The Dromomaniac

Well, now that I'm IN (!!!), the work begins. Seriously, though, I was sooo excited on Monday night that I couldn't sleep. And then, once I got tired, I couldn't sleep because I kept coughing. But the point is that I'M SO EXCITED, and not in a 1984 Pointer Sisters kinda way.

But yes, the work begins now. I'll be taking two classes for the spring semester, both of which meet on Wednesdays. I figure it's better to just knock both of them out rather than go two days, but it's going to make for very loooong Wednesdays. I quit Literacy Volunteers because I can't work two jobs and go to school like I did during my City College days; actually, I probably could, but I was exhausted all of the time and I'm 8 years older now. One thing that will be crucial is organization; my desk is a disaster and I'll need to stay focused and on my game while I study. 

It is a weird feeling, though. I always regretted not pursuing the PhD at The Graduate Center in Manhattan, and I've been fantasizing about studying in a doctoral program ever since. This has been a long time coming. And it's a wonderfully weird thing to think that the things I wanted most of all came true in 2009.

Actually?

I GOT IN!

SO, Santa came early and dropped off my annual bronchitis. Thanks, bro. Despite illin', I'm looking forward to the trip to Tokyo. My doc gave me drugs and even if they work placebo-like, that's good enough for me.

In other non-news, I still haven't heard from UB, so I broke down and requested my application fee back. Seriously, why the fuck should I pay to apply when they can't be bothered to make a decision?

Bad

I do believe "Bad Santa" is my favorite holiday film.

Only three more days of work until break. 

I STILL haven't heard from UB which is just fucking comical at this point. 

I'm getting stoked for Japan. I can't wait to get me into an onsen.

Paul talked me out of France and into California, so I'm already looking forward to that next summer. 

Franklin is a total punk.

I just spent over a grand on my annual holiday car repairs.

ARG. I am being observed/evaluated by my boss tomorrow and I've no idea what to do. Rather, I have a few ideas, but I'm so very tired that I can't properly frame it all into a lesson plan. Thankfully, the kid she's observing me with is a big fat ham and will put on quite a show for her.

SPEAKING of big fat hams, Franklin is still the love of my life. Sorry, boys. I'm taken.

I must remember to treat the help better; no one is bringing me coffee right now, and that's just wrong.

It's muthefriggin freezing out there and I have zero incentive to force myself out into it. I'd ever so much rather climb back into bed with Franklin and sleep. We actually have not much of anything planned for a change. Paul's pretty congested so we didn't go to the gym this morning, and we finished off most of our shopping last night. 

Our friends Carima and Rich run the Western New York Book Arts Center, and last night, they held a Last Minute Panic Holiday Marketplace thingy. My friend Jan was selling her Lily Pickford jewelry, so we stopped in to say hi to her and to Carima. We ended up getting loads of goodies from Jan and other vendors. We then went to ZGM Gallery to see Annie and got a few Mundo Images treats as well. We're about done now. We need to get a few things for Paul's folks and I need to get some trinkets to bring to Japan, but that's it. 

Check In

Busy busy busy... I know some of you (Patty) want me to keep this blog going but I just don't know if I have the time for it anymore...

The brief summary of the past week is:

-Thought I was illin' big time last week, but it turned out to be the dramatic onset of an unremarkable cold.

-More nonsense from downstate, but I've reduced it to minor annoyance.

-Spent the weekend in New Paltz at an Arabic Immersion program, which was fanTAStic. I'm diggin this new hobby.

-Kids are JACKED up beyond belief at work. I can't believe they're not Christmas-ed out already. Most of the teachers have had them doing Christmas stuff since Thanksgiving. Don't even get me started on the inequity of NO mention of Chanukah et al...

-In honor of the two latter notations, I'm cooking a "What Would Jesus Eat?" meal tonight. Since there's no way homeboy woulda dug on fruitcake, I've made hummus and tabbouleh. Take THAT, Coca-Cola!

Back to work today. I can't complain because I'm lucky to have had the days off, but yes, I am already counting down until Christmas holiday. And actually to summer.

We're going to a reading tonight of a play that my friend Dana wrote. I don't like to do things on Monday nights, but it should be interesting. Dana's wildly imaginative, so I look forward to the hijinks that undoubtedly spew forth from her brain.

I watched "Why We Fight" last night, which is about the domination of the military-industrial complex in American politics. It was very upsetting and solidifies my belief that we can't trust any politicians. We chased that shot with a program about child prostitution. The combination damn-near made me go postal. For me, the ultimate question is: what the fuck is wrong with humanity? Why do we insist on creating misery? I just don't get it. It usually comes down to money and how to make some, and then how to make more. Is it ever really worth it, though?

Roight. Off with ye.  

Slothe

It may be one of the deadly sins (at least, I think it is) but I'm totally embracing it right now. I LOVE not having to do anything today other than youtube old Mary J Blige videos and nap. Paul's at the football game (which will surely end in tears, comme d'habitude) and Franklin and I are lazing around like slugs.  

Thanks

In the spirit of the holiday, Imma list everyone I can think of that makes me happy.

Obviously, I'll start with family: Paul, my mom, D, Patty, Ron, and Wendy. Extended family, too: Kathy, Claire, and Rejoyce. And in-laws: Mary, George, Dave, Mary Beth, the other George, and the chitlin. And steps: Mary, Lou Lou, Jeanine, and Kevin. And, Papi and Geo, I still miss you.

Although that seems like a lot of family, I barely ever see any of them. My friends are my family: Moe, Kels, Julia, Ann, the other Mo, Helen, Dana, Jan, Carima, Michele, Nikki, Lori Ann, Kristin, Gudrun, Paula, Hadas, Virginia, Liz, Patricia, Claudia, and Candela. And my boys: Brian, Larry, Ron, Jay, Bill, Steve, Darren, Warren, Sean, Phil, Kevin, and Andras. And my adopted aunts and uncles: Andy, Jannie, Ann, Sharon, Alannah, Brian, Jane, Pete, and Steph. 

And, my animals, past and present: Franklin, Lucie, Norton, Daisy, Nelly, Vess, Fred, Tom, Rosie, Tug, Shiloh, and Seamus. 

LOVE!!