Orientation & National Book Festival

Much like Oz, I had a good witch and a bad witch of orientations. The bad witch was, naturally, last Monday. I spent a fair amount of time picking out an appropriate outfit to wear, preparing myself to meet my peers, and ended up sitting in a huge ballroom and talking to no one. Now, this isn't to say that I had much a choice in the matter. The entire charade of the event was basically telling us what the Graduate School was and why it matters that we choose it. Um, hello. Like, I already did. I'm sitting in this seat listening to you, aren't I? I listened to several presenters, who while not boring, weren't exceptionally interesting based on what I wanted to actually hear. The high point of the day, other than lunch, was the panel of influential PhDs, authors, and the State Treasurer. Listening to their stories got my juice flowing, but unfortunately, that was afforded minimal time in the 4 hour session.
Tuesday, however, was a good witch day. The orientation for my program, the iSchool was being held and I feared that it might be the same as the day before. And boy was I glad to be proven wrong! The morning started off with a bang with the headed of our Student Service offices talking to us and being introduced to key people. Then we got to play a game! And who doesn't love games??

Most ice breakers are awkward and even sometimes boring, but this one definitely was not! Whoever decided that this was the ice breaker deserves an award. We got to participate in, are you read for this? A scavenger hunt!! On our chairs when we arrived was a list of people to find. It was a great way to get out in the group, introduce ourselves, and discover some new things. We also helped each other and made fun contacts. I, for one, greatly enjoyed it (and not just because I won). I was able to introduce myself to my Program Director and Coordinator plus several professors and my advisor.Then we listened to thoughtful and helpful presentation on everything from scholarships to the Counseling Center. Then each of the professors stood up and introduced themselves and gave a fun fact. My favorites were the fencing master and the one who couldn't wait for Pretty Little Liars.

We broke for lunch, mine was a roast beef sandwich, and after got to meet people in our concentrations. I made two new friends and even got to see one of them at an event this past weekend: The Library of Congress National Book Festival. But before we get to that, I would also like to say that I was also introduced to my new coworker and fellow GA, Justin this past week. Although I didn't get the chance to meet him as early in the week as I expected, we still hit it off and he made some killer origami turtles for the office. Not literal killer turtles though, because that would just be awkward.
Now onto the REALLY good part!
Are you ready?
Brace yourself.

 

The 14th Annual National Book Festival happened on Saturday and while it wasn't what I expected, it was still pretty awesome. I won't bore you with all the details, if you want them, read my other blog. But let's suffice to say that I had a damn good time. There were books and people and Clifford the Big, Red dog. I got to see a wonderfully talented Irish chef and Sandra Day O'Connor, plus nerd out with some fellow history and book people. I went home tired but happy. And then got to walk around without pants because I had the house to myself for the weekend. Life is good.

And because I haven't done one for while:

What I'm reading: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

Progress: about 2/3 of the way thru

Thoughts so far: Having a little trouble keeping all of the characters straight, I haven't lived and breathed this series in awhile but I am completely sucked in now and I'm told that it only gets more addicted the closer to the end that I go. Can't wait.

Maine

Sorry it's taken me this long to update you all but it's been a hectic few weeks, especially with my trip home to Maine!! It was 5 days of fun packed into one weekend where I saw more people I love at one time than I have in quite awhile. What started out as a pretty shitty Friday turned into a not-so-bad Tuesday. So let's start at the beginning.

I left Friday afternoon. Well more like Friday night. I was supposed to leave at 4:10pm but received an email around noon that my flight was delayed until 5:15pm. I wasn't very happy but I dealt with it. However, by the time I arrived at the airport at 3:30, my flight had been pushed back even further to 6:50pm. (insert angry Kat face here) I got thru security and over to my gate where I asked the nice Southwest woman why my flight had been delayed. She told me weather but offered no further information. After a couple of awkward seconds of hard staring and waiting for her to elaborate, I finally asked the follow up question. I told her that weather here is gorgeous and my friend in Boston said it was sunny and clear skies. She said the plane was coming from Ft. Lauderdale, where thunderstorms were currently ripping up the airport. Awesome.
When I asked her if she could put me on a different plane, she responded with "I'm just customer service". It took all of my willpower to say "thank you" instead of yelling "well, I'm a customer, service me!". Instead, I walked away and grabbed some dinner and sat down to wait for the inevitable. The plane finally took off at about 7:15pm, which put me in Boston around 8:45pm, way too late to have a North End dinner, even by city standards. Which meant I also didn't get to have my cannolis from Mike's Pastry. But thankfully, my friend picked up some Pumpkinhead so I drowned my anger in a couple of those while watching Braveheart with him.
The next day, my friend dropped me at the bridal shop where I met my beautiful and engaged best friend to help her (and the horde of women along for the ride) to help her pick out a wedding dress. I don't want to give any details here but let's just say she didn't have to try on as many dresses as I expected she would. And in fact, the one we all loved ended up falling into second place when she tried on one that made her face light up with happiness. So that was the clear winner, and she placed her order, and under budget! I can't wait to see how it looks on her next September and the look on her fiance's face when he sees her for the first time :)
After dress shopping, I met up with yet another friend who had been personally invited by my mother to come up for the Webber wine tasting party. She was kind enough to drive up to Maine from Mass with me. Well actually I drove but that's a long story. On the way, we stopped off to see my sister's new house! Yes, house! She and her boyfriend are renting the cutest, perfect house less than a mile from the coast of Maine in a small town. It is homey with a huge living room, two bedrooms, a deck, a shed, and a backyard! Plus, an entire cabinet of liquor. What else could a girl want?
Finally, my friend and I made it to my parents' house and collapsed into a heap on the couch with my other sister and chatted with my parents. It's always so nice to see my family. And just be in Maine. And luckily, the next day was going to be even more family-filled. My mom and older sister had both just finished their first batch of wines from the wine-making kits they received for Christmas. And naturally we invited the family over to try them!
Sunday, we got up and ready by 10am and my friend and mom got a jumpstart on the food while my sister and I worked on the wine description and perfecting the menu. The party was set to start at 1pm, which naturally meant people start trickling in around 1:20 or so. Because my family is rarely on time. But by the time people arrived, all the food was set out and we had the wine list ready to go plus those cool, cheap wine glasses ready to be used. I think in all about 24 people showed up. And if you've ever seen the size of my parents house, you'd understand how full that was. But I was so happy I wouldn't have had it any other way. I got to see members of my family that I don't get to see much anymore including my former partner in crime (from the time we were in diapers). We sampled 10 different wines including the ones mom and my sister made and there were only two that I didn't really care for, but one was blueberry so I can't fault that one. After that, we passed around a couple of new beers to try and some other unmentionables that were absolutely delicious!
And because we were having such a good time, we decided to continue the party later on at my aunt's house with jello shots. (Unfortunately, we never got to have those but hey, life happens.)
Monday rolled around and my friend left to go home and mom decided I should see my little sister's new place. So we trekked northward and checked it out. Plus did a little shopping because I have the magic touch and can help people find things they can't find for themselves, in this case, a belt for my sister. However, mom couldn't seem to find a pair of dress boots that she liked enough to buy for work. After that little adventure, mom and I returned home to have dinner with dad. I had been seriously craving burgers so of course, my mom was nice enough to make them for me. Which meant I showed up a little later to my engaged friend's house later than I expected but totally worth it.

