New Years Post.

Here is what I've learned/achieved this year.

I actually am smart enough for Columbia.

I got a cat.

I feel pretty comfortable in my own skin.

The value of money. (more than I previously understood)

I CAN live alone.

Home truly is where the heart is.

Don't trust anybody!

A lot of people are irresponsible.

Don't meet guys on craigslist.

Back up ALL files.

I stopped biting my nails.

Academia is overrated.

Take things one step at a time.

Nothing is as bad as it seems.

Always have back up candles. (just in case the irresponsiblelandlord forgets to pay the bill)

When you're in a bind, think about a year from now and if it will still matter; if the answer is no, the problem can't be THAT bad.

Movies and Food.

I feel like all I have been doing lately is watching movies and eating with friends over. Not that I have a problem with it, I just feel like I am being unproductive. This morning I woke up with intentions of going to the gym. I went all the way up to columbia and found out the gym was closed. I bought like a 10 lb bag of cat food, and now I am watching 'Party Monster', eating soup and whatnot. Soon the festivities will begin. I still have no idea what to do tonight. Happy new year to all!

Love Today.

Jason and I are silly.



Last night we went to Carries and went to sweet ups and BCC, the usual neighborhood bars; and then we watched house bunny. We slept over and Kristen came back to the apt today. Colleen came to get the rest of her stuff from the apt and we cleaned out the fridge and stuff. Now Carrie, Jason and I are vegging out, watching movies. I am so excited to lounge around and get absolutely nothing done. Hooray for silk pajama pants!

Thai Tai For Good Eatin.

Today my dad, stepmom and step sis came into Brooklyn to visit. It made me really happy that they finally made it out, but sad that we didn't get to go up to Columbia because of stinky rush hour traffic. I took them into Williamsburg and we got yummy Thai food (my second day in a row at the same place). I think I may be slightly obsessed with coconut and curry induced foods. My dad and I looked at some books on the streets. I really like talking books with my dad. He was always reading when I was growing up, I guess this had a really big impact on me because now I pretty much read for a living. He made me the Twilight Soundtrack and some 8x10's of the movie too. Supercool!

After I got home from a delicious lunch, Jason and I decided to go to Target to pick up some sticks of wood for the apt. It was a silly trek on the subway into the city and back out to BK to get there and they didn't even have what I wanted. However, I did get an awesome new hooded flannel and a corduroy vest. I saw a trashy mag with the beloved lead of my obsession, Twilight, on the cover, so I had to have it. Turns out he is only 22 (his birthday is May 13, which makes him a Taurus) and is a total party animal. I am hoping I will run into him at some trendy NYC bar and we'll hit it off and maybe later on I will coax him into biting my neck, just for kicks. A girl can dream, cant she? OOH also, turns out he has a thing for taken girls. He had a major crush on his costar (Kristen Stewart) during the making of the film, who was dating someone else. Also, he was found macking it with Camilla Belle, who is none other than Joe Jonas's GF! I have a crush on Joe Jonas as well. Sooo basically, I wish I was Camilla Belle or Bella Swan...or something.

After a time consuming and excruciatingly tiring trip to Target, Jason and I were in silly giggly mode and decided to take naps. The rest of the evenings plans include going to Carrie's and watching movies on the couch. I live a tough life I know.

I have been looking into some non-profit organizations that I can maybe get a part time job working for. I figure that may be my best outlet because I will feel like I am actually making a difference to people who matter. I can't stick with a job normally because I find retailing salesperson positions to be too superficial and materialistic, waitressing too tiring and drug induced, and desk jobs too tedious and boring. I definitely don't want to be canvassing out on the streets, though. I would like to do something for the environment or help organize events for human rights or help the general public acknowledge their harmful habits to humankind, the earth or themselves that can be alleviated through a change of their course of daily activities.

House Warming.

Yesterday I had the sudden urge to go shopping. Strange, I know. I dragged Jason to Buffalo Exchange and I got some new digs. I got this awesome, bright orangey red leather jacket for 17.50. How could I go wrong?

