Friday 5

1. The week began with our final. I passed. That’s all. Moving on.

2. Then we began orientation. Lots and lots of orientation. And honestly, it’s boring. And honestly, although I know I need to meet people/make friends. It’s overwhelming.

3. If I have to have the “where are you from” “what are you studying” conversation one more time, I’m going to make up a laminated card and hand it to people. And I didn’t realize that I’d be on the later side of 20s than most people. I’m glad though that I waited until I was sure I knew what I wanted to do with my life.

4. In some ways, this week, I’ve had to reaffirm, mentally, my life choices. (cryptic I know). And it forced me to remember why I made certain decisions. It’s good to do that once in a while.

5.This week hasn’t been the best. Car incident on Monday, too much orientation the rest of the week. I can’t wait for school to start, so that I feel that it all has truly begun.

It’s Time for 5

I missed Friday, so here goes.

1. I have my Hebrew final on Monday, which means that I’ll be done with the intensive part of the class. I’m so glad, it wasn’t my ideal learning setting. I did like the teacher.

2. Today I went Northwest, to my old stomping grounds. First to Roscoe Village for a hair cut. Yay! although my sister says it looks like hers. Then to Targe and the old Logan Square house where we sat on the patio and ate dinner listening to the loud mariechi-esque music coming from across the alley. It was nice.

3. I’ve been wishing for my porch/deck this weekend. I’ve been trying to study and look down at the apartment’s side yard, wondering how appropriate it’d be to set up by the leaning fence with my books. Deciding no.

4. Last weekend I had a wonderful time with my sister. We did it all. We went to Chinatown and had a delicious lunch and walked around in the rain. We went to Millenium Park. It was raining so much that the water was just streaming down the stairs. She took some good pictures though. We met my friends at Borders, where we were able to watch the Joffrey dancers rehearse across the street. And then, she won $25 Wicked tickets. So, of course, we HAD to go. And we had amazing, 2nd row seats and it was incredible to watch everything so up close (last time it was so far away) and see the details. Loved it! And that was it. She hung my pictures for me while I was teaching. Thank you! And I miss her this weekend.

5. I went to the “famed” Medici this week. It was lovely on the patio. I walked a lot. I have not gone to the lake. And that seems strange, since I am so drawn to water. This coming week is orientation, so I’ll have more time.

Friday 5

It’s that time again….

1. My sister is coming to visit tonight. Below are our plans:

2. Festival hopping (if the weather cooperates) on Saturday to the Chinatown Moon Festival and the Celtic Fest  were we’ll watch sheep herding in the afternoon and come back (or stay down) for The Great Big Sea at night.

3. Hopefuly checking out the band of our childhood friend (our parents were all in a havurah together). Last time I saw her (she’s a year or so older than me) was when I was 11 and a half. We sat in lawn chairs and discussed the fact that I was moving. (we had known each other all of our lives, basically).

4. We’re also going to have pancakes for breakfast…I bought blueberries and hang some pictures. I can’t wait.

5. Hebrew is chugging along. It’s not fun, but something I’ve got to do. I’m enjoying the smaller “get to know you” group that Hebrew affords. But, I’m looking forward to meeting everybody. (and for intensive Hebrew to be over).

Oh, and welcome to all of my new Div School classmates that have googled the school and landed on my blog. My life isn’t that interesting, but feel free to hang around for the ride.

Friday 5

I’m trying to get back in the saddle with this blog since I will be having all sorts of new experiences again.

1. Biblical Hebrew is taking up all my mornings right now and some afternoons. I like the teacher, but the subject, taught this way, is boring. It’s like math, and I don’t like math. I am swallowing it, though, since it is a means to an end (reading the Torah and understanding it).

2. Acquiring landline/internet is a continuing saga that has required multiple calls to ATT. My phone line wasn’t hooked up as promised…outside the building! Then the internet wouldn’t work. Now the internet works but not with the filter, so I must get a new one. And then, I need to see if I can get the wireless router to work with the modem as well. Such trouble! but it will be wonderful when it is all set up.