Monday night was spent with my engaged friend (so I could have the chance to spend some more time with her before I left), I mean there's no such thing as too much time with your bestie! And I got to spend some serious time with the most handsome blond I've ever seen!! (pictured on the left) We went downtown to a dive to see a good friend of ours, which was entertaining. And I did get to do a jello shot there, so I can't complain.
Tuesday, I got to sleep in and have doggie snuggles and then my friends and I went out to lunch, stopping to picking up my friend's fiance. We had a delicious Italian lunch, followed by a trip to an Italian bakery that made my mouth water, even after the meal I had just eaten. I grabbed a couple of cannolis, a raspberry turnover, and some doughnuts. And I love every fat second of enjoying them!
Later that afternoon, it was time to drive me down to the airport, so we hopped into the car and away we went! And the final reason I will never fly Southwest again is this: Flight was schedule to leave at 5:55pm, and didn't board until after 6pm. And unfortunately, I was late getting home to watch Pretty Little Liars live which was a devastating blow to my social media life. But I landed safely and I am thankful for that. Plus I caught the west coast viewing, so it's not like I was totally out of touch. All in all, it was a successful weekend I think and definitely worth the travel hassle. <3

This week is orientation for the grad school and the ischool so look out for the post about that!

Insert Witty Title Here

I'm so exhausted from working all week that I kind of just want to post a bunch of pictures of what I did this weekend and call it a night but I owe to you all to keep you updated so here's the gist.
My bestie Kosha came to visit last weekend. Almost a week ago I was too excited to sleep because I was going to get her the next morning. And it was totally worth it. We mostly sat around catching up for the better part of Friday, after I fetched her from the airport and had breakfast with her and my cousins of course. I took her to see my beautiful new campus/work environment and we reminisced about our time together in college.

Friday night, we went to the theater and saw "Lucy", although we had to get tickets for the next showing because ours was sold out. The paramedics had to be called in the middle of the movie...which we're still not sure what happened just that someone shouted to call 9-1-1 and then a bunch of people started running like mad. Oh, and there was this super rude pregnant lady who assumed that we would move down a seat so she and her husband could sit together and didn't even ask, just sort of gestured. Kosha immediately got up to move and I just sat there hoping for some common courtesy that never came...seriously, I get that you feel entitled because you are pregnant but ask me nicely and I will probably do what you want, don't and you will get bitch face by my Catholic upbringing will prevent me from being exceedingly rude or making a scene. We got there 35 minutes before the movie time and got the perfect middle of the back row seats and you just expect me to give that up because you come over and say "my husband and I were hoping to sit together". Don't guilt trip me! Ask me, damnit. (Okay, rant over). The movie itself was confusing and action-packed. I think I give it 3 stars. Full review is in the link.

Saturday, Kosha and I went into D.C., of course and saw the Washington Monument (which you apparently have to line up for tickets at 7am for), the Lincoln Memorial and reflecting pool (which was now filled with water since the last time I went!), the WWII Memorial, all of which we walked to, totally about 15,000 steps for the day. Then we had a nice lunch at the Museum of Natural History before wandering around that for a few hours. I really loved catching up on the history that I've seen before. I always learn something new when I go because you can never retain it all. But as usual, the animals were kind of creepy but cute and needed a good dusting. By 5pm, we were beat and ready to head back home. So we did. After relaxing for a couple of hours, we were hungry again and decided to hit up TGIFriday's where I found the most delicious Patron Cosmo...man I could drink those things daily. Although I probably shouldn't. Oh, and Kosha was drinking. (That's right, be jealous, Casey.) After dinner, we retired back to the house where we watched "Sydney White" on the massive entertainment center downstairs and sipped on some ice cold hard cider. A great end to a great day.
Sunday, however turned out to not be so great because I am a dummy and didn't know that the Library of Congress isn't open on Sundays. So much for my stalking abilities...
However, we made do and headed over the Air & Space Museum which is always a treat. There are lots of big planes and attractions. Plus a new exhibit showcasing a bunch of photographs from the Mars Rover!! It was really amazing to see that. Oh, and as were were headed out, a storm was rolling into the city so I managed to get some pretty badass pics. And one lone shoe, abandoned by a child, so sad.
We also stopped by the fountain in the sculpture garden and watched the plumes of water ebb and flow, high and low, and cool off a bit. Apparently, it's a very popular activity seeing as the entire rim of the pool was surrounded by people. Fountains, I've learned are a very big deal in this state. There is one on campus that people swim in and several in DC that you are allowed to touch. Fascinating. I wonder why we don't do this in the north.
But, I digress. After returning from our second day in DC, we didn't really do much of anything except make bomb nachos and watch "Date Night" (because who doesn't love Tina Fey?). And the next morning, I drove her to the airport and said our goodbyes. Then I managed to make it to work only 5 minutes late (massive traffic on 95, sheesh)! However, unlucky for Kosha, her flight didn't end up leaving until after 12:30pm. So sorry! Thunderstorms in Boston kept her flight grounded for several hours but she eventually made it out and safely home.
Nothing much has happened this week except that I am covering for the other GA while she is on vacation in Colorado so I am working full shifts all day every day. And thankful that tomorrow is Friday AND pay day. BOOM! Then I will have less than 24 hours to clean and make sure the house is in tip top shape since I am apparently a poor housekeeper on a day-to-day basis. Oh, well. We all have flaws.