After running a few more errands, we met up with Bruce for Thai food. There's this one street in Williamsburg where literally half the block is only asian inspired cuisine. It's like my little piece of heaven.

After filling our bellies, we went grocery and booze shopping. I decided I wanted to make sushi. After pretending I had my own cooking show, for the boys entertainment, I burnt the rice and dropped the majority of the ingredients on the floor. I started rolling sushi with the non-burnt/dirty ingredients. There were a few road bumps. Eventually, Bruce and Jason helped roll some rolls. It was a fun, lo-carb, sushi making experience.

Later on, Carrie came over, followed by Barbie and 2 friends (Ben and Guy), followed by one of Jason's friends. We all played Outburst. The game was 4 on 4 and it was pretty fun. Very loud, but silly and entertaining.

After that, we went to Sweet Ups and had a beer. Next was home and bed.

Everybody Do The Dodo.

On the new Streets CD, there is a song about the Dodo bird. Basically, it is about how its not the earth that is in trouble, its the people who live on it. It is inspirational in a green and humane sort of way.

Since the singer of the streets has a sweet British accent, I like to pretend that he's saying Doodoo instead of Dodo.



Here are some Facts about that poor little Dodo bird.

-The were only natives to one island of the Indian Ocean, called Mauritius.

-They were about 3 feet tall.

-They have been extinct from the mid-to-late 17th century.

-Their extinction was directly attributable to human activity.

-The dodo had no natural predators, therefore it was fearless of humans.

Home At Last.

Today Jason Moved in. I cleaned out the entire living room and re situated all of the furniture. It is starting to take form and be less of a mess, I had a great day with Jason. We shared music that we wrote. It was really nice. I feel really at peace here. I talked to Kristen today and she seemed really happy that things were going so smoothly at the home front.

I found out today that Colleen (the girl whose room Jason just moved into) got into a really bad car accident over the holidays. She could have died. Things like this make you realize how fragile life is.

I am having a house warming party tomorrow night. Woohoo!

Last night was fun too. I hung out at Sara's in Oyster Bay. We played drinking games with some brah dudes. It reminded me of how silly it is to hang out with manly men who guzzle beers and watch sports on TV. So not my scene. It made me really appreciate my life and my friends more. It was really good to see Sara, Kristen and Marcella.

I really love it here. I think Pikachu does too.I say that because shes giving me massive amounts of eskimo kisses as I am writing this.

Supermassive Black Hole

I can't stop listening to this song. I have listened to it for a while but now the whole meaning has changed because of the baseball game and lightning in Twilight. Wow. I really am obsessed.



I know it's low quality, but you get the point.

So fucking cool.

Everyone keep your fingers crossed. Today is the day I find out if I am a fool.

Christmas of the Future.

All in all, I had a great christmas. This morning I woke up a bit sad because the whole cozy morning christmas celebration didn't really happen, but its OK because I got to play that part on christmas eve.

I am overtly obsessed with Twilight, as you've probably read. The book just started veering off in a different direction from the movie and I am excited to see where else the plot line will go.

After a lovely christmas celebration at my dad's I went to carries and ate some red velvet cake. After that, we went to visit some horses to put blankets on them. This one horse Gypsy kept licking me. It was really cute. Carrie kept trying to drag me to hang out with people after that, but I am exhausted and decided it would be a better idea to come home, read and play with my new computer. You can't blame me right?

It was REALLY great to see Ashley and Leah today. I don't get to see Ash that often now that she lives in Cali and I feel like we were just starting to seriously bond when she was living in BK and I was visiting people in BK a lot. I really hope she comes out one night this week and sees my hood. Leah has the most adorable face in the entire world. She's a little giggly, smiley, adorable little baby who smiles with her entire face. I wish I had a pic. Echem Dad, help me out with that?

Also, I was told I have to mention Christmas presents from next year. Presents from the future, if you will, that don't fall down the balcony. Oh dear. I drank a lot today. We be bottle poppin.

Merry Macbook!

I am posting this from my very own, new MACBOOK! I LOVE it.
WOOHOO.


