Geek Mystique

the pinterest obsession

2012-01-28T09:12:00.000-08:00

My new online obsession is called Pinterest, which I usually misspell as Pintrest but which should more appropriately be named PinImadeyouwaste5hourshahahabitch. The purpose of Pinterest is to be a space for gathering up all your online inspiration and organizing it on virtual boards. I only have 3 boards but I swear I found people who have 50. That is a whole level of organization that I will never desire to achieve.

One of my boards is an invitation to action akin to "come on, self, if others could do this so can you". It's basically a collection of fun and/or practical DIY which I shrewdly named Let's Make This. Notice the use of the pronoun in the first person plural form, thus implying some external help or the presence of multiple personalities. It used to be called I Can Make this but I changed the title when I realized that A) haha, riiiiiight B) Dimples joined Pinterest and he's a nosy diy-er himself. The man thinks he joined so he can stalk me online on yet another social network, but what he doesn't know is that the moment he clicked on 'I accept the terms and conditions' he became the execution to my planning, the ying to my yang, the glue to my piece of paper, the www. to my .com. So far we only completed a paper decoration project inspired by something found on Pinterest. By completed I mean I found it, got super excited about it, proceeded to jump up and down on the bed and gather the supplies (not at the same time, mind you), worked about 5 minutes on it together with Dimples and then delegated the entire process to him because I was too busy being in awe of his very focused face, admiring his dimples and stuffing my face with chocolate. When everything was finished (90% by him) I resumed my jumping up and down on the bed and hung the paper decoration in the Christmas tree.

Another board is called Future Home because, let's face it, I am a house (not apartment) kind of girl, despite living in this matchbox for a few years now. The board is full of green and white kitchens, green living rooms and green bathrooms because I have a 'my house my rules' type of attitude towards this.

Pinterest is basically an enabler for my obsessions but it also made me realize that there are so many things that I'm not particularly fond of when it comes to decorating and crafts. More on that to come.Yes, I am making a list of diy things that I hate, despise and loathe. I am also acquiring new loves (maps, oh how I love maps now).

boy talk or how to choose a pseudonym for the new boyfriend

2011-09-14T19:58:00.000-07:00

Half, my long term boyfriend, has been out of the picture and out of my life for over a year now.

Luckily for charming ol' me another man decided that I was worth his time and energy. Don't ask me why, I still haven't figured out what side effects he was suffering from that prompted him to do that (I'm kidding. I do. He was under the influence of my fabulousness).

One of the reasons that made me decide to revive the blog was that my life is back on track. Wait, I take that back (from that track). Please, can I? Actually my life is on a different track, which may prove to be a better fit for me.

Since I anticipate that this new boyfriend will be a constant presence around here (who am I kidding now? I pray for that every day), I figured he's worthy of a blog pseudonym. A bleudonym if you may.

As you can see I have serious stuff that keeps me up at night. This and howling dogs.

So I consider the options:

New Boyfriend just doesn't do. It's not creative, too general and I'm actually hoping (did I mention praying?) that at one point it might become outdated.

I could name him Troubadour because he's a good musician and he sings me love songs at my every whimy request. But that is too long a word and I have days when I have to run words like 'water' through a spell checker. Not really, but troubadour has a fleeting image to it in my mind and the wikipedia picture doesn't really help either.

There is also the option of naming him after a part of his body that I really like, but then I imagine I'd get a lot of unwanted traffic here, and not from the kind of people that I'd befriend in real life. Plus, I'm thinking that if he doesn't like to be called J.Lo (he doesn't, I've tried), he wouldn't appreciate this descriptive nickname either.

One of my friends calls him The Man, but I think that's not as descriptive as I want it to be.

I myself have been calling him Perfection ever since the day I met him, but isn't that too much pressure?

So what I'm left with is Dimples. Because they're huuuuuuuuuuuuuge. (I really hope this last sentence doesn't get me that unwanted traffic I was mentioning before.Oh, well.)

Dimples it is.

i told you i'd bring it back

2011-08-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

I'm back! I made it to the other side of the storm and I'm happier than I've been in a very long time.

I am very grateful for having great friends, a supportive family and an awesome man who refers to me as "my pretty girl".

Life's good!

I'm bringing Geeky back

2011-04-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

- soon -

So many things have changed, but mostly for the better.

I lost some weight.

I got out of a long term relationship. I've had my heart broken.

I'm close to getting into another relationship.

I'm doing things that I like for money that I get to keep.

I realized that I have the best friends ever.

I found my joy to live.

I started glowing.

I moved back and forth.

I planned for grad school and then ditched those plans.

I'm eating healthier and drinking more water.

I don't have a big cloud over my head all the time anymore.

I'm actively trying to make and keep myself happy.

I'm getting better at not sweating the small stuff.

I started painting my nails in all kinds of colors.

I started wearing dresses and found out that I love being all girly.

I've met new people and I've been quite outgoing.

I went to all sorts of places: theaters, museums, clubs, pubs, bars, coffee shops, shooting pool, movies.

I read funny books that I liked.

I wrote poems.

I took pictures.

I felt inspired.

I laughed so much.

I smiled even more.

I'm ready for the good times.

I know that they are coming.

vintage from dover ... again

2010-11-11T14:28:00.001-08:00

Do you remember how I keep telling you about how fantastically wonderful Dover Publications is? Well, it IS. What, do you mean to tell me you don't remember these posts from 2009, about vintage illustrations of Transatlantic passenger ships and silhouettes and this one with summer posters? By shame, you.

Anyways, this week they sent a me a mail of goodiness. Their stock is really diverse and some of their emails don't arise my interest but when something really cool comes along I pull a Cheshire smile and start saving.

How good would this vintage auto poster look framed on my green walls?

Don't answer that, please. I already know. Perfection!

subway blues

2010-11-03T03:32:00.000-07:00

Due to my love/hate relationship with the subway in Urbanity, I was really amused by this article in the New York Times about the subway door-standers. I always thought this was an annoying habit of people in this city, together with trying to get in before the other people get off. I usually elbow my way out, just to release the build up tension that rushes to my head when I do meet a 100 kilo man squashing me back inside the train.

What I do love about the subway in Urbanity is:
- that it is relatively clean and modern (at least on the route that I'm taking now);
- when a bunch of people are reading, sitting next to each other (rarely ever happens);
- when someone is smiling to himself/herself (so not in a stalker kind of way);
- babies taking their first rides, looking agape out the window;
- when someone carries coffee and the smell of it spreads in the entire train.

Now go back to the NYT article and take a look at the photo slides of the subway through the years.

P.S. This really makes me want to dig up some subway poetry. I know, procrastinate much?!

playing guide

2010-10-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today I left for the library rather late, partly due to laziness and partly due to being a sloth (wink!).

On my way there I took a detour to sit on a bench and munch on a cereal bar. It was a spur of the moment decision because the weather was so nice and sunny, although quite chilly, and I hadn't been to that bench alley in years. Although I frequently pass by, I never stop. And the benches were put there just a few months ago.

Today I stopped and sat on a bench by the river (yes, Urbanity has a river going right through it). There were a lot of seagulls and colorful ducks. And I do mean a lot. You could almost believe you were at the seaside, what with all the breeze, the noise of the birds and the saline smell. I could tell it wasn't just me who was pleasantly surprised by the scenery, 'cause people were stopping to take pictures, most of them with their phones. Urbanity is such a busy and crowded city that people hardly ever stop to smell the roses, or in this case immortalize the seagulls.

The task for today was to go to the library, re-read my BA thesis, and pull out a chunk of it to use as a writing sample. So I pulled the thesis out of my bag and started reading it.

I had been reading for about 10 minutes when an older (60-ish) couple sat by me on the bench. My first instinct was to be a bit annoyed, because of all the row of benches on that alley they chose mine (yes, I do get possessive about this, mostly because I like my privacy).

They stared for a few seconds at my thesis (which is in English) that I was holding on my knees and then asked me for directions in English (not the official language in Urbanity). They were asking for directions to a part of the city that was relatively close but quite difficult to get to due to a huge intersection and various traffic lights. I tried to show them how to get there on the map that they were carrying. Then I started waving my hands left and right, showing them "in field". Then I drew it on their map with a pencil. They really couldn't understand it and I was out of ways to explain it to the tourist lady (the husband didn't speak English).

"Do you want me to walk you there?" I asked. I don't know where that came from, but it did.
"Sure, that would be great? That's so nice of you. Are you sure you're going that way?" the lady asked.
"Yeah, I am." I lied. "There's really no problem".

I wasn't going that way. I was planning to bask in the sun for another 30 minutes and then head for the subway. Yes, I was going in that direction, but not then and not on that route. Yet I really wanted to help them, they seemed genuinely nice ... and lost.

So we ended up walking together and talking for about 15 minutes.

"Where are you from?" asked the lady, who turned out to be Greek.
"I'm from here. I am Urbanitan"I said.
"Really? Your speak English so well. I thought you were American".

A million thoughts rushed to my mind about how that would make my life so much easier right now.

I took them to where they wanted to go and we parted ways, not before them thanking me wholeheartedly. They were so grateful and I felt that I hadn't really done much.

I wish I find such helpful foreign strangers when I need them.

Soon, I hope.

why i love watching the good wife

2010-10-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

(or another reason to write a list)

1. Well-written characters played by very good actors. Great cast, no exceptions.

2. Alan Cumming as the gray haired manipulative yet totally lovable Eli Gold.

3. Kalinda, probably one of the best written complex secondary characters of today's television.

4. Great soundtrack. I love it when shows dig up old and unknown songs and use them perfectly in scenes (Weeds also does this). My QED is Kalinda vs car scene.

5. Excellent acting of episodic characters. I went on imdb to see who played the rookie blonde ditsy attorney so well and it's none other than Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer.

6. The sexy voices of Josh Charles and Julianna Margulies (using headphones finally paid off).

7. The chemistry is exactly where it should be.

8. It is not afraid to be openly political.

9. It brought me back the thrill of watching a legal drama.

Photo from CBS

good for a change

2010-10-24T05:25:00.000-07:00

Yearly autumn ensemble of au naturel picked up during a stroll in the park (all
put together in a cherry yogurt plastic cup)

It is an absolutely beautiful day in Urbanity, and I'm not kidding. It's not even sarcasm.

It's warm, the sky is deep baby blue, the birds are chirping and I can hear a rooster cock-a-doodle-dooing every 5 minutes.

I pulled up the blinds and hung them closer to the ceiling to let all the sun in.

Unfortunately I don't have any plans outside, but I did run some errands this morning. It was chilly but sunny and people around were barbecuing. I guess everybody is mentally preparing for not seeing the sun for a long time, although you can never mentally prepare for that enough.

Last night one of my friends stayed over and we ended up having a great time, watching movies, having tea, telling stories about our high school days (we didn't know each other back then) and making lists of actors we love and hate. I love my friends and I miss them so much when they're not around.

Now I made made coffee and had a salad and I'm feeling in a productive mood (must be because of the weather). I feel like reading academic articles and scribbling down notes so I'd better get to business before the feeling goes away. I also have to write a research proposal but it's so darn hard to START it. I know that once I do start writing it, the process won't be so painful but by God it would be easier to read Ulysses now.

Looking up in Urbanity

2010-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have the feeling that this space is turning into a photoblog. Or maybe it would be better to call it a pictureblog, since I am not a photographer but a picture-taker.

I took these pictures in the last days of September, when the sky was still clear blue and the weather was mild and breezy.

I walked with Half in the city center for 3 hours. When we got home I couldn't feel my feet. Neither could Half.

I love walking in a city, observing the details that I never have the time or the energy to notice when I'm in a hurry or in a really bad mood.

(Un)fortunately, I no longer love the city. I used to, once, but not anymore. Not for a long time. The city and me are through.

... but then I didn't

2010-10-06T07:14:00.000-07:00

It's incredibly cold here in Urbanity,not to mention rainy and windy, really not what anyone expected for early October. September was warm and breezy but it came and went way too fast, as September usually does. The picture is done with my phone camera in the park, in late September. I don't think I've seen the sun that shiny ever since.

I'm having a coffee and ramen noodles (not in the same bowl, of course) and my mind is filled with all these things that I have planned. I have fallen off the planning-and-doing wagon and I'm desperately trying to cling to its last wheel or at least run behind it for a little while to take advantage of its wind and momentum. I planned so many things since the end of August and did ... not much.

I planned to go to a museum ... but then I didn't.
I planned to go to the theatre ... but then I didn't.
I planned to meet up with a friend ... but then I didn't.
I planned to write my research proposal ... but then I didn't.
I planned to start cooking again ... but then I didn't.
I planned to write some important emails ... but then I didn't.
I planned to apply to some internships ... but then I didn't.
I planned to put up an ad and find some more tutoring gigs ... but then I didn't.
I planned to reconnect with some people ... but then I didn't.
I planned to deal with some bureaucratic shitz ... but then I didn't.
I planned to follow-up a good idea that I had ... but then I didn't.
I planned to get a haircut ... but then I didn't.
I planned to write about 10 blog posts ... but then I didn't.
I planned to take more photos ... but then I didn't.
I planned to read some books that I absolutely have to ... but then I didn't.
I planned to attend a documentary screening ... but then I didn't.
I planned to attend a meeting of a reading group ... but then I didn't.
I planned to clarify some emotional shitz and personal arrangements ... but then I didn't.
I planned to contribute to some projects that I like ... but then I didn't.
I planned to fix my laptop that is stubbornly refusing to produce intelligible sound, thus rendering itself useless for watching Weeds, Gilmore Girls and Friends ... but I didn't.

And the worst thing is that this numbness is amplified to gargantuan proportions by the feeling of guilt that I have because people around me believe that I'm actually accomplishing something during my hours of staring into the computer screen, when in fact I'm just shitzing around, doing naught, nil, zip and zero.

Enough with all the shitzing already !!!

not knowing yet

2010-09-08T18:10:00.000-07:00

I've been absent from this space - much like I've been absent from my own life - from late July, all throughout August, until early September. Things have been happening, changes again, neither good nor bad, just different. In what way, only time can tell.

I feel that I've been thinking so much about some things in the detriment of others. That I've ruled out possibilities even before considering them. That I'm giving up so much just for sheer hope of gaining something impalpable.

I'm still pondering, deeper than ever, about where I am to steer my life. But steer I must, the option of staying put does not exist.

I am restless even before I begin. The possibilities are countless at this point, the paths are numerous. I'm standing at a crossroads, not knowing which way to go. I'm terrified that in time I will be thinking of these moments, asking myself "why didn't you chose a different path". I often do this, I am the master of "looking back in anger". Am I closing paths again? Am I discovering new ones? Am I getting further away from the right one or am I postponing its discovery while I'm exploring some others?

