Date:	2008-05-27 21:41
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	pensive

So I graduated from college. Aside from some crying jags the day of graduation (and a turbulently emotional week leading up to graduation, though I'm not sure how much it had to do with actually graduating), I've handled it really well. There are moments when I miss everyone like crazy, and working on campus isn't helping me to let go of the place itself, but I know I couldn't handle another semester. I wish I could, because I feel like a lot of my identity is tied up with immersing myself in academia, but it looks like Jess-the-girl-who-holes-up-in-her-room-and-does-homework-all-the-time has finally had enough schooling for a while. It's shocking to me that I was planning on going to grad school in the fall until I didn't get my act together to apply--at this point, I can't even imagine doing it for at least another 2 years, unless I really hate teaching and need to do a massive career change. Unlikely, but possible.

I do have a job, and I'm glad. Part of me does wonder if I sold myself a little short (I took the first job I was offered...but I also wasn't contacted for many other interviews, and it's middle school instead of high school, suburban instead of urban), but I know it's going to allow me to have the lifestyle I want at this point in my life (living in the city, not having a car, feeling in control in the classroom instead of like I'm barely keeping my head above water). I'm really looking forward to the fall, which is fabulous, especially considering that I was thinking of giving up teaching altogether back in January. The thing is, I love it. I was so burned out fall semester from grading papers (don't laugh--it literally took up all of my time and even my winter break) and the trying to be a college student and a full-time adult at the same time that I forgot how fun it is to be up in front of a class and listening to students' amazing ideas. I think that's what I love most--hearing what they think. And yes, that means I never get through everything I'm supposed to, and I heard all about it from my many supervisors/advisors, and I'll work on keeping the pace up. But kids are AMAZING, and that's the real reason I'm doing this job. I thought it was because I loved English--and don't get me wrong, I do love English--but teaching English has to be more about teaching than just about English.

I crammed a slew of typical college experiences into my last year of college (since I hadn't had that many up until that point), and I'm glad I did it. I'm also glad that I'm over it now. I have no idea how people sustain a lifestyle of drunken partying and all that entails over the course of four whole years, but one year was enough for me. (I'm just referring to Mods-style partying here--I will obviously always be up for a pub crawl, a karaoke night, a wine-and-cheese night, a game night, and all other sorts of nights that do not involve (a) college freshmen or (b) drama.)

The issue of moving out is stressing me out a little. I did find a place to live, and it's in a great location and with what seem to be great roommates (oh, craigslist, how I depend on you for all things in life). I was set to move on August 15, which is great, since my summer job ends then, and then I can move in town and start getting ready for the school year. However, now another girl from the apartment is moving out, which means rooms are being juggled, which means that I could move in July 1 to have the room I originally wanted. It makes sense for a lot of reasons (much shorter commute to my summer job, ensure that I do in fact get the room with a closet, have fun in the city and get settled ahead of time), but I'm very hesitant, and I realized that it's because I'm afraid to rush the moving out process. I have no desire to live with my parents for the rest of my life (or even past this summer), but moving out this time seems so final. It's not really--I'll still live within 30-45 minutes of them--but it's not like I'll be moving home for winter break. I still think of home as home, and July 1 is rapidly approaching, and I don't know if I can rethink "home" before then. Anyway, that's just me being clingy. The more practical issue is that I shouldn't spend the money to move in early, but I'm using it as a cover.

I think that Bruckner's "Os Justi" is indisputably the most beautiful piece of music on this planet. Just putting that out there.

( hahahahaha )

In other news, life is pretty great except when I think too hard about it or am confronted by MONSTROUS PILES OF WORK that need to be dealt with when I finally get up the motivation to stop procrastinating. I'm feeling done with college, but I am determined to suck the marrow out of this last semester.

Date:	2008-01-01 23:08
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative
Music:	Beverly Hills || Weezer

New year! Yay!

New Year's Eve was delightful--cramped road trip out to Amherst, veggie chili, a visit to Emily Dickinson's grave (well, Amanda and I were the only ones willing to scale the snowbanks, but it was worth it), and the best dance party I have possibly ever been to, courtesy of Elizabeth's amazing playlist. Also, I successfully cranked that soulja boy twice that evening, and a cute boy chatted me up (at least for a little while), and it was still tame enough that Leeno and I were able to have a substantial conversation. Let's hear it for UMass, but more specifically all of my friends from home (since they're the ones who made it amazing). It took us about 4 hours to get home today because of the snowstorm (and some wipe outs in the parking lot), but all is well.

