And I rocked it once again.

At my new job, I’ve been doing some work with assistive technologies. Also I’ve been doing some OCR scanning, and today I read for a blind student. I got some Saturday hours for the next two weeks for double-time. Sweet.

This coming weekend is pretty packed. After work, we are heading to the Bohemian Beer Garden and then to go see an old friend’s band play. Sunday, we are having brunch, a trip to the Met, and then a Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction concert. I’m excited!

I work through June 17. June 18, I am subbing for my friend Chad’s World History course. Then June 19, I head back to WI for a month. Woohoo!

Ok. Here’s the story. I was back in Astoria, but instead of heading straight home, I was on my way to the post office a few blocks beyond my street on Broadway. At the corner of Crescent and Broadway, I saw an old man fall. I went to help him up and another nearby gal helped as well. He had cut his hand rather badly and definitely needed stitches. … Read MoreOf course, he only knew Greek. We tried to flag down a Greek-speaker, but couldn’t find one. We ushered him across the street to the pharmacy to get something for the moment and ask where to go. Fortunately they spoke Greek, but he ended up just arguing with them. They told us that there was a hospital two avenues away.
It turns out that the other gal was on the crew for a movie that was filming at that street corner. We asked the police officer assigned to the shoot about the gentleman, but he said it would take hours to get an ambulance and we’re better off walking him to the hospital. So we did.

Six blocks is much father with a senile old man on your arm. (Well, I was holding his arm, but also to keep his hand up.) He was a tiny man, but what a mule. We got to the hospital, but it was swarming and busy. We kept having to ask him to sit back down, because I think he kept forgetting what was happening. It took a nurse a while to track down … Read Morean interpreter, but once she did, we were free to go.

On my way home, I stopped back in the pharmacy to let them know we made it to the hospital. The pharmacist told me the man’s name was Porthos (ha!) He’s a fellow form the neighborhood, I guess. Anyway, that was my trip home. (Yes, I did stop at the post office after it all.)

So many things.

Everything is up in the air for next semester. My work study was cut in half, and TA positions are not looking good. However, I did apply for an adjunct position teaching World History.

Costume Con was a blast! It had its tense moments, but we met some cool people and saw great costumes.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=95840&id=522690917&l=3b43cc1d2e

The International Medieval Congress was also a good time. I didn’t give a paper this year, but I saw some good ones. We also attended the dance again.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=96859&id=522690917&l=765d62e26a

I bought my plane tickets to come home this summer June 19-July 20.
My assistantship ended, and I just started working in Student Affairs. I spent this week proctoring exams, and next week I’ll be reading for a blind student and some other stuff.

I am not done with my schoolwork yet.  I’ve turned in one paper, but I have two short and one long paper left.  My professor/advisor has been inaccessible, and so I haven’t received feedback on my draft yet. I hope it is on the right track; that’s all I really want to know from him :/

Any way, I’m going to go to sleep. I went out tonight, and need to get up to work on those short papers tomorrow.

I am down right disgusted with the embed problem I continue to have with this damn blog.

So you just have to go to the links…

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/in_the_know_our_troops_in_iraq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsz3Fpy0Jkk

Since I have tons of work to do today, I am doing this instead. No really, I have two books to read for class this afternoon, one of which I am presenting, so I had better know it. But I’ve been having allergic reactions to the book; it must have mold.

Anyway, since my last post…

Classes have been going as normal. I’m taking a literature survey, writing seminar, and music course this semester.

TAing has been fine. It looks like there will be TA spots next year, so I will apply for that. It’s a good gig, and my prof wants to work with me again to groom me to teach her class Spring 2010 when she is on sabbatical.

I’ve been working Saturdays as a proctor, but that gig just wrapped up in time for conference time.
March 27, the medieval studies certificate program hosted a grad student conference and I gave a paper. It went fine; my paper was a work in preogress and I go some good feedback.

This weekend I go to Baltimore to help my friend Jess compete at Costume Con. Then next week is Kalamazoo once again (the big medieval conference). Then that week, everything is due, so don’t expect to be in contact with me until May 15.

April 8-16 I went to Florida. Jess came down for Easter weekend and my mom came down thereafter. It was very enjoyable, but I’m still paying for it (I got no work done).

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=91174&id=522690917&l=66a31fb935
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=91506&id=522690917&l=74ff6d3021

Since then, I’ve been struggling to get back on track. And I’m well into crunch season.

