(no subject)
Wow, it's been a while since my last post. a lot has happened, so i don't really know what to say.
Christmas was fun. lot of time with the family, which was nice. My canadian grandparents came down (and r still here), so it has been good to see them. More than anything, it's been fun to spend time with my mom. She's been really great to me through a lot of the stuff that's been going on lately, very supportive and whatnot, so it's been good to be with her more.
This was easily my favorite New years of all time. Well, it certainly beats last year. that's for sure. anyway, Andy and I hung out at my place for a bit. had a few drinks, watched some Standoff (GREAT tv show!!!), then went to the townhouse where we had dollar drinks. Some of Andy's friends met us there, and then we went off to a part, had a lot more to drink, and rung in the new year right. Then we came back to my place, watched some more standoff, and had an all around great time. It was, as I said, the best new years yet.
It was also just really good to have this new year start. A new beginning. This past semester wasn't really all that great for me, a lot of shit to deal with and bad stuff to overcome, it was nice to have a moment where I could just say, "you know what, that's all done now. I'm done with dwelling in all these things. It's time to move on, move ahead and enjoy life more". And I can honestly say that life has gotten supremly better since that moment.
Soon after that, I went down to Chicago to do some research for my honors thesis. Drove down with my step brother Zvi and his wife Vicky. Zvi and I spent the whole drive down (6+ hours) talking, which was really great. It is easily the most i've spoken to him in my life, and it was really nice. I'm glad I had this chance with him. We aren't best friends or anything now, but I liked getting to know him a little better.
While in Chicago, I stayed with my friend K-Ho and her family, which was a blast. They were a lot of fun to be with, so I treasured that just as much, if not more, then my time at the library. Also, I loved navigating the L and metra trains to get down to the Oriental Institute. It reminded me of being in cairo a lot. The independence, the not knowing many people and being in a new place. Mostly, I like the alone time, just listening to my ipod and looking out the window, observing some of the oddities of the city. It was a reminder that I'm okay on my own. I know how to take care of myself, and I liked remembering that. I got a lot of great info for my honors thesis while I was there, but more than anything I appreciated the chance to have an adventure, even just a little one, to regain some of that confidence I had in Cairo that i hadn't even realized I lost.
Once I got back, I did some work on my Honors thesis, and then met with my advisor. She really loved the work I had done and the direction I was going, which was just great. It's nice to have someone tell you you're on the right path and that they are confident in your abilities. Made me even more excited to work on this. That, and I keep finding out all this own stuff that I am coming up with on my own. I'm creating thought to contribute to my field of study, and that's very satisfying.
This past week I've been doing this workshop as a part of a play I'll be in at the Walker Art Center come march. It's noon to 5 each day, which is sort of a long day, but it has been a great learning experience. I can't really think of a way to explain what we are doing, but we've been creating a lot of our own work, which is something I've never really had the opportunity to do before, and it's been a challenge, but in a really good way. I've been growing a lot, thinking about the kind of work i want to make and how to make it, and that has been great at this juncture in my life where i want to start making my own work (finally).
Apart from all this growth and learning, I've also just been having a really fun time lately. I've gone to two concerts in the past week to see my favorite band of all time; Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps. Seriously, I love their music, and they are also just an amazing band live. Anyway, I've been going to their concerts, which is not something I usually do, but has been so much fun! I even got to meet the band, and the drummer gave me a comp ticket to the second concert, which was great. And what's been really great is i went to both with Katween. We didn't get to spend huge chunks of time together last semester, so i've really cherished this time. we have had a lot of fun together, so that's been great. Beyond that, i've been hangin out with a lot of my friends lately, going out to do fun stuff, and it has just been a blast!!! Overall, I'm just really happy right now. It's weird, I've sort of forgotten what it was like to be this happy. Not to be all emo and say i haven't been happy for a while, because that's a lie. Still, the pieces of my life are getting put back together, and it's been a long process, and it's still going on, but to have things get better is a huge relief. the act of things getting better almost makes everything else get even better. I still have a little ways to go, some loose ends that need to be tied up, but it's all out of my hands. LIfe is getting good again, and that is a great thing.
The rest of the week should continue to be this good. Tomorrow (friday) i have my last day at this workshop, and then I go to my dad's for a birthday dinner. It will be good t see the kids, as i really never get enough time with them. Jack has just started to get into Ancient Egypt, and I'd like us to do stuff with that together. Maybe I could show him pictures from my trip, tell him about the things I saw and what they mean. Who knows, maybe i could start a Wheeler dynasty of Egyptologists!!!
Saturday I go back to Mom's and have my birthday dinner with her and my grandparents. I'll also be brining Andy (my Habibi), which should be a lot of fun for everyone. He'll get to meet my family and understand the craziness I have come from, and they will get to meet the guy who I spent all my time with in Cairo. The combination of the two of us should lead to some really great story time.
Sunday is my actual birthday, so I will be having a little party at the house. A symposium for my friends. Should be nice. It will be the first year I haven't been traveling on my birthday for a while, but this is the first time i will have a bunch of friends with me, which hasn't happened for years. Not to say I haven't been among friends for my past birthdays, because that is just a lie. Past two birthdays in Greece and Cairo I was with friends, including two of my best friends, Andy and Abby (in both places!!), but it should be a bigger group with friends i don't usually get to see on my birthday. I'm looking forward to it a lot, because I love being among friends.
Well, that's a pretty good update i'd say. I'll try and be better at writing here. I know no one reads it, but I like writing it, so that's enough for me.
Hope the year treats you as well as it's been treating me. Keep your chin up. If i've learned anything, it's that things never stay shitty for long.