There's one more thing that will officially make my Christmas more merry. It won't actually be determined until after Christmas, however. The subtenant I am leasing my old Harlem apt to was having trouble with the frozen lock, and called the landlord. She had no idea and someone in the building said that its been happening a lot lately. I had no problem with the door. I think maybe this guy is just an idiot. I just really hope this deal goes through, because I will be out of some hefty chunk of change if it doesn't and I will have to search for a new tenant.

Ok, so I have become really obsessed with Twilight. I saw the movie and then immediately after I had to go get the book. The acting in the movie was terrible but the story was intense and amazing. I want to be Bella Swan. Edward Cullen is a Fox. I am really happy there are 4 parts to the story. That means there should be more movies. YAY.

I must go shower. I think I may go to the movies again today to see it again. mmmm.

Moving and Movies.

Yesterday, I finally started moving into the new apt in BK. I packed up the car all by myself in the snow, hauled ass to Brooklyn and Cresensio hadn't even started putting together his stuff to move. So I offered to help clean some nooks and crannies while he worked on the big stuff. He bought me a really amazing, caloric lunch and we pigged out. After an appropriate amount of cleaning/organizing was done, we went to the storage unit.

Next, Jason came over and Kristen came home and they got along famously. I am pretty stoked Jason is going to move in on the first. Jason and I took another trip to empty out my apt and play with Pika. Then we got back to the apt and organized more and Carrie came over. We took really funny pictures on Cres's computer.

Next we took ambien and watched a movie about Charlie, Morty, Suzie/Veronica and Sabrina. JC came on the scene and we wished him a happy birthday. Oh the wonders of friends and smbien.

I am really excited about living here. I love my friends and I am really happy with my current state.

Sno Fo Sho.

I keep trying to move my stuff out of my old apartment and into my new apartment and I keep running into obstacles. I need to go feed my cat. This snow is horrendous. I need to get a few things at IKEA. Basically, I am flipping out and I can't do anything because of this darn snow. Fo. Sho.
Oh plus my phone is dead at my charger is at my apartment. Whoops!

It is beautiful though.

DONE!

I just finished my last assignment of the semester. It killed me. I had no idea what I was doing and I am hoping for partial credit. I calculated my score and even if i get a zero on the final and 100% class participation I will wind up with a 64.6 %. That is pretty reassuring, because I know I can't possibly get a zero because I actually did work.

I should be a lot more relieved than I am. I think I am getting sick. That sucks. Oh well. I am off to the gym. ttfn.

The End of an Era.

I am overwhelmed. Yes. It's true. I keep telling myself I can manage this. I know I can get everything done. This stats assignment is killer. I am probably not doing any of it right. It is a pass/fail class so I should be OK. I am almost done with my rewrite. Should be finished with everything tomorrow. Then I start moving.

I am really excited to move. I was at my new place last night, getting an idea of what to bring and what not to bring. Luckily, the apartment is pretty well seasoned with necessities. Pika is going to be really excited that there are a lot of windows for her to look out of and new playmates. My ass will get a great workout, walking up and down to the 5th floor all the time. I really like my new roomie Kristen and its looking as if Jason may be moving in after Colleen moves out. I am keeping my fingers crossed. I just keep having to tell myself that everything is going to work out.

I am really sad that Cresensio is leaving. It feels like just yesterday I lost Nick. Now I am losing another best friend. I know he will be back in a year, but so much can happen in a year and who knows where I will be moving to at that point.

This is most certainly the end of an era. I am excited for new years to confirm that. I want to be stronger, smarter and better than this year. This year wasn't bad, it was actually a lot of fun. CRAZY fun. I feel like I have learned so much in such a brief period that I can't help but pat myself on the back sometimes. So bring it on 2009. Keep those punches rolling.

Indefinite Hiatus.

My computer crashed. i am flipping out. Worst part is that none of my files are retrievable. I lost a term paper and am sitting in the computer lab at the moment trying to rewrite it. Luckily my teacher isn't a complete asshole.

