it required that I pay for at least three dance performances throughout the semester, and I just wasn't feeling that. I'd rather buy some new duds or just not spend the money at all. The class also required that I watch videos that are only available in my school's library. And they aren't allowed to be checked out. Essentially, for a 100-level elective, it was going to be a lot more work than I was interested in doing. But with this I have amazing news! Not taking Dance Appreciation frees up the elective spot and will allow me to minor in Sociology! I've already taken two of the seven classes I need, and having five empty elective slots is a perfect fit for the five Sociology classes I need to take to fulfill the minor's requirements. What perfect luck! Now I am an English and Communications double major with a minor in Sociology. I am on track to be Vice President! Sarah Palin went to at least four separate undergraduate institutions before finally earning a degree in journalism. I will be so far ahead of that!

I learned that fun fact from a boy in my history course who announced it with grandeur to my class on Tuesday. History is my favorite: my teacher is hilarious and loves to chat about non-historical things. In the beginning of class he asked if anyone had anything to say, which commenced an approximately 45-minute political discussion. Said boy was like "I was watching Sarah Palin. I never know if it's Palin (short A) or Palin (long A), is anyone else having that problem? I was watching her and Charles Gibson and he asked her what she thought of the Bush Doctrine..." And it went on from there. Watch the video here if you're unfamiliar. After he made his case, this girl raised her hand and was like "No disrespect to you K--, but let's remember that you interned for Barack Obama" and whatever. A battle ensued and it was really fun. It was from that discussion that I learned about Sarah Palin's schooling. Joe Biden has a law degree. His first wife and daughter were also killed in a car accident one year while Christmas shopping. Have a heart and vote for the guy!

I also wanted to post a few pictures that I took with my phone from the Obama Walk 4 Change last Saturday. It was amazing. I felt like a celebrity with people honking their horns, taking pictures, and staring in my general direction.

I have training at the Air and Space Museum on Saturday from 9 to 3. Exciting!

OBAMA WALK 4 CHANGE

2008-09-13T16:51:00.002-05:00

what i did wednesday night

2008-09-12T21:58:00.001-05:00

listen in on my chat with a homeless woman

2008-09-05T19:05:00.000-05:00

pet peeves!

2008-09-02T20:30:00.001-05:00

new vlog: choosing friends wisely

2008-08-27T18:26:00.000-05:00

BACK2SCHOOL post

2008-08-26T09:32:00.003-05:00

Being back at school has been fine so far. Sunday night there was a welcome back party on the quad - cue the circles of awkward first-year girls who all thought it was a high school dance. It was horrible. It mainly consisted of said gross freshmen, questionable music ("Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" came on and Allison screamed "THIS IS MY SONG YALL!"), an ill-placed volleyball net that resulted in multiple near-concussions, and a few raffles. Unfortunately I got there late and did not have a raffle ticket in my possession. But I am so good at raffles! Ever since my win at last year's Midnight Madness ($500 B&N gift card, holla) I've been very confident with raffles. I can't wait to win the free books again this year!

But let's talk about classes. Yesterday I had my two English classes which were both fairly painful. I think I will like them because I always like all of my classes, but let's get one thing straight. I'm going to estimate that the combined age of my two professors is about 150. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I'm a very modern person and don't feel extremely connected to the international community of elders. If you're old and not related to me then I probably don't enjoy talking to you. I will make an exception for my professors though. Last night I started reading one of the books and I was loving it. It's a play about Joan of Arc. I normally have zero interest in anything historical, but this crap was good. This morning I had my first Dance Appreciation class which was pretty cool. My professor is fairly young with blonde highlights so I know I can trust her not to screw me over. We have to see at least three live dance performances this semester, so I'm hoping I can see the So You Think You Can Dance tour when it comes to DC . Nevermind it doesn't come here and the Baltimore show is on a Monday. WHATEVA!

I'm hoping to vlog as soon as I have substantial alone time.

crappy leadership post WHATEVA

2008-08-21T21:24:00.008-05:00

Leadership training week is a taxing process. The first day was really just a welcome back gathering for my office and yesterday was a campus-wide event that included the leaders of all clubs and organizations. It reminded me of a student council district conference in high school which I loved. I went to sessions titled "Woo Hoo! MU and Spirit," "Keep 'em Coming," and "Digital Picture." I skipped the last couple of scheduled events but I think I still went to more than some people so I was quite satisfied with my performance. Instead I went to the mall and bought a super cool reversible hooded jacket from Forever21 (one side is white and the other side is blue and white stripes) and some underwear from American Eagle. It was my first dive into the realm of low rise trunks and, after wearing boxers since circa 1999, it was certainly a welcomed shift. I would post pictures for Allison but she was with me at the time of purchase so I think she will simply be satisfied with me mentioning her name. Also shout-out to Jenny who was at the conference yesterday. I told you I would blog this.

