peace like a river

Kate and Caitlyn and Bridget, this is for you. I will possibly write more often. I definitely try to read more often.

Alex's Romantic Adventure

( A catalogue of (rather pathetic) feelings. )

I am walking down the street after my run. Two vaguely European-looking men pass me going the opposite direction. I'm pretty sure the taller one gives me a thorough once-over. I am vaguely unsettled. A middle age man and woman pass on a tandem laughing. They clearly know something I don't. I pick up my pace. An elderly woman on a blue bicycle with a white basket containing flowers putters next to me humming. I have the urge to run again, to get myself as far away from her as possible. That's when it hits me. People in sunglasses sketch me out.

I kind of wish it would rain again.

Forgive me. I must do this publicly so that I cannot take it back. Friends, hold me accountable. Help me stand up for myself!

Dear UPS Man,

It's over. We had some very special moments. Despite the resulting workload, signing for packages was the highlight of my day. Our conversations were meaningful. I loved hearing you say, "Thank you. Have a good day." Our relationship was nothing short of uplifting. I thank you for that.

But yesterday, yesterday! When you had the gall to see me, and hide your face, pretending you hadn't seen. When you walked past without even a nod! When you sent your coworker to deliver my packages!

If you will not look at me, if you will not ask me to sign for packages, if you will not blush and stammer, "Two today," we have nothing left. Our relationship was built on shy smiles, but those are obviously in the past.

I will not let myself spend anymore time pining over you and the beautiful thing that we had.

No longer yours,

Alex

P.S. If by some huge chance of fate, you are reading this and think: I am a UPS man. I deliver packages to a cute blond girl at the Michigan Peddler and Destination Mackinac. Crazy to think that last time I saw her, I ducked and hid my face. I'm that girl, jerkface. However, I might forgive you if you are sweet and 20+. Next time you can't avoid me, ask for my number.

ETA: I just saw the quote of the day from google. It is this: 'The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.' -Paul Valery How apropos.

ETA(6-13-2008): I take it back. Maybe we were meant for each other('s amusement every afternoon around 1PM.)

Since my twenty-first birthday, my parents have been eager to share their favorite drinks with me. None of us are huge drinkers, so it's taken a while. I thought I'd post a run down and ratings. I've left the wines out because I don't know how to judge them.

Key: ---I wouldn't drink it even if someone else bought it for me. --♥ I would only drink it if someone else bought it for me. -♥♥ I enjoy it enough to buy or make for myself. ♥♥♥It's one of my favorites.

Father's Favorite
Gin and Tonic:---

Father's Recommendations
Baileys:--♥
Tequila Rose: -♥♥
Lemoncello: -♥♥

Mother's Favorite
Hummer: -♥♥

Mother's Recommendations
Kamikaze: ♥♥♥
Mike's Hard Berry: ♥♥♥

I think it's not hard to see who I take after. I'd like to also thank my darling roommate who hooked me up with my first margarita and my awesome friend tbaberox for introducing me to my very favorite drink, Asti.

I know what you're thinking. Who are you and what are you doing posting on my flist? It's been ages, friends, but I'm back!

I thought that I had outgrown livejournal. Posting about anything less socially significant than the plight of the children I worked with in New Orleans seemed glib and egocentric.

However, my TE professor has convinced me that blogging is a skill, perhaps even a marketable skill. So, I'm back on lj to hone that skill.

( I would like to catalog the things on my mind right now in a list for my personal sanity and for historical record. )

This will come in three parts, with eight or nine pics per part. This part will contain pictures of the kids working (or not) on a newspaper fish. I have more to say about these kids. I will add some more to the captions later, probably, more for my own memory than anything else, though.

( Many pictures. Open with care. )

Harry Potter in the Hood.

Watch it.

I wrote a poem. It’s titled for E’shante because in one brief moment she taught me a universal human truth that you can’t understand until you experience it, until you feel it and for the Lip Gloss song by Lil' Mama which seems incredibly innocuous until you watch my eight year olds sing the chorus with more passion than they have when they talk about their families.

Ode to E’shante
Or
Whatchu Know ‘Bout Me?

Nothing.
Turns out.
Well…
It’s like…
I mean…
I’d read, I’d learned, I’d analyzed
Everything
About you,
A young colored child
From a low income home,
Your education,
Your language,
Your family,
Unequal to mine
And so much less,

But when we both cry
Helpless
You’re me and I’m you.