I have no answers now. I only have questions.

But I have a feeling that all will be good.

a medley of my april - june scarce photo taking

2010-07-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

not many words, as usual lately.

I'm running around like a headless chicken trying to set myself into a pattern of doing all that I have to do while also trying not to less the process overwhelm me (too much).

hi, remember me?

2010-06-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hey, I'm back for the customarily one-silly-post-a-month gig.

It feels really strange to be back after such a long time away (not that I was a very articulate blogger in the first place) but I miss this space when I'm not filling it with digital mumbling.

Meanwhile, I've left my job and so far this seems like an excellent decision. Tomorrow this is all going to be definitive. I'm freelancing now and have a few tutoring gigs lined up but summer is slow, as summer usually is. I'm not complaining though, because this is the GSP Summer [to be explained later].

Currently I'm turning into a flash cards maniac, munching from 3 GRE books at a time. I'm also reading Philip Roth and Muriel Spark (she's awesome, I'm glad I discovered that) and holding myself back from eating crappy food in a haphazard manner. I feel like I've currently stopped the "develop pot belly" process and I'm trying to reverse it, which surely is thrice as slow (gah and bah altogether, stupid calories love good company).

I haven't taken pictures in a long time but I just remembered that I forgot to show you pictures of my 'free day amidst chaos' which was back in ... April. Yes, I've been that social.

Meh, I think I'll just start with a geeky peacock and work my way from there ... tomorrow.

Braceyourselves.

ceci n'est pas une post

2010-05-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

See, it's been a month since my last post and I really wanted to check in so that when I look back on May it won't be completely blank.

May was not without events, both good and bad.

Quite good: I spent a weekend at the seaside and relaxed a bit.

Bad: something very unpleasant happened on my way back.

Good: although it has taken me a month, I managed to repair the damage caused by awful people and a few seconds of not paying attention.

Very bad: Half's company is seriously downsizing and he's been given a three weeks' notice. By this time next month he'll be out of a job and out of a paycheck. Which is totally bad timing considering I also decided to resign. His department was dissolved and the firing started about a half a year ago. They fired about 50 people during this time and Half was among the last (three) ones to go. Here's hoping for better times.

Good: May was my last month of full time teaching. I announced the company at the end of April that I'm planning on leaving once I finish all of my commitments (meaning all my classes). I'll be teaching in June as well as during the first week of July but only part time. Despite the financial drawbacks, I'm really glad I made the decision to leave. The mental strain that this past 6 months have put on me is enormous and I've recently found out that they were planning on giving me more classes once the current ones were done. Which basically would have meant going full speed ahead for another 6 months at least. And I'm soooo tired.

Bad: One of my most stable and pleasant tutoring gigs is canceled indeterminately due to some personal problems on the part of the tutoree. I'll miss her, I hope she's not lost for good.

Good: I got a little teeny tiny bonus.

Bad: I cannot spend it on maintenance/food.

Good: I chose to spend it on clothes.

Very bad: I miss my friends terribly and I feel very lonely right now.

Good: Seaside pictures if you scroll.

However, it's always a good idea to start with the lollipop.

Summer plans galore to follow ...

venting

2010-04-25T12:28:00.000-07:00

Woah, I have another gazillion things to do in like the following 5-6 hours. I have to write 4 reports, prepare a whole week's worth of classes and tutoring sessions and start writing a project for my MA classes.

The only words that can save me right now are: coffee and an all-nighter. But how about the 8 hours that I have to teach tomorrow. Speaking of all-nighters, I miss college so much.

The good news is that I'm going to treat myself to a week-end at the beach in a week's time. I don't think I'm going to be able to swim in the sea because it is still rather cold here but I do hope for 2 days of fun in the breeze.

Must survive this week!

i did a wild thing today ...

2010-04-18T00:15:00.000-07:00

... I took a day off.

After a horribly busy week which culminated in an intensive 8 hour training on a Saturday, I decided I've had enough. Today I ditched another 4 hour training session and canceled my two tutoring sessions. It's bad on the finances but so necessary for my mental health.

So now I'm having a coffee and reading The Economist, then I'm going to tamper with a green and pretty kitchen curtain which I need to hang today. I also set up an afternoon at the Museum of History with my friend. There is an exhibition on women's history that I've been meaning to visit since February. I also hope that Half will be in a rollerblading mood this afternoon.

It feels so good to remember to take a break.

Still, I think I will do some teaching prep for tomorrow before leaving so that that won't drag on my brain for the rest of the day. Another horribly full week to follow.

easter pictures and scattered thoughts

2010-04-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

I spent Easter Sunday with my parents and Half. We had lunch and then went for a stroll in park, on a very beautiful April day. Of course I couldn't resist the temptation of putting my roller blades on, for the first time this year, and I plan on rollerblading at least one hour every weekend. It's not much but taking into consideration the amount of free time that I have, it seems such a luxurious treat for myself.

I ate a huge amount of Easter bunnies and I seem to have entered a pattern of overeating again. I really hope I can nip this in the bud as summer seems to be the season of weight gaining for me (by the way, why is it called gaining?)

Do you remember how thrilled I was about last April? This year the weather wasn't so nice. Right after the trees bloomed we had a few days of rains and heavy winds so the fragrant flowers didn't last for too long. I did manage, though, to capture some pictures on Easter.

And finally, check out the picture-in-picture my brother took while I was playing with the bunnies.

once again, cats pictures save the day

2010-04-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

Look at me!

It seems I'm trying to fit onto the radiator and ...

... sucking on the window blinds cord, when in fact ...

... I am preparing a master strategy to attack the other cat (who is, incidentally, my mother) ...

... and take over the cushion domination ! [which I did, because I am a crayzeeee cat]

proof of life

2010-04-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am alive.
However, I do not seem to have a life.
Therefore, I should get a life.

I just popped in to say that I am, indeed, still breathing, although I was short of collapsing from exhaustion both in class and on the street. Ever since my last log in on this here blog I have taught 110 class-hours for the company and about 30 for my tutoring gigs. I have prepped as many classes. You do the math. I have also taken 20 hours of teacher training and attended my MA classes. I have also been to meetings and done my work as a mentee. Occasionally, I've slept.

Other things that happened since my last report, in no particular order:

One of my older students was taken away with an ambulance, almost right out of class. It was a bad experience for everybody, not to mention for him. This is why I don't want to give many details up here, it wouldn't do me any good to see it over and over again. Let's just say it involved a huge puddle of blood, blood smeared on the walls and on the door handles and people looking for the person in question while he was fainted somewhere on some stairs. He is ok now, as far as I've been told, but he hasn't come to work (or to class) for the last three weeks.

I got excellent feedback from my students on my mid-course evaluation forms. And I do mean EXCELLENT.

However, I still didn't get a raise.

I haven't changed my mind. I'm still quitting in mid-June.

I got amazing gifts on an occasion I cannot mention here (you know, maintaining my anonymity and all): two gorgeous bracelets, one really elegant bag, one exotic flower in a pot (no, I didn't kill it ... yet), one silver necklace and earrings set, one very nice stone necklace and three bouquets of flowers (which I discourage everyone to give as gifts since they are, essentially, dead).

I also gave myself some gifts, to help me make it through the long work hours. I bought pants, a purple T-shirt, a turquoise blouse, a summer dress which I am never going to wear and two pairs of flats for Easter. I couldn't resist to a bunch of knick-knacks which I cannot properly describe but I promise to photograph and share them these days.

I guess the biggest change these days is my new do. I've got an asymmetrical bob haircut (my first asymmetrical ever) which everybody (including all of my students) describes as being a very good change. I'm not yet convinced by it but heck, if they say so, then so it must be. On the left side it reaches one centimeter below my chin while on the right it is in line with my ear lobe. It was the hairdresser's idea idea, which I went along with.

march ponderings

2010-03-07T00:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sipping my coffee this Saturday morning and thinking about the week(s) I've been having. One of my students confessed to me this week that she's been on antidepressives for years. She's in a high corporate position and walks around like a ghost. She has trouble concentrating for more than five minutes and always tells me that she feels an immense sense of guilt for not being able to spend more time with her baby boy. She keeps telling me that she needs to make a decision because the harder she works, the more responsibilities they throw at her. She's also going through a separation which seems to be quickly heading for a divorce. Let's call this sign number 1, "behold the future".

Two days later, another one of my students had a nervous breakdown in class. We were reading a text and when it was her turn she just started crying out of nowhere (or so it seemed). My reaction was to allow her time to calm down and move the attention to the other students and ask them to do the task and then to start a conversation about one of the issues in the paragraph. After five minutes I asked her again to read because I didn't want to make her feel left out of our activities. Again, she burst into tears. I then waited 5 more minutes and took a break earlier than scheduled, just to give her some time to calm down. During the break she came to me and apologized saying that she's been having a really difficult time coping with all the work tasks that need to be done. I advised her to take it easy because it's not like they'll build her a statue in front of the company HQ if she overworks herself (you should have heard how good my advice was in theory) and she should consider her health, which is more important than any stupid paperwork. She kept telling me, with tears rolling down her face, that she is a fighter but she just needs two days off work to sleep. If you ask me, she's in desperate need of at least two weeks off work. This concludes sign number 2, "it's close".

One day later, when I was supposed to sign my contract and have my fee raised by the company, I'm told that I'll have to wait for another month for this to happen. Another freaking month of working for buttons. They kept postponing the meeting in the last couple of weeks because they said they wanted to figure out the sum by which my fee would be raised (considering the excellent feedback and all of the hard work and extra work I do). Imagine my disappointment when they gave me the news. It all comes after a very difficult month which, on top of teaching and prep and a load of other crappy unpaid procedure work, also included the strains and pains of getting myself authorized as a freelancer (nerve-wrecking process of doom) at their request. I felt like I was going to explode with bottled up anger. I signed the damn contract and then locked myself in the company toilet and shed tears of anger&exhaustion. Do you think this was the climax? Heck, no! This was just sign number 3, "silent desperation".

Two hours later I was at my parents', because I needed my father's help with something (also related to work, of course) and then it happened. The breakdown. Just me and my father (mom wasn't home). It was nasty. It involved the words "I can't take it anymore". I won't be telling this story in detail because it is too painful to recollect but let's just say it was worse than all the signs put together. Dad insisted that I quit as soon as possible (he's the kind of man that doesn't take crap from anyone) and assured me of all their support in whatever I want to do afterward. He told me the naked truth, the same truth which I know but I choose to ignore at my own risk, that we don't matter as individuals to the company, that I'm damaging my health and my sanity while they are making tons of money from my work, that the more I work, the more they'll give me extra tasks, that as long as they are liars and don't keep their promise I should do the same and take it easy on myself. Most importantly, he told me that this is the real world, where every man is for himself, and if I don't stand up for my rights and develop a thick skin everyone will take advantage of me (which is basically what is happening now). I was lucky enough to be shielded from these thing up to now but these people aren't going to be the last I ever encounter that will try to take as much as possible from me without giving anything back. What can I say, he is so darn right.

Conclusion: the decision to quit in early June is final. I just hope I won't collapse until then.

this and that

2010-02-18T00:02:00.001-08:00

** Gratuitous cat picture **

Once again I have the morning and early afternoon off because students have canceled classes. I'm relieved but this means a pay cut at the end of the month. Eh, what am I saying, I AM relieved.

I am in desperate need of a haircut and I have absolutely no time to do this.

It's rainy and foggy and extremely wet in Urbanity. I'm eagerly waiting for spring. I loved the spring of 2009 and I'm hoping I will be able to enjoy this one as much as I did the last one.

I have about 3 hours until I leave for classes (one I'm teaching and one for my MA) so I plan to use this time wisely. This is a new struggle that I'm undertaking, to make the most out of highly waste-able time, such as the hour I sometimes have in the early morning when I start class at 10 or the three hours I spend in traffic every day. Last week I went through a list of words for the GRE on the subway and this week I'm reading a book on how to start working towards a PhD. I'm quite motivated for this ever since I realized the real world sucks more than I thought it would.

february already

2010-02-10T23:48:00.000-08:00

Half's legs and only one of the three layers of snow that we now have.

The Bad

I know all I seem to be writing about is work and the weather but this is pretty much my life: trying to swim through snow to work at 8 o'clock in the morning and back at 8 o'clock in the evening. Crash on bed and repeat.

The only reason I'm at home this morning is that one of my students canceled her 1-to-1 class two hours before it was due to start. All I can say is God bless her! Unfortunately, she's the only 1-to-1 I have.

I'm in the process of becoming authorized as a freelancer which is, as I imagined it would be in this God-awful country, a tedious process. I already wasted 3 days and a huge amount of energy only to get my application rejected twice, both times due to red tape and nothing more. It's expensive, it's time consuming and tax payers are treated like pariahs. Another drop in the decision-making bucket.

The Good

The girl I was tutoring for the IELTS got a fabulous score which helps her applications tremendously. She was already accepted into three universities but she's still waiting for answers from unis in a different country. What can I say, I'm good at pushing people. If only I were that good at pushing myself.

I got the results for the Cambridge Business English Certificate and here is, finally, some good news: I got an A. So yay for another standardized test passed successfully.

I managed to see two of my friends last week and I have plans to even go out to the theater this month. I hope I don't fall asleep from all the exhaustion.

The Ugly

The company I'm working for has so many useless procedures that drive me insane. They find different ways to fill your day off (totally unpaid day, btw) with meetings and reports which seem to me completely pointless. I'm a no-nonsense person, don't call me to the office just to tell me something you could have told me by email. Don't BS me with how incredibly well the company is doing when I can't actually feel it in my wallet or in my free time. I won't feel enthusiastic that you're getting richer when I'm working 12 hours a day. Seriously, just don't.

I'm starting the second MA semester next Monday and I have the feeling I will answer to the name of Sleepdeprived Zombie.

just checking in

2010-02-07T03:21:00.001-08:00

This city is facing yet another Snowmageddon [I wonder if President Obama thought of that all by himself or he just heard it on the halls of the White House and somewhere a staff member is feeling really frustrated now].

