Karma

HA!

I was just sent a Facebook friend request from a kid from high school... who hung out with those completely obnoxious, really loud, football-playing, inexplicably popular boys. He in particular didn't ever directly offend me, so I accepted it, just to see if my suspicions were correct about him going nowhere fast.

So. Worth it.

He got SO fat, is working at Toys 'R Us, and has a ton of pictures with ALL these people from high school who were retarded-manic-stupid popular crowd, and they are ALL. COMPLETE. LOSERS. At least most of them didn't gain as much weight as this guy, but you can so tell that even after they've graduated, all they do is just hang out with each other, drink and sit on the couch eating chips. I am so so so loving it.

I reiterate: I cannot wait to go to my high school reunion. Cannot. Wait.

All I ever do is copy Jimmy.

What are you thinking at the moment?
how to make a convincing halloween elf

Who was the last person you ate with?
lucy lu, irma balzano, carolyn frattaroli and adrienne. coworkers. adrienne: "she had a photographer take a picture of [the pregnant lady] on her bed." irma: "was she... naked?"

What was the last beverage you spilled on yourself?
lemon ginger tea.

Do you like tattoos and piercings?
only on dudes. badass. except the piercings that actually deform your face.

Are you in a good mood?
eh, *waves hands around ambiguously*

Miss someone?
parents, some friends

Has anyone ever told you they were in love with you?
not with that wording, no

What is something you’d like to have right now?
more faith in the future, motivation for certain things.... elf ear tips!

What are you doing this weekend?
probably going shopping for those ear tips, that's about it

Did you speak to your father today?
no, but i talked to him twice yesterday

Do you drink bottled water?
i save the bottle and keep putting more water in it

If you could change your eye color what would it be?
the best colors i think for eyes are green and violet, and mine are already kind of green, so if i had to change them it'd be violet

Have you ever kissed someone whos name started with a J?
no

Do you believe in love at first sight?
only with hope, not really

Where do you live?
new york

How many months until your birthday?
uh just about 6! it's my half-birthday

Where is your sister right now?
as if.

Who was the last person to call you?
adam

Who was your 5th and 19th text from?
i'm not doing this

Who all do you have texts from in your inbox?
and definitely not this, but it's probably stacey, jared, jimmy, and NYU emergency alert

Who would you say is your number 1 best friend right now?
that's tough, i don't see my number 1's :(

How many letters are in your last name?
four

When was the last time you talked to one of your siblings?
last night! and i fed him.

Have you been to New York City?
*looks around*

Looking back, did you ever waste too much time on a certain person?
no. time spent with anyone i consider not a waste, even if nothing came of it

Do you remember the name of your first school you ever went to?
shit yeah, and it wasn't even preschool! my daycare was Little People (LP), my preschool was St. Steven's, my elementary was Ridgebury Elementary, my middle was East Ridge Middle School and my high school was Ridgefield High

Where is your phone?
on my book on the AC unit

What happened at 10:00 am today?
i was working on the results sheet

When was the last time you saw your grandma?
mom's side: one of our weekend visits a long, long time ago

dad's side: saturday!

What was the first thing you did when you woke up?
got some clothes on, it was cold

How many and what kind of animals are in your house?
some mosquitoes, probably some cockroaches and rats. *sad face*

Would you rather stay at other peoples houses or have them stay at yours?
stay at theirs. more interesting, and my parents can't make it weird

Have you ever wished you had a different last name?
no.

If a stranger looked in your closet, what would they think?
i really, really like the color green. and brown. and hoodies.

What’s bothering you right now?
tone of voice.

Do people underestimate you?
i have no freakin clue.

What are you doing tomorrow?
going to the new york stem cell foundation conference on the upper west side. wow, that was a coincidence that it was actually something interesting.