I've been looking forward to 2008 since about June, so I'm glad it's here. I'm not so glad that it's the year I graduate, but I don't have to think about that just yet. It's also the year in which I will cease to be 21. That is mind-boggling.

I have been the opposite of productive lately (which is really, really bad, since I still haven't finished grading all of my assignments, and they are officially overdue). I think I need to get back to school so that I can readjust to being a contributing member of society. I have Midyear Orientation to deal with, then four fabulous (I hope) classes, Vagina Monologues, and (I hope I hope I hope) a job on campus, because I am so extra broke right now, and I'd really like to move out after graduation. Sigh.

New Year's Resolutions:
- I will not drink beer any more.
- I will write a play (or at least a substantial piece of writing that I'm proud of) this year.
- I will work out at least 2-3 times per week.
- I will not allow that enormous pile of belongings to amass in front of my bed any more.

...sort of cobbled together, but that's okay. I'm not a huge fan of New Year's resolutions usually, but I think they can be helpful if you think about them the right way. It's all about attainable goals. *nods wisely*

Date:	2007-12-27 22:01
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	content
Music:	Indigo Girls || Heartache for Everyone

I have survived an entire semester of student teaching. Go me. Unfortunately, I still have an enormous pile of grading to do (seriously, enormous), and I'm avoiding it like the plague. This is actually not okay, since I'm supposed to have mailed everything back to my cooperating teacher before the end of break, which means I probably should have done it today. Ahahaha. Not so much.

I've watched three movies in the past 24 hours--Juno (completely fabulous), The Last Kiss (Zach Braff remake of an Italian movie I've wanted to see forever, and better than I expected), and Waitress. I forget how much I like movies until I see a really good one. Also, being 21 is neat because now when the movie you want to go to is sold out, you can go to Chili's to drink beer until the next showing!

Literally all I want to do right now is cook (probably a product of the two fabulous cookbooks I got for Christmas and watching Waitress). Cooking is something I would like to do really well, but it can't happen without a lot of practice. Also a lot of grocery shopping. One of my goals for the next year is to master some of my favorite recipes (or the ones I dream about). My tapas cookbook is particularly exciting. I do wish I had my own kitchen instead of the B3 kitchen that frequently gets gross and encrusted with meat products. Ugh.

I'm going back to school in less than 2 weeks! What is that? And my friends are starting to disperse in a week. Life is moving a little more quickly than I strictly approve of.

*spontaneous burst of affection for the world*

Date:	2007-12-15 22:38
Subject:	5 more days of high school (redux)
Security:	Public
Mood:	relieved
Music:	Indigo Girls || Fill It Up Again

I've moved home for winter break, although my break doesn't actually start until next Friday when high school classes end. And even then, I'm going to need to grade a bunch of assignments over my winter break. Still, I won't need to get up at 6 AM and come up with lesson plans, so I can live with some grading.

Home is fabulous, as it has been all of this semester. Leeno and I have already made it to the bar around the corner--yay! Townie bars are wonderful, and this winter break will be full of them. I'm so excited to visit her in Spain in February. I've already done most of the major touristy things, so I'm just glad to be going for the culture and lifestyle. It helps to have a Spaniard (Jose, not Leeno) to show you around. Sometimes it's just important to get out of the country, even if it sets you back $500. (Ask me about this next year when I don't have rent money, but I feel like I'll say the same thing.)

Ariel and Sarah are going to Israel on Monday. I am quite jealous, but I don't qualify for Birthright, so it's taking a back seat. I plan to go to Israel some day (even if Birthright won't send me for free), but I need to figure out a lot of stuff first.

I'm so in winter break mode. I can't even fathom school until tomorrow. Blah. I'm kind of sad that my winter break is only 17 days long, although let's face it, I'm usually eager for it to be over. I'll just make the most of it while it lasts. My sister doesn't move home until Tuesday night--I miss her!

Part of me wants to apply for the National Yiddish Book Center internship in Amherst, MA, for next summer, but most of me knows that I'll be completely screwed without a car and that "currently enrolled in a degree-granting program" does not cover college grads. Sigh. BUT I have learned that I don't need to be applying for jobs yet, because teaching jobs don't get posted until February or March, and jobs in other sectors generally aren't looking for candidates that won't be available immediately. I win! Stress-free December and January. :)

Date:	2007-12-09 08:52
Subject:	10 more days of high school (redux)
Security:	Public
Mood:	pensive

2007 has been so full of important events and personal growth and the like that I'm getting introspective even before New Year's, which is new for me. The beginning of 2007 seems like it just happened--I have very clear memories of New Year's in Philadelphia and then getting ready to go to France--but that's just because this year has been non-stop. I went abroad for over 5 months and learned how to live on my own. And in French. I dealt with my first (lasting) breakup. I made it through camp in a bigger leadership role than I'd had so far. I coped with two deaths and celebrated a wedding. I have now student taught for almost a semester, and I think my students actually learned something from me.