I found out I am moving to Brooklyn on the 22nd. So soon, I know.

I finished 'the shack'. It was really good. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

I really wish I backed up my files. i guess I learned an important lesson...again.

UGH.

Self.

Ok, so last night I decided to be a total schlub. It was rainy and I decided to watch entourage and go out and buy some girly mags and seltzer. I never really liked seltzer, and now all the sudden it's my favorite thing to drink.

So I bought a Self magazine for the first time in a long time, and realized that I really like it. It has a lot of really good, real advice. It isn't like the trashy crap they feed teenagers. It has real statistical information about populations of people, medical info, and information about volunteering. It even has a section with tips on how to not over shop or over spend. Most other mags urge you to buy everything because that's how they get paid.

There was a section that completely surprised me about random facts about people in America. I was really surprised where NY and LI ranked.

Least Depression: Nassau-Suffolk counties, NY
Most Depression: Bakersfield, CA

Fewest Suicides: Nassau-Suffolk counties, NY
Most Suicides: Colorado Springs, CO

Fewest Rapes: New York, NY
Most Rapes: Little Rock, AR

Safest Roads: New York, NY
Most Dangerous Roads: Baton Rouge, LA

Does any of this information surprise you? It totally surprised me.

If I had to get a job besides being a professor, I would feel satisfied working for this magazine by getting their sociological, statistical information. I mean, there must be someone who does that. They have a lot of pages with random facts which must be extracted from sociological archives. This could be a fun way for me to reach out to people through the media, a way to constructively enlighten people, other than being a professor.

I wonder what this type of job would be called?

Barracuda.

Last night I went to a Fabulous gay bar with Jason. He does kareoke there every week cause his voice coach promotes it. When I got there, kareoke was just beginning with a lovely hostess in drag, who was absolutely beautiful. There were some really great singers up there and SO many people in the audience. There were so many gorgeous men with great style. It really made me wish I was a gay dude, just for one night lol. After a couple of drinks, which were well needed, I got up and sang some kareoke. I did 'papa don't preach' (the Kelly Osbourne version), 'take me or leave me', from rent (with this woman Ronnie, who has a marvelous voice), and 'a-tisket a-tasket, by Ella Fitzgerald. It was a lot of fun.

Afterward, I slept at Jason's new apt in Astoria. It was a nice area, but I don't think I could ever live there. I complain that Harlem is far away from everything, that is even further.

Awesome Workout.

Today at the gym I tried this bike that is like a video game. It was the coolest thing I have ever done to work out. I was DRENCHED in sweat by the time I was done.

It has...

-A whole bunch of satellite radio stations you can plug into while you ride.
-increasing and decreasing difficulty level, based on position on a hill.
-Internet to race against other live people whose scores were recorded.
-25 different gears.
-A lot of different tracks with different difficulty levels to choose from.

I am sure I will be bored with it in a month, but right now its the apple of my eye.

Bodies.

The 'Bodies Exhibit' made me dry heave a lot. I didn't expect to react the way I did. I mean, I knew what I was getting into, but it's much different when you see it face to face. The dead babies were the hardest.

I do feel like our capillaries look a lot like seaweed. Weird.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

I have really been wanting to go ice skating lately, so I BBM'd Jason and he quickly obliged my idea. There is this new rink at The Museum of Natural History with a Huge lit up polar bear in the middle. We met up there, but unfortunately, the rink was closed for a private party.

So we decided to go to 30 Rock, to do some skating there. It was a mistake to think we could sashay through the massive crowds in times square during this time of year. We felt like cattle, it was ridiculous. We got to see the tree which was nice, minus the people pushing and the baby carriages that kept rolling over my feet. We didn't even get a glimpse of the ice rink. So we decided to just get coffee instead.

It was really nice to hang out with Jason. He is one of my good friends from way back. He just moved into an apartment in Astoria from Hell's Kitchen last week, and he's living solo for the first time, so we talked about that a lot. He does kareoke a lot. I think I wanna go do it next week.