Did you sing at all today?
no, never, and when i do, i get yelled at

Do you have a tan?
used to, dammit

Does your temper flare a lot?
pretty quickly and pretty strong

Do you get emotional easily?
ugh i wish i didnt

Can you sleep without blankets covering you?
yeah, although not now with the mosquitoes

How many hours of sleep do you need to function?
a steady 6.5 to 7, anything over 9 starts messing with me, too

Last trip you took to the zoo?
this summer! central park zoo

Did you feel awkward at all today?
yeah, when i was carrying my 500lb bag and my 800lb shopping bag and bumping into people at random bc i was hurrying and trying not to have my arms fall off

Do you think you will be married by the time you are 35?
god i hope so

Has anyone ever told you that they hated you, seriously?
no.

How often do you take pain medicine?
hardly never

Do you sleep with socks on?
ugh NO! BLARGH!

Do you like to wear lip gloss/chap stick?
it's kind of necessary, especially in the winter

Are you waiting for something?
to go to sleep

Do you hate the last person you had a conversation with?
uh, what? no.

Is there anyone who understands your relationship status?
yeah, probably everyone who knows us.

Did you have a dream last night?
absolutely. and there's no way i'm saying what it was.

How many piercings do you have?

7.

Where were you on July 4th?
teaching jessie to play kings with stacey, jared and adam

Are you someone who snores or is a sleepwalker?
don't sleepwalk, only snore when my head is bent all weird... like if it's buried under the cushions of a couch. why? i don't know how it happened, but it did.

What do you do when you spot a bug in your house?
if it's a spider, leave it. it'll kill the others.

Have you ever logged onto a boyfriend/girlfriend/crush myspace?
stalker. no.

Is your birthday on a holiday?
it was on easter once.

Have you ever liked someone who all your friends hate?
i don't think my friends care that much. oh but i've hated someone that all my friends like! does that count?

Survey!

Bold the ones that are true.
Italicize the ones that are “kind of” true.

♫ I am 5′4 or shorter.
♫ I think I’m ugly.
♫ I have many scars.
♫ I tan easily.
♫ I wish my hair was a different color.
♫ I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
♫ I have a tattoo.
♫ I am self-conscious about my appearance.
♫ I have/have had braces.
♫ I wear glasses.
♫ I’d get plastic surgery.
♫ I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger.
♫ I have had more than two piercings.
♫ I have freckles.

family/home life
♫ I’ve sworn at my parents.
♫ I’ve run away from home.
♫ I’ve been kicked out of the house.
♫ My biological parents are together.
♫ I have a sibling less than one year old.
♫ I want children someday.
♫ I have children.
♫ I’ve lost a child.

embarrassment
♫ I’ve slipped out an “lol” in a spoken conversation.
♫ Disney movies still make me cry.
♫ I’ve snorted while laughing.
♫ I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried.
♫ I’ve glued my hand to something.
♫ I’ve laughed ’til some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
♫ I’ve had my pants rip in public.

health
♫ I’ve had stitches.
♫ I’ve broken a bone.
♫ I’ve had my tonsils removed.
♫ I’ve sat in a doctor’s office with a friend.
♫ I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
♫ I’ve had serious surgery.
♫ I’ve had chicken pox.

traveling
♫ I’ve driven over 200 miles in a day.
♫ I’ve been on a plane.
♫ I’ve been to North America.
♫ I’ve been to Niagara Falls.
♫ I’ve been to Japan.
♫ I’ve been to Europe.
♫ I’ve been to Africa.

experiences
♫ I’ve been lost in the city.
♫ I’ve seen a shooting star.
♫ I’ve wished on a shooting star.
♫ I have seen a meteor shower.
♫ I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
♫ I’ve pushed all the buttons in an elevator.
♫ I’ve been to a casino.
♫ I’ve been skydiving.
♫ I’ve gone skinny dipping.
♫ I’ve played spin the bottle.
♫ I’ve crashed a car.
♫ I’ve been skiing.
♫ I’ve been in a play.
♫ I’ve met someone in person from the internet.
♫ I’ve caught a snowflake on my tongue.
♫ I’ve seen the northern lights.
♫ Sat on a roof at night.
♫ I’ve played chicken.
♫ I’ve seen the RHPS.
♫ I’ve eaten sushi.
♫ I’ve been snowboarding.

