Be Prepared...
Yes, I am still alive. I meant to make a final post for 2005, but I missed. I have no idea how long this is going to be. Or coherent. Or chronological. It may not even be full sentences, but it's winter break so you ALL have time to read my thoughts now that I'm finally posting, so go nuts .
We'll start with last night, even though that's ass-backwards. Went back to Long Island (I was there Friday, went to the city Saturday morning, and came back Saturday night). Liser picked me up, and we stopped by Nicole's house to drop her presents off. Saw her, Andrew, and Lenny. That was nice. Dude - soo weird to think the five of us were all in the same first grade class. Soo long ago! Anyway, hung there for a short while, went to the basement and saw Steph and Joey, who ignored the two of us at first, but when we went to say goodbye he yelled at us. Right. Anyway, go to Lisa's set up, then Matt arrives. I had seen Matt Friday night at the Brew, but it was soo good to see the kid again. To really hang out, talk to the kid. Thennn we called Mike Knowles and convinced him to come because Matt was there. Oh My G-d. I grew so close to Mike this year... and I think this is the first time he's just been 'Mike'. When he arrived, it was excellent. The four of us, plus Tom and Michaela = excellend night. I don't need anything big to have a good time. I can honestly say I just love being around the people I love, and it's sufficient and more than a giant, loud party could have given me. Not that those aren't fun.
Hmmm -- Massachusetts was pretty boring. Lola is quite sick, so we were all babying her for the 2 weeks I was there, but she does seem better. I can't lose another pet. Not right now. I feel like just yesterday we had to put Ace to sleep, when really it's been 9 long months. Mass is .... home. But not 'home'. Does that make sense? It sort of makes me hate breaks. Not just 'cause it's a whole other world. But because when it's Thanksgiving, I know everyone else is travelling 'home' and are all together and I feel like I was 'home' the entire time and now I get sent away. It's really unfair. I know my parents are happy there, and that makes me happy,... I don't know. I'm babbling (warned you about coherency).
Moving on, let us talk about Banga. Very significant. We all remember that last year my roommate was the absolutely wonderful Jessica (who I saw on Friday with her Omaha friends and it was G L O R I O U S). Well, Jess went to London for the fall semester, so I had to do random room again. I lucked out, and found myself in a room of three other girls who didn't know each other either - a girl returning from abroad, a transfer student from the Univ. of Pittsburgh, and a sophomore. That sophomore was my dearest roommate, Angie. Originally, I wasn't so sure it was gonna work out ((aww, as our song "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" from Avenue Q comes on my computer...<3)), but we got along famously. Changa, I know you don't read this, but I did love you. Your desk is empty right now, and your birthday poem isn't on the wall anymore, and it's quite depressing. Jess is going to be my roommate again in a few days, and I am excited as hell to have her back, but I will miss Angela. Have an AMAZING time in Florence!
Student Teaching at the Brooklyn New School this past semester was absolutely incredible. It really opened my eyes to the world of teaching and took it off it's silver platter, but in a good way. Teaching is hard. I won't lie to you. There are 1,000 contradicting standards to meet daily, parents who honestly just don't give a fuck, learning disabilities, and a million other reasons I shouldn't want to get into this, but I just want it more. I just want to become the best and actually change the world. I want to have a class of students, and 20 years from now read some newspaper and read one of them did something amazing and be able to say "I blew that kid's nose!" or "I taught him how to write like that". It's going to make me cry, and deplete any money I might ever have, but I want it so badly. The next three semesters I'll be honing my skills, forcing myself to work and really be involved in my classes, and hopefully stop being scared.
I guess I can briefly talk about the wonder that was FAB Friday. Also known as my Friday classes, in the dungeon below the Starbucks on West 4th street. 8:30 - 3:30 all semester, 38 students and 6 professors. Well, I don't think we EVER had all 6 the same day, but who cares. It was so good finally meeting everyone in my major (Childhood/Special Education). Shocked there were so few of us, and that there were some kids I hadn't met. Granted, 4-5 of them were brand new to NYU, but one of them, perhaps my new favorite, Mike (ahh, another Mike!), I should have met. What a great group of people. Were we all best friends? Not quite. And now that we no longer will have Fridays but will rather be split up on Tues/Thurs, we probably won't be as close as groups prior, but I honestly did love everyone in there. It really did at times feel like we were all soldiers sharing war stories - we really ARE fighting the same difficult battle. I can't wait to see everyone again next semester.
Socially, this semester was pretty good. Saw a TON of Ellen and Jeanette, didn't really see my 801 boys (( suuuuuuuuuper sad face )), a lot of Suzi, and very much face-time with Allana. VERY weird having MOST of my favorite NYU kids (Jenn, Jess, Romi, Steve, Suchi...) be abroad so I couldn't see them, but I was perhaps more social regardless. I even hung out with the Chris/Fony crowd a few times. Without Jenn. I don't know my next door neighbors at all, but I think I did good work this semester ;). In terms of going out more and worrying less about getting the right amount of sleep or doing work. I like finding a balance. Still don't like to drink stuff, but it's really not a big deal.
Starting to wind down, swear. I give this past year a good rating overall. Praying this is the year I find a gentleman. Stay in touch with the people I love. Smile a lot. Stay true to what I believe in. Keep going to services. Give myself a break once in a while. Hit the gym. Go to MORE concerts. Go to DC to see another rugby game (even though Nicole is F'in that up for me!). Write letters. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Hang in Central Park. Be USEFUL at my America Reads site. Bunch of other resolutions.
