9/3/07 - the most important thing you'll ever read

September 3, 2007 - Monday

(This may not be the most thrilling blog for people who aren't wanting to know a lot about me, but I wanted to have a place to preserve it. And this seemed a suitable venue!)

8:17 PM - the most important thing you’ll ever read Current mood: bouncy (Yes, I've finally broken down to do one of these!) 10 years ago... 1.) How old were you?: 17 2.) Where did you go to school?: I had just begun my senior year at Milton High School in Alpharetta. This wasn't the quarter of two independent studies, I don't think. That was the best. First period doing an "independent study" in lit mag with Mrs. Davis and last period hanging out on the front lawn with Meggan Harris, Andrea Erlich, and Chris Reardon during our respective TAG independent studies. (I was doing women's lit.) That was the best quarter ever. 3) Where did you work? I had eschewed what I'd considered the dorkiness of babysitting, favoring instead to hit up my bottomlessly-pocketed father so I could hang out at Starbucks with my friends. Truly, though, I had a hectic school and play schedule much of the time. I was a little social butterfly kitty when not doing school or clubs or theatre. 4) Where did you live?: The perfectly cultivated, beautiful but beastly monstrosity we call Windward. The older part. On the lake in the "weathered New England fishing village" called "The Spinnakers." If you don't know what I mean, I'm sorry. I'll break it down briefly: Mobil (yes, the gas company) owns several huge developments across the country, developments spanning several highway exits that encompass large geographical features around which the subdivisions develop. We had manmade Lake Windward, created in/from/on/around Alpharetta's wetlands. When I moved in in 1993, The Spinnakers was the second or third of 17 subdivisions within Windward. When I left it was one of 32. And counting. The place is HUGE. 5.) Where did you hang out?: Village Playhouses of Roswell (even if i wasn't doing a play, I'd hang out there a lot), Starbucks on Alpharetta Highway & Mansell Rd. (best/easiest place for me to meet up with Lieeish, Dallas, and Peyton since we didn't all go to the same h.s. or live nearby--plus we had an affection for long, aimless, hilarious conversation and had nowhere else to go), Dallas's house, Kate's house, Kim's, etc. 6.) Did you wear glasses?: I did once in awhile. I'd just gotten them in summer of '97 for driving. I wore them in that one senior picture where I have the baby blue tank top on and my hair is freshly dyed blond and I have pudgy not-quite-grown-up-face. It's cute but cheesy. 7.) Who was your best friend?: I had lots, as usual. Kate, Kim, Dallas, Lieeish, Peyton, Apy, Sarah C., Tapey, Proph, and many others I'm neglecting to even mention. 8.) How many tattoos did you have?: zero 9.) How many piercings did you have? I think by then I had two in each ear. Maybe three in one, two in the other. Maybe just two and two. Yes, as I recall, it was at least two and two. I'd begged my mom for years for that second hole and she'd said no, not a chance in hell. But suddenly one of her younger sisters up and got the second set o' holes poked and that made it okay!! 10) What car did you drive? Um, I think by then I was driving hte '96 black Nissan 200SX-SER that I drove on and off until a couple years ago when I sold it to a friend. 11.) Had you been to a real party? No. I was angelic. -----------5 years ago----------- 1.) How old were you?: 22. 2.) Where did you go to school? I had finished my undergrad at NYU in May of that year (2002) and was living in Lake Worth, FL (Palm Beach County) doing Literacy*AmeriCorps. 3.) Where did you work? Toussaint L'Ouverture High School for Arts & Social Justice. I was a tutor & literacy advocate there for L*AC (see above). 4.) Where did you live?: Lake Worth, FL 5.) Where did you hang out? At my apartment (Count de Hoernle Student Village..ew. In the ghettooooo...), at South Shore or Dave's, at the beach, in Delray, or at my parents' two hours north. I didn't really go out much. I was pooped a lot. I did enjoy driving on A1A. 6.) Did you wear glasses?: Occasionally. 7.) Who was your best friend?: Um, lots of people far and near. 8.) How many tattoos did you have?: Zero. 9.) How many piercings did you have?: Ears (3 in one, 2 in the other), belly (oh why?) and the never-placed tongue piercing (why part II?). 10.) What car did you drive? Same ol' black 1996 Nissan 200 SX-SER 11.) Had your heart broken?: yes, you could say that. 12.) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorce?: Single Sally, with no local prospects in sight and only an occasional faraway crush to keep me entertained once in awhile. ----------------2 years ago------------------- 1.) How old were you?: 25 2.) Where did you go to school?: I was beginning my second year of my M.Ed. in gifted & creative education at UGA. 3.) Where did you work?: I was the editorial assistant at the _Journal for Secondary Gifted Education_ and also a research assistant on a bibliotherapy project. And a babysitter. And a Ropes course facilitator. 4.) Where did you live? The Purple Pagoda!! 5.where did you hang out?: The Dub-P, the Manhattan, ERC, Hot Corner, 283, Caledonia, 40 Watt, anywhere with Siobhan or Tamara or Nancy or Bethany or Daniel or Denise or _______* (insert fun favorite Athens friends here...I'm tired of listing.) 6.) Did you wear glasses?: Yes, frequently. 7.) Who was your best friend? This feels like a silly question. All the former people combined plus the new Athens folks I'd acquired. 8.) How many tattoos did you have? Stop asking me this. The answer will always be no. 9.) How many piercings did you have? Same as at age 22. 10.) What car did you drive? I think this was the last time period during which I drove the black Nissan deluxe. 11.) Had your heart broken?: Not since the last time I'd mentioned. 12.) Were you Single/Taken/Married/Divorce?: Single Sally McGee. --------------------Today-------------------- 1.) How old are you?: 27 3.) Where do you work? Athens Regional Library (storyteller) Clarke County Dept of Ed (tutor) Babysitter 4.) Where do you live? Purple Pagoda (in Addieville!) 5.) Do you wear glasses?: I wish! Mine are missing a lens. Need new ones but need money first. 6.) Where do you hang out?: Flicker. Home. Parties if I can take it. Flicker some more. My room some more. Liz's before she up and LEFT ME. With Jim. Downtown. The usual. 7.) Do you talk to your old friends? Yes, but I've been beating myself up about how infrequent it's become. I guess others could call me more frequently, too, bu t still. I feel bad. 8.) Who is your best friend?: Don't make me choose just one! I've never liked that, even from a very early age. 9.) How many piercings do you have: why reverse the order of tattoos & piercings questions now? 10.) How many tattoos?: zero, fools! 11.) What kind of car do you have? Perma-borrowing my dad's 2003 Acura 2003 RSX. 12.) Has your heart been broken? Not since you last checked in on me. 13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorce?: Taken like a bandit in the night. Currently listening : Alligator By The National Release date: By 03 April, 2006 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Jerry