What I'm reading: Capture The Flag by Kate Messner
Progress: two-thirds-ish
Thoughts so far: Amazing! Vastly entertaining. Harry Potter references, relatable characters, and Riordan-like set up. If I didn't have to sleep, I probably would finish it tonight.

Lose Some, Win Some

Living with a Girl Scout does have some benefits, other than cookies, it turns out. My cousin has to do several summer activities to earn points and patches and I'm actually allowed to participate in some (mostly all)! First she made me an array of s'mores, which unfortunately I was too busy eating to take pictures of and they were so worth it. We even came up with a new one involving Nilla wafers and toffee chocolate! Plus that was how we discovered that Nilla wafers and Nutella are an amazing combinations worthy of several taste bud orgasms.

Then my fairy godmother was kind enough to take us all mini-golfing so that my cousin could earn points for participating in the world's longest mini-golf hole (there was some debate about whether or not this was actually the world's longest mini-golf hole, despite the sign). There was minimal complaining or whining, despite the humidity and the wait of a few minutes at a couple of the holes. Side note: it really irritates me when people just jump to the next hole or three ahead just because they don't want to wait for others to finish. How is that even a thing? Talk about rude. But I digress.
The moral of the story, if you didn't see my Facebook status, is that you shouldn't play mini-golf against 10 year olds because they are surprisingly good at it and in fact my cousin and her classmate both scored holes in one before I did. Not cool. But that's just my competitive nature speaking. Although we never added up the scores to see who actually won...

After mini-golf (and ice cream, of course!) we went back to the house to relax for a bit. We enjoyed a nice Saturday dinner that I took the task of making while the others went to church. And then began the weekly tradition of adult beverages. This time, we ate and drank and then decided to play a game of "Around the World". For those of you unfamiliar, it's a basketball where you take a series of shots from various points around the paint. If you make it, you move on to the next shot. If you miss, you have to wait until or next turn or "chance it" and risk having start all over if you miss it. The first one to make it all the way around and back is the winner. And I think this was the longest game of "Around the World" that I have ever played, which my aunt barely won over me. It almost rivaled the UNO game that my family played a few years back where one hand lasted almost an hour! Seriously...only in my house would that be possible. By that time, all of us were hot and sweaty and decided it would be a good time for a swim! So we meandered over to my uncle's brother's house to jump in the pool. After changing into our suits of course :) Unfortunately for me, it's a heated pool which means for my New Englander body, it felt a little too hot for my taste but it was nice to swim around and wash off that sweaty mess that I had been.

The most recent Girl Scout event that I was privileged enough to participate in was a watermelon seed spitting contest! Oh, boy! My cousin and I drew up a "board" to play on and it was awesome. My mom sent chalk for us to play with (and yes, I still get the occasional care package, don't be jealous) and we put it to good use. We created point zones and a scoreboard and of course had my aunt bring the watermelon. And ironically it was the three girls in the house who participated in this fun. Sometimes it pays to not have to be lady-like. We took turns spitting the seeds as far as we good and half the length of the deck was apparently not quite as much of a challenge as we expected. The endzone was worth 100 bonus points and my aunt managed to achieve that multiple times. When I told my mom, she said it was because they had to find some way to entertain themselves as kids or be given chores. It was definitely all fun and games but there was nearly a 300 point gap between my aunt and me which was a devastating blow to my ego. Although it didn't hurt nearly as bad as being told that Maple Walnut ice cream might be a New England thing - GASP!

Summer fun is definitely worth having a little break before school. I love being outdoors. City life was nice but being able to sit outside and feel the sunshine and enjoy the semi-quiet that comes with living in the suburbs is nice. Even the birds haven't managed to annoy me, yet. The frogs on the other hand are quite loud. But that's okay. Nature is soothing for my soul. So I soak in as much as possible when I'm not working. Which is pretty often these days. But I do have to be up at 6:30 for the next two days and I still have plenty of reading to do before I go to sleep so away I go. Check out Facebook for new pictures.

Those Summer Nights

Every day is a new adventure and a journey. I have learned some new things about myself and confirmed other beliefs that I held. This change so far has been good for me and I hope it continues to be that way. The almost nightly thunderstorms do much to improve my views on the southern summer. The humidity is mostly awful and the heat isn't much better. But there are some rare instances that I don't mind it. Sunshine can be good for the soul. Plus my family isn't opposed to ice cream and fudgsicles.

Not much to update you all on. I've pretty much just been working and reading since the 4th of July weekend. The office has been pretty slow but I really love the students and advisors that I am privileged to work with. Everyone has been so nice and understanding when I ask questions or need help. Not that we have had many issues arise yet. Plus I am able to wear almost anything I want, within reason, so I still get to stretch my fashionista/maxxinista wings at work. Even if everyone else is much more casual, there is something comforting about being able to "dress up" to go to work. Plus it is way too damn hot to wear jeans and you know how I feel about short shorts. I may be the only one in a skirt but I make it look damn good.

The nights are pretty much filled with books, as they always are. I have exceeded the halfway point of my goal to read 100 new books this year by achieving 52 books a couple of days ago. I'm going to try and cram another 20 in before the end of the summer so when it's time to do my schoolwork, I will actually do that instead of being caught up in the another book. I have reread a couple of favorites so if I have to alter my goal slightly to achieve 100 books instead of new books then I suppose I will. Especially since I feel the urge to reread the Harry Potter books, something I haven't done since I was in Ireland.

