i'm still here.

In two and a half weeks I'll have been living in California for one full year. Really? That can't be right. That doesn't feel right at all. Our AmeriCorps year was less than a full year, and yet it seems like it was so much longer. So much more full of moments. Highs and lows. It still feels like I just moved out here.

I think in my last post I wrote that I was eligible for two more levels of promotions - that they just didn't have the openings. I actually skipped those two levels and got promoted above all of that. So all of the people who were above me a couple of months ago I'm now in charge of in some aspects. I write their employee evaluations. I train them. I have to tell them what they're doing wrong and how they can do it better. That sort of thing. I'm now a Clinical Specialist - which basically means that I'm in charge of all things behavioral. I write the students' Behavioral Intervention Plans, I advise classroom staff on how to deal with behavioral challenges, I work on teaching the kids more positive behaviors. At Inner Harbour I was terrified of ever having to do a restraint or having to put hands on a child. Now I walk around with a walkie-talkie and any time a child is having serious behavioral problems I get called in to help. So any time there's a restraint on campus - I'm there. I take behavior data on students, data on how the staff are doing, I can drive one of those big white vans to field trips. I do all kinds of shit now.

I like it. There's definitely a lot of responsibility, sometimes I feel like I'm walking underwater and I just have to fake like I belong there. But it's working. I was hand picked for the position - so at least they believe in me. They told me this position normally only goes to someone with a degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis - or at the very least Psychology - but they still thought I'd be really good for it. So that's nice.

Some guy tried to mug me in San Francisco, and I talked him down and got away safely. When the school's director heard the story she said, "Oh yeah. You're perfect for this position."

Let's see. My friend just got attacked by a homeless guy in San Francisco this past weekend. It was her birthday. Right after her party. She was pretty drunk - so my roommate and I were walking her home. She wanted to stop to get something to eat. We were in Carl's Jr. at like 2:30 in the morning and this homeless guy just walks in, hits her really hard from behind, and leaves. My friend was really upset/scared, the police came and had him in custody, we had to ID him, we may have to testify in court. It was not a fun way to end her birthday. She was having so much fun at her party too.

I went out with this guy from Trinidad/the UK. I like him. He has a cool accent. We're going out again on Friday.

I like it out here in California, but I feel like I'm spread too thin - people wise. I have several diverse groups of friends, but the groups don't intermingle. I spend a little bit of time with each one, and am therefore kept from getting really close to any. I prefer to have a small but close group of friends - you guys were really good for that. I have a few friendships that go deep, but they're spread out amongst groups. It's not the same. I know that AmeriCorps style friendships can never be duplicated - so really I wish you guys could just all move out here.

July, july

Wow it took forever to get to July last year. This year it seems like I arrived at it in no time. I do miss sitting around with Bear and Tilly while we did summer planning, and I'm happy to say I'm not addicted to large iced coffees this summer, but in some ways I am nostalgic for last summer. Incorrectly nostalgic, of course, because at the time I was in super ohmygod I miss New Jersey mode, but nostalgic for everyone I guess. Also it is unbearably hot here this summer, so in a way it doesn't feel meteorogically different.

I think I may have talked to everyone individually about getting the job I wanted for the school year. The people seem really cool, especially the head librarian I'll be working under. It's also an amusingly different environment to work in than Inner Harbour. There is free lunch every day, which I am praying is better than IH. Although I wouldn't have traded in working with Wicasa for anything, I am happy to be working with high school kids. And also to not have to wear t-shirts to work every day, although my clothing hasn't evolved much from my winter bum look (just fewer layers of bummery now). I am looking forward to occasionally reading a young adult novel while doing schoolwork. But mostly doing schoolwork. I am cutting back my schedule but I'm sure it will still be a busy semester

And then there's the book. The only thing I can really be proud of right now is that I am keeping up on writing things down. It would have been easier if I had written things down continuously last year rather than doing it piecemeal by consulting e-mails I wrote and drawings and scribbles in my sketchpad and listing every service project, but slowly by surely I'm getting it down. I don't really think it's good. Maybe I write too late at night, but sometimes when I go back and look at it, I have major ehhh feelings about how I put things. Also I'm not sure of how much I can legally say in some cases (so far I am using real names but I assume at some point I will have to hit some 'replace all'...carefully. Dwigt?) And I haven't delved into things I have some shallow negative feelings towards. August. August will be the solid write-down, cake-bake last hurrah before crazytime school/work starts.