I'm afraid I don't have good news. Following the excellent feedback that I received from my students/clients (yes, I'm forced to speak corporate) the company decided to give me more classes. Three more groups which amount to 6 classes per week, a total of 12 hours teacher-student time. So now I'm teaching 6 hours per day, followed by 5-6 hours prep time, all complemented by about 3 hours spent in traffic. Occasionally I sleep. I really don't know how much longer I can go on with this pace. I'm planning to hang in there until May and just figure it all out then. Right now I'm in survival mode, young, overworked and underpaid (just like Alanis would say). I don't know if I'm complaining right now or I'm just ok with the whole situation because I realize it's an experience which I can tick off the list and which I can use to learn from.

Another unpleasant thing is that I'm already blowing off one major resolution. I underscored one of the exams of my MA and felt really bad about it for days and days. I'll have to work extra hard the second semester and prioritize my time better.

pathetic

2010-02-01T22:59:00.000-08:00

The sad little story is that the only thing which keeps me motivated at this point is the fact that I plan on quitting my job in June.

Real life sucks!

-12C today

2010-01-24T04:23:00.000-08:00

Apparently North by Northwest, the first movie I saw in the first week of 2010, set the tone for a pretty good year motion picture-wise.

It's so sunny today but the temperature is even lower than yesterday. -12C and counting downwards. Look at Geeky's car, just having been dusted off two hours before.

I feel tired only thinking about the week ahead. I have two full teaching days, 2 exams for my MA and 3 full days of training which are scheduled on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That's right, who needs a weekend?!

freezing

2010-01-23T02:19:00.000-08:00

It started snowing again in this piece of land. It snowed for 3 days in a row then stopped for one day and started snowing again last night. It is so incredibly cold, with only -10C now, while last night there were -23C. I can barely remember the last time it was so cold but I think it was in the early 90s when we stayed home for days because the schools were closed.

I was supposed to meet my friend today but I had to cancel because it was really impossible to breath outside this morning.

I'm now having cereals followed by soup and reading blogs and I have a Doris Lessing novel waiting for me on the shelf. Unfortunately, I also have a Monday exam to study for and I need to buy a pair of office trousers pronto. I wonder if I can find my car under all this snow.

in which i'm praised and i'm beginning to believe it

2010-01-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

I put an end to what shall be named as "The Week of Presentations". I didn't have many, just 2, but I'm glad I cleared them off my plate.

I ended up not being the group leader for Presentation 1 which didn't make much difference anyway because our professor was replaced by another professor and the presentation didn't even take place as planned. Mental (and written) note: stop worrying so much!

Presentation 2 was a complete success. Six teams presented their projects and my team was the last to go. I was the last person to present altogether. By the time it was our turn, the Lecturer was looking slightly pissed off. But I kept my calm and went on naturally so much so that when I finished the Lecturer told my colleagues "if you want to learn how to make a presentation, go and consult Geeky". I'd be lying if I said that didn't tickle my tired ego.

I never thought of myself as a good public speaker. If someone were to ask me what my strengths were I would probably say good reasoning, a fairly good memory, organisational skills and a (sometimes too subtle to be understood) sense of humor. I would never say public speaking just as I wouldn't say empathy or time management.

I keep thinking if being comfortable with public speaking comes as a result of teaching or if the reason I like teaching is because I don't mind speaking in public. As I was up there today I could actually hear my voice carrying over a really large classroom only half full with about 35-40 of my colleagues just like I hear it when I'm teaching my classes, albeit in smaller classrooms with 6-8 students now. My first ever class was made up of 17 persons and it was the first time I was hearing my voice in front of so many people who were not my age/from my class.

What I found funny today was how everybody stopped whatever they were doing (mostly yawning and fidgeting) when I started talking. Mainly I think this happens because people don't expect a person who looks so petite to seem so in control and so determined to get their attention.

It's a pity because we,littleladies, are a blast!

so, the golden globes, eh?

2010-01-18T13:27:00.000-08:00

I didn't have the energy to watch the ceremony (different time zones plus an exhausted Geeky) but I do have a few 'questions':

How incredibly beautiful were Lauren Graham, Toni Collette and Ginnifer Goodwin? Need I even mention Kate Winslet and Julianne Moore?

When will Collin Farrell wash his hair?

Who told Diane Kruger that her dress was classy?

Who keeps stretching Courtney Cox's face?

Can someone tell Jenny Aniston that there are other colors in the spectrum?

How can I take my eyes off Emily Blunt?

Could anyone see Nicole Kidman standing against that white background?

Is it just me or is Kate Hudson becoming more beautiful with age?

Photo source

my week in bullet points

2010-01-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

The free hours go by so quickly while the full hours seem endless. I swear, whenever I get back home at 9.30 at night I feel like I had left home the previous day. 'Exhausting' barely begins to describe it.

I managed to un-decorate my tree and my room yesterday, that is January 16th. I simply could not find time to do it earlier. When I was little I used to pester my parents to leave the decorations on until my birthday (which is way into January) and most of the times they did. Oh, the bitter irony, who knew? I kept a string of lights and rolled them on the metal part of my bed. I think they look pretty good.

We celebrated my father's birthday yesterday and I had a good time with my parents and their guests for the first time since Christmas. I know it doesn't seem like such a long period of time but we are quite a close-knit family and weekly lunches were given a lot of importance when I lived with them. I also received a present for my birthday. My parents bought me a GPS especially customized for this country/city. Quite an expensive gift which I'm not sure I'll use much but it is yet another attempt on the part of my parents to encourage my driving. If only there were and devices to keep traffic morons away from me.

I have two huge projects due next week and both require presentations in front of some very demanding professors. Both are team work and both of the teams pushed me forward as their team leader. I'm not very keen on being this, especially since this is a totally new field of study for me, whereas the other 5 (five!) team members majored in this field or in something similar. I heard justifications ranging from "but you're so serious and look so smart" to "you can handle professors, you are so calm" to "you're a teacher, you know how to explain things". I caved in finally, like I always do, just for the mere reason that I want to make sure I do my best to get a good grade.

I haven't seen any of my friends this year. Like any... I want to see them, I want to talk to them, I want to take time and share. I haven't as much as went out for a coffee in months.

Aside from the tiredness I am experiencing a sort of restlessness. I always feel this but nowadays the feeling is more acute than ever. Am I not just wasting time, postponing the journey I am bound to take just because I am afraid of the change and of the challenge?

some eye candy to make us (ok, me) feel better

2010-01-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

From the gorgeousness of etsy.com

1. Mardi Gras vintage mugs from orange elephant.

2. Harlequin mugs from good vintage.

3. Vintage Japanese mugs from le vintage maison.

4. Italian porcelain espresso mugs from white willow vintage.

5. Swallow birds mugs from trash queen clothing.

6. Aqua flowers mugs from look on my treasures.

7. Blue flowers pedestal mugs from the sunday times market

8. Mod coffee cups from retro active treasures.

9. Brown tulip mugs from impulse art.

10. Four yellow plastic cups from kitsch cafe.

11. Florida souvenir mug from kitsch cafe

12. Green striped mugs from kitsch cafe.

13. Tea cups with herbal model from smelly shoes vintage.

14. Vintage brown coffee cups from half caf.

15. Vintage bowls with illustrated mushrooms from kitsch cafe.

Can you tell I'm very much into mugs and cups?

geeky's just another manic monday

2010-01-11T09:46:00.000-08:00

You know what would make Geeky's crappy month even crappier? No? You don't?

Then consider this scenario:

After very careful consideration, Geeky decides to take the car to work this Monday, in the mean jungle traffic of Urbanity. She does so not due to reasons pertaining to comfort, but because the location of said job is in a quite insecure (and low-populated) part of the city. Geeky has to face a huge phobia every time she goes to work and she usually shakes like jello and can barely keep her heart from jumping out of her chest. And because Geeky hates being overwhelmed with fear, this morning she decides to face (yet another and more manageable) fear and gets in the car at 7.30 (half an hour earlier than she would have left if she had gone by bus+metro). All is fine and dandy although the traffic is a bore and our Geeky manages to almost get to her destination. A.l.m.o.s.t.

Because apparently this other man decided not to keep the safety distance (which, by the way, is not called safety for nothing) and collides with Geeky's precious vehicle right when she, rightfully, stops at the yellow light.

Geeky is shaking like crazy when she hears the scratching of this guy's breaks and feels a strong thump which is pushing her forward. She gets out of the car to inspect its rear. This guy, meanwhile, gets out too to see if G is ok. She is still shaking like a madwoman and cannot utter one word (might I add the guy looks fierce, bald headed and everything). G sees no visible damage and gets in the car. The guy comes to see if G is hurt. She is not and all she ever wants to do is get the hell out of that cursed intersection and catch her breath, especially since the cars behind were honking like crazy. She does so without even taking the guy's telephone number (she does, however, write down his license plate #).

When she gets home, Geeky's Half realizes there is damage to the car. It's not severe and it was not visible but the exhaust makes an annoying sound and the nook for the spare tire is seriously dented.

Oh, the joys of living in the city of maniacs.

Someone please get me out of here!

oh, buggar

2010-01-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

It's already not working out. I'm in my first week in this new job and I am super tired and extra-stressed out. I have to teach 6 hours back to back (meaning 4 classes) and by the time I finish I am nothing but a walking zombie. I almost fell asleep on the subway. Me, the most paranoid and safety-conscious person of them all. I thought to myself I'll just rest my eyes for a second and I closed them and almost (if not surely) dozed off.

Not every day is teaching day but the prepping takes pretty much the same time as the teaching and I am left staring blankly at the screen at the end of the day. Plus the pay sucks and greed is mot du jour. And I don't want this to happen. Not now. I don't want to start with a burnout. I don't want to be stressed out by yet another part of my life. I spent college in a state of stress and my MA is stressful and I took a vow a while ago to stop engaging in stressful activities, especially on a long term basis, to stop taking everything so damn seriously and to stop making a big deal out of everything. But here I am now, again feeling pissed off and worn out by another activity I'm engaging in.

Seriously, not now. Not so close to my birthday (which has been a depressing day for years and years). Not so close to a milestone age. Not while I'm still in the midst of a quarter life crisis. I don't want to go through my 20s feeling miserable and crabby and overworked and underpaid. I don't want to spend my weekends lurching in front of the computer because I don't have the energy to do anything else. I don't want to wake up in the morning thinking to myself "oh shit, not another day!". I don't want to screen phone calls just because I'm to tired to utter a simple sentence.

I want to be happy and independent and work for myself. I want to read for fun and to meet my friends, wherever they are. I want to travel and visit places. I want to take silly pictures and wear silly clothes and cook silly dishes. I want to use what I learned in college and not be stuck in a rut teaching "one boy/two boys". I consider myself really smart and I posses excellent critical thinking skills. I have a good sense of humor and I have a ton of ideas (which, unfortunately, vanish without the slightest follow through). There must be a way to put them to good use, a way that could also make me happy and satisfied with the life I'm living.

Think, Geeky, think !!!

happy 2010

2010-01-02T08:07:00.000-08:00

Documenting the decade in pictures in the New York Times

here come the 2010 resolutions

2009-12-31T07:45:00.000-08:00

Initially I wanted to make the 101 things in 1001 days list but I could not think of 101 things to do. However, the long list was not abandoned, it is in progress but it takes time and meticulousness to put together. Therefore I'm sticking to a list of resolutions for now:

1. Concentrate more on my studies. Take and pass all my exams with (very) good grades.

2. Become more assertive.

3. Keep account of every class I teach. Aim for about 800 hours.

4. Do my best at my new job.

5. Don't sweat the small stuff.

6. Become a well-enough driver. Also, start driving regularly.

7. Read one article in teaching methodology per week.

8. Procrastinate less. Don't leave projects up to the last day.

9. Take a trip abroad.

10.Prepare for the GRE.

11. Read 1 novel/month (from the library) besides assigned reading.

12. Be more positive and outgoing. Be less uptight.

13. Go one month without soda.

14. Make 5 wearable bags.

15. Write a short story.

16. Don't buy any more new books. I've had a stack of books literally fall on me in a corner of the room. This shall not happen again.

17. Do one minor home-improvement project.

18. Keep budgeting and keep up the good work on not buying useless things.

19. Start saving again.

This year I'm also going to pick a word, inspired by Ariane @ first30days.com and Christine Kane's blog. In 2010 I want to "just say yes". Seriously, I am so terrified to step out of my comfort zone that I waste every opportunity I get wondering what if X? Then I end up being sorry for not taking the plunge and wondering what would have happened if I had dared to say yes for once. So just throw your challenge at me and I'm saying yes.

Have a Happy New Year everyone! Just a few hours to go for me.

revisiting the 2009 resolutions

2009-12-31T04:33:00.000-08:00

Remember when on January 1st, 2009, I decided to write down some resolution?
Now it might be the time to clear them up.

1. Get a REAL job. - done, this December, luckily :)
I'm not sure how I feel about it yet but I will try my best to give my best. But after all it is only a job and my life doesn't depend on it and I sure hope I'll remember this when the stress level sky rockets in the following months. And if the (kindda corporate) environment doesn't suit me, there's always freelancing. I'm not entirely sold on this idea of a job though. I would love to be able to work in the exact field that I've prepared for. Too bad there are hardly any positions available here.

2. Learn Spanish from scratch (by combining self-study and taking some classes). - ha!!
In January 2009 I bought a textbook and a workbook for beginners, out of which I only went through the first unit. I really want to learn another foreign language but not having occasions to use it is a big demotivator. So I'll be postponing this resolution for when I have the need to learn another language. I did see a lot of Spanish movies, though.

3. See at least 1 old (read 'classic') movie/week. [make list of movies, 52 to be more exact]
According to the list I keep on IMDB, this year I watched 53 movies for the first time, including a lot of classics and also quite a few good new movies. I may have watched more since I don't usually rate reruns that I see (it's not like I'll ever rate Home Alone or National Lampoon on my umptieth viewing).

4. Eat considerably less meat.-yes!
I did eat considerably less meat, which gave me an opportunity to discover new ways of cooking soy and mushrooms (that are now my food of choice).

5. Drink less carbonated juice. Replace with water and tea.-yes!
Half drinks a lot of Coke and I may have slipped a number of times but all in all I did pour down my throat a lot of water and a lot of tea. And coffee, of course, but I'm not giving that up since I've only started drinking it two years ago and I've perfected a killer coffee (not literally!).

6. Deal with my assertiveness problems.-not so much
This goes on the list of resolutions for 2010. The weeks spent with little social interaction do not help with one's assertiveness problems.

7. Enroll in an HR course.-done and followed through nicely
Yes, I did that in February and I liked it so much that I decided do an MA in HR.

8. Keep calm, don’t get angry for the wrong and/or insignificant reasons.-hmm! did I?
I think I had a few meltdowns this year but significantly less than before. I still have to be working on this.