I don't feel that different. Every change has been a continuous process, so it's sort of like growing taller--you just don't notice it until all of a sudden your clothes don't fit you. But intellectually I know that I am stronger, more independent, more wary, more realistic, and less willing to sell myself short than I was a year ago. It was strange to have my two most intense and most difficult semesters back-to-back the way they were. It meant that I spent a lot of time wanting to move on, although now I can look back and get nostalgic. (Not that I'm getting nostalgic about student teaching. I'm sure that will come eventually, since I get nostalgic about everything under the sun, but right now I just want it to be over.)

Leeno's studying in Spain again in the spring, and she'll have to come home for part of the summer (at the very least to get a new visa), but then she wants to go there and stay there. I've pretty much decided to go visit over February break. This will be the second February break in a row that I'll be spending in Madrid--I sense a tradition coming on. The verdure is not that impressive, but the flights are cheap, and I just really want to go back and keep up with what Leeno's life is like. Sometimes I think I've internalized the Counting Crows' "Holiday in Spain" a little too well. I had it on repeat for most of February (when I was having a hard time adjusting and I was getting ready to go see Leeno), so now it's one of my go-to songs, and apparently one of my go-to impulsive decisions...

I have so much to do today I cannot actually cope with it. I did nothing productive on Friday or Saturday because I was sick, and now the stack of work to finish is ridiculous. I think I'll just focus on getting my unit plan/portfolio out of the way (since that's actually due tomorrow/Tuesday). The kids can wait to get their work back...again. The worst part of this job is grading, both because I hate assigning grades to student work (I don't mind marking them up and "evaluating" them, but I hate giving them grades they'll have to live with) and because it just. never. ends. There is always a huge stack of essays to read and grade, and this is only when I have 2 classes--I shudder to think what it will be like with 4 or 5 (or even 6!).

Sort of starting to worry about jobs, but I can't deal with it right now. No grad school for me next year, but there will be in the future. Still pondering the Ph.D. route, but that's also something I don't have to decide right now. The more important decision is whether I want to teach high school (or 8th grade) next year or find a job in an English- or education-related field, which will affect where I end up moving. But that's an issue for another day.

In Garden State, there's a scene where Zach Braff's character talks about the time when the home you grew up in isn't home anymore. It really spoke to me at the time, since I'd just moved to college and I knew that I was heading into a time when I'd no longer live at my parents' house. And I was fine with that--I've spent plenty of school breaks either at school or at friends' houses in other states, and I haven't gone home very much even though I live nearby. However, over the past year, I've really come to appreciate my home. I'm not sure if it's because this year has been emotionally draining on a grand scale (between living in a foreign country, breaking up, trying to figure out what to do with my life, and student teaching) or because it's finally hitting me that soon I am going to move out for real, but home has become this stress-free haven of bliss. Things are simpler here, or at least they seem to be. Things are nice. I don't ever have to worry about what people think, because it's just my parents, my dog, and sometimes my sister, and they are not people who stress me out. I have my own room, access to a car, and about 8 different comfy places where I can sit and relax and pretend that I don't have to go to school on Monday, and when I get here, I really don't want to leave. I'm sure this is common among college students, but it's a fairly new emotion for me. I spent the first 18 years of life in my house, more or less, so when I finally left, I was grateful for the change. But now I kind of want to come back. Not in the move-home-until-I'm-30 way, but in the I-really-can't-wait-for-winter-break way.

In other news, I have become a shoe-aholic. It's problematic.

In other other news, my decision about what to do next year is up in the air again, and I really need to stop doing this to myself. Also, I need some serious Tazo Calm tea.

Date:	2007-10-22 18:58
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	confused
Music:	Hey Kind Friend || Indigo Girls

Approximately every two weeks, I have a freak-out session where I start to question everything about my life, my beliefs, and my future. I'm kind of in the middle of one now. And I'm sure it's great to live such an examined existence on some level, but...not on a practical level. I would like to have all of my professional, romantic, religious, and social issues fixed now. Please and thank you.