Like I said before, I miss y'all. Mostly I miss sitting on my deck and reading, and seeing different people depending on the time of day. Emily on weekend mornings, Nick on weekday evenings, Alex as we both talked on the phone at night. I am a weird person, and I hope that I'm not the only one who feels like they happily reunite with people who they missed, only to feel pangs about other people they left behind elsewhere.

All Things Ordinary

So! I made all those cupcakes and did all that schoolwork and then I made some MORE cupcakes for my sister's 17th birthday party. 17 is old. Especially when you are one of three sisters who are much older than the fourth sister. Sometimes I read that 17 year old blog and it makes me sad. High school is hard, and ugly. But she has good friends. (Like Americorps friends level good? Maybe...) It is weird living here and watching her grow up, since I was in college and Georgia for the past five years. Luckily she is still 5 inches shorter than me. If she grows those five inches by next May 17th I owe her 20 dollars.

On the topic of cupcakery and schoolery being over I have been plunged into an impressively soul-sucking fatigue. I don't wake up early, I sometimes fall asleep mid-day, and I go to bed by 12:30 almost every night. I know this because I rarely make it through the Law and Order SVU episode that comes on at 11:30. Last night the Yankees game that was rain-delayed preempted L&O and I had a quick panic. I don't like admitting that I am a creature of habit, but clearly...I am. I remember last year a few times I said to Nick "I just want to go home and watch Law and Order on a TV near my bed." I like making good on my weirdo desires from last year. But I don't cook enough.

I am looking to start that librarian related service group. Soon. Also I am looking for a summer job, possibly with test prep. This restaurant/bar near me is hiring (I have only been to the bar part) and that is tempting, seeing as they don't require experience and I've never had a tip-related job. But it would be hard to convince them that I know a lot about food I don't eat. I wonder how the statement "listen, I watch a lot of Top Chef" would go over.

I wonder if Jay still watches LOST. I do. And I am super nerdly excited for the finale. I introduced Brian to the show back when he was Salge, which is what friends called/call him and it will be nice to watch the end together. I would probably be upset if the last episode happened last year and I had to watch it on a computer, or with Jay (no offense Jay, if in some crazy way you have found this blog). The fact that the show will be over will be a blow, cushioned only by the Back Pockets performance live at the Raconteur in Metuchen. Billy remember when you said you would buy the french fries and beer? I am guessing that is not an option as you are required to be in Chapel Hill, NC the next day. Laaaaaaaame.

I guess that pretty much sums it up. I am going to do some leisure reading, which I miss doing in tandem with Nick. Happy Birthdays to all and to all a good night.

oh, life

I always feel like I need to update this site, but I get worried that I'll update too much. So then I put it off, and by the time I actually do update I realize that it's been months and that so much has happened. So here goes.

Erinn, in response to your song of the moment, I thought I would share the song/video that I just can't get enough of right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM1RChZk1EU

I'm officially done with the car now. After it was stolen and then abandoned a few blocks away - I decided that I'm over it, and that life will be better without that hassle. So I've been solely working the public transit system for a few months now. I need to sell it for parts or donate it to charity or something. But when my parents (who thought it was a smart idea to keep the title in a lock box in Indiana) mailed the title to me it got lost in the mail somewhere. That was back in January. So now I have to get a new title or something, and the registration is expired. I'm just ready to say goodbye to my car.