9. Pass TKT exam.-nope
Didn't take it, maybe in 2010.

10. Pass Cambridge Business English Certificate exam (Higher level preferably).-done
Took the exam this month, waiting for the results in March.

11. Read 1 novel/month (from the library) besides assigned reading.-done
I did read 12 novels for pleasure and there's nothing beating that.

12. Spend less money on unnecessary things.- God, yes
I did so good on this resolutions that I'm extremely proud of myself. Truth be told I was given a boost by the serious budgeting that I started doing because the situation got out of hand in 2008. During the summer and autumn of 2008, when I graduated and moved out of my parents' house I started dipping into my comfortable savings until they ran out. I did have a flow of income coming in but it was pretty low and it went out the door quickly after coming in. This January I could count about 20 pieces of clothing that I bought and thrown into the wardrobe immediately, without ever being worn and this had to stop. It did stop, as I vowed not to buy anymore clothes unless really really necessary. Luckily, clothes are my mom's gift of choice and she's been getting them right for three years now. The wasteful spending was curbed this year and I'm happy to report it.

13. Get into freelance writing.-not so much
I did write some articles but I have yet to commit myself to this.

14. Become an authorized translator.-nope, but I'm not sure I want to do this anymore

15. Translate a book.-nope
I did have a gig running at some point about co-translating a collection of short stories but the co-translator did not follow through.

16. See at least 3 new plays.-unfortunately, no

17. Start a Project 365, just to see if I can commit myself to such a daily endeavor. Despite the mediocre 'quality' of my camera, I want to start looking at things differently and consider seeing the beauty in the details.-not every day, no
The folder in which I keep the pictures taken (and not deleted) this year has 5341 files so I guess I did pay a lot of attention to events, things and ordinary days. Job well done.

pretty design therapy

2009-12-28T18:12:00.000-08:00

Remember when I told you I'm catching up on posts on Apartment Therapy? This translated into a lot of hours spent perusing articles, new and old (obviously the catching up part no longer applied), drooling over several (10!!!) apartments and looking at a few (hundred) pictures, out of which I particularly liked:

- a Mondrian-inspired tiny bathroom over at re-nest.com (which deals with green housing),
- New York rooftop houses,
- a spice station which I would love to be able to reproduce in my own kitchen,
- this teeny tiny apartment in Philadelphia,
- and this one from Missouri,

Bonus links:
- animal apparel (including a duck sporting a very fancy jacket) &
- Santa's animal helpers &
- the Christmas fur tree.

[all from care2.com]

last week's events in 5 words or less

2009-12-28T12:11:00.000-08:00

Watching The Party, a Peter Sellers classic - 3 words: birdie num num!

Christmas Movies Day with my friend - 5 words: beginning of an annual tradition.

One very long day out shopping - 5 words: gorgeous coat "from" Santa Half.

Same very long day, in other words - 3 words: presents for everybody.

Spending Christmas with my family and their guests - 3 words: comforting, familiar, pleasant.

Another visit from Santa - 5 words: pretty clothes and holiday mug

Entertaining a 4 year old for almost 2 hours - 5 words: exhausting, me not mother material.

Evening and night (26th of December so technically still Christmas) spent crafting cardboard and chocolate tin foil figurines - 3 words: relaxing, entertaining, fun.

Hours spent catching up on Apartment Therapy posts - 1 word: inspiring.

Falling off a stool while watering the flowers placed on top of my wardrobe - 4 words: big bruise below knee.

Meeting up with Half's friends to decide on the details for the New Year's party - 3 words: boring and boring.

What are you saying? You want to see the tin foil cut outs? Well, here they are.

merry christmas

2009-12-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

Here, pick one and have a merry one. I hope most of the wishes are correct, I had to dig deep to find one similar to what the wish sounds like in my own language so I'm guessing the others should be right.

I got the wishes from theholidayspot.com. While you're there check out the fonts as well, so cheery.

Afrikaans: Geseënde Kersfees

Afrikander: Een Plesierige Kerfees

African/ Eritrean/ Tigrinja: Rehus-Beal-Ledeats

Albanian:Gezur Krislinjden

Arabic: Milad Majid

Argentine: Feliz Navidad

Armenian: Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand

Azeri: Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun

Bahasa Malaysia: Selamat Hari Natal

Basque: Zorionak eta Urte Berri On!

Bohemian: Vesele Vanoce

Brazilian: Feliz Natal

Bengali: Shubho borodin

Breton: Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat

Bulgarian: Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo

Catalan: Bon Nadal i un Bon Any Nou!

Chile: Feliz Navidad

Chinese: (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun

Chinese: (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan (Catonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun

Choctaw: Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito

Columbia: Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo

Cornish: Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth

Corsian: Pace e salute

Crazanian: Rot Yikji Dol La Roo

Cree: Mitho Makosi Kesikansi

Croatian: Sretan Bozic

Czech: Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok

Danish: Glædelig Jul

Duri: Christmas-e- Shoma Mobarak

Dutch: Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! or Zalig Kerstfeast

English: Merry Christmas

Eskimo: (inupik) Jutdlime pivdluarit ukiortame pivdluaritlo!

Esperanto: Gajan Kristnaskon

Estonian: Ruumsaid juulup|hi

Ethiopian: (Amharic) Melkin Yelidet Beaal

Eritfean/ Tigrinja: Rehus- Beal- Ledeats

Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!

Farsi: Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad

Finnish: Hyvaa joulua

Flemish: Zalig Kerstfeest en Gelukkig nieuw jaar

French: Joyeux Noel

Frisian: Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier!

Faeroese: Gledhilig jol og eydnurikt nyggjar!

Galician: Bo Nada

Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil agus Bliadhna mhath ùr!

German: Froehliche Weihnachten

Greek: Kala Christouyenna!

Greenlandic: Juullimi Pilluaritsi!

German: Froehliche Weihnachten

Haiti: (Creole) Jwaye Nowel or to Jesus Edo Bri'cho o Rish D'Shato Brichto

Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka

Hebrew: Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova

Hindi: Baradin ki shubh kamnaaye

Hausa: Barka da Kirsimatikuma Barka da Sabuwar Shekara!

Hawaian: Mele Kalikimaka ame Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Hungarian: Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket

Icelandic: Gledileg Jol

Indonesian: Selamat Hari Natal

Iraqi: Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah

Irish: Nollaig Shona Dhuit, or Nodlaig mhaith chugnat

Iroquois: Ojenyunyat Sungwiyadeson honungradon nagwutut. Ojenyunyat osrasay.

Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie

Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto

Jiberish: Mithag Crithagsigathmithags

Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha

Lao: souksan van Christmas

Latin: Natale hilare et Annum Faustum!

Latvian: Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu!

Lausitzian:Wjesole hody a strowe nowe leto

Lettish: Priecigus Ziemassvetkus

Lithuanian: Linksmu Kaledu

Low Saxon: Heughliche Winachten un 'n moi Nijaar

Macedonian: Sreken Bozhik

Maltese: IL-Milied It-tajjeb

Manx: Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa

Maori: Meri Kirihimete

Marathi: Shub Naya Varsh

Navajo: Merry Keshmish

Norwegian: God Jul, or Gledelig Jul

Occitan: Pulit nadal e bona annado

Papiamento: Bon Pasco

Papua New Guinea: Bikpela hamamas blong dispela Krismas na Nupela yia i go long yu

Pennsylvania German: En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr!

Peru: Feliz Navidad y un Venturoso Año Nuevo

Philipines: Maligayan Pasko!

Polish: Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia or Boze Narodzenie

Portuguese:Feliz Natal

Pushto: Christmas Aao Ne-way Kaal Mo Mobarak Sha

Rapa-Nui (Easter Island): Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua

Rhetian: Bellas festas da nadal e bun onn

Romanche: (sursilvan dialect): Legreivlas fiastas da Nadal e bien niev onn!

Romanian: Craciun Fericit

Russian: Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom

Sami: Buorrit Juovllat

Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou

Sardinian: Bonu nadale e prosperu annu nou

Serbian: Hristos se rodi

Slovakian: Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce

Samoan: La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou

Scots Gaelic: Nollaig chridheil huibh

Serbian: Hristos se rodi.

Singhalese: Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa

Slovak: Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok

Slovene: Vesele Bozicne Praznike Srecno Novo Leto or Vesel Bozic in srecno Novo leto

Spanish: Feliz Navidad

Swedish: God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År

Tagalog: Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon

Tami: Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal

Trukeese: (Micronesian) Neekiriisimas annim oo iyer seefe feyiyeech!

Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai or souksan wan Christmas

Turkish: Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun

Ukrainian: Srozhdestvom Kristovym or Z RIZDVOM HRYSTOVYM

Urdu: Naya Saal Mubarak Ho

Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Giang Sinh

Welsh: Nadolig Llawen

Yoruba: E ku odun, e ku iye'dun!

Yugoslavian: Cestitamo Bozic

geek debate

2009-12-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this New York Times short piece that debates the terms "geek" and "nerd". Now the article itself seems a pointless filler but the comments are priceless.

Nerd and Geek Should Be Banner, Professor Says

This is so going into an EFL lesson.

P.S. I'm waiting for Santa.

a peek at geeky's decorations

2009-12-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

Geeky likes Christmas decorations, such as stockings,

and light instalations complemented with a black sheep,

and small lit Christmas trees guarded by felt reindeer,

and a gathering of small angels (although they are permanently there),

and red baubles hanging from the lights,

and a yellow& blue Christmas tree,

which you may want to see in the light,

while watching Barefoot in the Park.

It's Santa's turn to peek.

inspiration

2009-12-20T14:58:00.000-08:00

I'm in the mood to share some very festive posts from the blogs I usually read.

Enjoy!

Cutesy paper houses at Twelve22. I already made one the day Anna posted the lovely piece of architecture

Tree lighting in Rockefeller Center at Color Me Katie.

Really cool Christmas cards at Orange You Lucky.

A sugar cube building (how in the world?!) at Chez Larsson.

3D paper ornaments at How About Orange.

let the festivities begin

2009-12-20T10:24:00.001-08:00

After a week which seemed endless (and which included, in no particular order, 4 admin meetings at my new job, 3 tutoring sessions, one awkward office Christmas "party" and 3 days of battling enormous quantities of snow) I am finally able to declare CLOSURE.

Yes, m'dears, I am ready to enjoy the winter holidays and I am determined to enjoy them thoroughly because the new year will not be particularly easy, what with the responsibilities of performing well in my first real job coinciding with the first exam session for an MA in an entirely new field of study.

But enough with spoiling the fun before it begins.

Yesterday I went to my parents' and according to the family tradition we decorated the Christmas tree and the house while listening to carols and holiday songs. I lobbied for the last five years for a faux tree and now they finally bought one. It's so tall, imposing, amazing and it does look like a lovely natural tree ( it did cost a small fortune), and my parents are really pleased with their choice. Naturally, I am too. We were accompanied by one of the cats who felt compelled to annoy the vintage baubles from the bottom branches.

Today I decorated my small tree in blue and yellow, with golden beads and blue lights. I had to take the posters down to use the nails for hanging the other ornaments. I replaced them with colourful light instalation and hanged my red baubles from it. I pulled out my Christmas stockings, the Santa bell, the dancing Santa, the penguin salt shaker, the six climbing Santas, the blue tinsel, the orange felt figurines (angels, trees, reindeer and rocking horses), my alabaster figurines, the silver bells, the blue glitter snowflake and of course the felt antlers.

I love looking at pictures with somebody else's Christmas decorations. Love, love, love. I'll leave you with some pictures I took while at my parents', maybe you have the same quirks.

have yourself a merry little pre-holidays fun

2009-12-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

I really can't wait for the 14th+ December week to be over. I have a few meetings lined up and a huge project to turn in on Wednesday and then it'll all be holidays, baby!

I'm really giddy with anticipation, I love love love the winter holidays but I cannot fully enjoy them without the feeling of closure that comes after you have nothing else to do but be merry and decorate the Christmas Trees.

The Christmas lights are on in the entire city. They are also on at my place.

The decorations are out.The jasmine tea is waiting. I have present ideas for everyone.

The radio is set on a radio station broadcasting holiday songs non-stop (there are so many I have never heard).

The soup mug and the Santa mug have been brought to light. It smells like oranges and hot wine with cinnamon.

I have new boots (wonderful caramel boots) and I bought 5m. worth of golden beads

I'm thinking of putting together a movie marathon. Sibyl, how about it? We'll do crafts, eat gingerbread, drink tea or cocoa and watch You've Got Mail, the Gilmore snow episodes, Disney classics, A Charlie Brown Christmas (I'll see if I can find Christmas in Connecticut and The Shop around the Corner) but the list is open to any suggestions. We'll wear silly hats and antlers. We'll read from Dickens and pop some corn.

officialy

2009-12-10T04:03:00.000-08:00

That's it, it's official, after 3 nerve-racking interviews the GG is finally employed. I'll be on trial period starting from January and will only be working a part part time (yes, the 2 X part was intentional) for about 3 months but if all goes well and I'm happy and they're happy and we are a good fit, then I will be working with a full time norm.

The best thing about it is that I'll be doing what I love the most (and frankly the only thing I tried doing so far) - I'll be teaching.

I can't give more details for now but this past week was a real roller coaster of exhaustion and nervousness which, in the end, turned into a load of happiness.

Can't complain, my friends, can't complain!

just fillers

2009-12-07T13:36:00.000-08:00

This Sunday the following items came into my house:

- green mug (because there can never be too many mugs);
- green peeler (because Half is a fries fan and all the peeling got to him);
- fancy tea strainer (yes, yet another tea gadget enters the House of G);
- some really pretty fabric (which I intend use to attempt the creation of a tote bag ... this year, preferably);
- a batch of batteries (which usually lasts us a year).

Yes, Ikea does rock! As does, in my opinion, everything involving cranberry sauce.

- very pretty gray bolero;
- very pretty gray bead bracelet.

Yes, my mother rocks!

Evidence below - very funny and silly mittens which constitute the cool part of her last present:

Look how adorable they are. They even have sweaters and bow ties.

Are these mice mittens?

P.S. Not developing on my previous post yet. I don't want to jinx anything. Let's say I've been a very very busy bee. Hmm, bee mittens?

have words ... will articulate

2009-12-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

... only not right now. I'm taking the Cambridge BEC in about 12 hours and I really need to take another look at some samples of business correspondence.

But rest assured, I have things to tell. Things regarding:

- how to regain your self-confidence by going to a group interview;
- how one vows to eliminate a certain toxic person out of one's life;
- how to deal with group work when the other group members are morons.