Today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Rock climbing might be my true calling, let's be real. I rocked the harness and tied knots like it was my job without prior training from the Boy Scouts of America. The rest of the day was various training for our actual job and it was definitely more relaxed than I had anticipated. The last thing we did was an optional game of Cranium which I participated in until 9:40. I never played before and wasn't good at all despite having a really good partner but I was really disappointed, nay annoyed, with how lax people were being with playing the game as it unraveled. One of the participants was international and was therefore unfamiliar with a lot of the concepts that the game presented. This was semi-understandable when at times new questions had to be asked to accommodate his upbringing. What I was puzzled by was the sloppy play of others. Sometimes if people weren't sure of something they would pick another card. This, I thought, took away part of the challenge of the game. If you don't know it, that's too bad. You have to deal with what you're dealt. At one point I had to act out the expression "saved by the bell" and really didn't know how to do it. But I tried. And even though I failed and my team did not get to move our board piece, I thought it was only fair to at least attempt something I was not comfortable with doing. This portion involved no talking to our partner, to whom I was acting out. At one point I said the word "like" out of frustration, and people started jumping on me because of my utterance. "Like," to me, is like saying "um." It didn't add anything to my presentation and certainly wasn't helping my partner get the answer. Meanwhile other people are saying way more than "like" with nary a criticism. In an identical exercise, a separate phrase was the answer but the person didn't know what to do and picked another card. The same person, after not knowing how to sculpt something out of clay, wanted me to specially pick him out another sculpting card because he was good at that activity. In other rounds people picked through multiple cards before finally arriving at one that was achievable. In my mind, getting something you don't know is part of the game and essentially what makes it a game in the first place. If we all knew every clue, or just picked through ones that we did know, it wouldn't be much fun at all. Maybe I totally misunderstood the point of the game and am way off in my assessment of what happened though. My team did not come in last. It just annoyed me enough to rant via bnsc. WHAT DO YOU THINK? LEAVE A COMMENT! I LOVE EVERYONE.

the cat barfed EVERYWHERE

2008-08-15T19:21:00.001-05:00

EW.

what i've been doing in beijing

2008-08-14T20:07:00.005-05:00

Beijing is a beautiful city. In between watching as many Olympic events as possible I have been visiting some of its largest tourist attractions. One of my favorites has to be the Beijing Zoo. With over seven-thousand animals, this zoo contains more than three times that of DC's National Zoo. What a treat for my inner animal enthusiast!

The animals were so still it was like they were posing for me! When I can, though, I stay at the Olympic events with other Americans and cheer on USA's athletes. Because of the large number of people who have flocked to Beijing, and because the athletes, coaches, and other important individuals are monopolizing the nicer hotels, housing accommodations are sparse. To remedy this situation some people have been forced to share a room - including me. I know it sounds strange, but yes I had a roommate in a hotel! Things were weird at first, and then his nephew won Togo's first Olympic medal EVER! You can only imagine the party held in our room that night! I even got to meet Benjamin Boukpeti (his nephew) the other day. What a man! If I had my computer I would have vlogged with him, but sadly I was at lunch when my roommate introduced me to him. Oh well, I'll always have the memories.

BFFS!

new vlog: my time at the dentist

2008-08-14T18:51:00.002-05:00

Comment and subscribe to my channel!

hello from beijing!

2008-08-11T14:14:00.002-05:00

I am really getting into vlogging. I was talking to myself this morning about filming this vlog and I was like I guess I'll post this vlog on my blog - and it turned into this Dr. Seuss conversation. Along came a dog and a frog walking through the bog. There was fog. It got a little out of control. Check out my new video!

for steph: the evolution of us

2008-08-07T12:47:00.006-05:00

Four pictures of us with approximate dates via Facebook. Observe the change.