I got a promotion at work. So now I'm making a little bit more money. I'm still qualified for two more levels of promotions too - and they would have already bumped me up there if there were a position open. Cross your fingers for two steps up because then I would be making some real money. I still love the kids and people I work with. And I'm starting to get quite a few good stories. Not IH level stories, but more of the kind where I try to keep Jack from pooping on the floor.

I've been talking to this really cute boy. We were supposed to go out this weekend, but that got postponed until next weekend. So we'll see how that goes. I super like him a lot so far.

I have two cool roommates (the boy that was living here moved back to Philly and we replaced him with a really cool girl that actually hangs out with us). We all get along really well. So that's good. Even though I'm sleeping on an air mattress in the living room - I really like my living situation.

I miss you all terribly. I'm starting to get my feet firmly on the ground out here, but it would be much better if you were all out here with me. I hear that there's some sort of New Jersey reunion happening sometime soon. Draw a picture of me and set it down next to you so I can feel like I'm there.

My name is Nick. I'm happy that the sunny and warm weather is symbolic of my life in California right now (as were the cold and rainy winter months), and my favorite Sesame Street character is Grover. Go one.

Breakneck Speed

Is how I feel the semester is going as well as the name of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkMIxJrrz10

which I am currently like, sooo into.

Life is books and cupcakes and html and CSS and exercising to compensate for all the cupcakes and trying to soak up as much Vitamin D as humanly possible. The weather has been super-beautiful for the past few days so I true to save up reading assignments and then lay lay lay like a reptile in the sun (remember that lady at that service project where we ran out of things to do?) I don't cook enough, for all the complaining I did last year about the lack of a real kitchen. Baking isn't cooking.

I ran for president of the Rutgers Assoc. of Student (School) Librarians (they only have one S in their name though, which irritates me). And I did not get it. My best guess is that my speech about not worrying so much about speakers about jobs and the future and instead focusing on service and outreach was not what people wanted to hear, as evidenced by one person saying to the current president "We all really appreciate all the speakers you brought in". Oops. Anyway I've said all along that the people in almost every other type of librarianship are much chiller. So I'm going to try to start a Librarians For Good group that is service-oriented. Amazingly no other group has that name right now. Thank you, google. My plan is to seek out the other Americorps alum in my classes and hope that she'll be on board. Now I just need to think about things to do aside from book-themed cupcake-oriented bake sales to raise money and book drives and tutoring. Maybe that's enough for now.

I need a job for the summer.

I went for a run the other night and felt like I was struggling towards the end. Then Halo came on and I pictured doing karaoke to it with all y'all who are planning to visit in May (incl. Nick in spirit) and I got so distracted by it that I wasn't struggling as much. For real, it happened like that.

In that vein I still get lonely here. Too many friends all over the place sometimes. SF, Atlanta, Washington, wherever Emily is putting her very short roots down at the time, and from my past life Boston and Miami. If I lived in a less-connected time in history it would be worse. If I didn't have who I have here it would be much much worse. That being said I have failed to fully bond with library school people. I like a bunch of them, it's just not the same. Maybe my service group will help.

Do I say I miss everyone everytime I post? I think I might. What a nerd.

My name is Erinn, my favorite part of a park is the swings, and my goal today is to give a really great book talk. Go one.

Yes. I am well. a little intimidated by the future, but learning lots I swear. Eating meat sucks so I am going to continue vegetarianism. It worked so well for so long. I am getting pretty busy with different projects but am feeling good about life pursuits and ect. though my head feels a little cluttered. Spring came just on time.
My good thoughts to you.

Happy!!!

Friends,

I haven't posted anything on here for a long time but seeing all of your posts motivated me to give an update of my life. For my update, I decided to just describe what I do during the week because that is easiest. I am busier than I have ever been in my life, yet I still wish I had more time to do, well...more.

