It's the end of January already?

How did this happen? At least February is the month of birthdays including Erin, my mom and myself. Now if only I knew what I wanted and what I should get them I would have thi

Things I should do:
1) Figure out my taxes
2) Stop showing up for my internship
3) Apply to all the jobs I've looked at on Idealist.org
4) Clean my room
5) Possibly start looking into grad school

Things I keep doing:
1) Being busy at work and yet still not learning much new
2) Going to my internship
3) Helping out the PSA kids, because I don't want to grow up
4) Watching the new Dr. Who with Grams (which is awesome)


*See above* "Things I should do: 5) Possibly start looking into grad school"

Even Grams (she usually does not question my actions) has been asked about me currently not being in grad school, when a year ago that's what I was talking about doing. Clearly the riffraff at Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative ("DSNI" where she is on the board) is a bad influence on her. Sorry folks I'm just not ready for grad school.

Eating out, work movies:

Sorry about the lack of posting! I've been actually busy at work, though not doing anything actually interesting. I forget if I mentioned that I got a bonus and a raise, which are things that I thought were myths, but in fact, are real! So I'll be staying at the waffle factory a little longer, if for nothing else but the pay.

Julie and I meant to write about an incident a few weeks ago, but we both clearly have not until now. We tried to arrange a group outing to the new South End restaurant Myer's and Chang, the brain child of two engaged, well known chefs in the Boston area. Sadly, Jay and Laura ended up having plague, Krishna had to work and Jason was out of town, only Julie, Jarred and I were around to go, and we decided to persevere! It was a warm and seemingly quite Sunday night around 7:00pm when we arrived at Myer's and Chang, it was surprisingly busy but they quickly found us a table and provided us with water. We ordered our entrees and appetizers promptly and then we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, Julie's entree came, then a while later our appetizers came, which were too little food for the price that they were, even in the South End. By now it had been at least and hour and Jarred was beginning wilt and started talking about the amazing dinner he and Julie had at Gaslight the week before. Jarred and I must have both looked pityingly at Julie because she got up and told our waiter to bring the bill because we decided to just go. We felt bad and awkward but we all realized we just couldn't stay. We assumed they'd be quick to bring the check so we could go but instead someone who I assume was our manager came over asked us to stay again, and then when we were adamant about leaving, gave us a gift card for, hopefully, the next time we went there. Then our waiter came over and said what we had had so far was on the house, so we left! Feeling slightly guilty but overwhelmed by hunger we ended up going to Gaslight, which had quite tasty and only somewhat expensive food, with acceptable portions. Oh and I had escargot for the first time and it was delicious (who knew?)!

We had an adventure and now an incentive to give Myers and Chang a second chance but perhaps only if Jay will dye Julie and my hair so we can go incognito.

Not a whole lot is going on otherwise. I'm helping out the PSA kids despite having graduated. We're working with the Law Schools National Lawyers Guild chapter and some new undergrads have actually started coming to meetings, and helped us table, and are nice (ie: not like Creepy Chris from last year, YAY!).

I signed myself up for too much work at my internship by accident, (which I need to leave soon), so in two weeks from now I'll be super busy and probably not happy with myself, but after that I'm telling them I'm done, nicely, so that they don't hate me....

On a better note I have had a good weekend, taking care of sick Jason and then going to brunch with Erin and Carlotta and a bunch of her friends/friends of friends.

Now I am mentally preparing myself for the cold, cold week ahead, brrrrr!

A Holiday Season in Review

Sorry This took so long but I have finally remembered to upload pics from holidays past.

We made apple cider on Thanksgiving, it was delicious, here are Mack and Steph in the beginning stages:


Stephanie dutifully grinds the apples:





























Me and my sister!


The whole family:














They look so Gothic...



















After you grind the apples you have to actually press the apples so the cidery part come out.
Man power and cheese cloth are necessary for this step.














Steph and Tom outside the next day:
















This is Peter and Nicole in the outfits Jesse and I made for them for the Recycled Fashion show.



Tree Trimming at Gramma's!
Here's Steph modeling Gram's super sophisticated garlands for the tree:



















Done decorating. It went pretty quick with the help of Erin and Jason.
As usual the funny faces abound.















There are more pictures that hypothetically I'll post later but I must go do actual work now!

Over heard on the bus:

"Oh yeah, I need to go to that Target place you keep talking about. I've never been there."

Um...what?