relationships
♫ I’m single.
♫ I’m in a relationship.
♫ I’m available.
♫ I’m engaged.
♫ I’m married.
♫ I’ve gone on a blind date.
♫ I’ve been the dumpee more than the dumper.
♫ I have a fear of abandonment.
♫ I’ve been divorced.
♫ I’ve had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
♫ I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t.
♫ I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did.
♫ I’ve kept something from a past relationship.

honesty/crime
♫ I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t.
♫ I have lied to my parents about where I am.
♫ I am keeping a secret from the world.
♫ I’ve cheated while playing a video game.
♫ I’ve cheated on a test.
♫ I’ve driven through a red light.
♫ I’ve been suspended from school.
♫ I’ve witnessed a crime.
♫ I’ve been in a fist fight.
♫ I’ve been arrested.
♫ I’ve shoplifted.

drugs/alcohol
♫ I’ve consumed alcohol.
♫ I have/do smoke cigarettes.
♫ I have/do smoke pot.
♫ I regularly drink.
♫ I’ve taken painkillers when I didn’t need them.
♫ I take cough medication when I’m not sick.
♫ I’ve done hard drugs.
♫ I’ve been addicted to an illegal substance.
♫ I can’t swallow pills.
♫ I can swallow about five pills at a time no problem.

random
♫ I can sing well.
♫ I’ve stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
♫ I open up to others too easily.
♫ I watch the news.
♫ I don’t kill bugs.
♫ I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for sake of being able to rhyme.
♫ I fucking swear regularly.
♫ I sing in the shower.
♫ I am a morning person.
♫ I paid for my mobile phone ring tone.
♫ I’m a snob about grammar.
♫ I am a sports fanatic.
♫ I play with my hair.
♫ I’ve had ‘x’s in my screen name.
♫ I love being neat.
♫ I love spam.
♫ I’ve copied more than 30 cds in a day.
♫ I bake well.
♫ I don’t know how to shoot a gun.
♫ I am in love with love.
♫ I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
♫ I laugh at my own jokes.
♫ I eat fast food weekly.
♫ I believe in ghosts.
♫ I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
♫ I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
♫ I am really ticklish.
♫ I love white chocolate.
♫ I bite my nails.
♫ I play video games.
♫ I’m good at remembering faces.
♫ I’m good at remembering names.
♫ I’m good at remembering dates.
♫ I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
♫ My answers are totally honest.

Utter randomosity.

It definitely sounded like hail this morning. It was only raining by the time I had to go outside to get to work, but the wind was not going to let me go without a fight. Especially on First Ave., where it's mostly exposed to the water. My rain jacket wouldn't zipper, a fact I discovered after I got outside, so while trying to juggle my hat brim, my zipper, the rest of my rain coat, my tea mug AND my bag, it was just kind of getting funny.

Despite the weather, I was warm enough on the bus and my pants weren't THAT wet.

I feel strangely invigorated this morning. Maybe the change in weather... it's been just kind of sunny, partly cloudy since about April. Don't get me wrong, that's really nice, but I do like having seasons and even though rain is a pain in the butt, it reminds me that I do have to pay attention to the world outside of my head.

Yesterday was pretty insane. Maybe that's why I feel so much better today. I was on the bus going to work at 7:15 (an hour earlier than usual) and actually had a lot to do in the morning. Lots of measuring and data analysis and making of graphs. Then I had a nice little conversation with the boss about the other day's fiasco (see below...) and felt much better about it. **Note: always better to get it off your chest than let it fester and annoy you forever.**