I was privileged to sit around a campfire this weekend, an opportunity for which I am always grateful. The summer smell of the trees and the moon peeking out always soothe me. Plus having a glass of sangria never hurts ;)

Also I have a friend coming to visit at the end of the month! I can't wait to see her. And I've picked a time to go back home and see my family. Keep your eyes on Facebook for more information.

What I'm reading: Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
Progress: almost a third of the way thru
Thoughts so far: My abs hurt from laughing so hard. I may need to stop reading it at work. Sedaris talks about different holiday events and his humorous prose continues to keep me in stitches. (You may know this author's name from the book "Exploring Diabetes with Owls".)

Independence in the Capitol

What an interesting couple of weeks I've had. Well, not really but enough to share at least. My new job is

progressing really well and I now have a set schedule that will last me through the rest of the summer. I must say that being a salaried employee kind of rocks in some ways. Of course, I'm still learning the ropes (and my undergrad student employees' names) but it's all coming together. I also picked up the paperwork for my
TA position at the beautiful McKeldin library on campus. Plus the overload form that I still need to have an advisor sign. I also took a lovely picture with Testudo in the hopes that he will bring me luck in the coming year. And for those of you who aren't aware, Testudo is the UMD Terrapin. During the school year, students leave offerings all around the statues of him that are scattered across campus. Not sure if it works but I'm willing to give it a try! I was on campus for the Big 10 celebration but unfortunately, it was about 95 degrees outside so I didn't stick around long enough to have ice cream or get a tee shirt. I was basically a Kat puddle by the time I made it into work. I am exceedingly grateful for the central air systems in all the buildings (and especially my bedroom) down here. And one of the student workers also told me that swimming in the fountain on the mall on campus is totally allowed, they apparently clean and treat the water regularly! Good to know in case I ever get desperate for a cooling off!

My lovely cousins have also been driving me a little nuts with all of their cooped up energy during the day so I created/used some activities for us to all work out together and get their butts off the couches for an hour or so. Instead of just sprinting or biking or jogging, I had them do a couple of team building, shooting, passing, and running drills that made it more interactive and fun. They seemed to really enjoy it, so I told them that we will make it a regular thing on the days I'm not working. Healthy and fit, I'm loving it! Oh, and I should probably mention that I did bribe them with smoothies, contingent upon them not complaining about any of the physical activities they had to do. And it totally worked ;)
Today, I went into DC to witness my first ever Independence Day celebration in the capitol and was quickly overrun by the sheer number of people in the city with me. Needless to say, I was a little perturbed. Crowds and I do not mix well. That is not to say that I can't navigate them but they irritate me and I don't like to. The sidewalk up and down Constitution Ave must have been 5 people at least for the entire route. After about 15 minutes of attempted to watch the parade, I decide that I don't like parades enough to stand there in 80 degree sun surrounded by strangers for another hour. Instead, I went exploring and took some beautiful pictures of a city that I haven't seen in a couple years. It is still as beautiful and artistic as ever. If I could build a house in the middle of the National Mall and live there, I would. Surrounded by all the knowledge and learning, I would be very happy indeed!


In my wanderings, I had the opportunity to see some of the museums, well I didn't actually go in, but I walked around and took a bunch of pictures. I was fortunate enough to see the new fountain outside the National Gallery of Art (which is a lesser version of the one outside the Louvre) and the spectacular display outside the Newseum of newspapers from around the world that their staff apparently prints off every morning! It was hot but breezy so I didn't stay more than a couple of hours. I also spent some time on a bench in the shade just people watching. And seeing as it was a rather large, I shared it with a family that happened to need a cool place to sit and picnic. Shout out to the Underwoods from Missouri! You all were so nice and friendly. I like when that happens. Although it did serve to make me a little homesick, but that's okay. Family vacations in the summer is what my childhood was all about and I love to see that people are still making the trip to our beautiful capitol to appreciate the wonder of it.

What I'm reading: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
Progress: About halfway (I feel like I say that a lot)
Thoughts so far: What a complex puzzle! I am loving the mystery of this entangled plot! Stopped time, a paradise that isn't what it seems to be, and characters that you can't trust. The twists and turns are keeping me enthralled. Keep it coming.

#FirstDaySelfie

#firstdayselfie

Wow!
So obviously this post is a day late but I promise I won't leave you a dollar short!

Yesterday, in case you missed the memo, was my first day of work at my new job here in Maryland! I am a Graduate Assistant (GA) at the business school which is pretty much perfect for me.I have a business background and a history of working in an on campus office, so I basically was able to nail the interview and land a gig that will pay my tuition for the next two years. And I couldn't be happier.

The job itself isn't too hard. It does have a learning curve and I'm constantly asking questions but repetition is key and I can't know the answers unless I ask so I feel only slightly embarrassed to keep bugging my trainer. But whatever. I have a desk again! With an actual computer! And real people to talk to that I'm not related to! That have different life experiences than I do and can have adult conversations about them! Woot! (btw, I miss all of you ladies from my old job terribly and you can never be replaced!)

Basically this is what my days (well three days a week for now) will consist of:
Greet anyone who walks into the office
Try to answer their questions
Sometimes give them directions
(and a map)
Tell them where to go if they aren't a business student
Answer the phones
Transfer the phones
Put people on hold
Remember the advisors names
Have some coffee
And some water
Okay, have lots of water
Look at the online schedule
Make appointments
Tidy up the office
Lysol wipe down the counters and phones and keyboards and laminated maps and door handles
(okay, that last one is probably just me)

Oh and I tried to take a new route home and got absolutely lost. Had to break down and pull out my GPS. And then I spent an hour in CVS trying to refill a prescription. Annoying! But I managed to not get too riled up. After all, it's too hot down here to be seriously angry...today at least.