After that holiday delight/mayhem I went back uptown to see Kate perform at the chapel at school. I got to sit with her family and bf who are just awesome people. The show was absolutely beautiful. I forgot how much I love classical music. Something so soothing and exciting about the intricate and complicated parts all coming together to produce a grandeur musical fabric of interwoven sounds. I closed my eyes for much of the performance as chills crawled up and down my back and arms. I can't wait to be a part of this chamber chorus next semester. It will help to fill the void that high school chorus has left me with. I will have to sing alto for once though, which is odd for me. However, I find it more challenging so I am up for it.

The concert ended around 10 and we walked outside and it was SNOWING! The first snow of the season. It was magical. Also, today was the first day that Columbia lit up the trees that line the main walkway. So that was absolutely gorgeous to walk through. Then we all went out to a diner and I went home.

I started reading 'The Shack' yesterday. I can see why my dad likes it so much. He is like Mack, Jean is like Nan, and i was like Missy. It is a really captivating book, however I just got up to the part where Mack meets 'God' or the 'Trinity' and its becoming more of a fictional story than a truth, but I will play along even though I think Mack may be having a psychotic episode. It sure sounds nice though, a trinity involving 2 women and no Caucasians. Young obviously did this to prove the point that 'God' is not the typical image of Dumbledore of Harry Potter or Gandalf of Lord of the Rings.

Regardless of the book's severely christian undertones, I am enjoying it and finding it hard to put down. It has been a while since I was able to read a book for pleasure rather than for purpose.

The Gym.

I went to the gym today. I know I know, I hate working out, but it feels nice once in a while. I wish I was the kind of person who could commit to it everyday for the rest of her life, but I am simply not. I get bored.

While sweating and huffing I ran into two girls that I know from class. It's always weird when you run into people you know when you and them are all sweaty and out of breath. I felt like saying 'don't look at me! You'll turn into stone!' but instead a smiled and said 'hey'. haha.

Manic Depression.

Last night I was supposed to go to a party, a really good party, with people I haven't seen in a while. I didn't go. I stayed home and watched TV and slept. I acted like I was sick when I wasn't. I just didn't feel like partying 2 nights in a row. And I am kind of depressed that I have nothing constructive to do. I know it's silly. I have just been eating a lot and being lazy. This has to stop. Ugh I am grossing myself out.

Afrotastic.

I was on the subway and this black woman had red curly white girl hair. I was a bit confused as to how she did that and wondered if it was a wig. Then I looked over at a few other African sisters, and their hair was straightened to assimilate white girl hair too.

I wonder if in the future when the race barriers are broken and the equilibrium between the races is raised, if Afros will be the new straight hair, and if we will all be teasing our hair every day instead of straightening it because that's what's in style.

Hair style can be seen as a social thing. But it can also be viewed as a convenience thing. I wonder.

Strand and Pickle Shots.

Shortly after I wrote that last post, I decided to go to Strand. Strand, for those of you who don't know, is a HUGE new, used and rare book store located a mere 2 blocks from union square. I had never been there before, but heard it had great prices on books and I knew of 8 classic novels I have to read for next semester, so I figured it was prime time.

I was like a fat kid in a candy shoppe. They had angelic music playing in the background, which added to my truly holy experience. Their slogan is that they have more than 8 miles of books. I don't know if they mean their store is that big or if you lined up all the books it would lay out to be 18 miles. Either way, it's impressive.

After that, I continued out to Brooklyn. Carrie and I hung around the apartment for a few hours with Nicole and Jen and a couple of her friends. We ordered food and watched bad tv, as per usual.

We went to sweet ups, then BCC, another usual plan. BCC was having a moustache party. So basically, me and Carrie walked into a room full of dudes with moustaches lol. They had a raffle give away and we befriended the winner before he won, so he got us drinks. Then some other friends came and bought us more drinks.

I tried this 'pickle shot' It is a shot of whiskey and then a shot of pickle juice. It was actually pretty good. I was super wary about it first, though.

Then Carrie and I pigged out and went to bed. I need to stop eating so much so late at night. It makes me feel like crap in the morning. I don't do it unless if I am drikning though, but does that make it right?