My music class went to the Met for an exhibit of music manuscripts. The mscp visited the Cloisters this past weekend. I attend a session of a colloquium back in March that discussed all of the places for working directly with medieval manuscripts here in NYC. We’ll be hitting the Met again on the 15th to catch the Byzantine exhibit. I will proably be taking a class at Fordham next fall. It’s nice to have lots of opportunities to enhance my education.

Signing off.

P.S. Post a response if you read this and are not on Facebook. I’m just curious who all I am writing to.

I would like to use today to catch up on some coursework. I’ve been sick for nearly a week, and today the coughing is enough that I’m not going to Baruch; I would just be a disturbance. I’ve been tired and achy and such, which makes it difficult to motivate oneself to work, even from home.
However, I just got my insurance cards, so I made appointments for a physical and a dental cleaning, netiher of which I’ve had since August 2005. I am excited for maintenance.

I’m hoping my student loan check will be in the mail today. It was supposedly mailed last Tuesday, and I’m concerned that it is not here yet. And hopefully I can finally clear up my document drama at Baruch so I can get paid for the job I’ve been working since January. I think I won’t get paid until April :/ which makes the loan that much more important.

I didn’t get through the Watchmen comic again because I loaned it out to someone who had never read it, but I did see the movie on Friday and thought it was quite good. It was nice to go with a fan of the comic; I need those moments of geekdom to feel more myself.

Speaking of, I’m playing a one-shot D&D game next weekend. Looking forward to gettin’ my dice on. Wugga-wugga.

Gonna go heat some soup and check the mail…

Just some smaller details:

-Saw Slumdog Millionaire, which I enjoyed.

-Saw Inkheart, which was pretty good, but I must’ve been tired because I fell asleep. Seems like a partial waste of a $12.50 matinee.

-Have spent several evenings with Astorian historians at Cronin and Phelans at Broadway and Steinway.

-Just bought Watchmen to read again before the movie comes out. Looking forward to it!

-Have been analyzing my potential travels: Florida in April, Baltimore in May, Kalamazoo in May, weddings in June and July (WI and SF), Indy in August. Why don’t we have teleportation yet?

I’m supposed to be preparing a presentation for tomorrow, but I’m just not feeling it. Blech.

So, the economy keeps affecting my life.

Feb 13, I was laid off from Starbucks. I was given no notice (well, 20 minutes notice). I am working every Saturday as a proctor starting this week to supplement.
Rumor has it that grad assistantships and adjunct positions are being cut, which is my only way to support myself. So I’m not sure how to fund my education after this semester.

One of my professors sent me information about a program at Exeter which would be fully-funded, so I’m considering applying as a back-up. I don’t *want* to change programs, but if I get zero funding next year, there is absolutely no way I can continue here. It’s not as if I can get another job to support myself.

Classes are going fine. My assistanships are also fine. There’s not much to say about them. They are happening

The 13th I went to a workshop about Moroccan Andalusian music and then heard a colleague’s paper at a meeting of the Friends of the Saints. Last Friday, the Medieval Studies program sponsored a round table discussion about new avenues in medieval studies. We are hosting a conference at the end of March at which I will be giving a paper (about troubadours in exile).

Valentine’s Day was low key: dinner and a movie. I’ve been playing some Guitar Hero: World Tour lately. I’m planning on picking up Rock Band (game only) once loans come in. I’ve been plowing through the series Scrubs, and just started Lost. Still watching Heroes and the Office, but I hate having to wait for a new eposidoe every week. I like it when shows are cancelled and I can watch it all at once.

Anywho, I have a class now. Ciao, y’all.

I finished the semester. I got all A’s.

I had a nice winter break.Saw family and friends. Had a spa day. Good all around.

I flirted with a classmate over text. He asked me on a date.

I returned to NYC. I had my French reading proficiency exam. I passed.

I had my date. We went to an Italian restaurant in the Village, saw some comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and on a whim ended up back in Astoria at a hookah bar.

I started my semester. Only three classes this time, phew.

Had a sort of second date when we went to Flushing for the Lunar New Year parade and some Asian eats. (There is Chinatown in Manhattan, but Flushing Queens is like AsiaCity.)

I got a teaching assistantship at Baruch College for a Global history course. The prof already seems happy with my work. She wants me to assist her in the fall, and I will if I can. And next spring, she wants me to take over teaching her class when she is on sabbatical for her research. Cool!

Still working at Starbucks. I wrote a diatribe stating why, but I deleted it.