( Emotional range of teaspoon?! I wish. )

And then Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix! OMG! Talk to me about it! Did everyone else love Umbridge and Luna as much as I did?

I took more pictures of my class today. For the five minutes of the day in which they actually worked! I have tons now! Still no usb hook-up though. I think I'm going to cave and purchase one this weekend.

( Today was a rough reality check. )

I have pictures, but no way as of yet to get them off my camera and onto my computer. Finding a mini usb cable is part of my next action plan. Also, tomorrow I am going to the aquarium! I'm really excited. I love field trip Fridays!

On the spammage: Okay, so maybe updating everyday is a bit much, but I have so much to say about this experience and I'm pretty sure it'll be easier on everyone if I dump a little at a time, rather than writing super long posts every few days. Also, it's a good habit to get into, I think.

Here are links to two of the songs that my students adore:

Lip Gloss by Lil' Mama

Cupid Shuffle by Cupid (This is such a fun dance. All the teachers at my site love it too!)

I'm going to bring my camera to work tomorrow!

( The lengths some children go to for attention. )

In other news, my address is up on facebook!

( Music and the rough lives my students lead. )

( It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... )

( Can an eight year old be genuinely racist? )

( This is only the beginning... )

Things I already love about my experience in New Orleans:

my roommate
air conditioning
the children I work with
the flowers
Julius
the size of my room and bathroom and closet

Things I already hate about my experience in New Orleans:

starvation (particularly my own)
my lack of toenail polish (and toothpaste... who knew you could make bombs out of the stuff?!)

The fact that this is actually happening makes me feel like a very brave and intense person. Which is ridiculous. Because we all know that I am not actually a person at all, but in fact, a polar bear. After meeting my fellow VISTAS (that's what they call us), I realize that I am actually very boring and have no skills. I also do not belong in New Orleans because apparently it's all about the partying. And I am all about the... board games and tv dvd marathons?

( To My Favorite Personal Livejournal Ever )

( To Me )

( To Brilliant Roommate Bridget, A Note Full of Love (That Is In No Way Fake) )

( Now, for the list. )

To whom it may concern*:

I hate you and I hate your face.

We're not speaking and I'm deleting you from life until further notice.

That's all.

Alex

*This list includes, but is not limited to: Lord Voldemort, tropical polar bears, suicidal cheerleaders, large noses full of snark snot, Cuddy's low cut shirts, unseemly scars, the phrase "Dunder Miflin, this is Pam," bodice-rippering entertainment (of any kind), Dr. Where?, homicide, and large explosions.

ETA: Yes, livejournal, that means you. And you too, refresh button. Stop looking at me with those puppy eyes. I do not have time to play right now. And my email inbox refreshes itself. So just stop.

Is the hero worship of figures like Jack Bauer and Billy Costigan in The Departed (very compelling movie, by the way) all that is right with the world or all that is wrong with world?

I love The Office. Especially Creed.

Stephen Colbert, how are you still alive, you dirty racist biggot, you?

I spent the day playing with photoshop. In the end I learned nothing new, but I did download some pretty cool textures from 77words from which I made some texty office icons. And because I love sharing icons, here they are:

( under a cut of course )

Also. Yay for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows being released on July 21, 2007!

The funny men in my life include my father, my boyfriend and Stephen Colbert.

So a couple weeks ago my father calls me up in the middle of the day, which is strange in itself, to tell me two things: 1) the title of the new Harry Potter book (which I had already posted an lj entry about by that time) and 2) that he had just listened to an interview of Stephen Colbert in which our favorite bear-hater professed to be a devout Roman Catholic who taught his daughter's Sunday school class. My father has never even seen the Colbert Report (because he refuses to buy cable, which is a very silly choice if you ask me.)

When I told my boyfriend of the second point (he wouldn't even pretend to care about the first for my sake), he laughed and said this:

AG: (imitating Colbert) Now children we all know what would happen if Jesus and Muhammad got into a fight. Let's do a demonstration. I'll be Jesus. Who wants to be Muhammad?

( Incoherent Babbling About How Much I Love My Boyfriend Which I May Even Take Down In Embarrassment )