And that's pretty much the sum of my new job. Things are pretty slow on campus during the summer, you know with the lack of students and all. There are a few walk-ins per day and maybe a dozen or so phone calls but overall, the office is quiet. Which I don't really mind. It gives me a chance to get my feet underneath me so I can learn the job before going back to classes. Plus having this job will enable me to keep my focus on my schoolwork. Plus I get to teach some classes mid-semester. I will have a lot on my plate this fall and several things to adjust to but I think I've been doing well so far. Little by little and day by day, I am becoming a well rounded Maryland citizen.

I have a great job in a gorgeous building on a beautiful campus that also has a farm, did you know? Which means, I can also go get REAL ice cream, almost straight from the cow, and there is a student run co-op with fresh, local food. I can wander from library to library, have lunch with my aunt, sunbathe on the mall, or read under a shaded tree. I am one lucky duck.

Although tomorrow is my first early day. I have to be in at 8:15am...which means I need to be up at 6:30am. Ugh, time for bed.


What I'm reading: The End Games by T. Michael Martin
Progress: Just over 100 pages
Thoughts so far: A chilling and thrilling story of a post-apocalyptic world set in rural West Virginia of all places. Two brothers, 17 and 5, are playing a game for their lives, one that I can't put down. Except at night when it gets too scary.

I'm the Map!

I have more maps of the UMD campus than I can keep track of and yet I still keep getting lost! That place is BIG! I thought Bentley was a decent sized campus but compared to UMD, it's like an elementary school to a high school. Everything seems bigger and closer together. There are more streets than I can (currently) remember the names of, a farm, a football stadium, a basketball arena, a student union, eight libraries, and dozens of academic buildings. And that doesn't even include the dorms, other playing fields, office buildings, parking lots or garages.

Seriously! Look at the size of this place! So it's no surprise that I got lost while trying to register for a parking permit today. Not to mention that there were buses parking in front of the building I needed so while trying to watch where I was going and obey traffic laws, I missed it, twice. Finally I just parked and walked until I finally saw the door sign that told me I was in the right place. And I have to say, I really miss the days of free parking at Bentley. Although with a campus of this size, with as many students as it has, it's really no surprise. Parking must be a wonderful source of revenue. I paid $120 for a summer commuter pass. Good thing I start my new job on Monday. And I did manage to find my way to campus barely using my GPS. I think I'm finally learning the hang of that drive. I'm sure by the end of next week, it will be a breeze. Except for the traffic.

In other news, I tried to find the library on my own today. And failed spectacularly. Let me preface this by saying that the current library branch is at a temporary location while its new building is being constructed. This being said, I've only been to the library once, with my fairy godmother driving. So I knew the general location of where I needed to go. I even managed to find the cross street I needed to take, before somehow ending up in a suburban sprawl near the shopping complex. So I said screw the GPS for this one and Googled "Municipal Center" where I knew the library was located. I was only a few streets away and I managed to navigate my way over there just fine. I picked up the book that was waiting for me (Incarceron by Catherine Fisher) and headed on my merry way home. Slowly but surely, I'm learning my way around.

Plus I got to shoots some hoops with Amy today. I forgot how adorable short kids are when they play and it makes me wonder if I looked like that when I was her age....probably. I've really missed basketball. I'm glad I have a hoop again. There is something relaxing about tossing up the rock for an hour or so in the hot summer sun before collapsing with a bottle of Gatorade in the shade.

What I'm reading: Ripper by Stefan Petrucha
Progress: About halfway
Thoughts so far: Absolutely amazing. A mystery and a puzzle wrapped in historical context. I think I'm a little in love. Plus it's centered on one of the world's most infamous serial killers: Jack the Ripper. It's a completely gripping page-turner and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Scheduling Conflict

For the first time in years, I have as much free time as a girl, or anyone for that matter, could want. And I have no idea what to do with it all.
Normally, free time means shopping or reading. And I've done both. But when you have days, literally days, where nothing is planned or really expected of you, you start to grow a little listless. Or at least I do.

I know that I am VERY lucky to get this opportunity to have a long vacation but I'm anxious to get started with classes, especially since I am very excited to be taking them!

So what have I been doing?

Let's see.
I filled out HR paperwork for my new job and found out what "tuition remission" means in real world terms.
I saw How To Train Your Dragon 2 (not in 3D I am sad to say) and loved it.
Had popcorn for lunch and brownies for breakfast.
I made cupcakes and an entire Shepherd's pie from scratch.
I've watched multiple back to back episodes of Supernatural and caught up on the rest of my favorite CW shows (Omg, Klaus!)
I got a library card (woot!) and four relatively thick books to occupy my time.
I've been terrorized by a trio of ten year olds on a daily basis...they really need a longer recess or something at school.
Tuesday date nights with Kosha for Pretty Little Liars! (#planetalison)
I'm in charge of the "Word of the Day" for my cousins: today was "deter".
Played catch for over a half hour with Amy and loved how good the mitt felt on my hand again.

I created a superb hopscotch mural with Amy (which only slightly annoyed my uncle).


All in all, I am glad to be starting my new job on Monday. As fun as summer can be, I definitely need a more firm schedule to keep me on track. Less Phineas and Ferb and more Candace.

Oh and it hit 95 degrees here today with humidity hovering in the 60% range...not pleasant for this snow lover. Although it is pretty cool to experience living with a little sister again. Especially since Amy has a lot of the same quirks as my own. You know, like sorting the food on her plate and her sense of humor. Quite endearing yet scary. Guess she got more of those Doyon genes that we realized. At least she isn't named Grace.

Shout out to my mom (if you're reading this) as a special thank you for the wonderful care package. You truly are an amazing woman and I love that you make me feel cared for and comforted even from hundreds of miles away. A few odds and ends plus a little extra. You're never too old for a care package from mom! And I hope to continue receiving them for years to come :)

Tomorrow, I think Amy and I will hit the mall to avoid the muggy and potentially rainy day that is on its way. I will try to avoid buying more underwear from Victoria's Secret.
And I really need to read "Illusion" by Sherrilyn Kenyon before I lose my mind!