I had a doctor's appointment at 2:15 and was going to try to fit it into my lunch break since I've had a LOT of them recently and I don't like pissing off my boss and would rather like to keep my relative job hours flexibility. Timing-wise, it worked out extremely well. I left at 1:58 and got back at 2:57. The only thing is, the sandwich that Adam got the past night for that day's lunch... had... only lettuce in it. Which I found out power-walking down the street, trying not to get blown over by the wind into the many open manholes and passing the 10,000 cops all lined up for the UN summit meeting. I thought that maybe the meat and other goodies were hidden behind the arugala (yeech) and spinach (gack... well, it was cold, ok!), but oh no. And once I had taken a bite, there was no turning back. I couldn't exactly spit it onto a policeman's shoe. It was disgusting. I threw it away in the garbage can of the waiting room but could taste it all day. And what's worse, I didn't have time to eat anything else and didn't have any food on me, so the only time I could get food was later at 4:50!!! It was not good.

The doctor's appointment was really good, they definitely make it faster and better if you work in an affiliated building (remember, this is in the hospital, since I get awesome health care for working for NYUMC). It was for a mole on my back that had kind of... like... grown. They said it was nothing, but they could take it off if I wanted them to. I said sure, why not. Then I asked how they would do it, and the guy kind of laughed and was like, you don't want to know. I said um, yes, I do, I just asked you. Derrr. But he was sort of right, lol. "I'm going to inject you with some painkillers, then snip it off with really sharp scissors and cauterize it." Cauterize it?! So that's what that weird looking machine with the temperature gauge on the wall was. Interesting...
It didn't hurt at all (except the injection bit), but then it started to wear off at around 5:30 and I started feeling it. It's fine now, though.
So, I basically underwent minor surgery during my lunch break! Cool!

Then ran to class, sat through a full 2.5hr lecture (the first full one we've had, because the other teachers couldn't stand to talk for that long), got home and made some amazing pasta. Here it is:

Ingredients (in no particular amounts, just to taste/how hungry you are)
linguine
shrimp, peeled and deveined
sweet onion
garlic
olive oil
butter
capers
salt
parmesan cheese

Boil the water for the linguine
While the water is heating up, chop 1-2 slices of onion and 1 garlic clove
Put linguine into water
Heat up small frying pan on medium, putting equal amounts of olive oil and butter into it
Stir fry the onion, garlic and capers until browned
Add shrimp and whatever else you feel like (green peppers, sun-dried tomatoes?)
Drain linguine, plate
Add whole frying pan mix, including and especially the liquid portion
Add salt and parmesan cheese to taste, toss

DELICIOUS
I'm still testing this out, I've figured out the timing and experimented the capers this time. Sun-dried tomatoes are next.

Jeez, just thinking about this makes me super hungry. I could eat this every day. MMM.

Pissed.

For the past 3 full months, I've been randomly answering the other side's phone if 1) they're not there, 2) I'm not busy and 3) it keeps ringing a million times and gets on my nerves.
All of these three criteria are usually in play, although I have let it ring if I'm in the middle of something. Obviously. Since it's not really my phone anyway.
Also, if I'm talking to the boss and it rings, I always ask, should I get it? Just to stop it from ringing because the other people aren't here and the front desk will keep calling it a hundred times without stopping. And he ALWAYS says, sure. I've ALWAYS done this. And I've also ASKED a BUNCH of times.
This morning, same deal, blah dee blah.
Then he comes storming out of his office saying how "we have to talk about something" and that he "REALLY doesn't like it when I pick up the other phone" and "this is our phone, that is their phone, it's their responsibility" and "we've talked about this multiple times" (which we haven't, btw, at least not this specific thing, unless he meant we talked about it BEING OKAY FOR ME TO DO).
I had NO idea this was coming, and am seriously angry now. It is not my fault if he is not clear and gives mixed signals about what to do in a certain situation. I've asked him many times if it's all right if I pick up their phone, and he says yes. WHY THE HELL IS IT DIFFERENT NOW and HOW THE CRAP WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW.

Ugh.

I want to smack something.

Later today:
I've gotten over it, just want to make sure he knows I didn't do it on purpose. Going to address that right before I leave and then high-tail it outta there.

I'm feeling rather science-y today...