January 14, 2007

January 08, 2008

March 08, 2008

August 06, 2008

We are out of control.

i <3 sara bareilles

2008-08-06T13:19:00.006-05:00

Last night's Sara Bareilles, Maroon 5, and Counting Crows concert was AMAZING, even if I was the only one who knew what was going on. Sara sang six songs - five of her own and a Beatles cover (Oh Darling) - and I was singing with her the whole time. She sang my three favorites (Gravity, Morningside, and Many The Miles), plus two others that I really enjoy, so my only complaint is that she didn't have time to sing more. I really want to see a show with just her one day. I knew probably two-thirds of what Maroon 5 sang and I was loving that as well. I vaguely recognized some of the Counting Crows stuff but they sounded borderline country last night and that's a deal-breaker for me. Kristin and Erin didn't really know the Sara songs except for Love Song and maybe Bottle It Up and instead just talked through all of it. Kristin seriously turned to me at one point as I was singing and swaying and said "I can't wait for Counting Crows to come on so you can join the conversation!" - except she probably didn't say Counting Crows. The whole night she was saying Casting Crowns, or Casting Crows, or Counting Crowns . . . basically anything but what the band is actually called. It wasn't her fault though. She had just popped a Vicodin and couldn't be held responsible for any of her actions.

I must be really naive, or just an amateur concert-goer, because I didn't know that people would just be drinking in the parking lot before the show. I also didn't know that they sold alcohol inside the actual concert. This was fine with me - if you've ever seen drunk girls dancing all over the place and making out with guys who aren't interested then you know that their eventual DUIs are worth the show that we the audience got to see that night. I wish I had some of that nonsense recorded. What I do have recorded are some pictures of the three of us that we took before the show started.

Kristin got out of her seat and walked behind Erin for the picture because she was paranoid that her head would look big if she was even slightly closer to the camera than Erin. The process was painful to experience.

Classic Erin.

Some pictures are better in black and white. This is for my sake.

These three ladies with mullets who were all about Maroon 5 sat near us, though I do have to tell you that once Adam Levine came out and started singing they really had no reaction. I think they thought it was the Counting Crows at first, though I'm pretty sure that Adam's voice and diminutive figure are unique to only him. They had no idea what was happening.

NEW VLOG

2008-08-04T23:32:00.002-05:00

I don't feel like typing.

Subscribe to my channel!

video post: giving myself a haircut

2008-08-01T14:18:00.003-05:00

I used my clippers today for the first time ever. It was traumatizing.

poor people: a case study

2008-07-30T23:50:00.005-05:00

There are 300+ poor people staying at Marymount right now. I hope this case study will scientifically prove that this demographic does not know how to use elevators. My research is conclusive.

I would love for you to leave any comments on the actual video on YouTube, but if you don't have an account you can leave it here. Or make an account, comment, and subscribe to my channel! Thanks in advance!

(I don't hate poor people. But some of them do smell . . . which I guess could be said about any group of people.)

Happy Birthday Mom. I didn't mean to write about poor people on your birthday.

picture post: kristin's weekend in dc

2008-07-29T22:48:00.007-05:00

I don't feel like typing and therefore I am simply posting pictures from Kristin's weekend in DC. All pictures were taken with my razr so please don't hate on the quality. I'll caption them.

I took three of these down in the metro, and this was the best one of both of us I think. Kristin may have looked better in one of the others but let's be honest - this is my blog and I'm not sacrificing a good picture for a friend.

I took Kristin to Noodles and Company, which I think she enjoyed but she may have just said she liked it because she knew I would send her packing had she not.

We found this dead bird on the way back from the mall. It wasn't the first dead bird we'd seen during the weekend and I knew when I saw this one that it needed to make the blog. I wish we had both to compare, because as a passerby noted about the first bird, "It looks like a pterodactyl." Too bad you can't see it. Next topic: we went to the National Mall on Saturday night because Kristin likes viewing the monuments when it's dark outside. Before it got totally dark, we saw these people posing in front of the Washington Monument, but they weren't just standing there smiling for the camera. These people were selecting very strange, jacked up positions whereby they were trying to appear to be flying above the monument, or leaning against it, or something. It's hard to say what exactly they were doing. I was heavily zoomed in on them so the pictures are small and blurry. Try to imagine people making a fool out of themselves for what they thought would be amazing photos. What they don't realize is that everyone tries to do those poses. They're not cute.