Donezo McPunzo.

Today was the last day I actually had to go to class. I still have 3 assignments due, but I have reasonable time to do them in. Everyone that I know is being boring tonight. I wish I had someone to go out with. I suppose I will just go to Brooklyn or something. Darn. I really want to celebrate.

In the Spirit.

Anyone wanna go Christmas sight seeing with me? We can get hot cocoa and chestnuts roasting on an open fire and go to stores where they make it snow inside. I'll even sing you Christmas carols on the subway!

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Last night I felt in the mood for celebration because of the aforementioned causes. After having a lovely dinner with my lovely mother, I came home to retrieve my fabulous new device and called a bunch of numbers in hopes that there was something homey I could do on a Tuesday night in the Huntington area.

Everyone was busy or far away or not going out. Then I remembered that Ashley works at the Tavern on Tuesday nights. Sara and I used to go there every Tuesday last semester. So I went by myself with $10 in my pocket, planning to get one drink then go home and hit the hay. I caught up with Ashley and met this guy who thinks I am smart and pretty and confident. We talked a lot, and he bought me a lot of drinks. I don't think I was wearing beer goggles, but you never know. He seemed really nice.

Then I came home and pigged out on Thanksgiving left overs. When I woke up this morning I felt like doodie. I guess I drank more than I should have. I really just want to watch movies today and not worry about this darn paper that I told myself I would work on. Hooray for cutting class today!

Scale.

As I was watching 'Meet Dave' the other day, I was wondering why things are the size or to the scale that they are. Like if we were much tinier, who is to say that the makeup of our landscape would be anything different. Of course, blades of grass would be ginormous, and trees would seem like monumental limbs. But from space or to a giant, its all really tiny. Just an interesting thought.

Random Acts of Kindness.

Today I performed a small random act of kindness. It felt really good, even though it was rather minuscule. I was in the computer lab and the computer across from me wasn't working. The girl who sat next to it was repeatedly telling hoards of people who came up to it that it doesn't work. Witnessing this whole thing, I felt really bad for the poor girl and her constant efforts to warn her fellow students of this malfunction. After hearing her say "it doesn't work" upwards of 25 times, I passed by the computer on the way out placing a note on the keyboard saying "let me ease some of your frustration". I walked out of the library thinking that I should do things like this more often.

On another happy note, 2 of my classes ended today. Of course I still have assignments to hand in for each. At least the 'going to class' part is over with. I will be cutting my lab tomorrow because I am on the lovely long island. That's right bitches. If I can find something fun to do tonight I will be spending the night.

Also, I was pretty psyched I caught a port jeff double-decker train.

Derek is fixing up my new blackberry as we speak! I am way elated!

SNOOGINS!

Blackberry!

I am excited. I am going to long island today after class to pick up my new blackberry! Thanks to my bro. Hooray!

Thin.

Ok, so I don't want to follow trends, or subject myself to stupid girly subordination, but living in the city has really made me notice that I need to lose weight.

I love eating and I know I am fine just the way I am. But I don't want to be 'just fine' anymore. Losing weight is so difficult, but I figure what the hell, why not give it another shot.

I have been noticing that all the boys I find myself attracted to are with, or were previously with skinnier girls. I know, I know. You're going to say 'Nicole, you have so much else going for you, your weight shouldn't matter, those boys don't know what they're missing'. Yeah yeah.

I really hate that gender roles are enforced by consumption. Men are allowed to eat so much more than women. Women are often devalued when they try to oppose this standard. I am so sick of it.

Consumption.

Why is it that we let what we consume define us? Shouldn't we be deeper than that?

Think about it. It works for foods and products. But I think it's more poignant with the foods. You are what you eat, in a cultural context.

The girl who eats a Turkey and Cheese Sandwich every day. The guy who eats a T-bone steak. The teenage girl who's forever sucking on a lollipop. The couple who drink champagne on a daily basis.

Eating is so temporal. Why is it that we define ourselves with something so insignificant to who we are?