Nico Anders Lives for the Summer

I think if you have a positive outlook in life, everything seems to happen for a reason. I met two wonderful people today when I missed my train. Its strange how similar people seem to connect when in the same mindset. I feel like the world network really is strong and if you seem to believe the world makes sense, it makes sense.

On my train ride home tonight, I started watching videos from Taiwan. I realize that I live for the summer. Don't get me wrong, I love the profession that I have chosen, but what I love more is the opportunity it gives me to travel and make sense of travel. I love to be able o assign deeper meaning to the things I enjoy most. One of the most gratifying things to me is going somewhere that was once foreign and trying to understand the construction of social norms. I know, I am a total dork. Anyway, from viewing and reviewing my videos from Taiwan, I realized something. That time and place was great, amazing, incredible...however, it was only temporary and was only supposed to last for that long. If I went back there today, it would not feel the same, but would almost feel like a corpse of what once was. I would have too high expectations and would undoubtedly be disappointed. If you travel to distant lands, you never know what to expect, therefore you cannot be disappointed, because there is a void in your foresight. This is why travel is so great. This is why I live for the summer.

RM5

Friday morning I woke up with the beach on my mind. I went and sat in traffic for about an hour and met up with Nicole and Eddie. The water was perfect and the sun was hot. We took a walk down to Kizmit and I got to see some adorable beach village. After hanging out there for a few hours, I went with Julia and Nicole to 'Alive After 5' in Patchogue. I saw a Briarcliffe tent and introduced myself as the new Soc Adjunct Prof. It was really cool to be all proud of my new job to people I will soon be working with. The three of us girls got some food and drink and called it a night.

This morning, I woke up with the beach itch again and went and met up with Carissa, Jake and Nicole. The whole gang was there when we got there and today was even nicer than Friday. You just can't go wrong with that beach. Today I got a free massage by a massage therapist, played with hula hoops, swam a lot in the ocean, laid out in the sun, walked around with a tiny cup to sample all drinks, and got mardi gras beads. I really don't think I could imagine a better, more laid back day.

The only thing that really sucks is that my mom is pissed at me for spending too much money on the credit card. I am in big trouble. I am getting my credit cards taken away for good and being given a budget for all my spendings. I can see how this is gonna be bad (in emergency situations) but I really do need to learn how to budget myself. This will be a big step into that thing...whats it called...adulthood? I need to learn some restraint and responsibility. It is going to be really hard and I am sure that my personality with be altered and i will lose some friends because I will be crankier. Whatever, my life has been high (in the metaphorical sense) lately, and its about time I come back down to the level that normal people function on.

I leave you with a picture of my beloved Nicole. The two of us are often introduced as Nicole squared.

Where is Summer?

Why is it cold and rainy? I have never had bad weather on my birthday, ever. This year may be a first.



OH, So I am pretty keen on taking a couple of years off to work/volunteer/make music. It is weird, like I know I will go back. I just am not ready to be so serious yet. I know I will be, for sure. I love being a student and I know that I am really good at it. Besides, I won't ever leave the world of academia anyway, so there's no reason for me not to excel in my education, cause it will only help me in teaching. Dad, stop worrying! I understand that other people say they are going to go back and never do, but it must not have been imperative for them to excel in their education as part of their 'time off' job. It's weird, like I finally feel like I don't need to what everyone else is doing. I have really become less dependent and all about accomplishing my own goals rather than succumbing the the goals of others. I feel like I am in a good place in my life, and I don't want to waste my youth toiling away in a library. School will always be there, my youth wont. There will always be time for settling down.

New Hair?

I am thinking of getting my hair did in shades of red for the summer.

I like the color of the darker one, but the cut of the longer one. So hopefully that would look good or something. Hmmm.

Summertime and the Livin' is Easy

Ok, So I know I have been slacking lately. Long story short, I hung out in SF, went out with Michelle and the gang one more time and came home on Saturday. Sunday was beach day. My first time this season. It was SO beautiful out, but the water was still too cold for swimming. It is going to be such a great summer. Please excuse my slight blog interruption/lack of posts due to a booming social life.

A Gorgeous Day at the Park

Yesterday was Thirsty Thursday at the park. Carrie brought balloons, a watermelon and pasta salad, I brought some guacamole and chips and a whole bunch of people showed up and hung out. At one point I think there were about 25 people. It was a gorgeous day outside and my back got sunburned. There are a butt load of pics, however none of them are on my camera, thus they are soon to come. I am so happy that the feeling of summer is here!

Cruisin for Bruisin

Summer is coming, which means bare legs and FUN. However, I am anemic and bruise very easily. Today 2 of my girlies showed me bruises that were now visible due to the scantily clad allowing weather conditions. What to do. What to do.

p.s. No legs were harmed in the making of this post. I don't know whose legs those are.

Commune

So, I think I want to go live in a commune for a month this summer. Kim said she would want to come with. I could sublet my apartment. I think it would be a really interesting ethnographic research experiment, and totally fun. Kristen was talking about one that meets once a year, in random places. I think she said that this year, it's in New Mexico. Karl Marx would be proud.