Then we walked over and chatted with Abe Lincoln and looked back over to the Washington Monument for a reflection pool delight.

On Sunday we visited George Mason's law school, which is conveniently located within walking distance from my school's metro station. We might both go there one day, although who really knows. I haven't decided what I'm doing yet with my life.

Kristin, please comment with any stories that I failed to mention. I did not write about our disaster on Saturday concerning Redskins Park because it's a memory I'd like to not have anymore. Thanks in advance for never talking about football with me again!

help a sister out!

2008-07-24T23:59:00.006-05:00

I just got an email about the newest comment on my teeth dream post. First of all, I love how people are no longer commenting on what I write. Now the comments section is just a message board for bnsc readers to discuss whatever they want. I got Allison's comment saying "omg we were just talking about that movie today at work lol. what a weird coincidence" and I was confused at first because I didn't remember mentioning a movie in my post. Then I looked at the responses and realized that Allison is just chitchatting with anonymous commenters. What concerns me more is that that was her third comment on the post, and that she must just be reading the comments every day hoping to be able to chime in with a witty retort. I'm sure it's just her polite way of telling me to write something on my blog or suffer the consequences. Not that you care anymore or ever cared about this subject, but I had another dream about my teeth last night. Let's just say they were mobile. It wasn't pretty.

Speaking of Allison, who I know will love that this post is turning into crap about her, the two of us have basically been conspiring to ruin the welcome back party for one of our jobs. Reason number one is because the menu is very Asian, which would be okay if they were serving bourbon chicken. But that's not the case. There is sushi involved. Just typing that word right now triggered my gag reflex. Step one included being rude on the Evite, which is itself ridiculous. The party is mandatory, so as much as I appreciate a pretty invitation, I can't get over the fact that saying no is not an option. To me it's like a professor sending out an Evite for the final. Sure, I could say no for no reason, but that would mean certain failure. In the same way, refusing to go to this party would essentially get me fired. So back to being rude. The comment under my YES! RSVP says "Asian boss. Asian food. Vomit." I personally thought this was very classy but I think my boss took offense. I honestly don't see why. Allison wrote "Sushi. How bold! I just need some cheese doodles and kool-aid. Help a sister out!" I can take credit for the basic structure of that comment including the phrase "help a sister out!" She changed the foods and revised the beginning but for the most part it was my idea. I was very proud of her for following through and actually writing that. We were also thinking of sending out an Evite for a party at the exact same time, or handing out fliers at the actual party for an after-party promising better food. Who knows what may happen. I may or may not isolate myself from others and just bring my Macbook with me and sit in the corner listening to Mariah Carey ballads the whole time. Without headphones. I can't say what I'll do at this point. I may just walk in rolling a cooler full of assorted snacks and sell them to other hungry people. If I'm being forced to be there I might as well make a profit.

Kristin is coming to visit this weekend (starting tomorrow night) and one of her goals is to make the blog. I love that she voiced this dream with me as if one of my very good friends from home could come down and stay with me and then somehow not be mentioned anywhere. And she's been on plenty of times before. I don't know why she's being such a fangirl about it. I'm pretty sure my weekend will be ridiculous so watch out for updates on that.

teeth dream post

2008-07-19T18:48:00.003-05:00

Last night I had a very weird dream about my teeth which was not the first of its kind. Once I dreamt that my retainer was the only thing keeping my teeth together and without it my teeth immediately separated, displaying large gaps between each pair. One time I dreamt they all fell out. Last night's involved my front teeth and the dislocation thereof. I was at some sort of college function but with only high school people, which is also a recurring theme. My front teeth were loose and eventually fell out - but in a natural way, as if, just like my eleventh-grade chemistry teacher, I had three sets of teeth and lost two of them before my real ones finally grew in. Thinking back, there was no blood involved, just a painless process of finding my teeth out of my mouth and in my hands before safely being placed into a ziploc. You know, the sensation of holding your two front teeth in your fingers and examining them like you would a pebble is remarkable. Let's talk facts: my teeth are a great feature of mine. I'm sure you can imagine how devastated I was when they were suddenly inhabiting the crevices of fingers and not the ones located in my mouth. Someone was going to take me to the hospital (I won't say who) and then I looked in the mirror and they weren't missing anymore. Crisis averted. I just shared that with you for no reason.

My next blog may or may not be about one of my sisters. I'll let them wonder which one it is until I post something about one of them.