I'm fairly sure I've already recorded a bunch of these, but they're so good!

I think science has enjoyed an extraordinary success because it has such a limited and narrow realm in which to focus its efforts. Namely, the physical universe. ~Ken Jenkins

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. ~Henry J. Tillman

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..." ~Isaac Asimov

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. ~Wernher Von Braun

The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA. Without this special attribute, we would still be anaerobic bacteria and there would be no music. ~Lewis Thomas

Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own. ~Bertrand Russell, What I Believe, 1925

In a manner which matches the fortuity, if not the consequence, of Archimedes' bath and Newton's apple, the [3.6 million year old] fossil footprints were eventually noticed one evening in September 1976 by the paleontologist Andrew Hill, who fell while avoiding a ball of elephant dung hurled at him by the ecologist David Western. ~John Reader, Missing Links: The Hunt for Earliest Man

If it's green or wriggles, it's biology.
If it stinks, it's chemistry.
If it doesn't work, it's physics.~Handy Guide to Science

An experiment is a question which science poses to Nature, and a measurement is the recording of Nature's answer. ~Max Planck, Scientific Autobiography and Other Papers, 1949

Experiment v.2

Mine won't be as pretty, but oh well.

1. I think about you almost every day and I fervently hope you're all right, even though I'll never find out.
2. In some ways, I'm glad you moved. I realized my jealousy when you were gone.
3. Talking to you has become a chore, but deep down I'm glad for it.
4. I wish you could have more self-control... it'd be so much easier to be your friend.
5. Your big and only fault is your lack of self-esteem, and it sometimes makes you ugly when all you are is beautiful.
6. I wish I could be like you and so does everybody else.
7. I know you talk to me because I won't pull a protective line, but I silently pray you watch out for yourself. I am also intensely and irrevocably proud of you.
8. I feel like your mother. Grow up.
9. Even after all the silly missteps in the long past, I will always love you and be there for you. You are my longest and truest friend. I dearly hope you will be happy.
10. Sorry. No one knew what to do, so I did the only thing I could.
11. I can no longer comprehend a future without you. I know we'll make it, and we'll make it good.


That was actually way more than I thought I could think of. I'm kind of surprised...
Only one person is referred to twice. Alot of people mentioned do not read this.

School stuff, for multiple people

It was only at 6:23 this morning that I remembered that on Thursdays I have to be in at work at 8 instead of 9. I had my alarm set for 7:15, which is actually the time that I needed to be outside waiting for the bus. At least I remembered, and there was no fiasco like last week (roommate's girlfriend sneaking into the bathroom at 7:10 to stay in there for 20 minutes, bus being late, car accident on the way) so I got into work bright-eyed and cheery at 8:03. On the way here, though, I remembered that I forgot my calculator (even though its batteries are dead) for my quiz/test later today. I'm resolved to steal one of the two Dark Ages calculators from the "dead instruments" drawer. I checked them both, and it took me 5 tries to get an answer of 25 when I divided 260 by 10.4. It kept giving me 2.5, or 0.009284793, or 40. Obviously not right. These things are 6x4", solar-powered, addition-subtraction-multiplication-division only beasts. I hope it goes well.
I also forgot my "note-taking" notebook. I have my "practice problems" one with me. This whole once-a-week class thing is not helping me with my memory of what I need to bring.

