what’s new

What I’ve been up to, only in order of when I remembered it.

1. I had a great birthday on Sunday with a trip to longwood gardens, with my lovely girlfriend. She got me a Mr. Bento lunchbox! It’s like a thermos, but for food!
2. I had my first outing with my ‘little brother’. We played football for an hour in the park.
3. Spent a weekend at my dad’s just hanging out. We celebrated my birthday, Angela’s, and my step-mother’s brother’s birthday.
4. I gave my dad some old-school shaving gear, including a safety razor from the year he was born, a brush, and shaving soap. I then taught him how to shave.
5. We had a great steak dinner, complete with cake, at my mom’s for Angela’s and my birthday.
6. I’ve been volunteering at Manna, helping to package meals for people too sick to cook.
7. I built a bookshelf
8. I started re-doing the floor upstairs with leftover laminate flooring. Unfortunately, there was not enough to finish the job, so I must wait for extra to come in to the store.
9. I had an interview for a permanent job at GSK. I think I like what I am doing more now, but if the offer is better…..
10. My contract has been extended until next August with GSK, so even if #9 doesn’t pan out, I’m good until grad school.
11. I’ve been biking to work a couple of days each week. Usually, only there and back on separate days, 30 miles each way.
As to the future, Angela and I will be in Pittsburgh next weekend for David, and Natalie’s wedding.

A themed thanks

Things that I am thankful of Angela for (and things I am proud of):
Amazing food, including a recent blackbean soup, and homemade sloppy joes.
Putting up with my ridiculous sleep schedule.
An incredible work ethic, I have never witnessed so much studying.
The studying has paid off and she has done very well this year.
I like hugs.
I think she is beautiful, even when she isn’t trying.

Gifts!

Angela and I exchanged gifts this weekend.  Mainly because what she ordered for me arrived, and I think she was as excited about it as I was.  Once the respective gifts were prepared I was called into the kitchen and ordered to close my eyes.  I was then presented with a glass thing with a yellowish and  brown liquid.  A cruet! With olive oil in the outer area and balsamic vinegar in the inner, grape bunch shaped chamber.  Each with their own corked tube to the outside.  We used it later on a kickin’ spinach, zucchini, walnut and feta salad.

Next, I presented my gift to Angela.  A massaging chair cover!  She liked it instantly and was soon sitting in bliss.  Hopefully, it will be able to alleviate some of her back discomfort from sitting and studying all day.

Dill got a bone and pickle got a hat pulled over his face.  Pictures to follow

Cirque

Angela and I had a very productive weekend in Philadelphia, nearly finishing all of the painting in the Living room/Dining room, and started on the flooring.  Pictures and time lapse films will be up eventually!

 

Housework was not the only activities of the weekend.  As a surprise, I had tickets for Angela and I to see Cirque du Soleil: Kooza.  It was AWESOME.  Trapeze, juggling, tightropes and THE WHEEL OF DEATH.  Needless to say (or needed) I looked around on the cirque website and saw that there are shows in Germany and Spain while we will be there, oolala!  Oh, and I also inputted my information for temporary jobs with the show :O !

 

 

Failure at the Farmer’s Market

This last weekend was really quite spectacular. Angela flew down from Pittsburgh on Wednesday (!!!), since she had off of school for Thursday and Friday. Lots of relaxing, cooking, and eating were had. (See Pizza 1, and Pizza 2) Saturday included a foray into Durham in search of the Durham farmers market, a movie (Smart People, filmed and set at CMU!), a visit to the apple store to wonder why my memory was halved, lunch in the food court, a visit to sears to check out appliances and paint swatches, and finally a trip to Trader Joe’s.

As for the title of the post, somehow I wrote down the address of a farm, which was closed, not the farmer’s market. Needless to say, there were not any fresh produce procured. The remaining excursions were successful, save the Trader Joe’s visit. I was incredibly distraught to learn that the dried pineapple rings were out-of-stock. Pourquoi!?

Alas, the weekend ended early when Angela flew away early on Sunday. The good news? I have plans to see her every weekend from now until we leave for Europe!! That’s right, I’m following the crew circuit!

GeeKomics*, and other things that make me smile

I originally started drawing these little pictures to express how I feel in the classroom.  These comics made me chuckle and laugh about things.  Much like how John, Katie and I had a running contest as to who would get new students latest in the year.  Due to my class being a year round course, I pitifully won by gaining new students as late as March.