Done. Say hi sometime. Happy 2006, guys.
We'll start with last night, even though that's ass-backwards. Went back to Long Island (I was there Friday, went to the city Saturday morning, and came back Saturday night). Liser picked me up, and we stopped by Nicole's house to drop her presents off. Saw her, Andrew, and Lenny. That was nice. Dude - soo weird to think the five of us were all in the same first grade class. Soo long ago! Anyway, hung there for a short while, went to the basement and saw Steph and Joey, who ignored the two of us at first, but when we went to say goodbye he yelled at us. Right. Anyway, go to Lisa's set up, then Matt arrives. I had seen Matt Friday night at the Brew, but it was soo good to see the kid again. To really hang out, talk to the kid. Thennn we called Mike Knowles and convinced him to come because Matt was there. Oh My G-d. I grew so close to Mike this year... and I think this is the first time he's just been 'Mike'. When he arrived, it was excellent. The four of us, plus Tom and Michaela = excellend night. I don't need anything big to have a good time. I can honestly say I just love being around the people I love, and it's sufficient and more than a giant, loud party could have given me. Not that those aren't fun.
Hmmm -- Massachusetts was pretty boring. Lola is quite sick, so we were all babying her for the 2 weeks I was there, but she does seem better. I can't lose another pet. Not right now. I feel like just yesterday we had to put Ace to sleep, when really it's been 9 long months. Mass is .... home. But not 'home'. Does that make sense? It sort of makes me hate breaks. Not just 'cause it's a whole other world. But because when it's Thanksgiving, I know everyone else is travelling 'home' and are all together and I feel like I was 'home' the entire time and now I get sent away. It's really unfair. I know my parents are happy there, and that makes me happy,... I don't know. I'm babbling (warned you about coherency).
Moving on, let us talk about Banga. Very significant. We all remember that last year my roommate was the absolutely wonderful Jessica (who I saw on Friday with her Omaha friends and it was G L O R I O U S). Well, Jess went to London for the fall semester, so I had to do random room again. I lucked out, and found myself in a room of three other girls who didn't know each other either - a girl returning from abroad, a transfer student from the Univ. of Pittsburgh, and a sophomore. That sophomore was my dearest roommate, Angie. Originally, I wasn't so sure it was gonna work out ((aww, as our song "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist" from Avenue Q comes on my computer...<3)), but we got along famously. Changa, I know you don't read this, but I did love you. Your desk is empty right now, and your birthday poem isn't on the wall anymore, and it's quite depressing. Jess is going to be my roommate again in a few days, and I am excited as hell to have her back, but I will miss Angela. Have an AMAZING time in Florence!
Student Teaching at the Brooklyn New School this past semester was absolutely incredible. It really opened my eyes to the world of teaching and took it off it's silver platter, but in a good way. Teaching is hard. I won't lie to you. There are 1,000 contradicting standards to meet daily, parents who honestly just don't give a fuck, learning disabilities, and a million other reasons I shouldn't want to get into this, but I just want it more. I just want to become the best and actually change the world. I want to have a class of students, and 20 years from now read some newspaper and read one of them did something amazing and be able to say "I blew that kid's nose!" or "I taught him how to write like that". It's going to make me cry, and deplete any money I might ever have, but I want it so badly. The next three semesters I'll be honing my skills, forcing myself to work and really be involved in my classes, and hopefully stop being scared.
I guess I can briefly talk about the wonder that was FAB Friday. Also known as my Friday classes, in the dungeon below the Starbucks on West 4th street. 8:30 - 3:30 all semester, 38 students and 6 professors. Well, I don't think we EVER had all 6 the same day, but who cares. It was so good finally meeting everyone in my major (Childhood/Special Education). Shocked there were so few of us, and that there were some kids I hadn't met. Granted, 4-5 of them were brand new to NYU, but one of them, perhaps my new favorite, Mike (ahh, another Mike!), I should have met. What a great group of people. Were we all best friends? Not quite. And now that we no longer will have Fridays but will rather be split up on Tues/Thurs, we probably won't be as close as groups prior, but I honestly did love everyone in there. It really did at times feel like we were all soldiers sharing war stories - we really ARE fighting the same difficult battle. I can't wait to see everyone again next semester.
Socially, this semester was pretty good. Saw a TON of Ellen and Jeanette, didn't really see my 801 boys (( suuuuuuuuuper sad face )), a lot of Suzi, and very much face-time with Allana. VERY weird having MOST of my favorite NYU kids (Jenn, Jess, Romi, Steve, Suchi...) be abroad so I couldn't see them, but I was perhaps more social regardless. I even hung out with the Chris/Fony crowd a few times. Without Jenn. I don't know my next door neighbors at all, but I think I did good work this semester ;). In terms of going out more and worrying less about getting the right amount of sleep or doing work. I like finding a balance. Still don't like to drink stuff, but it's really not a big deal.
Starting to wind down, swear. I give this past year a good rating overall. Praying this is the year I find a gentleman. Stay in touch with the people I love. Smile a lot. Stay true to what I believe in. Keep going to services. Give myself a break once in a while. Hit the gym. Go to MORE concerts. Go to DC to see another rugby game (even though Nicole is F'in that up for me!). Write letters. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Hang in Central Park. Be USEFUL at my America Reads site. Bunch of other resolutions.
Done. Say hi sometime. Happy 2006, guys.