Meanwhile you may take a look at:

- a collection of amazing food photography at Photograzing (don't click if you're hungry or a serial craver);
- book autopsies - fabulous book art by Brian Dettmer (don't click if you like your books intact);
- an article and slideshow about the Paris Museum of Counterfeiting (don't click if you're a brand freak/in a serious mood).

Ta-da!

audrey style

2009-12-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

Oh, fab Audrey!

Over 300 outfits and accessories can be seen on the auction site from Kelly Taylor London. Just so you know, saving them all to your computer takes an awful lot of time.

of staples

2009-11-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

Is it terribly consumerism-driven of me to want these staple free staplers? How about if I tell you I already have 2 (stapleful?) staplers?

Have you ever wondered about the history of the stapler?

Office Museum (only for the truly geeky).

Can you even read "stapler" out loud now?

power-gah-cuts

2009-11-26T04:09:00.000-08:00

Day 1 - I wake up and turn on the computer. I then go around my usual morning routine waiting for this oldie to do his thing. Smack dab in the middle of my teeth brushing dance the power goes off. Dark (the bathroom has no windows). The oldie laptop is dead, the power cut is taking over the house. I start panicking because the previous night was grocery night and the fridge was bursting at the seams with food and, thanks to the lack electricity, it was starting to drip. Fidget, fidget, call Half every 30 minutes. He finally manages to get home earlier than usual and drags along the company electrician. I was in class by the time they came but he told me there was a problem outside our apartment, in the electrical pane. An old wire needed to be changed. Phew, now we have electricity again, God bless. The power cut only lasted about 7 hours but to the modern man that feels like 3 days.

Day 4 - The light bulb in the bathroom flickers every time I switch it on and there's a buzzing sound coming out of the switcher. This can't be good. "Half, come here. It's Saturday and we've been having this problem for the last 2 weeks, maybe you should see to it". "M'key" he grumps and starts working at it at 2 in the afternoon, switching off the power for the entire apartment, for safety reasons, of course. He knows a great deal about this, but he's not an electrician per se so phone calls are being made and a good amount of Heavens is being invoked. Dabble, dabble, fidget, time goes by in a second and it's already 5 and ... dark. The glove is thrown down and the professional is fetched. Come 7 and we have ourselves some light. This time two old wired, inside the wall, both gave up on us at the same time. They couldn't get them out because this meant tearing down a significant part of the wall so instead they just cut them out of the circuit (yet left them in the wall) and replaced them with brand new wires on the outside, which are now hanging from a power nozzle to the switcher. Classy.

Day 7 - I get home from my late afternoon MA classes, do the robot moves to reach my laptop and then turn it on waiting for it to load so that I could check my email. "It's no use, Half says, there's no Internet". "Whaaaaaa? Why, why? Have you called them?" "Have you paid the bill?" he asks. "Hmpf, I dunno" I answer, while dialing their number and throwing the receiver to Half. "Yes, gabble, gabble, thank you, we will" his conversation unfolds. Turns out I hadn't paid the bill since SEPTEMBER. Oh my, September, gulp. The problem with this cable (and internet and landline) provider is that they have never issued us a bill, as in the piece of paper that comes in my mail box in an envelope with my name on it. Like, never. For the last year I've been complaining to them that we don't get our bills and every time the said they will check with the company that does their deliveries. I suspect there is no delivery company and there is no actual hardcopy bill and they are taking this route just to cut corners and save some money. But if this is true I would like them to tell me about it. Send it electronically, send me a text on my mobile, send smoke signals with the message "the pay for this month is due on the 20th". It's in the damn contract. It is my right. I pay for that damn piece of paper (or cloud of smoke). Otherwise I forget to come to your offices every month and pay. I cannot pay at the bank because they all ask me for my bill. I cannot pay online because I still need my customer code (which, guess what, is on the bill). Give me my internet back, you barbarians!

Conclusions:

Men are the necessary evil in a household.

I am lost without my modern privileges (you know, electricity and internet). Half said we will probably face more such problems. We live in an apartment building built in the early 1970s and things are starting to wear down. I better get me a big flashlight and some batteries.

Large cable companies are miser and evil.

I'd better put a reminder on my phone for every time I should get a bill.

another week, another gig

2009-11-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

I got a new tutoring offer this week, for a high school girl preparing to take the IELTS. I was doubtful at first, because she's taking it in January and there isn't so much time left. I met with her on Friday and boy, am I lucky. She's such a lovely girl, with such a lovely British accent and a good knowledge of English. She seems very smart and really determined to get a good score. I accepted to tutor her and we'll be meeting 4 times per week, 6 weeks between now and January. The only problem is that she lives quite far away and it takes me a lot of time to get to her place, but the pay is good and the money is exactly what I need right now (yes, kept applying to jobs; yes, got absolutely no answers).

I'm also excited (read "terrified") because I'll be taking the BEC this December. I know it will be easier than the CPE (which I took last December) but I'm still anxious.

I have a huge project due December 15th for one of my MA classes. In involves a lot of research, reading and writing, all of which I love doing. The main problem is that this is a group project and I'm paired up with 2 other girls. I'm really comfortable working in a group, provided the main interest of the group is actual "working". In this case it isn't. Basically, what the other two are doing is asking me every week "what are we going to do for that project?" At which point I attempt to engage them in the subject and they nod and seem to agree and understand. I suggest things and, as they seem to have no interest or idea about the subject, agree to follow my suggestions. One week later, repeat question "what are we going to do for that project?". "Did you do what I suggested?" I ask. "Not yet", they answer. Harumph !!!!

never gets old

2009-11-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

- silver overalls [check]
- cellophane wrap [check]
- hair grease [check]
- young travolta hips [check]
- 12 men jumping around/on a car [check]

And how on Earth did I listen to this song a gazillion times before and never distinguishably heard the lyrics "You know that I ain't bragging she's a real pussy wagon"? Must have been blocking them out senseless.

... on a different note ...

Apparently you can add Timberlake's "Sexy Back" to just about any clip and raunch it up a notch. Add period costumes (and Depp in black eyeliner) to that and go wild.

tales from the bus

2009-11-18T05:40:00.001-08:00

For a year or so, I've been taking the bus regularly because it is one of the 'perks' that one gets from living at the end of the world and a little bit further down the road from there. Don't get me wrong, I heart common transportation but only when it comes as a 2-in-1 pack with common sense. Just yesterday I realized that if I were to diligently write down the stories I hear and the descriptions of people on the bus, I'd have enough material to last me for one, rather thick, book of vignettes.

Take, for example, the girl who was almost crying on the phone to her friend because her boss was making passes at her. She was saying how hard it was for her to find this job and how long she looked for it and how badly she wanted to do it well. She didn't want to see it all go to waste because her boss (who was also the owner of the company) started calling her into his office to ask her if she had a boyfriend, if they were in a serious relationship and how long does she estimate that they'll continue being together. She was a tall, curly girl with a very pretty face and mellow voice. She was telling her friend how trapped she feels, her boyfriend being the rock and her boss the hard place. She was afraid she might be wrongfully accused if she were to tell this to her boyfriend, she was too embarrassed to be talking about this to her mom and the option of asking her other colleagues what she should do was out of the question. In the end of the phone conversation she resolved to let it all slip by and pretend it doesn't happen and try to do her work as good as possible. She seemed terrified at the thought of going through another job search. As one being in the midst of a job search, I know exactly what she means.

faux post

2009-11-14T16:55:00.001-08:00

Where can I find a T-shirt like this one? I deserve one, after all we do share a birthday.

so far this week

2009-11-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

A bit further down the street they are cutting a children's playground in half in order to pave it and turn it into a parking lot. They are also replacing the concrete they put last year with pink slabs. There's a deep sense of waste that I feel about all of these useless things.

A girl on the bus was recruiting people to become Avon representatives. Like ... on the bus. In the loudness of the bus she was calling people, who had applied on a recruitment website, and setting up meetings. In between calls she would listen to really loud (and bad) house music on her earphones.

Half brought home a label maker. It's all mine, people. I have my own label maker. Imagine the bliss of the overly organized person. This is it. Owning a label maker.

My mom had bought me this really great turquoise blouse but it was way too large for me so we went to try to exchange it today. And guess what, we did. The lady from the shop was so nice and she kept showing me all these clothes. I went with a long shirt/not-a-dress-yet type (along these lines, only navy blue and with a much more discrete pattern) which came with its own black belt. Mum paid extra and I also got the funniest looking mittens. I told you, my mom is grrrrrrreat. [must take picture of the mittens].

I had to buy a bottle of foundation today and they gave me a free concealer. I had no idea this would happen because it wasn't on display. Yay for free things. The only problem is that I have never used concealer and I might need to do some 'research' on how that is supposed to make one look prettier (well-rested?!).

I found printing paper today for so much less than I'm usually paying for it. Yay for discounted prices.

Otherwise, I am wasting time by:

- reading panagrams on Wikipedia;
- dreaming of old cafes at classiccafes.co.uk;
- marveling at educational dossiers from the Pompidou center.

And it's only Wednesday.

nyt

2009-11-09T04:27:00.000-08:00

Maira Kalman, New York Times featured illustrator and author, does a brilliant piece called E Pluribus Unum. I am thinking of finding a way to turn this into an English class activity.

I've been collecting great NY Times articles since 2006 and now I'm slowly turning them into conversation starters for my advanced EFL sessions. It's nice to see how well received they are.

Bonus Maira piece: Can Do (a closer look at Benjamin Franklin's legacy).

on the reading roll

2009-11-07T12:21:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love reading. Take me to a new library and make my day. At any give time I have a number of books on my currently-reading list. Only I think this autumn I've crossed the line.

Currently I am in the process of reading the following:

- classic mystery book,
- 2000s mystery book,
- book on creativity,
- book of essays by famous American writer,
- book on a new socio-economic concept,
- book on managing and creativity,
- book on education in the age of learning,
- book on desired course of action,
- books (2) on how to teach subject.

Yes, 10, and they shall all be done this month.

Go ahead, judge me. I like keeping it eclectic.

Comic from the fab inkygirl.

geeky soup or why I am hopeless

2009-11-05T05:04:00.000-08:00

I have a lot to read and will be heading to my MA class soon.

It's cold, it's damp, it looks like it's about to rain ... again.

The only bright side to a rather gloomy day is the teddy bear soup I'm having.

Yes, I am a grown up (I think).

Yes, the quality of the pictures sux, I think I mentioned it's cold, damp and gloomy.

In other non-related "news" (ha!):

- I miss my friends terribly;

- I cannot find two tea-boxes-I-had-and-never-used-and-now-I'm-needing. I've searched every nook and cranny but to no avail. I have no idea where I stashed them in my attempts to fit everything into this here matchbox of a space.

- my parents tried to push me into substituting their presence (fancy wording, ha?!) by going to a (yet another) wedding this week-end. No way, no how this is happening. And may I just say oy with the weddings already*.

- I think I need a mentor. I think I do.

- What I also need is focus. F.O.C.U.S.

P.S. I miss my friends terribly.

* btw, if I ever get married, this is my wedding song. I love it. Lav eet.

swine flu scare

2009-11-04T04:05:00.000-08:00

No, I don't have it!

But I am scared of getting it because with my luck that is bound to happen one way or another.

Swine flu is extending its ugly claws over this country too, and I find myself very exposed to it because my everyday activities include a lot of people contact. I get to ride the bus/subway for almost 1hr 30 mins added up every day and go to large classes with 40-50 people breathing and sneezing and coughing in the same room and, to be honest, I do get a little panicked.

My precaution measures for preventing the flu are:

- pump echinacea supplement pills (3/day) and forcing Half to take at least one pill himself;
- eat as many vegetables and fruits as possible;
- drink a lot of green tea;
- compulsive hand washing continues;
- using a hand sanitizer every time I get off the bus;
- wiping medicinal alcohol on surfaces I use often (phone, mouse, keyboard, desk, door handles).

I really hope this will keep me safe at least until spring but the unpleasant feeling of vulnerability continues throughout.

geeky's post halloween wedding observations

2009-11-03T03:16:00.000-08:00

men who dance with their child - sweet;
men who stretch the child while attempting to perfect their steps during Zorba the Greek dance - scary;
drunk old men doing never before seen dance "moves" - hilarious;
five month pregnant bride being the soul of the party - fabulous;
little black dresses - countless;
the groom's mother snatching half of the centerpieces at the end of the night and then asking for the bride's centerpiece - seriously?

with no real connection

2009-10-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

Look what my mom bought me. A gingerbread ladybug and on top of that she baked and sent over delicious pumpkin pie. Isn't my mom the best? I'm only just beginning to realize this, when this past month I had a really bad tantrum and she was the only person I thought of calling. She did calm me down. She might be the best.

Two bus stations away from my house, they cut down trees in order to make a parking lot. The future looks good! You said it Joni Mitchell. Looking forward to paying the fee to the Tree Museum.

I'm loving one of my professors. Let's call her ProfessorMC. She's so open minded, so smart, so in-tune with whatever is happening in advanced education abroad. She keeps repeating: "never EVER block an idea, there is no bad idea, every man can be a river of creativity". How can you not admire that? Unfortunately, the module she's teaching is almost over but I would like to keep in touch with her. She's so unconventional for the type of education I'm used to.

great ambitions

2009-10-27T05:19:00.001-07:00

As I think I have already mentioned here, I am in the unfortunate position to be a heavy dreamer. I freakin' dream a lot. It's annoying, it's tiring, it's my sleep pattern. I dream randomly and also reality-related so there is no distinguishable pattern there.

Fact: Half usually leaves at 7.30 in the morning and I sleep in usually until 9-ish.

Fact: Half is in the habit of kissing me goodbye repeatedly before he walks out the door, pecking my cheek until I open at least one eye and acknowledge he's leaving.

Fact: Dreaming in the morning is the hardest to handle.

This morning dialogue:

H: Honey, I'm leaving. [pecks sleeping Geeky on cheek repeatedly]

G: [wakes up confused and grumpy] I applied with my resume to be The Ruler of the Universe.

H: [bends down laughing] Ok!

G: [is angry because she will never find out the outcome of her application, turns on the other side and goes back to sleep, hoping the dream will resume. It does not.]

If you want to read two more short sleep activity reports, check out here and here.

summer reminder

2009-10-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

Here's to the flowers in my parents' yard this past August. Aren't they wallpaper worthy?

Today it got dark outside at 5.30 !

Why?

Why?

Why?

I really don't like it when it gets dark so early. It seems like the entire day is gone although as a night owl that I am I know this is not true. I'm a daylight person, I am a sun-loving person. A guy once told me I operate on solar batteries.