On a happier note, YAY RED SOX!!! This is the third time in my life that they have made it to the World Series, and I thank and congratulate them.

Also, we're halfway through the semester. When did that happen? This means I have many, many more weeks of student teaching to go, but October is the only month I actually have to teach for the entirety of (due to Thanksgiving and winter break), so it seems like the biggest hurdle. Don't get me wrong--I love what I do most/some of the time, but today's one of the days when I want it to be over. See paragraph 1.

I need a bottle of wine, a fireplace, and some quality snogging.

Date:	2007-10-03 21:10
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	quixotic
Music:	I Believe in Love || Indigo Girls

So student teaching continues to kick my ass. I've taken over one of the classes (10th grade mid-level)--the first few classes went pretty well, today sucked, tomorrow will hopefully rock. We will see. I feel like I don't have nearly enough of a life outside of teaching, and it tends to cause me some serious anxiety, particularly on Sundays when I'm looking at the daunting prospect of a whole new week. At least I have identified a pattern, and at least my cooperating teacher is awesome! I'm going home this weekend for Columbus Day, and I'm really excited. I need the down time and the family time and the hanging out with my dog time. I'm sad I don't have tomorrow off for Shemini Atzeret like everyone else. I took the first day of Sukkot off so I could go to services and bentsch lulav and so on, but I felt weird about taking yet another day off right at the beginning of my teaching when I'm in such an in-between place religiously, so...to school I go. I have the room to myself for the next couple of days because my roommate went to Canada, so I can turn the lights on in the morning, though, so that's kind of nice (although I miss my roomie :(). Oh, also, someone stole my laptop last Thursday (it's in the police log and everything), so if you see it, please let me know.

Since I have so much else to do with my time, it is time for a meme!

These are the top 106 books most often marked as "unread" by LibraryThing's users (as of today). As usual, bold what you have read, italicise that you started but couldn't finish, and strike through what you couldn't stand. Add an asterisk to those you've read more than once. Underline those on your to-read list.

( Books! )

Date:	2007-09-18 17:47
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired

SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, and post this. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up. Have fun!

( Movies! )

I suppose this means I do have a life...although the fact that I just filled this out kind of undermines that theory.

So much going on, most of it education-related. I'm fairly exhausted, but I think actually taking over a class full-time (which happens next Friday!) will both exhaust me more and energize me more (since it will be more work, but keep me engaged and on my toes for a large chunk of the day). I have a huge pile of things to accomplish before then, so I suppose I'd better get on that.

Date:	2007-08-27 15:03
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	confused

I went to the dentist today for the first time in...well, a really long time, like at least a year and probably even more than that, and I swear that they have invented even more ways to torture you than before. I've never really had a problem with the dentist (and please remember that I've had a root canal) except when I've had a sadistic hygienist, but when they poke at your gums to see if you have gingivitis? And if they find a problem area, they poke even harder? If I believed in hell, that would be a big part of it.

I'm getting cold feet about going back to school for the first time in my life. I think part of it is that I've really enjoyed this summer, and there probably won't be another one like it because next year my friends are going to start scattering all over the globe. (Literally, the globe. Freaking Spain.) Another major part is anxiety over student teaching and the need to track down recommendations for grad school and turn a relatively crappy paper into a 15+ page critical writing sample that shows that I'm worthy of admission for graduate study. (I have better papers, but they're more just literary analysis than something complex, and I don't think that will work in my favor.) Plus I'm worried about all the relationships I left up in the air when I left school last December and now it is NINE MONTHS later and that is enough time for a baby to be born, let alone for people to change in ways that are no longer compatible. So those are my anxieties.

I love Brandeis. though. The couple of times I've been on campus this summer, it's just felt...homey, even when they're tearing shit up.

The packing it needs to happen now.

Date:	2007-08-22 02:07
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	sleepy
Music:	Hey There Delilah

As complicated or non-existent as my religious life currently is, I wanted to share this blog entry about part of the Yom Kippur liturgy that I've always really liked for reasons that are completely baffling, since on the surface it's depressing and fatalistic and raises enormous philosophical quandaries. And then I had thoughts about tradition and rationalization and the richness of heritage, but I'm too tired to express it all at the moment.

In the past couple days I've caught up with a couple of people I really hadn't talked to since high school, and it was nice. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that summer is pretty much over, particularly since this is my last summer at home. Although I guess I can't be sure of that, since who the heck knows where I'll be next year? I'm feeling a growing desire to stick around here (i.e. Boston area, not my town) because some people I know and care about will be here, but is that a good enough reason? But how is it not a good enough reason?