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9/26/06 -where is my mind?

September 26, 2006 - Tuesday

2:24 PM - where is my mind? No one here would argue with me when I say that I can be moderately spacey from time to time, but two events in the past four days have made me ask myself where the hell my mind is--hence the musical subject line. On Saturday, I went to the grocery store after working a half day at the Ropes course. Thrilled to be feeling energetic, I zipped around Kroger, filling my cart with yummy sustenance (la nourriture, as Kelli M. is wont to say) and ending up at the pharmacy to pick up some meds. I reached into my bag to fetch the much-needed, overly used American Express charge card when I had an unpleasant revelation: my credit card, as well as my credit card and my license, was not in my bag. I felt like a senile old lady as I asked the kind sir stocking (stalking?!) yogurt if he could assist me; he offered to put the entire cart in the gigantic behind-the-scenes dairy cooler while I drove home to retrieve my funds. Thirty minutes later, I got back. The embarrassment flushed my face pink for just a few seconds, to be honest--what really got me was how flighty I'd been. As I said, I can be absent-minded from time to time, but come on! And then today I went to transfer my cards from my purse to my pocket when I noticed that my debit card wasn't among them. "Well," thought I, "I'm sure that after I deposited my meager babysitting check last night I just put the card in my pocket instead of back into my purse." A couple hours later, I put my laptop on my lap (fancy that) and logged into my facebook account. Some stranger by the name of M. Duckworth (ha!) had messaged me to say that he had found an ATM card in the Bank of America machine downtown--was it mine? What is wrong with me? Someone needs a nap. Or a vacation. Or no more naps. Or no more vacations. Or something. A slap in the face? The job I went to apply for today was filled yesterday. My breakfast date was canceled but ended up being rescheduled for later. Tomorrow I have lunch with my former adviser/prof, Bonnie. Excitement. Then the Darfur meeting. Thursday and Friday mornings = babysitting cute children. Thursday daytime I'll be driving on I-85. Yessssss. This means I'll see a boy I like soon. Smiles all around. Friday Carly & Robbie will be in town to visit!! It's no big AmeriCorps reunion, but it's still really pleasing to this here lassie. Currently listening : Magnolia Electric Co. By Songs: Ohia Release date: By 04 March, 2003 5 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