3. I’m sitting in my chair facing the window and really enjoying the fact that I had a tree in my window. It provides a pretend “I’m not in the city” feel. But, I do wish that I had more light in my apartment. This is the first apartment I have ever had with so little light.

4. I get to see my friends tomorrow night. Very exciting to have “real” friends again. looking forward to it, and looking forward to E (waves!) coming home from Paris too!

5. I almost walked to the lake today, but ended up at the grocery store checking out the prices (seriously!) and looking for quinoa.  I couldn’t find it. I’ll take a trip to Trader Joes tomorrow.

It’s still Friday, Let’s try a Friday 5

1. Summer program:The 2nd session is over, which means that I only have 4 weeks left. I can’t wait!

2. Summer program: I did win them over, the seniors that is, for about a day. One of the toughest kissed me on the cheek. The self-proclaimed “mayor” thanked me 4 times for his birthday cake. And the one who “isn’t a complainer, but…” appreciated her very own bathmat, which she won’t share with her sweetheart of a roommate. “I use wipes and bleach and stuff. I keep very clean.”

3. We’re getting humid here now and the the floods have resulted in monster sized mosquitos. I haven’t been to a state park yet! I can’t wait until August, I hope that it’s nice then…

4. Dropping my hours at the ‘bux has been positive because I have more patience, I think. And I don’t dread it so much. It’s been negative because I kind of feel out of the loop. But that may just be because my head is so full of programming stuff and the staff changeovers.

5. When I live with my parents I definitely always have this strange not depressed/not melancholy disconnectedness with the world. Every time. I can’t get around it.

I do have to say that I’ve made some friends with the seniors. I will probably see some in Chicago this fall. And, on Sunday, this awesome pair of program directors will be staffing. Which means that I will have more time to breathe. And I’ve already packed my Wednesday afternoon full, coincidentally, in anticipation.

Friday 5

I’m actually going to do it! This Friday Five is a day in the life of a senior summer school program coordinator.

Day: Today

1. Go to starbucks at 5AM, work until 10 AM. Clean out the milk refrigerator, sit on floor of walk in fridge and scrub frantically at permanent white spots (did the milk bleach the refrigerator?) Frantically brew coffee, and try to hear drink orders (I swear that when I’m in cafe I can’t hear a thing).

2. Come home. See email from Pres. (soon to depart) of company saying call in the office (he’s back from vacation!) Call. He’s not in yet. Decide to fall asleep and hope that he’ll call in a half hour. Wake up to his phone call nearly 1/2 hour later. Vent about how crazy/horrible it is to have the building the program is in sold and all my contacts gone. Vent about new VP of marketing that wasn’t the greatest find/went over my head/stepped on my toes.

3. Get dressed and drive into work. Get lost in hometown because woke up too early/had to find an alternate route. Finally arrive.

4. It’s 12:39 and lunch (free for me!) is over in 20 minutes. Make a beeline for the dining room. Enter room. Dining manager stops me to talk about management changes (thankfully not in the dining room) and lend her support (she’s awesome!). While talking, a whole table of “students” call my name. I signal 1 minute. After discussion with manager, I go make my sandwich. One major complainer from the table comes and talks to me. They want my opinion of a restaurant. I give it. I meet a program director as I head to a table to eat by myself (she’s already eaten). We chat, I eat alone.

5. I strategize with program directors. Print signs. Help load people onto bus for tour of Monona terrace. Meet maintenance guy in classroom who has a better/alternative mike set-upc (yay!). Meet new property manager. Not impressed. Noodle around with future sessions’ schedule. Eat dinner. Help set up diva instructor. He speaks to me nicely. Victory! Strategize about little bus trips (free) to local attractions/necessities for next week. Pack up computer. Go home. Put in laundry. Watch a little TV. Here I am!

no Friday 5

I wasn’t inspired this week. It’s been busy with the senior summer school coming up in just a week! ah! and moving and the heat/really strange weather that’s moving across the country.

We’re just trying to stay cool, get stuff done and sell the couch.

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!!!!

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!

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!