I can't believe it's already the end of October.

Here's to warm seasons.

Here's to the (albeit erect) tulips they planted in the spring.

dress dilemma

2009-10-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

I finally did it: I bought my very first little black dress. I'm telling you people, there's no way around it. I already have a red dress, a silver dress and a white dress but none of them fit the purpose of an October wedding.

Yes, that's right, we're going to a Halloween wedding and under the current financial circumstances this is so not a desirable event. Where I live, it is customary to give a sum of money to the newlyweds, enough to cover for the reception expenses and then some extra money to help them have a plentiful start in their married life.

The announcement came unexpectedly about a month ago (reasons pertaining to a baby bump situation) so this kind of expenditure was not in our budget this autumn. We'd already been to a wedding in July and we considered we'd be done with this duty for the year. I know I should stop being so bitter and I am happy for the couple but for someone with limited sources of income spending money on other people's happiness is not a forte.

Another big problem for me was that I had never been to a wedding so late in the year (they usually take place in the summer here) so I had absolutely nothing to wear (yay, spend more money on clothes I'm not going to be wearing much). So I took Half by the wing and dragged him shopping (he's the patient type, waiting for me outside of the store, holding my bag while I'm trying on clothes).

Fortunately I bought the first dress that I tried on, so there wasn't so much wasted time in the process. I wanted a black one because I'm planning on wearing it whenever the occasion arises so I settled for something along the lines of the one below. Of course, I don't look like Angelina Jolie but it does fit me really well. I also bought a clutch but I didn't want it to be black so I went for something similar to this one. Of course I am now seriously questioning this decision, how did you guess?

Needles to say Half decided he wanted a pistachio shirt so now we're a matching disaster. Ok, I may have been the one who showed (suggested?!) the shirt to him but I didn't think he would like it, yet alone buy it in a nanosecond (he's not such a big fan of green, all in all).

Now I'm thinking of adding some sort of large green brooch to the dress, a necessary accessory since I broke the buckle that was holding down a strip of fabric from under the cleavage. I'm really bad at explaining this and I really hated that buckle.

Or at least get some green beads or a green bracelet. A green tooth?

Help.

ETA photo of Jolie in lbd after the link that I posted last night fell to deliver.

Source

grappy graperson

2009-10-21T13:21:00.001-07:00

At least one sign that we're going through autumn: the grapes in my parents' yard are now sitting on my table.

We've had some sun today and hallelujah for that because 5 degrees C was not a temperature suitable for early October.

I've written 2 job applications on Monday but I have no sign of response yet but looked what I've found on the internet: a letter of application from 1941 from the National Archives of Australia. Yes, they did the chicken dance back then too.

quarterlife rant a la longue

2009-10-17T14:57:00.001-07:00

I have come to a point in my life where I really need to get a full time job.

The worst part of it is that I still don't know what I want to do with my life in the short to medium term. I do have an idea of what I want my life to look like in the long run but I always thought figuring out the long term plan was easier than figuring out what I wanted to do tomorrow or next week.

The main reason that is pushing me into committing to a job has to do with finances. During college I tutored part time and I also got a scholarship so this put me in a comfortable financial position. I had my mattress savings and my debit card savings and all the freedom in the world to choose my first job in the real world. After college I moved out of my parents' and moved in with Half and started dipping into my savings, while still waiting for the perfect job to come knocking on my door (or at least start being posted on recruitment sites). Then recession hit this country too and the number of jobs available hit rock bottom. In my senior year the job count on the main recruitment website was around 11k, today the same site offers no more than 4k jobs, the majority of which are for highly specialized positions (in IT, engineering, medical) or openings that require certain skills (cook, hairstylist) or at least 2-3 years' experience. So I wait and I wait and I casually apply to some jobs I'd like to do. Meanwhile, I did teach a lit seminar and an EFL class and do some tutoring aside, so it's not like I'm totally lazying around doing nothing. But the trouble is, you see, that I've been spending more than I've been earning. I'm quite good with my spending and I cut it down to a minimum possible (basically some bills and food and transportation and some social activities). I have not bought a ton of clothes or shoes or did any other sort of impulsive shopping. But this doesn't really solve the problem and had it not been for Half I'd probably be deeply in debt ever since July (truth be told, had it not been for Half I'd still be living at my parents' and have all expenses covered and my safety cushion money all intact, but I do prefer the current situation).

The effect is that I now feel I'm being pushed into getting a full time job and the downside of it is that everybody seems to think that ANY job will do. Everybody except me. If I had ever believed that ANY job will do I wouldn't have waited an entire year to find something that (at least marginally) suited me. I wouldn't have spent all my savings in this long waiting limbo. I would have embarked into that ANY job fresh out of college and I would have never looked back. Except I do believe in doing something I enjoy.

Last week I applied for a job that I thought would suit me. I spent 3 days putting together a professional yet unique cover letter and tweaking my resume to fit the opening. I got no answer so I'm guessing they went with someone more experienced. There is another similar opening at another institution that also asks for a covering letter and resume so I'm applying to that as well (hopefully will be doing so today). Unfortunately, even I realize I am not the ideal candidate for this job. I almost finished an application for a teaching position with a private language center. Is this what I want to do for the following 1-2 years (let's assume)? No. I don't know. Maybe. Yes. I don't really know. Maybe? As you can see, all these thoughts have been going to my head every second of every day for the last year. Only now everything is becoming so much more urgent. I don't think it's fair to have Half paying for all the bills (grocery bills included). The holidays are around the corner and I'll be needing money to make it through. In January I'll have to pay the second installment of my tuition for the first year of MA. Plus it's cool to be able to afford a nice pair of winter boots or a coat or a nice shirt every once in a while.

Of course I would like to work in HR since I'm putting in all the effort in the MA program, but there are absolutely no junior HR jobs in this recession. NONE, whatsoever. So I console myself telling to myself that I can take a job in another field at least until I finish my MA except I feel so stuck at actually making this "any other field/job" thing happening.

And as if my confusion wasn't enough, my dad asked for my resume yesterday saying he may have some friend of a friend who may have some position open. But dad, I don't want SOME position. I want to be able to choose my own f$*#*@ job/career/profession. Do you imagine I said that? Nope. I said 'sure dad, I'll email it to you'.

I'll be back with some more teaching tribulations after I push myself into sending those darn applications.

I think I'll just have one of these T-shirts from the mental_floss store.

Oh, wait, I can't afford it. I'll need to get a job for that ...

... and repeat rant.

here's looking at you, dog!

2009-10-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Since this place of the internet has been used lately as a frustration-venting device, I thought I should let the dog have his 15 seconds of fame. I miss him and the three cats so much but I had to leave them at my parents', where there's a big yard and a nice garden and a lot of property to patrol.

in which i am stu.pid and trust people

2009-10-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

It's been raining for almost 24 hours and the weather is so cold that I've been using my balcony as a fridge this past week. Speaking of this week, where the hull did it fly by? I've done next to nothing, except for my 3 MA classes and some cleaning and light cooking.

Another unpleasant piece of news (besides the extreme cold we have to endure this week/month) came yesterday. It seems that I will not be teaching the class the language school asked me to teach. No one gave me any explanation and I haven't asked either because I think I have a vague idea of why this is happening. The crappy thing is that 3 people in the class enrolled because of me. They asked me if we would continue to work together and I said I will let them know in due time, so when the language school asked me if I wanted to teach another class with them I said I did and asked the school to let me continue with the same group. The school admin said she would, if enough people gathered in order to form the group. So I email the students and tell them the news and 3 of them answer back and say they would love for us to continue working together and that they would enroll in the class to do so (these 3 people answered, it's possible that more enrolled). All's bright and sunny until one of the students calls me yesterday to let me know that the group has been formed and they were given another teacher. Now the girl was very sad (and I mean genuinely upset) and kept saying that she wanted to continue with me. At that point I started boiling with anger because 1) the school asked me to take the class then gave it to someone else behind my back and 2) people only enrolled in that class because I told them I would take the class if they do 3) this was so unfair to both me and the students and 4) it seemed as if I had tricked the students into enrolling (which of course I did not). About two hours after getting the call from the upset student, the lady admin calls me to remind me to bring them back their textbooks (which I only kept for so long thinking I would do a recap in the first week of class) because they really need their textbooks because the classes are starting next week. I was angry, I was mad, I was cold, I was in a very crowded bus so I told them not to worry, I will bring their books first thing Monday morning. Then she had the nerve to ask me whether I could do it on Friday (that is the following day). I said I will do my best but I can't guarantee I'll be able to get there on time. I didn't ask about the class and she didn't mention it.

No, I didn't have anything signed yet, but this was so not the case to be pulling such a trick. I am a person who always always keeps her word and if you call me and we settle something over the phone I consider it a gentleman's agreement, put it in my schedule and make it my business to show up for my part and do my absolute best. I know, I am naive and the world isn't fair and I should always guard my own interests and be more assertive. I only now realize that up to now I lived in an environment which was protected from these kind of interactions. My family was always very honest, my friends were always trustworthy, people didn't trick or deceive or pull the rug from under my feet. But I'm living in the real world now and this kind of things will keep on happening so the best approach to it is not to let the little deceivers bring me down.

I will take the QTIP advice - Quit Taking It Personally.

ok up to now

2009-10-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

I'm so relieved to say that the Lecturer (the name he'll be known by from now on) does not suck. He seems determined to do a good job with the class he'll be teaching (or co-teaching) and he's also our administrative coordinator. Up to now we have two big projects announced, both group work. This should be interesting as one of them fails right into the area I'd be interested in researching in the eventuality of a PhD. I'm really determined to give my best to this MA.

I'm wondering what tomorrow's class may bring.

oh, no!

2009-10-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

The inevitable happened. The first class I had for my MA utterly sucked.

So my MA is HR Management and it spans on 2 years because it was especially created for people who haven't graduated from either Economics or Management. For this reason we were told that we will have an Intro to Management class. But you know, it turns out we don't. Instead, we have a class on a very specialized subtopic of Management, that is Managerial Reengineering.

Why learn that a+b=c when you can skip directly to permutations?

This isn't all entirely that bad. I will probably be spending many nights gulping down management theory all by myself, I really don't mind that.

The worst part of it is that the professor, who is not part of the HRM department, started saying that he doesn't agree with all the other professors in the department and to what they are teaching. So he basically started trashing all our other classes, even before us even getting to have them, not to mention allowing us to form our own opinion about the subject matter.

Apparently he has an old bone to pick with the department Chair and decided to let us in on their quarrel. Who does that? Apparently Mr. Fancy Pants Prof does. Yes, he is good at what he does, he's got tons of books on the market and he's a known scholar in the field. But uh, hello, dude, critical thinking? Spare me the personal vendetta syndrome, will ya? Teach me what you have to teach me, I'll do my part and read and do the projects and the homework and the essay and take the exam and then let me decide what I believe to be valid. Don't tell me everything I am about to learn is wrong. Just don't. I believe this is closer to indoctrination than to teaching.

And the class went on for 2 hrs and 15 mins of talk, talk, talk. From here to there to everywhere. He kept on throwing up Economics and Management concepts and we kept on glaring. He didn't have a text to refer to, he didn't once get up from his seat, he didn't once write on the blackboard, draw, point an arrow, do something pedagogical/andragogical for a change. He talked extremely fast so it was impossible for anyone to take notes. I was familiar with some of the terms, I'm sure I had heard all of them in different contexts but I could not grasp the way they related to one another. Judging by the looks on people's faces, I was not the only one.

This evening I'll be having the second MA class with the Lecturer I want to take on as thesis advisor (based on his classes and research). I so truly hope he doesn't suck.

Oh, and I scratched my car on Sunday.

Good times for me.

car, school, movies and a yellow bowl

2009-10-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

I took the car for a drive last week-end and I did it, I drove, in traffic, nice and slowly. I drove it twice with Half in the passenger seat and one time alone. Yes, alone, me all me, just me. Ok, to tell you the truth Half was riding his motorbike in front of me (v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y). One of the main reasons I'm so terrified of driving is because of the other traffic participants. This city is an accident waiting to happen and the driving style is very aggressive. We have everything a responsible driver may ever fear: speed maniacs, broken traffic lights, streets resembling Swiss cheese, no parking spaces, drivers changing lanes without ever using their signal lights, compulsive honkers, professional tailgaters, state of the art jaywalkers, women drivers haters, no courtesy, no respect, no common sense. Did I mention I live in Europe? That's EUrope.

In other news, apparently the first day of my MA is going to be October 12th instead of October 1st. Argh, why? I want to go to school. I like school, I am a school person. I went to school this week to look for the timetable and since there was none I went and sat in front of the library. I couldn't actually get in because I don't have a pass card yet so I sat there on a very comfortable puzzle couch, read all the regulations and then pulled out my bag book and read for half an hour.

Yes, I have too much free time.

And because of this I borrowed 4 movies from the library, so this is how the weekend will look like:

Possession - seen ages ago, I remember liking it back then, I cannot find the A.S. Byatt book in this neck of the world;
a Poirot movie - I loooove love love Poirot, in writing and motion picture format, he is delicious either way;
The Mayor of Casterbridge - adapted from the Thomas Hardy classic;
A Room with a View - with a rosy cheeky Helena Bonham Carter, a perfect Maggie Smith and a marvelous Judi Dench (like there's any other way).

Due to the fact that a post with a picture is so 2009 I would like to introduce to you my Mr. Smiley bowl:

congrats to the copywriter for the macmillan english dictionary online

2009-10-09T06:44:00.000-07:00

Look at this cool piece of writing that reflects so well the language transformations of the last decade or so. This is the Macmillan newsletter which came in my inbox, complete with links and all.

"It’s not a McMansion, as we’re not spendaholics … we’re more like mixologists in an augmented reality: we say nay to fliserable fingerboarders, we will not get stressterical. We have manned-up to a tweetup, so hashtag this appvertisment:

Whether you’re a grey surfer or a feedbacker, a twittow or a NEET – whoever you are wherever you are (sub-optimal situations not withstanding), the Macmillan English Dictionary Online is for you.

How do we know this:

The traffic speaks volumes: it floods the graph with gigantanormously interesting information – from every corner of the globe (literally, mind you) human beings are coming to www.macmillandictionary.com to unravel the marvels of the English language"

sleep activity chez geeky

2009-10-07T02:01:00.000-07:00

Half talks in his sleep, I guess that's not a new thing for those of us who remember this hard-working cat he was referring to. Most of the times I don't hear him because I'm asleep too and boy, mine is heavy as a Mount Rushmore rock. But yesterday I was still watching TV* and he was fast asleep when the following conversation took place:

H: Go on, you've already built 1/3 of the fence.