Life fascinates me. Also, I have about 7 types of tea I will be bringing to school with me. Also, shopping at department stores reminds me of how much amazing kitchen merchandise there is out there, and I would give a great deal for a standing mixer, a George Foreman grill, a food processor, and lots of other incidentals. In case you're looking for wedding gift ideas or anything.

Date:	2007-08-17 18:06
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	indescribable
Music:	Dispatch

I am done with camp. I have no feelings at the moment except for a general state of relief. The panic about the fall will set in in about 48 hours, but I plan to have a rocking weekend with Ariel, the Other Jess, and the Indigo Girls before then. Then I can (and probably should) panic about the GREs and student teaching. On the plus side, I get to go shopping on Monday for teacher clothes, and that's pretty fun, provided I can find something fun and inexpensive. I'm pretty sure "fun" and "inexpensive" aren't usually tied to professional wear, but I'm still a college student, so it's a little different.

Transitions are weird. I mean, that's pretty much the definition, I suppose, but...I think I just don't react well to anything ending. Things beginning are pretty hard, too. I could wax philosophical here and possibly even be inspiring, but I think I'd rather take a shower and wash off the camp grime for the last time.

The Time Traveler's Wife is pretty good, but not as fulfilling as I wanted it to be. I may be asking a book to do too much, but recommendations of good and fulfilling books are welcome. Even though I need to be reading about six books right now for the fall, which is incidentally in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS OMG.

2007 is the year of life experiences and identity crises. I think it's going to be fascinating to look at myself ringing in the new year this year (at Nathaniel's playing Skee-Ball and Scattergories, nervous about going abroad) and next year (after having spent 6 months in a foreign country, been one of the oldest and most experienced people in my unit at camp, and done a test run for my future career).

Also, it is ELUL and the High Holidays are SOON and I am still having a religious identity crisis and don't know what to do about it. The end.

Somehow I am supposed to get ready for the general GRE, plan units for the fall (including units about books I haven't finished reading yet), study for the GRE subject test in literature, conjure a writing sample out of thin air, and figure out what I want to do next year slash with my life, all in the next week in a half to 3 months. And sleep. THIS IS NOT GOOD.

On the plus side, party at my house tomorrow! And the last week of camp! And an Indigo Girls concert Saturday!

I had the most amazing weekend ever. I know it's slightly ridiculous to use that phrase, but...it's true. I do not remember ever having that much fun. Between sleepless overnight train rides, loads of junk food, seeing one of my friends get married, experiencing culture shock in my own country (rural Virginia is quite a trip), drinking from 2 PM to 2 AM on Saturday, encountering the most incredibly random and entertaining situations and characters...I want to try to sum it up, but I just don't think I can capture it. Some highlights do include essentially hitchhiking to the ceremony thanks to a wonderful gentleman named Snakeman, playing a loud game of Apples to Apples on the floor of Union Station at 10 PM surrounded by strangers, dressing up to go the Best Western sports bar for dinner, having Erin's mom deliver a huge slab of wedding cake and two of Erin's army boy friends to our hotel room...nope, I am completely failing to capture the utter fabulousness of the whole thing. I did have to go to work today after getting next to no sleep for four nights running, but it was so worth it. I don't know if I've ever had such an intense bonding experience with some of my friends from high school. It was ridiculous in every sense of the word.

Summer is ending fast, and it's starting to scare me out of my mind, because that means I need to take the GREs, figure out what I want to do about grad school, and get ready for student teaching OMG. I feel like I actually need to be panicking at this point, but I really don't enjoy panicking, so I continue to put it off. Eventually that probably isn't going to work anymore. I am glad that camp is almost over, though. It's a hell of a lot more work and not nearly as fulfilling as I remember (although that could be due to my tendency to idealize the past, I admit). I feel ready to do something a little more substantial with my time.

I do not deal well with the heat. This became overwhelmingly clear when I stepped off the train in Clifton Forge, Virginia (one stop before West Virginia) and thought the heat was a joke. As in someone was playing a joke on me. This was not the case, and I have no idea how people survive that on a daily basis.

One of the radio stations around here has "Whatever Weekend," when they literally play...whatever (from the 80s onward, anyway). I have heard "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night," "Video Killed the Radio Star," "MMMBop," "Summer Love," and am currently listening to a Britney Spears song. The whole thing is a little trippy.

I am on a ginormous Asian food kick, but believe it or not, there are no Asian markets in my town, so I have to live off the Trader Joe's versions of these things. Not to knock Trader Joe's or anything, because we all know how much I love that place.