What I'm reading: Horns by Joe Hill
Progress: Not very far
Thoughts so far: An interesting psychological journey mixing present and past events, not unlike "Dark Places" by Gillian Flynn, but less disturbing so far. I'm excited to see where the mystery will lead me!

Words of Wisdom

Sometimes you have a hard day.

Sometimes things don't turn out like you expect them to.

And sometimes you need a kick in the ass from your best friend.

Today was a hard day. Maybe it was the weather or the moon or the fact that it was Friday the 13th. Maybe it was a series of circumstances having very little to do with me that somehow affected me greatly. I don't really know why. But whatever the cause, whatever the reason, today was hard. Not necessarily bad, mind you, just difficult.

So, I did what I always do: called someone. Well several someones seeing as phone calls aren't nearly as easy to take or receive as they used to be.
Normally, I talk to my grandmother when I'm feeling down, she truly has a lot of wisdom to offer. But today, fate decided that my bestie Emily would be my best bet. She took my call and did what she always does: let me cry for a total of ten seconds before she cut me off and told me to explain why I was upset.

When I couldn't arrive at a single valid reason, I realized that there was no need for my tears. That I in fact, have a lot to be thankful for recently. Plus she told me to stop complaining and just move forward recognizing all the good I have in my life right now. And damnit, she was right. Which is why I love her.

I just filled out the paperwork for my new GA position today and sent an email to get special permission to work at the TA position that I was also awarded. I found out that I get healthcare now that I am officially a UMD employee. And I was explained exactly what tuition remission is and how that all works. My cousins are finally done with school for the summer and this weekend will be beautiful. I have air in my lungs, a roof over my head, and loving family members who are supporting me in this transitional period. Plus I have some great opportunities to meet new people, once I have an excuse to get out of the house that is, and I need to shake off the bad feelings.

So I took a deep breath, hung up the phone, and had a drink.

Then I did what always helps: I wrote.
Hopefully I will have something to show for it soon rather than just a stream of consciousness filling up the page. After all, why mope about a tough day? I muddled through the other side of it and tomorrow is another chance.

  

What I'm reading: Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent

Progress: According to my kindle, I am 11% into the book

Thoughts so far: A deceptively complex tale told with lilting prose that is part murder mystery and part love story gone awry with historical context, issues, and locations thrown in. Overall, delightful and slightly morbid so far.

Adventures in Annapolis

Exploring a new place is one of my favorite things to do, especially in a state as historic as Maryland. I did a lot of sight-seeing as a resident of Massachusetts, from the Freedom Trail to Walden Pond, Harvard Yard and the Harpoon Brewery. The best thing about moving is definitely being able to add a whole list of new places to the territory I can explore!

I am about 30 minutes from Washington, D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore. And I definitely plan on visiting them all as thoroughly as possible. By chance, a good friend of mine, Jake, came to visit me this past weekend and I was in the mood for seafood. Luckily, so was he! I asked my aunt and uncle for suggestions and they came up with a couple but none as appealing as Carroll's Creek in Annapolis. So with Jake in tow, we headed off to the state capitol.

We had no trouble with traffic or find the lovely harborside restaurant and within 40 minutes we had arrived and were seated on the patio overlooking the wonderful array of sailboats. Now of course I had looked at the menu before coming so I had an idea of what I wanted. But with several new microbrews to choose from, that became the more difficult task. I eventually settled on one called "Nugget Nectar" which was light with a slightly bitter hops finish, but refreshing and simply flavored. Which ended up pairing nicely with the almond encrusted mahi mahi (tuna) that I ordered for my meal. Jake got the filet mignon, which also looked amazing.

For dessert, I had the flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, crushed macadamia nuts and raspberry sauce. It was basically heaven in my mouth. Jake ordered the New York style cheesecake which was a cute little round bundle of delight...or at least that's what it looked like.

 After we finished eating, we decided to take a walk. Unfortunately we didn't make it very far because we were completely distracted by the spectacular view from a bridge around the corner from the restaurant. We stood there for hours looking into the harbor, people and boat watching and generally enjoyed the warm, breezy, lazy summer day.


Interestingly enough, Jake had also never seen a draw bridge before. For those of you who are in the same boat, a draw bridge raises so that ships that are too tall to fit under it can pass through the middle of it. We happened to be in the middle of the bridge when it first raised which scared me to death. Luckily the operator knew we were there and waited for us to be on the safe side of the barrier before he lifted the bridge. What a nice man!

The weather was beautiful, the water was stunning, and the company was wonderful. Annapolis has a lot more to offer I'm sure (we definitely saw some of it on our drive through town) and I can't wait to go back and explore some more of it :)

What I'm reading: The Magicians
Progress: About three quarters done
Thoughts so far: Narnia and HP meet Fifty Shades of Gray,

Patience is a virtue

Recently I've been feeling a little homesick. It's odd to be in a family setting without actually being around my immediate family. Comforting but at the same time, tugging on my heart strings. So I've been keeping busy, cleaning and organizing as best as I can and trying not to think about how I've been hanging in limbo but over the last few days. And now things have really come together for me.

Here's a quick list to keep you up to date:

1) Went to the gorgeous Columbia Mall with my aunt and cousin and discovered that it has all of my favorites stores, which is amazing.

2) Saw Maleficent and loved it.

3) Managed to get my first sunburn and get lost in my new suburban neighborhood in the same afternoon.

4) Sold over $200 worth of Mary Kay products to a new customer with potential to gain more clients.

5) Admired my uncle's beautiful roses in the backyard while doing some edits on my book.

6) Started editing my NaNoWriMo project, finally! (You're welcome, Shannon.)

7) Was offered, and accepted, the GA position at the Smith School of Business for the next school year!!

8) Watched my cousin in her school's talent show tell jokes that rocked the house. Plus an amazing break dancer, some well-versed singers, and a modern Abbott and Costello "Who's On First?" skit.


9) Bought a new desk and chair to complete the setup on my bedroom and have now officially unpacked all of my boxes :)

10) And finally, I was offered the TA position at the McKeldin library for the spring and fall semesters!!