GG: What fence?

H: For the house.

GG: What house?

H: On the ground.

GG: Is it ours?

H: Yes.

GG: Where is it?

H: On the ground.

GG: And who is building the fence?

H: You are.

GG: What kind of fence?

H: An iron fence.

GG: But I'm a tiny woman.

H: You're strong.

H turns on the other side and the conversation ends here. Thank God, otherwise who knows what type of construction site I may need to handle.

*Watching We Built This City - New York on Discovery, it rocks (yes, the theme song is the song with the same title by Starship which, again, rocks).

quality humor by mitra

2009-10-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

Mitra Farmand is hilarious, funny, quirky, amusing, comical, entertaining, merry and oh so witty. Did I make my point. Her Flicker comics rock rock rock!

Here, let me link you. Warning, do not drink or eat while clicking.

csi: candyland

snakes and lies

commuting

interrogation

fishy

boo

fashion

raisin

hello

weeble

reality shows

godfather

gas

rorschach

venn

geometrical

roll call

english echo

fleas

lap dance

octopus voting

jaws

my life

tape

on fire

cookie

slugs

dog school

tourists

couples

sponges

snowball

the dog docent

happy couples

the food

mash

eggs

cheese on vacation

hamster life

dogs

donuts

car news and a lotta leaves

2009-10-02T09:40:00.000-07:00

As of today I officially have a new car - automatic. Take this, Europe, with your gear stick and your gear box and your stupid silly clutch! Simplicity, baby! But gah, the paperwork one has to go through when buying a car from another country is just outrageous. Literally one week was spent going from one clerk to another, from one part of the city to another, for one little bit of paper or receipt they hadn't even thought of asking for in the first place. And the taxes are a complete rip-off. I so shall not miss this bureaucratic BS in my other life. This ship is going down. Luckily, my dad, the freelancer, is an expert in this kind of knick-knack since last year he bought two cars from abroad so he knew the deal and was the one who did all the talking. But I had to be there, because the car is on my name and God forbid I did not want it. I even took it for a ride twice and managed to drive and not hit anything. Driving might turn into a pleasurable activity, but not in this urban jungle where the caveman-driver makes the rules. Meanwhile, I keep fantasizing of driving on one of the beautiful country roads like this one or this one or even this one (yes, it is along the Oregon Coast).

While we're talking about dream scenery check out these Foliage Tour pictures. Gorgeousness!

Oh, and this very funny comic picturing Half and me, found over at fuffernutter.

Enough with all the linking, come back here and take a look at my last batch of pics from our road trip.

[I love this color combination]

[trapped and passed its time]

[this place would have made for a perfect reading nook]

[delicious green apples]

[notice how I discover focus switching, above and below]

[doesn't this look like stage prop?]

[look at the handsome stud]

[and at that very shiny, not to mention pregnant, lady]

autumn ride pictures - part II - scenery

2009-09-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

amen, henry T

2009-09-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

I must walk toward Oregon, and not toward Europe. And that way the nation is moving, and I may say that mankind progress from east to west…. We go eastward to realize history and study the works of art and literature, retracing the steps of the race; we go westward as into the future, with a spirit of enterprise and adventure.

Henry David Thoreau, "Walking," in Atlantic Monthly, June 1862

I didn't read the essay, but I did find a philosophy goody site at radical academy

random sunday

2009-09-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

I want this book - 14,000 Things to be Happy Abou t by Barbara Ann Kipfer. The woman has got 3 PhD's, she must know what she's talking about. I think I'll even try to install the widget.

My Sunday morning went like this:
- have coffee;
- peruse Craigslist for free things people are giving away in my dream city;
- peruse Craigslist for rentals people are listing in my dream city;
- watch 3 episodes of Gilmore Girls, one of which was a trivia special (found out that "tip" stands for To Insure Promptness - this has to make up for a good conversation filler some day);

I discovered a new resource site; it's called Makes Me Think and it's all about people and stories. I consider it the positive counterpart of Post Secret.

warning, flower-loaded

2009-09-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Half took me for a ride (literally) on a 2-day, 750 kms along the winding roads of the country. It was tiresome but the scenery was all worth it. We stayed in a nice b&b with a huge flower garden. There were flowers everywhere. Everywhere. This translated in coming home with 300 pictures of nothing but flowers. Ahh, sweet bliss!

Sure, we also took pictures of the scenery and total randomness.

But first, the flowers:

Look at this beautiful spider web and rain drops:

and these pink ladies

and these velvety petals

and Miss Bee

and these weirdness flowers

12 things I would like to do every day

2009-09-22T13:05:00.001-07:00

learn something new

chat with friends

watch friends

drink coffee

drink jasmine tea

see 100 honest smiles

read 3 meaningful words

find inspiration in a small thing

see at least a cat

browse through a book store

plant something

dance to my tune of choice

starting anew

2009-09-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, giddy. I have less than 2 weeks until I start the new MA in Human Resources. I am filled with anticipation and excitement. I have been reading about this field almost my entire summer and I realize there is so much theoretical information that I need to take in. It's a new field for me, I've always been a humanist in my studies but I have also always had an attraction to the practical side of things.

I never liked Math but I was good at it. I was not a natural, though, but I worked hard during secondary school and invested time and my parents' money in 3 years of Math tutoring. I was good at it but did not enjoy it, mainly because of the teachers that we had before high school. In high school, Math was no longer a problem. My high school classes had an emphasis in languages. Being the only philology class in the school (a good school, nonetheless) we were not expected to do serious Math. We only did about 2 hours per week with textbooks adapted to our relatively medium level. We only took Math for the first two years and in junior high and senior high these classes were replaced by foreign language or native language classes.

I was one of the very few of my class to enjoy the Economics course and the reason I enjoyed it was because I understood it. The concepts of supply and demand seemed logical and common sense. I had no problem in calculating the rate of an interest because the formula made sense and that would suffice for me. We only had to take Economics for one year, then it was replaced by Logics, Psychology and Human Rights. I would have liked to do my BA in Business Administration but that would have required taking an exam in Math. One subject I had feared and ran away for most of my school years (again, due mostly to the absolutely awful teachers that I had in secondary school and the complete lack of interest of the high school teachers and the very low number of hours that we could take Math)

I then went on to do 4 years worth of undergrad work in cultural studies coupled with intro politics and English. I was getting further and further away from my practical studies side.

Then there came a period in my life when I started to think about what I wanted to do after graduation. It was somewhere between my sophomore year and my junior year that I started to consider options. Where I live there is no possibility to change one's major during undergrad so I knew that was not an option. There were 3 fields I considered in the beginning: HR, PR and Politics and then I went on to research all about them. PR fell through first. It sounded nice and fresh but I realized I didn't have the skills needed to succeed. Maybe later, but not now. I was always interested in Politics (more as a field of study more than as an occupation). But the political environment of this country makes it hard to be a political analyst if you are not willing to bend over one side or the other and put aside any personal conviction. The high level corruption is almost transparent and the ones hired are the ones most able to kiss rears. So Politics was the next to fall through. Add to this the fact that I totally am into Organizational Theory and we've got ourselves a brand new start.

-- to be continued --

[for sure]

epiphany

2009-09-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

It just occurred to me that the Bo Beep nursery rhyme may have well been written by a relationship expert, in order to describe typical male behavior.

Illustration (1901) by William Wallace Denslow

there's nothing like

2009-09-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

a little typographic humor

from Loiter, on a T-s

till the 11th

2009-09-11T09:35:00.001-07:00

Since the beginning of September, I (in no particular order):

got asked if I wanted to teach another EFL class. I said I would like to do that again. I just hope they give me the same group, provided the enrollment is high enough to form a group.

watched the brilliant movie Numb, starring Mathew Perry. I loved the movie and I think Matthew is such an underrated actor (no, I am not biased in any way by my addiction to Friends or by the fact that Chandler is my favorite of the gang). How can I not like a movie in which the first line is "I am my own worst enemy"? I highly recommend it.

played Monopoly under a garden tent in the midst of a long mad autumn rain;

helped my brother paint his room in a very cool shade of brown - Cafe Latte by Dulux (this is the actual color and our final product). Physical effort was much welcomed and despite my almost fit of madness targeted towards the total unevenness of the shade after the first coat, after the second coat of paint it smoothed out so perfectly even.

started watching The Gilmore Girls again. This time I started with season 3 because I am not particularly fond of the whole (not)-marrying-the-hot-prep-school-teacher-Max-perfect-and-eversohot-Medina not to mention the Christopher coming in an out storyline. I have a feeling I will be skipping the Digger romance too, not to mention the Logan-schmogan part.

brewed and consumed large quantities of surprisingly good coffee;

started reading Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith - nice, refreshing, mystery.

have been thinking about taking the Cambridge Business English Certificate exam, according to my long-forgotten resolution list. It does seem a reasonable goal to get me started on doing some work and it is somehow related to what my MA subject will be so I'm thinking it might come in handy. The only problem is that I don't really know how to prepare for it. I do have two books with practice tests (8 in all) and I have downloaded and printed another one but I still don't think that's enough. I do have Business English textbooks but their content seems rather easy compared to the level of the tests so it seems a bit pointless to go through them just for the sake of doing that. And I cannot simply count on my attraction to The Economist.

have been thinking about starting to work towards the GRE although probably it will take another year or two before actually having to take it (if at all). Still, some crispy vocabulary flash cards might come in handy for many different other purposes. I downloaded lists and I will print them out then I will write words in longhand on cards. That should cover that year or two I was mentioning.

have been having Half at home, on his summer holiday (which he was actually given in the fall). There has been smooching and cuddling involved and absolutely no fight or tenssioned moments. I must be growing up. Sadly, he's back to work on Monday.

spent some time with my mom. She broke her leg and had to have it put in a cast. It was not as bad as it could have been but it was difficult to see her so helpless and confined bed/armchair/chair as she is usually an energetic person who basically keeps the house from falling apart in chaos.

had home delivered pizza on 3 different occasions (and 3 different homes). Pizza does rock!

sold my car, with the help of my father. To be completely honest, my dad did everything, except I had to spend half a day doing paperwork since the car was in my name. He is now looking for an automatic to replace the stick, which proves to be impossible to find in this here piece of the world. It doesn't help either that my dad and his friend are car-maniacs and know every little nook and cranny of a car and they will not settle for anything else than perfection.

autumn means

2009-09-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

Today feels like the first day of autumn. For the first time in years I am glad it's autumn. I couldn't stand the scorcher anymore. I can finally breathe, for the first time since June. (A lot of "firsts" in this paragraph).

Autumn means being able to drink hot tea again. I only take my tea iced in the summer so now I finally get to use all my mugs again.

Autumn means going back to my ritual of weekly pampering baths, with luscious shower gel and soft body lotion. Summer throws me into constant shower-mode and there's no fun in taking a long hot bath when the temperature is around 40 degrees C.

Autumn means going out to the parks of the city to pick up rusty leaves and tawny acorns and shiny chestnuts. I will terribly miss the greenery though. Take a look at the harvest of 2007. I had to throw away the harvest of 2008 before taking a picture because apparently wet leaves will rot.

Autumn means being able to take walks that will not leave me drained of energy. It also means turning to full awareness. It seems that my body and mind loose their ability to resonate in extreme heat or extreme cold. But autumn and winter bring full focus and awareness.

Autumn always meant going back to school. The excitement, the fear (good fear though), the anticipation. This autumn means starting a new M.A. in a totally new field of study. I'm giddy. I'm waiting. Autumn means all that.

Autumn means getting more energetic. I don't know why, I could never explain this, but autumn brings it all out in me.

Autumn for me is an acquired taste.

Autumn means huge green grapes and fresh grape juice.

Autumn means fighting my way through a quince. I love the bittered flavor and the aftertaste.

Again, I will shamefully display a picture from 2007:

Autumn means going back to my sweaters, probably the most comfortable clothes to wear. Not suffering from the heat and the sweat but still not dressing in layers and turning into an immobile robotic figure, this is the perfect season to be comfy.

Autumn means dreaming of New England autumn.

This autumn I am determined to make a deliberate attempt to be fully awake to life.

vote keri smith for inspiration

2009-09-05T14:45:00.001-07:00

Funny and inspirational list of 100 ideas (to do nothing, just ideas) from the funny world of keri smith. (opens in pdf).

I for one know that it would be (good) weird, yet amusing to:
- for one week collect items that I find on the street (I'll start doing this with pennies, it's very lucrative);
- find a photo of a person I do not know and write her/his bio;
- study the face of someone I don't like;
- write about my relationship with my washing machine (which I have decided is a "he" and named him Elmer);
- list the smells in my neighborhood (this calls for a post in itself);
- draw my garbage :))
- write my own definition of sleeping.

Keri's blog (The Wish Jar) also features a post about small things you can so to change your perspective, which include For one day greet everyone you encounter with "top o' the morning to ya!" and Add something to your name. ("the 3rd", "the great", "the illustrious").

I bet Keri is a very cool person to be around.

the sky in august ...

2009-09-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

... looked as beautiful as this, from Geeky Geekerson's small window

laughs will be had

2009-08-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

You can't get more real than this:

awkward family photos. com

Seriously, take a look! Then double take. And again.

I simply cannot pick a favorite.

100 things about me - part 2 (21-40)

2009-08-28T06:18:00.001-07:00

21. I've always wanted to have a rainbow umbrella. I still don't have one.

22. Someday I'll write an ebook about the small things I enjoy doing (so many and yet they slip out of my mind so quickly).

23. I enjoy coffee a lot more when it is made by me.

24. I've never flown a kite, which I think is sad. I intend to, though.

25. Half asked me to be his girlfriend through a text message. I was supposed to beep him 1 time for no and 2 times for yes. I beeped him 1 time and then waited before beeping the second time. It was my way of establishing who's in control. We were kids, little did we know we'd end up so far down the road.

26. I love making snow angels.

27. I really enjoy playing rummy. When I was a teen, my friends and I would play for up to 8 hours every day during our summer holiday. I don't own a rummy board but I dream that someday I would organize an all-rummy weekend in my own house.

28. One of my dear friends would describe me as "great cook, beloved friend, author of the Piss yourself laughing. A cautionary tale of Urbanity" because "it does seem to be the staple smell of this city, so clearly people must be pissing themselves with laughter at every corner of the street" and "[the book, hopefully not a memoir] it is in the works. I have no doubt about it. you are one of the quirky one who can definitely pull this off" [says my funny friend].