Christmas was fun. lot of time with the family, which was nice. My canadian grandparents came down (and r still here), so it has been good to see them. More than anything, it's been fun to spend time with my mom. She's been really great to me through a lot of the stuff that's been going on lately, very supportive and whatnot, so it's been good to be with her more.
This was easily my favorite New years of all time. Well, it certainly beats last year. that's for sure. anyway, Andy and I hung out at my place for a bit. had a few drinks, watched some Standoff (GREAT tv show!!!), then went to the townhouse where we had dollar drinks. Some of Andy's friends met us there, and then we went off to a part, had a lot more to drink, and rung in the new year right. Then we came back to my place, watched some more standoff, and had an all around great time. It was, as I said, the best new years yet.
It was also just really good to have this new year start. A new beginning. This past semester wasn't really all that great for me, a lot of shit to deal with and bad stuff to overcome, it was nice to have a moment where I could just say, "you know what, that's all done now. I'm done with dwelling in all these things. It's time to move on, move ahead and enjoy life more". And I can honestly say that life has gotten supremly better since that moment.
Soon after that, I went down to Chicago to do some research for my honors thesis. Drove down with my step brother Zvi and his wife Vicky. Zvi and I spent the whole drive down (6+ hours) talking, which was really great. It is easily the most i've spoken to him in my life, and it was really nice. I'm glad I had this chance with him. We aren't best friends or anything now, but I liked getting to know him a little better.
While in Chicago, I stayed with my friend K-Ho and her family, which was a blast. They were a lot of fun to be with, so I treasured that just as much, if not more, then my time at the library. Also, I loved navigating the L and metra trains to get down to the Oriental Institute. It reminded me of being in cairo a lot. The independence, the not knowing many people and being in a new place. Mostly, I like the alone time, just listening to my ipod and looking out the window, observing some of the oddities of the city. It was a reminder that I'm okay on my own. I know how to take care of myself, and I liked remembering that. I got a lot of great info for my honors thesis while I was there, but more than anything I appreciated the chance to have an adventure, even just a little one, to regain some of that confidence I had in Cairo that i hadn't even realized I lost.
Once I got back, I did some work on my Honors thesis, and then met with my advisor. She really loved the work I had done and the direction I was going, which was just great. It's nice to have someone tell you you're on the right path and that they are confident in your abilities. Made me even more excited to work on this. That, and I keep finding out all this own stuff that I am coming up with on my own. I'm creating thought to contribute to my field of study, and that's very satisfying.
This past week I've been doing this workshop as a part of a play I'll be in at the Walker Art Center come march. It's noon to 5 each day, which is sort of a long day, but it has been a great learning experience. I can't really think of a way to explain what we are doing, but we've been creating a lot of our own work, which is something I've never really had the opportunity to do before, and it's been a challenge, but in a really good way. I've been growing a lot, thinking about the kind of work i want to make and how to make it, and that has been great at this juncture in my life where i want to start making my own work (finally).
Apart from all this growth and learning, I've also just been having a really fun time lately. I've gone to two concerts in the past week to see my favorite band of all time; Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps. Seriously, I love their music, and they are also just an amazing band live. Anyway, I've been going to their concerts, which is not something I usually do, but has been so much fun! I even got to meet the band, and the drummer gave me a comp ticket to the second concert, which was great. And what's been really great is i went to both with Katween. We didn't get to spend huge chunks of time together last semester, so i've really cherished this time. we have had a lot of fun together, so that's been great. Beyond that, i've been hangin out with a lot of my friends lately, going out to do fun stuff, and it has just been a blast!!! Overall, I'm just really happy right now. It's weird, I've sort of forgotten what it was like to be this happy. Not to be all emo and say i haven't been happy for a while, because that's a lie. Still, the pieces of my life are getting put back together, and it's been a long process, and it's still going on, but to have things get better is a huge relief. the act of things getting better almost makes everything else get even better. I still have a little ways to go, some loose ends that need to be tied up, but it's all out of my hands. LIfe is getting good again, and that is a great thing.
The rest of the week should continue to be this good. Tomorrow (friday) i have my last day at this workshop, and then I go to my dad's for a birthday dinner. It will be good t see the kids, as i really never get enough time with them. Jack has just started to get into Ancient Egypt, and I'd like us to do stuff with that together. Maybe I could show him pictures from my trip, tell him about the things I saw and what they mean. Who knows, maybe i could start a Wheeler dynasty of Egyptologists!!!
Saturday I go back to Mom's and have my birthday dinner with her and my grandparents. I'll also be brining Andy (my Habibi), which should be a lot of fun for everyone. He'll get to meet my family and understand the craziness I have come from, and they will get to meet the guy who I spent all my time with in Cairo. The combination of the two of us should lead to some really great story time.
Sunday is my actual birthday, so I will be having a little party at the house. A symposium for my friends. Should be nice. It will be the first year I haven't been traveling on my birthday for a while, but this is the first time i will have a bunch of friends with me, which hasn't happened for years. Not to say I haven't been among friends for my past birthdays, because that is just a lie. Past two birthdays in Greece and Cairo I was with friends, including two of my best friends, Andy and Abby (in both places!!), but it should be a bigger group with friends i don't usually get to see on my birthday. I'm looking forward to it a lot, because I love being among friends.
Well, that's a pretty good update i'd say. I'll try and be better at writing here. I know no one reads it, but I like writing it, so that's enough for me.
Hope the year treats you as well as it's been treating me. Keep your chin up. If i've learned anything, it's that things never stay shitty for long.