Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Ok, so it's time for a spring break update! I took notes so I could remember this all, here you go if you're curious what I was up to:

Friday: I hopped a bus to Framingham in the afternoon, it was PACKED. In fact, the Peter Pan bus people sent two buses on the same route because so many people needed it. At Umass SO many kids were waiting to get on the bus, so I was quite sure I'd be forced to have someone sitting next to me. Which is unfortunate because then I can't sit cross legged. So I kept shifting my bag in the seat next to me, and trying my best to look snobby and annoying. And miraculously, no one sat by me! I think the only empty seat on the entire bus was next to me. Another technique is pretending you're really sick, coughing and blowing your nose, that sort of thing really turns people off to sitting next to you.

In Framingham I found Andrew waiting, and then we went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Andrew was clever and got us seated in five minutes instead of the hour and a half or more wait -- yay! So we had a great dinner and then went back to his apartment. Watched Supertroopers (hilarious) with Jon & Jen.

Saturday: We woke up and Andrew was in the mood for pancakes (which generally happens on Saturday and Sunday mornings). So we had blueberry pancakes before going to the arboretum in JP. Ok so the arboretum in March is not so pretty. But it was really sunny, and I could IMAGINE that it would be pretty, once things started turning green and growing again. Then we went for fast food and to explore Kitchen Etc. We timed things, well, perfectly. At Kitchen Etc. they had just had a demonstration on dipping random things in chocolate, so there were plates of chocolate covered cookies, strawberries, grapes, and pretzels just sitting on the mini display kitchen counter. Yum! We left after browsing and snacking =)

In the evening we shopped and had yummy sushi and round appetizer thingies for dinner. I love eating sushi outside of restaurants because I can't use chopsticks to save my life and I like to pick things up and eat them with my hands, which can be rather messy and impolite looking. So yeah, better for me to avoid eating in public... We also watched this amazing movie, Happy Accidents. I loved it! If you like time travel, romantic comedies, and surreal plots, watch this!

Sunday: First thing, we went for omelets at Sorella's in JP. Yum! We ended up deciding on the same kind of omelet, and it was good. Warm avocado is a very clever idea. In the afternoon we watched most of The Secret Lives of Dentists (finished it in the evening). Strange, almost magical realism, and entertaining. In the evening we met up with Lindsay & her mother & her aunt for ice cream at JP Licks. We had the best ice cream, and wonderful conversation -- discussed summer plans and school -- yay I've finally met Lindsay's aunt and mother!! =)

After all that ice cream, we had soup for dinner. Watched a Sopranos episode which I didn't really get since I've never seen it before.

Monday: Andrew still had work, so I was on my own throughout the day. I did all my Spanish reading on this day, it was a crazy amount to assign over spring break =/ Had a good conversation with Jen as she got home from work before everyone else. Andrew & I went to this cool bar/pub place for dinner, and I had a hard lemonade (and got carded! yay!) Then we did some more shopping, mainly for desserts!

Tuesday: I read Eagleton in the morning and started Fantasia. It snowed like, 8 inches on this day. So Andrew got off work early to avoid driving in the mess, and we ate popcorn and did a bit of work together. In the evening we all went grocery shopping, ate dinner, and watched Masked and Anonymous. Lots of great actors (and Bob Dylan) without a very clear plot or idea or theme. Also, we couldn't figure out where the hell it was supposed to be taking place for a long time. Penelope Cruz was not a very convincing OCD good girl.

Wednesday: This day I started doing applications for internships in earnest. Lots of cover letter writing/revising. Then some more of Fantasia. Andrew got home late, so I had another talk with Jen which was cool. In the evening Andrew & I checked out a summer sublet in Newton, and pretty much decided against it. It was snowing again. Critiqued my cover letter till LATE. We kind of forgot to relax on this day!

Thursday: I wrote tons of cover letters and applied to about four internships on this day. Yay me! In the evening we had a good dinner, tuna I think, and Andrew & I watched 21 grams. Don't believe the little blurbs that say it's "ultimately a movie about hope and redemption." You'll cry halfway through the movie, and in the end you'll feel sad that most/all of the characters are either dead or grieving still. The fractured method of telling the story was appropriate and engaging (you either give up and lose interest or get really involved trying to piece everything together), but Andrew & I agreed that it would be helpful if there was an option on the DVD to see the movie in the proper order afterwards.

Friday: Andrew was "sick" and stayed home from work -- we worked, I applied to Warm2Kids, and we started, tentatively, GRE studying. After dinner (yay pad thai!) we headed out to NY -- it was a fun drive though, and we listened to lots of music. We arrived at Andrew's father's pretty late, but I still (Finally!) got to meet him -- which was good because we were all planning to be out for most/all of Saturday. I was rather nervous, but I think it went ok =) Loved seeing all the pictures of Andrew when he was little, and his old room.