Life is good and I am very lucky to have these opportunities presented to me. I am so thankful for everything I have and all the people who have been and will continue to support me.

What I'm reading: The One by Kiera Cass
Progress: about 75% done
Reaction so far: Amazing. Absolutely amazing. So many tangled webs are being woven that I can't wait to see what heart-stopping conclusion this series will come to. Or maybe there will have to be another book? I'm so excited, I might squeal.

Also, in other awesome book news: Illusion by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Book #5 in the spectacular Chronicles of Nick series) has been out for almost 2 months and I didn't notice/haven't read it yet! This is a crisis that must be corrected ASAP.

Coloring My Life

Today was a somewhat relaxing event. I got to check out a few yard sales, lay in the grass, read outside, and watch my new bedroom slowly change color.

The yard sales ended up being a bust, no desks or kickballs to be found. Although Amy did buy a cute pair of faux Uggs, you know ones that will actually hold up in the snow.

It was a beautiful day so while Amy finished up her homework (yes, she is still in school, yuck!), I caught up on some reading. I'm still 3 books behind for my goal of 100 for the year but I'm hoping to remedy that by mid-June and get back on track. Plus I should probably mail those library books back to Framingham at some point.

The bedroom, which used to be my 13 year old cousin's room, was painted orange when I moved in. We bought two gallons of primer and a wonderful sage green color to paint over that. I offered assistance to my uncle multiple times but he insisted that he didn't need any help. Not one to argue, I let him paint the room to his little heart's desire. Well actually, I picked the color so I guess he was painting the room to suit my heart's desire, but I digress. And here is beautiful finished product that I couldn't be more happy with. Now I don't feel nauseated whenever I walk into my room!

 What else can I update you on?
Well my phone interview for the GA position on Wednesday went really well and in fact, I will be going in on Monday for a follow-up in person interview! I'm so excited. I think I have a really good chance of getting the job with my background, but keep your fingers crossed for me just in case!

Oh and for those of you without Facebook, you should probably be aware that I cut off all my hair, again. Even more than usual. I did an angled bob, with it longer in the front this time, something I've never tried before. I'm in love with it. And I let Amy paint my nails a vibrant purple color (Selena Gomez by OPI as a matter of fact, Marshalls for $5.99), which she managed to do with minimal color on my nail beds!

I made delicious lemon poppyseed muffins from scratch because Kenny and Amy had never had them before (oh, those poor deprived children!) and promised Amy that I would make chocolate chip cookies with her soon.

For dinner, I tried something I had never done before called taco cups. My aunt was going to make them but I decided to give it a try while they went to church. Luckily, they came out tastefully, no pun intended, and the family devoured them. I must say, I loved this new way to eat 'tovers.

 And once the painting had been done, I was able to move my stuff back into the room and finally set up my bookcase! It makes me so happy to see row after row of books lined up in order and alphabetically. And I am now using the top shelf for my movies, Amy says I have too many, which works out pretty well. Overall, a successful and happy day. Hopefully I can find a desk soon and get that set up and then it will REALLY feel like home to me. I like having a place to sit and work separate from just hanging out to watch TV. Which reminds me, my aunt picked up a cable box for me today so I'm going to have actual TV again! *pats self on the back*


What I'm reading: The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Progress: Maybe a quarter of the way through?
Reaction so far: A very odd book. There is plot movement without a lot happening and there is very little in the way of explanation. I feel like a Pevensie thus far. And according to a good friend, that feeling won't change by the time I finish reading the book.

Recently Finished: The Vow by Jessica Martinez
Thoughts: A great story about personal growth and love. You can learn a lot about yourself from falling in love and breaking up. The main characters have a strong friendship and it endures throughout the book, which I loved to see. And even when you thought one of them was going to fall apart, they managed to pull through with the help of the other. It was heart-breakingly sad but uplifting in a greater sense. I enjoyed it but I definitely can't read it while homesick.

McFluffy, Highways, and Libraries

Today was the first cold and rainy day that I've had since moving. Granted it's only been about 5 days but still. It's a system shock to go from 85 degrees to 55 degrees in the same week. (I know, I know you think I shouldn't be complaining.)

Today also happened to be the whole reason I moved down so early: a job opportunity. My interview for the Teaching Assistant (TA) position occurred at 12:30pm and I feel good about how it went. I think it will be an amazing opportunity for me if I get it. But first, I had to pick an outfit. And as usual, I picked the wrong one for the weather. I thought I'd be safe with one of my pant suits but figured since it's after Labor Day and I won't have many chances to wear it, I took my white Nine West suit out of its garment bag and hung it up to admire. With its nautical themed buttons, short jacket, high-waist pants, and all around form fit, I thought it looked pretty good. Plus white on a rainy day, a nice distraction, a way to stand out. And it wasn't even raining when I was getting dressed. So I put on a  little make-up and the suit and pulled my hair up into a twist (man, I can't wait to cut it off). I grabbed my trusty Bentley Alumni resume book (it's actually a leather padfolio but I like my term better) and headed out the door with full confidence in swing.

My GPS came in handy once again and helped to arrive safely to campus with 15 minutes to spare. Luckily, my aunt told me which parking garage to leave my car in that would be closest to the McKeldin Library, where my interview was being held. I parked and paid for an hour, nearly losing my receipt to an angry gust of wind and being able to punch in my cell phone number to be notified when I had 10 minutes left on my parking meter, and walked in a light rain to the correct building. Thankful that there were signs. I managed to get in and find the office with no issue. The three women I met with were very polite and informal. I felt vastly overdressed, a feeling that I am used to after attending Bentley. (A huge thank you to everyone at Bentley who insisted on formal dress for presentations, dress for the part you want, business is about perception and being perceived in the best light for a first impression is key.) Anyway, we sat at a table, they took turns asking me questions, mostly about what interested me in the job and what I would do in certain situations. Then as I asked them a few things in return our conversation turned even more informal until we were discussing our backgrounds and what Vegas was like at various times of the year. Connecting with people is my strong suit and I think I nailed that in this interview.