29. I always set my watch 2-4 minutes ahead of the actual time.

30. When I was little I used to build tents in the living room, out of sofa cushions and my mother's white sheets. I felt safe inside the tent and I guess it was my childhood dream to own a space of my own. It still is. I need my space.

31. My favorite book as a child was Mary Poppins. I read my first MP book at the seaside after having picked it randomly from a book kiosk on the beach. I then looked for all the other books in the series that I could find. I loved the character despite her being described as arrogant, vain and selfish. I loved how she considered herself perfect and flawless. What's not to love about rightful self-confidence.

32. I am a self-taught swimmer.

33. I cannot ride a bike because I've never had one.

34. My feel-good movie is Under the Tuscan Sun.

35. I hate not having a special talent (like a nice voice or the ability to paint or draw or dance).

36. I don't get bored easily.

37. I hope to one day be able to watch all of the episodes of The Simpsons.

38. I don't understand why some rich people dress up in hideous clothes.

39. It took me a while to learn how to make bubblegum balloons.

40. I don't go on amusement park rides.

new book on the roll

2009-08-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

I'm done reading the book on interview questions. It's refreshing to be able to read a book (and take notes from it) in two sittings. Can you imagine reading criticism this fast (and actually getting the point)? I cannot. If it ain't painful, it ain't criticism.

Next on my list is a book I borrowed from a friend. It's called Words of Wisdom for Women by Rachel Snyder. And it is lovely, lovely, lovely. Pure yet focused, I read it dearly and it feels as if someone's gently holding my hand and listening to my concerns. At every page I turn I find myself screaming "yes, that's exactly what I want to do, that's spot on how I want to feel". It's tender yet empowering, it's what I would like to write provided I leave aside my sarcasm and banter. I'll maybe post some excerpts here but it's so hard to choose a favorite when all her words are so carefully chosen. It's comfort reading at its best.

* picture = the book in my bag the day I brought it home. The stripey thing is my netbook case, crafted out of an older handbag from which I (messily) removed the handles. I just liked the way it all looked on the chair with the sun shining in so I snapped a picture (I do this all the time, a habit very few people seem to understand).

borin' post 'bout doin' stuff

2009-08-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

Turns out I did manage to get some things done yesterday. I did:

- have tutoring session;
- read book about resume writing - not all of it, just parts that seemed to apply to my particular situation.
- finish resume - 90% completed and totally revamped. I only now imagine it looked so lame.
- read research for online teaching - I read no less than 60 pages in Microsoft Word.
- peer-review article - I have a feeling about this article, but I have no idea what that feeling is. There's a suggestion waiting to be put into words and yet I cannot seem to verbalize it. It's so strange to have to review something which resembles so much my own style of writing. It's like slapping myself over the fingers mid-writing.
- paint nails and toenails - did that, was a totally pleasurable activity.

On top of all these things (yeah, like they're that many to begin with) I did watch the latest episode of Weeds and the last 2 episodes of The Big Bang Theory. Yes, yes, I know this cannot possibly count as productivity, but I do consider having so much fun as an achievement.

Today, although I didn't have any list to begin with, I did meet a friend for chit chat, put in 3 full hours of reading at the library, cooked and did laundry.

The book I tackled today is 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview by John Kador. The book is practical, entertaining and nicely written. It's not my usual read but I'd better get used to HR literature since I'm starting and HR Master's Degree this fall. Oh, yeah, didn't I mention that? I managed to read 100 pages out of 222, which I think is pretty good for one sitting. The book will serve me for the online class I'm struggling to put together (more about this later), for the MA and not to mention to finally get a hold of my interview anxiety and get a decent job ... someday.

With no connection whatsoever, here's a nice catty linguistic link from dailywritingtips.com

stoop.id

2009-08-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

How stupid can one be to try to make a silly joke by putting an ice cube between one's lips, fully aware of the fact that the cube is right out of the freezer and it will stick, leading to desperate attempts of removal of said cube from lip at the expense of a few millimeters' worth of upper lip skin.

Let me rephrase that: how stupid can I be? How I graduated college, I do not know.

Back to watching some more episodes about socially inept geeks.

PPAT reloaded

2009-08-17T12:35:00.000-07:00

What I actually did from my last PPAT list:

- spend 15 minutes meditating about my future and my plans; - DONE
- draft important email; - DONE
- read once the article that I have to revise (not mine, so it shouldn't be that painful);
- spend 3 full hours away from the computer; - DONE
- complete an appropriate resume;
- research how to write an online course; - DONE (still need to do some more)
- draft outline for online course;
- iron a batch of clothes. - DONE

5 things out of the list is not that bad for the start-up of my plan. Although I did miss planning my Saturday, Sunday and Monday I am back on the wagon for the rest of the week. I think this is a big part of my problem. Setting up big goals then self-sabotaging myself in order not to achieve them, then saying "I knew I couldn't do it" then getting stuck again - this is my pattern. So in order to be able to move forward I've decided to no longer use guilt and self-punishment in order to get myself going. I shall establish things to do and then try to actually get them done. If I manage to do them, that's grrrrrrrreat. If not, then I shall leave them for the following day(s). No biggie. Pushing myself but not bullying myself - I think this is the right combination for now.

Having settled this, this is what my PPAT looks like for tomorrow:

- have tutoring session;
- make salad and coffee and pack them to subsequently consume at the library, where I put in at least 5 hours doing the following items on the list;
- read book about resume writing;
- finish resume versions;
- read research for online teaching;
- finish drafting outline for online class;
- peer-review article; (at which point the 5 hours will probably be up)
- paint nails and toenails; (you may realize that I'd be back home by now)
- upload some pictures on this boring blog;
- cook elaborate dish which I'm seriously hoping not to screw up.

Good luck to me, me!

of what a PPAT is (read on, it's not contagious)

2009-08-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

As I was saying, I am trying to get back on track with my productivity plan but the last month has been, well, S. L. O. W. (and this would be an understatement). Days pass by without me even realizing it and at the end of the day I find myself wondering "what the heck did I accomplish (or at least do) today?" Huh?!

Therefore, I am hereby launching my productivity plan accountability technique (a PPAT if you will) in which I set out to set up activities to hold myself accountable for actually doing something.

It goes like this: everyday I write a list of stuff I am going to do the following day and when the following day comes I try to actually tick things of the list ... in earnest. It can't be that bad, right? It's not nuclear physics. It's doable. Now other rules (also made up by me for myself) state that:

the list must contain at least 4 entries;
the activities must be both mental and involve actual physical effort;
there shall be no cheating (in case one might consider writing a DONE next to things which aren't really done or close to done);
the list may be public or private, depending on reasons pertaining to anonymity;
the list must be checked (or not) by the end of the day;
[bullet left for later edits of the list of rules]
[bullet left for later edits of the list of rules]

Without further ado, today I will:

- spend 15 minutes meditating about my future and my plans;
- draft important email;
- read once the article that I have to revise (not mine, so it shouldn't be that painful);
- spend 3 full hours away from the computer;
- complete an appropriate resume;
- research how to write an online course;
- draft outline for online course;
- iron a batch of clothes.

There, doable. I hope I survive the next 12 hours and make it back to report my progress.

* this blog contains so many words as of late, I do believe pictures are needed.

reunion gibberish

2009-08-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

Turns out that going to the reunion was not such a big mistake after all. Not because I found some amazing people and rekindled friendships, but precisely for the opposite reasons. Most (thought not all) of my former mates were still acting as if they were 14.

In secondary school I used to be part of the popular group, teenagers who would gather around acting cool and important, throwing parties whenever the parents were out of town, not interacting with "the others", keeping good grades (mostly the girls from the group) yet always looking for an opportunity to go wild. I used to refer to those times as "the most fun I've ever had in school". Yet when that period naturally came to an end and we all enrolled in different high schools, I decided to break all the connections with those people, despite the fact that most of us lived relatively close to one another. Whenever they'd meet, I'd make up some excuse not to show up until they stopped inviting me. I felt relieved. I was in high school and had made my own group of close friends (2 groups, actually). I had met Half and was deeply in love. I was ok with my life and felt fairly confident so I didn't need to be a part of the popular group in order to validate my existence. Meanwhile, the other members of the group were also growing apart and eventually the group dissolved within the following two years. None of the people in the group kept in touch, unlike "the others" who maintained long-lasting friendships. Just like in a Hollywood teen movie, go figure!

The cinematic resemblance does not end here. Just like in cliched movies, the populars ended up being lame and immature adults who still hide their insecurities by bashing the others. They still take pride in how many partners they have or how many beers they can drink. The two class bimbos were sporting what seemed to be 2 fake pairs of boobage. The class bad boy told stories about his 3 girlfriends, one of which is a professional stripper. The class shrew was still whispering in her chin and making everyone at the table feel uncomfortable. None of them really had a job and they were all still living off their parents.

What were "the others" doing? They had been busy with jobs such as IT analysts, bank clerks, translator or Teaching Assistant. At one point during the reunion evening I gave up my seat from the popular table and moved near the others. Their conversation was so much more interesting for me. There was no mention of drunkenness as a virtue, promiscuity or partying. Those people were talking about relationships and jobs and studies abroad. Those people were grownups. I didn't stay until the end but I did set up an eventual meeting to catch up with these people in particular.

It's funny how things go. I am glad I made the decision of breaking it off back then and I am proud of the intuition my 14 year-old self had.

* For what is worth I did dress as a high-heeled, tight-jeans, leather-jacket, helmet-sporting biker chick. I could not help it, I just had to.

back on the doing wagon

2009-08-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last months (initially spelled 'moths') trying to pull my shit together and get my real life starting. There have been times when I seemed to be doing just that (see here and here and here for example). Yet whenever I felt I was going full speed ahead, a bump in the road threw me off the track. Last such bump came in the form of Half deciding to move out. I cannot express the regression effect that such a hit in the love area of my life had on all the other areas altogether. Suddenly being productive didn't matter anymore. Not only was it not top priority, it completely fell off the radar. I work like that. Whenever I work on improving some area of my life, the others have to remain completely still and unchanged. I cannot handle multiple transformations, not well anyway and in order to gain focus I have to only concentrate on one part. Otherwise I'm left lip-syncing mid-song.

Things with Half are improving. We haven't actually broken up at all when he moved out, we just continued to be together while living separately. Gradually, he started spending the night at my place again (formerly called "our" place) and now he's kindda living in-between, spending about 4 nights here and 3 nights at his family's. I am really good with this situation now because it gives me time with him and also allows for my own space and privacy. And we get along so much better than we were during the last months of our continuous living together.

So having that part settled for now, I feel it is high time I went back to the plan of "How to Put My Life Together" (capitalizing it does make it look more serious).

A good while ago, my friend and I had a conversation about a little thing called "comfort zone". I fully grasp the concept of stepping outside one's comfort zone theoretically but when it comes to practice, I always manage to rationalize not doing it. Granted, when I DO do it, it feels extremely good and liberating. I feel happy and empowered, scared yet great.

Anyway, where I'm getting at (since the comfort zone ranting will most likely continue to appear in this corner of the internet) is that tonight I'm doing it again. I have been invited to a school reunion and I'm 99.9% sure I'm going. I consider this a brave thing to do, because I haven't seen most of the people I'm meeting in over 9 years (they are colleagues from secondary school) and over these 9 years I declined 3 other reunion invitation, mostly because some of my toxic former friends were going to be there. Now I'm not happy to go either. I am scared and chock full of anticipatory anxiety.

But I'm doing it anyway.

friend-ish issues

2009-08-05T00:27:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate it when every time you go out with a friend she always insists on going to one of those fancy places you wouldn't be caught dead entering. My friend, although my generation, has a very well paid job for which she worked hard. So every time we go out it always has to be to one of those snooty cafes/pubs which would charge you for breathing their air, if they could. Now, we're not talking above average prices here. We're often talking average price x 2 (sometimes even x 3). Suddenly the old hangout places aren't good enough anymore, they're either boring or overused or too far away for her. It bothers me greatly that, although she knows I don't have a steady income coming in, she always suggests some fancy schmancy overcharging establishments. I have given numerous tips as to how uncomfortable I am spending so much on cups of coffee and overpriced cocktails. I have cringed and said yes on other numerous occasions. Sometimes I suggest some of the more 'regular' (in her terms) places. But since I moved out of my parents' it was either 2-3 meets/month with her or paying the utilities bill. And I do love my hot showers. I totally understand that she's working hard and wants to make it worth it, but she seems incapable (or unwilling) to understand my situation. I find it annoying that she expects others to be paying for her lifestyle choices. Fazing her out is not pleasant, but it is necessary. At least until I manage to deal with my financial issues.

summer day miscs

2009-08-04T05:16:00.001-07:00

1). This day seems appropriate to be used for reading about people over at 17, Cherry Tree Lane.

2). Oh, this man is so right:

“I go to the library, and I open my laptop, and I sit there, regardless of whether or not I feel like it. I gave a reading at a high school the other day, and one of the students asked, ‘what do you do when you don’t feel inspired?’, and I said ‘I’ve never in my life felt inspired, it’s not a question of inspiration.’ It’s a question of this mundane, or this seemingly mundane act of will. I just go , and I’ve committed myself to this project of trying to be honest, and it’s not like a glorious revelation, it’s an incredibly difficult, frustrating, self-deprecating act.” ~ Jonathan Safran Foer.

3). It's so hot today, that my laptop cooler consists of a bottle of frozen water strategically placed on the touch pad.

4). I'm totally loving this season of Weeds.

As if my current TV series addictions weren't enough (they aren't many, but they are consistent), one of my friends got me hooked on The Big Bang Theory. Well, to be completely honest, she just told me that I should try watching an episode because it is geek humor of good quality. I did, and I loved it, and within days of discovering it I had my first BBT marathon. I work that way.

amazing wedding video

2009-08-02T15:12:00.000-07:00

Apparently the internet is buzzing with this wedding entrance dance (Jill and Kevin's big day), which became a viral in a flash. It's so funny and so positive and it sends out such a great message. Not to mention it was done to raise money for and militate against domestic violence.

I think everyone (bride or no bride) dreams of such a group of friends, such funny, dedicated and open minded people. I know I do. If the entrance was so great, I can only imagine the wedding party.

Pure joy!

* I found a post about the video at this pretty blog that I read.

about georges

2009-07-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

georges barbier

type the name in the google search bar;

click images;

tons of beauty and style will appear on your screen;

you're welcome.

* illustration from foxrarebooks.com