Friday 5

Wow! It was a short week since I had all three days off.

1. My computer bit the dust this week and I had to buy a new one. It definitely was stressful, but I bought one at the store so that I’d get it right away. It’s all shiny and updated. It’s amazing how different things are after just 4 years. And, although a lot of people complain about Office 2007, as long as you remember to save down, it’s pretty cool. I like the new toolbars on top.

2. It’s just 2 weeks until senior summers school begins and I’m getting pretty nervous. I hope that it will all be ready in time.

3. It’s finally starting to feel like summer, so we got our bedroom air conditioners installed. Except, the rest of this week (save today) have been cold!

4. I’ve started packing and slowly moving stuff back into my parent’s house in preparation for that transition. It’s 2 months there, and then onto Chicago. Yay!

5. Speaking of school, I received the first mailing this week from the Div School. And it had info about the Biblical Hebrew class, which I’ll be taking. I got so excited. I just can’t wait!!!!

in the news…

I don’t post news/political commentary often…but there’s some really great news from Roosevelt University in Chicago today and I just had to share. I think it’s a shame that undocumented US residents don’t have easy access to education and a lot of other things I take for granted because I have a social security number/driver’s license/US passport. This is a bold statement from an educational institution.

Taking a stand on free rides

Roosevelt University is stepping into the strident debate over illegal immigration with a plan to offer full scholarships to graduates of a new city high school — regardless of their immigration status.

University President Chuck Middleton says the initiative is consistent with Roosevelt’s founding principles after World War II, when it refused to impose then-common enrollment quotas on blacks and Jews.

“I’m prepared to advocate for what I think is right,” Mr. Middleton says. “Everybody should be doing this.”

But his argument will be a tough sell to opponents of liberalizing U.S. immigration laws, among them James Oberweis, the dairy owner and Republican candidate in the 14th congressional district. A private institution like Roosevelt is free to do what it wants, Mr. Oberweis says, “but I don’t think it’s a good policy for us to give special advantages to someone who is here illegally.”

Friday 5

It’s Friday! Yay! I have a whole weekend off (including Monday)

1. Happy Birthday Daddy!

2. I’m dogsitting this weekend and I can’t wait to play with the puppy.

3. I’m hosting my friend from Chicago (via Baltimore) this weekend. I can’t wait to hang out on Sunday! And bring her to Bratfest! Because every Memorial Day visitor to Madtown should see this spectacle.

4. I filled out my load paperwork and my housing paperwork. I’m going to be in University Housing. I don’t have time to go and visit Hyde Park apartments, because of my jobs.

5. In Gilmore Girls, we’ve finally reached the point where we’ve seen the episodes. This is both fun and disappointing. But, we still love the series. And, maybe, we’ll start watching Degrassi afterwards!

Touched

Today at work one of my not-so-talkative regulars asked me if I was going to be there on Friday. I said yes, and asked why. She told me that it will be her last day, she’s taking a sabbatical this summer (I think she works for UW police or something) and then having surgery and then another vacation. She wanted to be able to say goodbye to me on her last day on this side of town.

You know, I don’t talk much anymore about the ‘bux. After a year and some even the weird things seem kind of routine. But, it really touched me that she wanted to say goodbye. I hope I’ll be there in the drive-thru on Friday.

Tomorrow

I got home from work about 15 minutes ago (10:45 PM). I’m by myself this weekend, my sister is with her friends in Des Moines. I just looked at the TV schedule for tomorrow–planning my morning. I am so excited that I get to watch CBS Sunday morning, I think it’s one of the best written news shows on TV (and very documentary). And then, at 10, I can start watching Degrassi: The Next Generation. I’m addicted. It’s actually a very good  teen drama. I’m trying to figure out how to fit in the gym…into my TV watching schedule. I have to play for a graduation at 1…kind of funny that this is what I’m thinking about. Because I’m not a very big TV viewer.

Friday 5

1. One is the number of times I’ve gotten to sleep past 7 this week (and that means that I got up earlier, sometimes lots and lots earlier!)

2. Two are the number of times I’ve been in Chicago in the last week (Saturday and Wednesday).

3. Now, I’ll stop being silly. Well, kind of, because 2 are the number of times that I was stood up at various apartment viewings on Wednesday. One, the person didn’t write it down. And 2, she was actually getting a chemo treatment when I called to find out why she wasn’t there. I felt very bad, and eventually her son came to show me the 2 apartments.

4. Needless to say, I didn’t find anything I really liked. I do have a lead on a building/managment company that could be good. But, of course, I wasn’t planning on going back into Chicago until after my summer job ends. I might have to see if I can convince a friend to check the apartments out for me.

5. I like that the trees are green, but I’m not so excited about how much pollen is in the air. Aaaachoo!

Musing on Composting

When I moved to Maine, I became roommates with two fabulous Salt alums. Somehow, after my brief visit a month or so earlier, I decided that they composted. I’m not sure why I made that decision, perhaps it was out of longing. But, they really didn’t have much of a yard behind the lovely 3-flat. So, I asked where I should put my compost? And my roommate was startled and said that they didn’t compost. At the time I was embarrassed and a little weirded out by my desire to compost. But, now, I realize that I’ve been composting off and on for most of my life. We frequently composted for our gardens growing up. And I had just been at my parent’s house, where we most definitely brought out our plant products to the composter. So, I guess it was habitual.

And at Smith, we composted at the Kosher Kitchen. And in Chicago, I would compost when visiting a coop or such. If I lived somewhere with a garden or easy access to a larger composter, I would love to do it again.

Friday 5

Sorry I’ve been gone for a week, things have just been busy around here.

1. I got my new prescription sunglasses, and I’m so happy that I’m able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine without squinting.

2. I finished the first big project at my new job, which made me frantic. It feels good to have it done. And it was an enjoyable project–planning the trips for the summer.

3. I realized the importance of exercise last week when I went all week without a gym visit. There’s something to be said for those endorphins! They definitely keep me calm.

4. Hebrew school ended on Wednesday without much of an ado. I really enjoyed my class of 7th graders and am looking forward to the challenge of teaching 8th grade in the fall.

5. I’m going to Chicago twice in the next week. Tomorrow for my friend’s nursing school graduation and on Wednesday to sign some papers, meet up with a Smith friend, and do some preliminary apartment hunting.

Transitional Life

I went to the eye doctor yesterday for an exam (which took 2 hours!). And at the end, they wanted to make an appointment for next year, but I had to tell them that I’d be in Chicago, at grad school, and using different insurance. So, I’ll have to find someone there.

Living the transitional life is weird/uncomfortable sometimes. When things are ending, like they do as summer approaches, it’s emphasized. The parents ask me what I’ll be teaching next year, and I say that I’ll be teaching in Chicago, actually, because I’ll be in grad school. The next dentist appointment I have will be my last in Madison. That physical I had in January will be the only Madison-based physical. This is the last May I’ll experience in this apartment. I will never have to work another winter at Starbucks in the drive-thru. I won’t be playing with the community band again. It’s all exciting, but I can’t wait until I know that I’ll be somewhere for more than 1 or 2 years, and can say “sure” I’ll take the dentist appointment on May 5 or schedule the yearly appointment now, with pleasure.” Or use my own address as my “permanent” address.