But first, let me respond to some posts:

Billy, it's okay if you don't answer. You are busy with bees or worms and they are more important for humanity so I understand. One day we will talk and it will be great.

Nick, you are correct that I would like that pillow fight. In fact, mine wouldn't be filled with feathers. Instead, I would buy one of those buckwheat pillows that are heavy so I could really destroy some people. Shoot, I meet even use a bar of soap like in Full Metal Jacket. Because if it is a fight, I am coming to win. By the way, if gay people really are responsible for killing the dinosaurs, thank god for gay people. The t-rex would not be a friendly pet that we could domesticate. I for one am glad there aren't any dinosaurs alive anymore.

Anyway, so here is my life:

Monday: 9-1 Class.
3-7 Mentoring for Mentoring Children of Promise. The kid I mentor in this program is pure on the go. He is actually mentoring me on how to use more energy faster. However, its good because he lives with his grandparents and he needs to release his energy. Last week we went bowling and he is only 8 and almost always throws himself with the ball.

Tuesday: 9-1 Class.
3-7 Mentoring for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The kid I mentor in this program has the most wonderful imagination ever. He often says things to me without taking a breath such as, "I wonder if scientists could make a dog that is as tall as I am and twice as long as I am tall so that if I am ever in the woods and a bear attacks I can sick the dog on the bear and it will protect me long enough so that I can go get a stick and beat the bear down." So, I have been encouraging him to read because I think he could be a terrific writer someday. Anyway, he is awesome.

Wednesday: 9-1 Class.
2-5 Lab Class.

Thursday: 9-1 Class.
2-7 Working at my new job at Pine Meadows Farm...more on this later.

Friday: 9-1 Class.
1-5 Whatever I feel like, which is usually reading food books and learning to cook stuff. Lately, I have cooked Thai curry (turned out delicious), bread (turned out dense), ice cream (turned out amazing!!!), potato pancakes (turned out pretty good), and cookies (turned out mmmm....).
5-9 Volunteering at the Crosswalk Teen Homeless Shelter, which is pretty awesome. I don't interact with the kids very much but I do feel of some value. We provide kids with a place to go and that is a good feeling.

Saturday: 9-6 Working at Pine Meadows Farm for P.E.A.C.H. Local. This is an awesome job. I have told some of you some about it, but I am so happy to work at it. Not only do I get to bike 5 miles to the job in some awesome country hills, but the people are awesome. We have a potluck for lunch on Saturday's and it is delicious. This Saturday, kids from the juvenile justice system are coming out and I get to put them to work...(Rule 1, Don't step on the garden beds...sound familiar Billy) Anyway, I love it. Our website is peachlocal.com if you want to look.
7-10: Berhe my friend from Eritrea comes over and has dinner that Carli cooks while I am at work. He was a refugee who arrived in the US on November 29, 2009. He was in Ethiopia for 6 years after fleeing his home country. I met his friends at the bus stop and told them if they ever needed help to call me. Well Berhe called and said he wanted help with getting a job and his GED. The first time we met he said to me after I asked him if he wanted to get started on studying for the GED, "No, today we talk and we know each other. So that we may be friends for life." Pretty awesome person. I am trying to help him get into school and things are looking pretty good. He needs to improve his English though. It is getting there.

Sunday: Sleep until noon at least. And do homework the rest of the day. Unless, I decide to go snowboarding like last weekend or find something else fun to do.

That is what I have been up to lately. I am really pressing to get through school. This summer I am going to just work and learn to eat better locally. Plus, I am going to study for the LSAT so that I can maybe go to law school. I am hoping to make some changes in food law. Plus, currently I am working on a big project that I am hoping will turn into something. I really hope I can do something to help other people.

Being married has been great. Things are pretty much the same as before we were married so that is a good thing. We are very happy.

Anyway, that's my update. I am very happy right now and things couldn't be better. I love you all and miss you. Hope everything is well and call me anytime. I like to hear from you guys.

-Alex