As Rilo Kiley says, "No one wants to pay to see your happiness"
But fortunately you don't have to pay to read my livejournal, so I'm allowed to write an entry about my best day ever. It's not so much that anything tremendously amazing happened today, but everything that did happen went very well.
#1. I went to visit Simmons to learn about their dual MAT/MA program, which I am going to apply to (for Secondary English MAT and English MA), and spoke to the director of graduate admissions, a wonderful and energetic woman who basically convinced me that this is a place I need to be in the near future. The answers to all of my questions were the ones I wanted to hear (I can apply whenever I want, it's not too late to be admitted for this summer, I could totally start in the fall if it's more convenient, a good writing sample and good grades in my English courses might be enough to get me in to the English program despite not being an English major, I can apply to the dual degree and still be admitted to the MAT even if I don't get into the English, and I can take English AND Children's literature electives if I'm in the MAT... wow), everyone treated me with enthusiasm and respect, and the program sounds like it's full of smart, dedicated people who care about the kinds of things I care about. I am really excited for grad school and everything that lies beyond it, thanks in no small part to this visit.
#2. I met with JZ's (the girl I babysit) teacher to just talk about teaching - public and private school, elementary vs. middle school or older, lesson planning, etc. It was a great conversation and she is going to put me in touch with other teachers from the school so I can talk to HS and Middle School teachers.
#3. I had a few hours to kill, so I ate lunch at Comello's in Newton, and then got a cookie and some chai tea at Rosie's bakery. Everything was delicious, and I got to read The Bluest Eye for about two hours straight. I LOVE READING. I LOVE TONI MORRISON. I got a cookie for JZ and brought it to her when I picked her up at school. It is kind of amazing how much friendlier kids are towards you if you bring them food. Nothing turns arbitrary pre-teen resentment into cheerful gratitude like a fresh M&Ms cookie.
#4. I took JZ to Finagle-a-Bagel so she could get a "snack" (a pizza bagel) and do her homework before I took her to basketball practice. They have this thing there where there is a conveyor belt for the bagels and there's a giant spinning saw blade in the middle that slices the bagel in half. It is basically the best invention that has been invented. JZ said I am easily impressed. YEP.
#5. I figured out how to get JZ to basketball practice even though we had never gone there from that direction before. I now know my way around Newton. I am brilliant. I love knowing how to get places and not getting lost. This may seem like a small thing to you, but I would have been basically screwed if I hadn't been able to figure out this route, and I totally nailed it. I felt very accomplished.
#6. I came home and played Magic with my roommate, who is great. I made a frozen pizza for dinner. It was a little overcooked, but I didn't let that ruin my perfect day. I ate it and it was still delicious. I got a few new candidates for my writing tutor e-mailed to me. I GET TO HELP HIRE A PERSON FOR A JOB. HOW COOL IS THAT.
#7. I finished watching Gosford Park (I fell asleep halfway through yesterday, oh well) and watched an episode of Mad Men. I could listen to Kiernan Shipka talk for HOURS. "I'm thorry I broke your thuitcathe..." Anyway. Now I am writing this entry. And then I am going to draw until I go to sleep. PERFECT DAY.
#1. I went to visit Simmons to learn about their dual MAT/MA program, which I am going to apply to (for Secondary English MAT and English MA), and spoke to the director of graduate admissions, a wonderful and energetic woman who basically convinced me that this is a place I need to be in the near future. The answers to all of my questions were the ones I wanted to hear (I can apply whenever I want, it's not too late to be admitted for this summer, I could totally start in the fall if it's more convenient, a good writing sample and good grades in my English courses might be enough to get me in to the English program despite not being an English major, I can apply to the dual degree and still be admitted to the MAT even if I don't get into the English, and I can take English AND Children's literature electives if I'm in the MAT... wow), everyone treated me with enthusiasm and respect, and the program sounds like it's full of smart, dedicated people who care about the kinds of things I care about. I am really excited for grad school and everything that lies beyond it, thanks in no small part to this visit.
#2. I met with JZ's (the girl I babysit) teacher to just talk about teaching - public and private school, elementary vs. middle school or older, lesson planning, etc. It was a great conversation and she is going to put me in touch with other teachers from the school so I can talk to HS and Middle School teachers.
#3. I had a few hours to kill, so I ate lunch at Comello's in Newton, and then got a cookie and some chai tea at Rosie's bakery. Everything was delicious, and I got to read The Bluest Eye for about two hours straight. I LOVE READING. I LOVE TONI MORRISON. I got a cookie for JZ and brought it to her when I picked her up at school. It is kind of amazing how much friendlier kids are towards you if you bring them food. Nothing turns arbitrary pre-teen resentment into cheerful gratitude like a fresh M&Ms cookie.
#4. I took JZ to Finagle-a-Bagel so she could get a "snack" (a pizza bagel) and do her homework before I took her to basketball practice. They have this thing there where there is a conveyor belt for the bagels and there's a giant spinning saw blade in the middle that slices the bagel in half. It is basically the best invention that has been invented. JZ said I am easily impressed. YEP.
#5. I figured out how to get JZ to basketball practice even though we had never gone there from that direction before. I now know my way around Newton. I am brilliant. I love knowing how to get places and not getting lost. This may seem like a small thing to you, but I would have been basically screwed if I hadn't been able to figure out this route, and I totally nailed it. I felt very accomplished.
#6. I came home and played Magic with my roommate, who is great. I made a frozen pizza for dinner. It was a little overcooked, but I didn't let that ruin my perfect day. I ate it and it was still delicious. I got a few new candidates for my writing tutor e-mailed to me. I GET TO HELP HIRE A PERSON FOR A JOB. HOW COOL IS THAT.
#7. I finished watching Gosford Park (I fell asleep halfway through yesterday, oh well) and watched an episode of Mad Men. I could listen to Kiernan Shipka talk for HOURS. "I'm thorry I broke your thuitcathe..." Anyway. Now I am writing this entry. And then I am going to draw until I go to sleep. PERFECT DAY.