And I couldn't write an entry without discussing an unfortunate but also predictable event, one which has its own pros and cons. Jared took his GMAT yesterday and even though he only said he did poorly and gave no one a number, he said he fell well below the range he was getting on his practice tests and to me that translates as sub-600. He said he's going to take it again, and that that was "normal", which I doubt. He's been studying on and off for this for literally months. I can't remember when he hasn't been. It's at least been since May. He kept putting it off one week after another, and that is just way too long to wait. To give him credit, when he was studying on the weekend, he got in some good long hours per day. But he was nowhere near the dedication level needed to get above 700 or better.
Pros: A slight told-you-so feeling (even though that's mean), since we kept telling him to study more and he kept watching his wine tasting videos and movies all day. A chance that he'll finally realize that he needs to put more effort into it. Some humbling action.
Cons: More of Jared studying, and even more of Jared not-studying. More of one-sided conversations about specific problems and test-taking strategies for prolonged periods. More of "oh, can't do anything this weekend, have to study", and then seeing him just watch a movie in his room instead of hanging out with us.
So it's a mixed bag. I do feel bad for him because I know that a lot of people have difficulty preparing for an exam like this, but you have to choose if this really is for you or not. If you did that poorly after attempting to study for SO long, there's obviously something going on here that you should pay attention to. Adam is a little meaner about it than I am, but then again he is a show-off and despises non-motivationed people. It also has something to do with the fact that it took Jared a month and continual pressure to get the wall up, did nothing for finding a couch (he did help move it, thank you!), only kicked in for the apartment search at the very end, and hasn't showed any interest in locating a tv stand. Non-motivated, you say? Everyone's different, and it can be frustrating, but Adam can be frustrating, too. He gets way too picky, which also hinders the process of apartment/couch/tv stand selection. *shrug

I've met up with a friend from BU down here twice, hope to keep in touch with her more often. Yael lives on the Upper East Side, which is very far away from me but easily reached by subway. We've had lunch and I went to her place for homemade lasagna and challah bread, where I met her other friend Kristen, a NYC public middle school science teacher. It was weird because she's our age, and I don't ever remember a teacher that young that I've ever had. Maybe it was just skewed because back when you're 10, everyone older than 15 looks like an adult.
I sat next to a girl called Laura in class, and we talked during the break a little bit. Like everyone else, she's older than me, but only by a year. She went to UPENN undergrad and works in a lab, too. I hope she sits near me again so there isnt any more awkwardity, but then again meeting a bunch of other people is always good - plus she seemed to know some girls behind us and might sit with them instead. Oh well. Class is for class, not socializing, especially since I probably won't stay on the same track as most of the people. We'll see!

Wow. Long post.

Umm...

Good thing I brought my raincoat. It's badass, completely rubber with no air vents. I could inflate it and float along in a flood.

I might need to utilize this ability...

I love other locquacious people.

"People I hate, football version - 1.) Bernard Pollard. Obviously. 2.) My mom. Ma Dukes was the one who brought this on us, with her jinxes and evil devilwoman magic. I'm seriously considering feeding her contact information to the marauding Patriot Death Squads, just to wash this karma from my bloodline. Sorry Momz, but you forced my hand. 3.) Tom Brady's mom. Clearly, while dipping her demigod offspring in the river Styx, she held him by his left knee rather than his heel. 4.) Raj Manoharan. For those of you that know Raj, it's easy to regard him as a genuinely lovable guy, a sort of Indian teddy bear. Unfortunately, this Indian teddy bear is stuffed with nothing but malice and the mangled souls of fallen children. He is the only one to send a taunting message, which I find highly amusing since he backs the Eagles, a team championed by a QB who spends more time being hurt than I do thinking up ways to slander people in an AIM away message. I hate you Raj. 5.) God. This one is two-fold. I hate God for A.) creating the ACL in an obvious bid to prevent Tom Brady from growing too powerful, and B.) apparently being the latest to dickride Brett Favre and jump on the Jets bandwagon. Go ahead and try to keep Tom down, God - Dustin Pedroia is still coming up in your rearview mirror. 6.) Any euphoric Bills fan (Will George) or Jets fan (I would say Christian Villamor, but that flip-flopper has been relegated to New York fan since he's one bad Favre start away from buying a vintage Shockey jersey and waxing poetic about the 'good ol' days') who applaud the injury and relish the opportunity to be relevant again. Mind you, neither of these teams did not just win the Superbowl, make the playoffs or even finish with a winning record; no, they are merely ecstatic at having the shot to be more than speed bumps. Onwards and upwards, boys, because this is the last gasp before the mediocrity and shame set in again."

Matty M.