Part of me wishes I was gutsy/attractive/coordinated enough for Liquid Latex this year. That came out of left field.

Part one of my evening: WCT play directed by one of my close friends
Part two of my evening: HGTV (House Hunters!) and ice cream
Part three of my evening: lemon drop martinis with Leeno and Gretchie
Part three of my evening: LJ? Oh, dear.

( 50 Random Questions )

This is one of those nights where I just don't feel like going to bed because I want to have more fun somehow. Rationally, I know that if I go to bed, I will be more awake to have fun tomorrow.

I had an awesome discussion with my unit head at camp (who works for Boston Public Schools during the year) about where I'd enjoy working in Boston / where I'd be able to handle working in Boston next year, and I am so excited. I think I just didn't realize that pilot schools (public schools doing lots of funky experimental things because the old styles and structures clearly weren't working) actually existed in Boston, and I thought my only option for something like that would be charter schools, which I have seriously philosophical misgivings about. But...Boston Arts Academy! Another Course to College! Brighton High! Fenway High! I'm so excited, and I have succeeded in networking! Hooray! Granted, the chances of finding an English position at one of these schools and actually getting hired for it is rather slim, but I would be so happy--I'd be at an urban school like I want to be, but I'd also feel reasonably safe and like I could handle the challenges I was facing.

So now I continue the grad-school-or-job dilemma... Working means I'd have a real income and be able to decide if I really want to teach long-term, but it also means I'd be stuck in MA for the foreseeable future, which I'm not crazy about (having been here almost non-stop for the past 21 years). Grad school next year means I probably wouldn't be able to go to one of my top-choice schools because I might not have the materials ready for the earlier deadlines (a kick-ass writing sample, for instance, or several upper-level English electives--I can't take any more until the spring). A large part of this is just me being a snob. :) I suppose either alternative would make me happy.

I'm going to be short a counselor today which is going to SUCK, but I will reward myself with a trip to the gym and dinner at Ta'am China (I think I am going to eat chicken yay!). And tomorrow is Friday, which is always happy, and Saturday I will be at the lake, which is also always happy, and Sunday I will see my cousin and Diamante, who we all know is my favorite child.

Also, I ordered a waffle-maker and had it sent to Virginia. Surreal, people. Surreal.

This weekend, I...

fought a raging cold and learned how wonderful Nyquil gel caps can be.

read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and felt a wonderful sense of completion (and other things only to be discussed after everyone has finished reading).

read a trashy romance novel just for fun and found it oddly satisfying. If I thought more about the whole thing it probably would have bruised my soul, but that's why you're not supposed to think too much about them, I think.

ran into three different Brandeis folk in town (most likely due to Ariel, who for some reason runs into people she knows everywhere she goes).

started rearranging my bookshelves and stopped halfway through because I was so exhausted and overwhelmed by the lack of remaining shelf space.

dreaded going to work on Monday. Still doing that, actually.

realized how little of summer break is left OMG PANIC.

decided to potentially have a nearing-the-end-of-summer bbq on August 11? Anyone in town?

The big decision I have to make right now is what to give to my friend Erin for her wedding in a couple of weeks. On their gift registry there is a waffle maker, which is where I'm leaning right now, because it's definitely the coolest thing they asked for. Or should I get something practical that hasn't been purchased yet, because they'll need it and I don't want them to have waffles but no forks or bath towels? It's so weird to buy such practical gifts.

This weekend is going to be a little insane, between spending Friday night with Ariel in Cambridge for Harry Potter Night, staying over there, then making my way home and helping out Elizabeth with the Children's Theater show Saturday night and Sunday. Plus it's imperative that I finish the book by Monday morning so thoughtless children don't ruin it for me.

After tomorrow I will be halfway done with camp! Hooray! I'm missing a day for the wedding, which is a source of tension in my unit. Not my situation specifically, but a bunch of people are going to take days off in the coming weeks, and I don't think my unit head is happy about it. But...hello, my friend's important life event, making sure a dozen plus 6-year-olds get to their daily activities. Somehow I think the former wins, and I don't feel remotely bad about it. Staff meeting v. going out to dinner for my dad's birthday is a tougher call, although my initial reaction is to skip the freaking staff meeting, because the staff meetings are useless, and my dad's birthday is special.

I could go to bed about now and catch up on my sleep, or I could stay up and watch The Wonder Years reruns. I'm pretty sure I'll spring for The Wonder Years.