Continuing to draw little comics, especially ones about rowing, was solely for the purpose of making myself smile.  I posted them to my site to try and make other people smile, too, but my secret hope is that most people say something like, “ugh, this guy has such a weird sense of humor.”  Greedily, success in that operation would actually make me smile more.

Now, of course, my little doodles (I don’t even know why I think I can get away with calling it a comic), are not the only things that make me smile.  I’ve really been trying to go to school with a more positive outlook.  I have been trying to increase strictness/consistency, as well as avoiding direct conflicts that just escalate bad  behaviors.   I have met marginal success, but it’s better than nothing.

Undoubtedly, my roommates have been supportive of me at school, as well as in my decision to not return next year.  I do appreciate this from them, and hope that they find my doodles disturbing and hilarious.  My family has also been supportive, especially my mom helping me find a new house and getting things lined up on that end.

Lastly, the one person I talk to more than anyone else and love every minute is coming to visit tomorrow (yay!).  The ultimate support and enforcer of inward contemplation; I don’t know what I’d do without my girlfriend.

*Even the name GeeKomics makes me smirk since it is so silly.  I originally thought that it should be pronounced as one work, “Geek – omics,”  but then realized that “Gee, comics” really captures the lack of sincerity that I put into each edition.  Finally, I concluded that the fact that I am even contemplating the “pronunciation” of a word that will as unlikely be pronounced as be found amusing, is utter madness.

The new banner

By now, you’ve noticed the new picture compilation adorning the top of my page. So I will take a moment to reveal the secrets of their origin. Can you see a theme?

From the left:

Angela after my High School friend’s wedding.

Angela and I at Phipps.

My tacky-day outfit.

My Mom in Philadelphia.

My dad, myself, and my step-mom, Susan, last winter.

Angela and myself also last winter at my dad’s.

(top) my 8 at the Head of the Ohio alumni race.

(bottom) Angela and I hanging out somewhere.

Angela monkeying around on Thanksgiving.

Angela and I at my friend’s wedding.

Angela through a sheet of ice in Henderson.

Angela sporting a cute tan and new haircut.

Angela at the aviary in Pittsburgh.

Angela looking pretty.

Mice!

Angela and I at the Pittsburgh zoo/aquarium.

Angela making faces at Glen Echo after contra dancing.

My bug eyes (actually silicone cupcake cups).

A scene from my flipbook.

“Party pickup” gas station in Henderson.

Jen, Jen and Katie at a TFA get together.

John ‘ crankin’ dat’.

Me being thug with bubble gum.

(bottom) My students busting down the doors to get into the Raleigh Museum of Natural Sciences.

Background on the first banner

Upon consideration of changing my photo banner for this blog, I thought it might be a good idea to let you curious folks in on what’s happening in each picture.

From left-to-right / top-to-bottom:

My lovely girlfriend, Angela.

Angela and I watching the sunrise at Bethany Beach.

Two of my cousins, the second’s wife, and my grandmother at a third cousin’s bat mitzvah.

Welcome ceremony at summer institute.

Cool picture from children’s museum in Pittsburgh.

Angela and I at the John Williams concert in Pittsburgh

Me in my graduation garb.

Another shot of Angela

Angela and I as a snack.

Me at Phipps Conservatory

Me, John, Ben, and Amos during summer institute.

Shubh, Dr. Armitage and I at dinner after my graduation.  (I researched in Dr. A’s lab and worked with Shubh).

Angela and I at the bat mitzvah. 

Spring Break

Back in school, and I’m already starting to lose my voice.  I haven’t actually lost it once yet, but with a mild sore throat, it might not be good. My spring break was so relaxing.  By the end of it, I actually started to forget what I was getting away from.  (Reminded on Monday).Two weekends in Pittsburgh sandwiching 4 days in Florida was pretty sweet.  A rent-a-rower took me back, and baking baklava was  amazing.  The week in Florida was very relaxing, tennis, short jogs, kayaking, lazing around reading.  I started and finished “Freak the Mighty,”  got through a few more pages of “To the Lighthouse” and made significant headway in “Clear and Present Danger.” Upon return to Pittsburgh I went and ran a half marathon, attended the URA regatta, and baked spanakopita.  Talking with Angela, and starting some planning for our trip to Europe and some remodeling in the new house I am getting very excited about this summer and fall.  

Almost official

Pending inspection, the house is mine! (and my mom’s)

Angela and I will be living on Hazel Ave. in West Philadelphia!