	Crystal	I know how you feel. Somehow I managed to leave the house without my cell phone today! Fortunately, we have been reunited. Posted by Crystal on September 26, 2006 - Tuesday at 3:22 PM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Katie	Don't feel bad Bummy... I consider myself completely non-spacey but I do things like this ALL THE TIME! I blame it on being a teacher and being required to think of too many things at a time. Posted by Katie on September 26, 2006 - Tuesday at 7:40 PM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Joe	The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn't hard to master. Then practice losing farther, losing faster: places, and names, and where it was you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster. I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or next-to-last, of three loved houses went. The art of losing isn't hard to master. I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster, some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent. I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster. --Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident the art of losing's not too hard to master though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster. -Lizzy Bishop Posted by Joe on September 27, 2006 - Wednesday at 6:05 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Pete	Today I looked out my front door ... and my bike was gone! "How... it was locked ... what the hell?" Then I remembered: I'd ridden it to work yesterday, then forgot, and walked home. You think YOU'RE spacy? Posted by Pete on September 28, 2006 - Thursday at 8:37 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

jh

yesterday i put an 8 ft. ladder on my boss's truck rack. we drove about three miles until we reached a speed that forced the 30 lb. ladder into flight right into the path of an oncoming truckasaurus. you see, i forgot to tie the damn thing down. luckily only the ladder was demolished as it landed flatly in the truck's path and it ran over. i narrowly escaped a disaster as only seconds before the truck my boss's wife passed by us in her volvo. the volvo would have been fucked! lucky i only had to fork over $90 and by my boss a new ladder. (no, i wasn't stoned....i had NO excuse). Posted by jh on October 4, 2006 - Wednesday at 1:56 PM

a lament for lost time

July 24, 2006 - Monday

7:31 PM - a lament for lost time The title of this is all wrong. It's not a lament, merely an ode to time passed, a time past. A few minutes ago, I emerged from a cold-induced sleep, all sniffly nosed, to look up insurance information, knowing that when my official August 5th graduation hits I'll need a plan to cover me until I get a so-called real job at that unforeseeable day in the future. My AmeriCorps supervisor, the amazing Audrey (you know you can vouch for her), had notified us long ago about a really cheap plan we'd be eligible for, and my goal was to find the original email in which she mentioned this insurance. What I found instead was that I was swept up into a pleasant wave of memories, a world in which I accumulated service hours gleefully, working my way towards my required 1700 and not really wanting to do much work unless it would help garner more credit towards that ultimate goal. There were emails among Piroska, Liz, and me as we sat around during break time at work (for me, time in the summer when my kids wouldn't show up)--hilarious emails. Lots of emails from Audrey in which we planned when and where to meet for our downtown Delray Beach lunches. I had forgotten about my strolls around beautifully landscaped Delray Beach, where I'd take my hour or so to use my under-the-poverty-line income (which seemed like riches) to buy myself a smoothie at Nutrition Cottage and then wander around the art store, staring at the pens so intensely that they probably had their security cameras homed in on me. When I lived in Florida for AmeriCorps, it was my entire life; it was so hard to keep in touch with anyone outside of the program because each minute of my day was taken up with AC activities and events and (god help us) drama. Maybe I spent so much time during that year being fully absorbed in it that I don't have as much of a need to look back on it as frequently. Reading those everyday emails just took me back to another world certainly did bring a happy tear to my eye, however, while also reminding me of this everyday life I have in Athens may one day seem faraway and distant. For now, let's live it up. Tonight's Tapey's & Kyle's last Team Social Work as full-time residents. I will not focus on the utter sadness of this and instead get my first shower in many, many, many hours.

5/24/06 - a throwback to the good ol' days...

May 24, 2006 - Wednesday

2:58 AM - a throwback to the good ol' days... Current mood: annoyed When I lived in Lake Worth, Florida, my AmeriCorps friends & I inhabited a little slice o' hell (okay, I'm being dramatic--how'd you guess?) called Count de Hoernle Student Village. Each and every night, the bass boomed and the residents yelled until all hours of the night. Suzanne may have the fondest memories of the Scary Next Door Neighbor Who Actually WAS Crazy and Beat Up His Own Boom Box in the Parking Lot. Liz may recall the night we went outside patrolling the complex for the person whose car horn would not stop continously honking in this awful, awful tone. We were warned by smarter, less sleep-deprived comrades that pounding on the door of the suspect, a known drug dealer, and cursing mercilessly might not be the best course of action. Though I've gotten used to the now-quaint trains as they rumble their way past Addieville each and every night (and by night I mean hour), I am not used to human beings keeping me awake past the hour of say, oh, eleven p.m. It's 3 AM and my nice but loud neighbor plus the dude who seems to be his new roommate (ugggghhh) are entertaining an equally boisterous ladyfriend. They are yelling and wooing and, believe it or not, talking about everyday, mundane things on the front porch. Here's the problem: the decibel level is out of this world. There is no reason on earth any human should talk this loudly to another. It is a quiet summer night, yet they project their voices and laughter as if they are in a crowded club. It's so much fun for me since my three big, ultra-thin bedroom windows are just feet away from said front porch! I can't wait to assume the role of Crotchety Old Neighbor again. At least here in Addieville I don't actually fear that I might find my tires or arm slashed for speaking up. O, Count de Hoernle Student village! I do not miss you much at all right now....