I cooked a real meal Tuesday night. I’m looking forward to doing it again soon.

The Recently Deflower Girl

This is a handbook for the recently deflowered girl as illustrated by Edward Gorey, published in 1965. What a hoot!

I’m not sure I’ll have a chance to write again before jumping on a plane, so I wanted to let y’all know specifics.

Sunday: Seminar prospectus due/submitted
Monday: Work 8-2; Study 2-5; Paleography Final 5-10

Tuesday: Work 8-12; Study 12-2; Present prospectus in Seminar 2-4; Present reading in Latin 4-6; Byzantine paper due; go rock out with Jenn and Chad
Wednesday: Work 8-2; Help organize medieval library 2-5; Maybe see if anyone wants to get eats; Pack

Thursday: Work 8-12; Book it home to shower, finish packing, do last minute stuff, and call a cab 12-3; fly 5-6:30; enjoy the hospitality of the Frantals

Friday: Girly day with Jess; night out with friends

Saturday: Last minute shopping; make some Cyren shipments

Sunday: Head to Madison to visit with Chad, Hann, and Phil; Settle in at Thomas’

That’s the dealio. I’m scrambling to finish up schoolwork, and I’m hoping I will actually finish my Byzantine paper in time (so I don’t have to work on it Wed-Thur and turn it in a little late). There is a lot of non-school related stuff I want to get organized before break, but I just don’t have the time.

It’s late and I have a long week ahead of me and I’m not entirely prepared.

I serendipitously found a video of my Byzantine prof regarding his excavations in Turkey.

I am officially going to be a Graduate Assistant for a World History class at Baruch. Now there is no need to worry about not wanting to take that Financial Aid position. This position is half the hours but pays almost as much, *and* it has health benefits.

I feel a bit guilty that I skipped Latin today. I was not at all prepared and had the interview. I technically could have made it to class, but since I didn’t get any translating done this weekend, there wasn’t much point. Everyone has those days of weakness. This is one. I was too jazzed about the GA position to bum myself out with the embarrassment of going to class unprepared. But I hope to get some work done tonight to make up for it.

School is winding up. I feel as though I only have a normal amount of work to do rather than an excessive amount. However, I have things going on Fridays and Saturdays until I head home. Fun things, but things nonetheless. I need to work on my time manangement, while you all know is poor.

I’ve decided that I would post steam-related goodness to my blog. While I am disappointed that Steampunk is now mainstream, it does mean there are more talented artists out there making amazing things.

Take for example, this new phone. It works with punch cards that one uses to store phone numbers or commands for the alarm, etc.

Even more amazing, though, is Lord Cockswain’s Ray Blunderbuss, The Unnatural Selector.

Finally, while I normally have not been thrilled with Steampunk renditions of Star Wars characters, I find this little beer barrel R2D2 to be the exception.

Early this morning, I joined Chad and his visiting family to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (Paul and Damien didn’t drag themselves out of bed).  It was quite chilly from the wind, but it was worth it to watch such an iconic event.  I didn’t know most of the stars on floats, but I did see Idina Mendez and Kristen Chenoweth, “witch” was awesome.  Andy Williams was not on his float, and later we heard he was just performing, so we were a little bummed about that.
Later we went to the Brick Café for an early dinner.  It was very good, and I didn’t stuff myself into sickness.  The restaurant is very cute; with all the brick, it reminds me of Milwaukee.

My plan had been to stop at my friend Rob’s place for more festivities.  However, I fell asleep and took a ridiculously long nap.  (I had gone to bed irresponsibly late last night.)  I wrinkled my skirt quite badly by sleeping several hours in it

I have updated my photos, so you can take a peek.  Partway through the parade, my both sets of batteries died, and I had to switch to my phone camera.  I will try to get better pics from Chad.

As for non-holiday-related stuff, I had been offered a job in the Financial Aid dept at school.  But, it was 20 hours/week and did not offer health benefits.  And so I doubt I can take that job.  However, I am also applying for a Graduate Assistant position (like a Teaching Assistant with fewer responsibilities), which *does* offer health benefits with fewer hours and better pay.  I’m crossing my fingers for this.

This video is quite funny. It is a staple amongst medievalists. But it is universally funny:

Medieval Help Desk

I decided that I would post several of my favorite bits of medieal humour.  You may have seen these, but you may not.

Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog

Fragment of a Greek Tragedy - ok, this is for my classics friends

And now some general academic humour:

Footnotes, Endnotes, and Parentheticals that cost me my thesis

I hope you have enjoyed. I have school on the brain because I went out with school friends last night and tonight, and we have plans to watch some college football tomorrow afternoon. I don’t have much of an investment, but one neighborhood historian is from Ohio and another is from Michigan. Should be rowdy

I haven’t had much to write about since my birthday.

Last week was a regular week, four classes in three days, and five days of Starbucks. Friday, we went to see the new Bond; it wasok but nothing to write home about. Still, Daniel Craig is an awesome Bond; the writers/director/etc need to work it out a better.

Saturday I proctored and tried to work, but ended up cramming my head full of romantic comedies. Sunday, I did homework and went out to dinner with neighborhood historians Chad, Tracey, and Anton.

This week has been pretty intense. Monday night I was supposed to be the discussion lead for an article, but my paleo prof changed the syllabus without announcing it; she just made the changes on the website. I had already started prepping before she made the changes, so I contacted her and she asked me to do something else. Plus, we were doing cursive hands, and it was so difficult for me to work through it on my own, that I didn’t get very far. I emailed the prof to let her know that. When I got to class, we didn’t even get around to the replacement discussion she had me prepare. *And* she collected to homework, which she’s only done one other time and only after giving us notice. And she knew I wasn’t done. Le sigh.

Tuesday, I had to present on a few readings in seminar, and then we had some fun in Latin reading a weird play.

Tonight, I have a big reserach presentation, which is just finished preparing. I have fallen behind in sleep (which may have been the cause of a coffee spill on my hand this morning), and so I look forward to turning in early tonight (as early as can be when the prof consistently doesn’t let us out until after 9pm, more than  half hour late.)

Tomorrow, I work 8a-11a. But then I have to go back to work from 6p-8p for holiday training. So I’m hoping to cram in a lot of random homework since I’m “stranded” in Manhattan.

My friend Chad invited me and our friend Paul to go with him and his family to watch the Macy’s parade Thanksgiving and then have dinner at a neighborhood restaurant rumored to be excellent. If that let’s up early, I might head over to my friend Rob’s place, who also invited me for TG dinner. But I work Black Friday. Should be pretty slow, though, since most of our regulars won’t be working and we are about six Starbucks away (three blocks) from the nearest shopping hotspot (Macy’s Herald Square).

That’s it for now. I’m gonna chill for a half hour and try to not fall asleep so I’m not groggy in class.

Etsy is an online venue for crafters to sell their wares.  Until you peruse Etsy, you have no idea how creative people are.  Here are a couple of my favorites that I found today:

Knitting Biology 101

Princess Leia Hat (this one a found a while back, but it’s still great)

Baby Sushi

There is so much more; this is but a sampling.

I had off on Friday and so stayed up late Thursday watching movies. Friday, instead of going to Michaels for cake decorating stuff and getting some lunch, I dawdled until the last minute and had to rush to a 2pm meeting.

After the meeting, I got something small to eat, knowing I would be having pizza at 6pm. Then I tried to do some homework, but was unmotivated.

At about 5:30, the medieval studies folks met in the closet that is our library to watch Tristan & Isolde and have pizza and beer. I wish I had a photo, because it was rather funny to see us squeezed in there in the dark surrounded by books with a mountain of munchies on the table.

After the movie, Chad, Jenn and I took our time heading over to Indigo for karaoke. Several other folks met us there. We three medievalists sang “Living on a Prayer” and Jenn & I sang “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” I’m not very good at it. I don’t like to sing loud, and you can’t be heard unless you yell the songs or are a powerhouse singer.

Afterward we hit a diner, but I didn’t need more food so I had pie. Got home about 3:30am. Things go late in a town when bartime is 4am or later.

Saturday, I slept in until 1pm. Eep. I didn’t get any homework done, but watched movies until dinnertime, when I picked up some Pad Thai. It was quite bad. Then, I received a text that Paul and Chad were going to see Role Models, so I met up with them. It was quite funny. I would recommend it to my friends who read this blog. On the way back from the movie, I picked up some Cold Stone, to make up for the Thai, and some cut flowers. I watched some more films while doing prepatory research (finding sources and such).

This morning, I actually finished my paleography before noon. Then I cleaned the bathroom, started laundry, and began to paint the spackle spots on my walls. I want to do my Latin now while the next load of laundry is going.

I’ll need to be more cautious now of going out. It’s expensive. I must stick to my oatmeal and carrot diet; it’s cheap.