Listing to the Left

The irony of my "real" job is that I make lists that are useless. They are useless to me because I garner no satisfaction from making these lists. These lists are great for my boss who is able to contact vast quantities of potential customers as a result. Unfortunately, for me these lists are never ending making any sense of accomplishment short lived and thus unsatisfying.

The "office" is shoe optional and I rarely have to show up before 10:30am which currently are acceptable trade-offs for having to make lots of lists.

Friday to Sunday

Friday:
Secret Snowflake and Christmas/holiday party at my internship and also the Recycled Fashion show put on by the Students for Environmental Action at NU (in afterhours).

Secret Snowflake: Yay official awkward holiday time! I got a blank book, woo!

The Recycled Fashion show which, of course, I will post pics of later. Jesse did most of the sewing, since every time I try to use the sewing machine something goes wrong. She made a vest made out of tote bags and a slip, a collard shirt made out of this crazy pair of silk pants, and a skirt made out of ties. I made a belt from an old bag strap, bottle caps and keyboard keys, a pair of sandals with cardboard and tie pieces, and a shirt with sequins on it made from bottles and cans. Jesse already makes bags by knitting the plastic of disposable plastic grocery bags together so she had a bag for one outfit and she made a tie for the other outfit. She also makes earrings from soda cans, which she got to sell a bunch of after the show. They are really cool and don't look like they are "recycled" unless you know to look for it.

Saturday:
Tree trimming was postponed!

Next Saturday will be the ultimate holiday extravaganza that is tree decorating at Gramma's house. I still need to find time some day this week to put the lights up because the (fake) tree is so tall it takes about 7 – 8 long strands of (Gramma's choice) white lights.

Instead I went to a meeting with the PSA, the union and the janitors at 6:00am (!) and then then went back to bed and finally went to Tufts with Jason, after delicious Indian Buffet.

I have something important to tell everyone:

I am a Traveler IQ Challenge-aholic on facebook. I go on binges where I need to look up the countries, and capitals of the world. I suppose it would be worse, since I'm actually learning stuff (really re-learning because I knew all this in 7th grade and have since forgotten it).

I spent the whole time at Tufts playing the game, finally achieving the top score of my friends. (YES!)

Sunday:

Today was an excellent day because I got to have brunch with Erin, Julie, Jared, Jason, Jay, and Krishna at the Otherside (Emo) Cafe. The home fries were devoid of curry and the biscuits weren't put in the panini press which made this meal less pretentious and more delicious that the last time I was at The Emo. It was great to catch up with Jay and Julie who I haven't seen in forever. Seeing Erin was similarly fabulous but I talk to her on the "gchats" on a semi regular basis.

Then Jason left us to go study at Tufts, Julie and Jared went to have their own tree decorating time and Erin, Jay, Krishna and I went to several crafty-fairs. I couldn't admit this to myself before but I realize that I like going to these places not to buy things but to get ideas about what to make for other people. I'm such a bad capitalist. I also like to give people gifts that are what they need, or are incredibly useful (thus usually something they need) or something I've made (since why should I pay for something that isn't useful...that's just economics right?). Yes folks, I'm that person that asks for socks every Christmas and really means it (especially if they are made from alpaca fur, so soft and warm!) So I didn't buy anything today but I have some good ideas, like jewelry made out of bottle caps, ornament balls that come apart like those russian dolls and...well I can't spoil anymore now can I?

Now I am in the Tufts GIS computer lab with Jason because 1) he's working on finals, 2) I don't have a working computer at my house, and 3) I've been trying to be here for moral support for Jason since he started grad school last year [AND 4) now that I've finally met his new friends, who are all here, I've decided they're pretty cool and worth hanging out with more]. They are really a critical mass of cool people that get along and help each other out, which seems like the ideal scenario at grad school. It seems like the same critical mass that smacked the Box Office in it's luscious ass a few years ago and how I feel the PSA was for me.

I'm also excited because Laura will be back in 6 days, just in time for the holidays which is SUPER exciting, especially because the Hob Bobblin will also be in the, sort of, the northeast.

What's new:

Not much is new actually.

At my internship they asked if I could help them phone bank. I said yes because I knew it would only be for one shift, otherwise, I would have a receipt for my soul. I've done "calling" before, but always to ask people to "take action" never to actually give money. I made $60 and now I'm done thank goodness.

Tree trimming at Gramma's is this Saturday and Steph will be in town for it hopefully it'll be a lot of fun as always! Complete with lots of fooooood, including amazing Gramma baked goods. Jason may even make an appearance (since there will be food).

Otherwise, besides the fact that, if this is possible, my bedroom seems even colder than last winter, nothing else is new.