I headed back home and started making a mental checklist of things I need to accomplish before we paint my bedroom on Saturday. Oh yes, pick up the kids, make lemon poppyseed muffins since apparently my cousins have been deprived and never had them, finish my laundry, move out all my boxes of books. That's all I can think of so far. The next few days will certainly be an extra dose of adventure. I wonder what happens when you put a 13 year old, a 10 year old, and a 25 year old in a room with 3 gallons of paint...

In other news, for all my cat fanatics (Alli, you may want to skip this), here are some pics of my new friend, Ripken. He was supposed to be my aunt's cat but has gotten incredibly addicted to my cousin, Amy. He is pretty anti-social towards me, except when there is no one else around and he wants to be pet or let out. He is actually kind of a pain in my butt. He gets what my cousins' lovingly refer to as "tail junk" which means that because he is a medium furred cat, he has a fluffy tail, and he is an outdoor cat, hence his fluffy tail attracts things such as leaves, maple tree helicopters, burrs, twigs, etc. Oh and it's tick season. Good thing he is too afraid of me to come in my room much, I hope he stays away for a little while. Although I did catch him on my bookshelf last night. Not impressed. It's a really good thing he is a cute. He was waiting outside the bathroom for me this morning, purring and wanting love.

What I'm Reading: A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris
Progress: About halfway
Reaction so far: Not quite as interesting as the first book so far. Alessandra learning today's world is far less engaging to me than Cat learning 15th century Florence. Great characters and solid plot, enough to keep me entertained by not fully tuned in.

Kat the Explorer

After my horrific experience at Comcast yesterday, I decided to get some badly needed retail therapy. And what better place to start than TJMaxx, which I happened to drive by on my way to Comcast?
I pulled into the shopping center and saw a sign for a sandal sale at Payless, so obviously I had to pop in there first. I found a few things I liked but decided not to buy right then. I wanted to see if anything better could be found in Maxxinista territory.

As soon as I walked into the store I realized how spoiled I've been over the last two years going to the TJMaxx and Marshalls down the street from TJX headquarters. Not to say that this store was a bad one, in fact it was one of the cleanest and neatest stores I've ever been in. The aisles weren't overflowing and the floors were clean and the entire place was well lit. I think the size was about what I expected, it was the merchandise that caught me off guard. Compared to what I was used to, the store looked...empty. There was a good selection of merchandise but I haven't seen aisles this wide in a long while. It was a spacious store and some great finds, along with a few interesting pieces. I just think I've been spoiled. But I digress. I wandered into my usual sections. First the purses and other accessories. There was a lovely Lucky purse hiding in the back. And if I could wear scarves in 90 degree heat, I definitely would have picked up one of beautiful lightweight ones. The jewelry display was gleaming, watches catching my eye and earrings for my cousin who just recently got hers pierced. I browsed the career pants, you know in case I manage to get one of the 15 million GA positions that I've applied for over the last couple of months . And I found myself wishing it was jean season so I could buy more Express and DKNY before they get gobbled up. There was some nice workout clothes and comfy-looking home section, where I did find what I've been searching for for about two years: gray sheets! I own two purple and gray comforters (one also has cream in it) and have been searching for the perfect non-white sheets ever since I purchased them. And yesterday was my lucky day! Cynthia Rowley, full size for $24.99, I nearly jumped for joy! I didn't want to push my luck so after I found them, I bought them and headed back to the house. But I wanted to make a pitstop first: Marshalls, of course.
I used my GPS (which I have a feeling I will be using for a long time to come) to navigate my way over the town centre where Marshall's is located. I had one snag: I turned into a construction site instead of the road I needed...the workers in the truck had a good laugh at me I'm sure. Good thing I have out of state plates! Anyway, I found a parking spot and wandered my way into the store. And then was when I first became confused. When you first walk in, the store looks tiny, and then I realized the wall on the left side jutted into the store, it didn't cut it off. The men's section was on the other side of it. No idea why it was built that way but there it is. Okay, and then I saw the shoe section. If you had been watching the cameras, I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped. The entire shoe department was the size of the women's shoe section at the Marshalls back in MA. I nearly cried. Don't misunderstand, the selection was actually quite good, just once again, I've been spoiled and it was less than I expected. I browsed for a bit before I sought out my D2/4 guys to look at. I found some Lucky and MK and other loves. That made me feel better. The bright pink Cube sign caught my attention so I went to look at juniors, they usually have dresses that are a good length for my height. I don't feel like I'm swimming in cloth as much. And I found one that I am definitely going back to buy when I hit the grocery store tomorrow :)

But the BEST, absolutely the BEST part of my day was this amazing #fabfound that I had at Marshalls. For those of you not in the know, here is the quick back story: Me and the girls from TJX used to have girls' nights, you know the usual wine, food, and chatting and one night, Krystina brought over this spectacular chocolate peanut butter popcorn (that we devoured in about 5 minutes) and we have all been searching frantically for it ever since. Unfortunately, none of us have ever seen it again. I did stumble across Cosmos Creations in the Q-line during one of my many trips to Marshalls, which I purchased and quickly became addicted to. And of course, after I bought the second bag, the last one on the shelf, I couldn't find it again. Devastated, I made my sisters search the Marshalls and TJMaxx closest to them, no dice. However, the stars must have been in my favor yesterday, because I managed to find an entire shelf of them plus a new flavor to try: Salted Caramel!! (The original is sea salt and butter.) And damn if I wasn't more excited than I had been after finding my sheets. Oh what an eventful day yesterday was, which has actually made me a day behind in posting. So I'm going to finish this, switch over my laundry and write about how today went. Bear with me.

What I'm reading: Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too by Nancy Martin
Progress: About a third done
Reaction so far: I'm addicted to this series. It's not too light, it does have depth, but it's still an easy beach-type read that I don't have to think too much about when I get into it. The  Blackbird sisters are up to their eyes in shenanigans and murder once again and some extra complications are making it extra interesting. I can't wait to see what Nora does next!