Saturday: Long eventful day! We got up around 10 in the morning, got ready quickly, and then drove around Hastings a bit for the grand tour. Had a sweet (as in chocolatey) breakfast before hopping on the train to NYC. We took the subway from Grand Central to 23rd St., where we met a Moho friend of Andrew's for lunch. We ended up at the Miracle Grill which was yummy (more avocado! and cilantro!) Piya was fun, it seems that I generally like other Mount Holyoke people (something about the admissions process?) Then we walked to The Strand, where I found this obscure book for a class for about half price (and hardcover instead of paperback! Take that Odyssey!!!) It wasn't too warm, but in the sun I sometimes got by with just a sweater and no coat.

We wandered around for quite awhile -- lots of war/Bush protesters, a crazy man in blue headdress playing with crystal balls, an old gentleman peeling carrots and cucumbers and potatoes (selling vegetable peelers from Sweden), and a dog that looked like a very furry caterpillar. Also ran into some of Andrew's friends really randomly at a traveling coffee shop. At some point we hopped on the subway to Times Square -- Where we wandered about and it was quite crowded and it started to rain. I almost bought an umbrella but didn't. We took a look at the new Time Warner buildings -- didn't seem too crazy and busy yet. Then it was time to meet up with Andrew's friends from college...

Andrew's friend's apartment was about a five minute walk. A cool place to live, with a great view. The friend's gf was having a surprise birthday celebration for him, so it was pretty funny to be in on the secret. We all walked out and around the block as if we were going to this restaurant, when his gf led him up to a limo where everyone else was waiting. She pulled it off amazingly well. It was a huge limo, and I tried champagne for the first time. I think me and Andrew were the only ones not drunk at dinner (which was really good, great food, and lots of fun!) I also tried sangria, which I liked a lot, it disguised the alcohol well. Definitely enjoyed meeting all of Andrew's friends, they seem like cool people. Something of a different feel from Mount Holyoke social life, maybe partly because they've all graduated now...? Anyway! So after dinner (and after totally pissing off the restaurant staff), Andrew and I said our good-byes and headed on home rather than accompanying the party to the next bar. Showered and slept -- lovely day!

Sunday: Finally had more time to talk to Andrew's father on this day. We all went to brunch and chatted, and then a trip to Stew Leonard's (what a crazy place to go grocery shopping, decorating and samples that must make the weekly shopping trip like Disney land for kids). Then we got our laundry and packing done, and headed back to Boston. We had a lovely two or three hour period to just relax after spending so much time together and being on the eve of going back to school/work.

Monday: I got on the bus just in time, and was back at MHC in time to do some reading before my afternoon classes. Did some things I had been putting off, and some reading. Was exhausted around 10:30 pm. Went to bed relatively early.

Today! Wow, I'm all caught up!! I had class and lunch and work -- Bernice sat us down and told us about some "changes" in mail services thanks to Chris that will be coming up with hiring for next year. I enjoy working with Bernice, I think I'll try to keep working 2 or 3 hours there per week next year. Also, I did some forwarding which I enjoyed, hadn't done that in quite awhile!

Today was rather empty, as Newton, the beloved doggy, has passed on. No more Newton walks, which I enjoyed so much more than walking any other dog. Happy times in doggy heaven, Newton love, if I ever have a PBGV it'll be because of you!

Thursday, March 11, 2004

Conversation had with Karuna this evening:
LaMujerExotica: ok
LaMujerExotica: talk with you later
Pink Poodledog: ack karuna
LaMujerExotica: must work on paper
LaMujerExotica: karuna is going to be pulling all nighter
LaMujerExotica: what?
Pink Poodledog: my mom sent me mini vodkas
LaMujerExotica: hahahaha
LaMujerExotica: oy vey
Pink Poodledog: and this tastes SO weird and it makes me cough!!
LaMujerExotica: that's great
LaMujerExotica: you have to do shots
Pink Poodledog: hahaha
LaMujerExotica: you don't taste it becky
LaMujerExotica: you like down it
Pink Poodledog: hahahahah
LaMujerExotica: i love it
LaMujerExotica: your mom sent you mini vodkas
LaMujerExotica: hahahaha
Pink Poodledog: but why would they flavor it with vanilla if they didn't want you to taste it!!
LaMujerExotica: who knows
LaMujerExotica: hahahaa
Pink Poodledog: hehe oh well, this stuff is crazy.
LaMujerExotica: That so is going in my profile

I finally ventured to try the vodka Mum sent me and I guess the whole 80 proof thing is kind of hard to take for the novice who can barely handle wine. I was so curious though what vanilla vodka would taste like...!

Anyway, it was gorgeous today. And I'm quite sure I could smell the mud (spring is coming!)

Happy spring break!!!

Monday, March 08, 2004

It was soooo hard to get back into work this morning! I had the best birthday since I was like five and was insanely excited over everything (so I can't really compete with that, even when I do have lovely times!) So here's a day by day description in case I leave out important details when asked in person!

Friday: Sooo busy! I had to walk Kobe, go to a meeting for the prospective professors in the english dept., work in the mail center, hand papers in, go to class, watch a movie for post colonial lit, and eat dinner! Then I needed some aspirin before watching The Last Unicorn with the ESB and friends down in the living room. It was wildly successful! Andrew caught the latter half of it, I think he found the pirate cat going "oh purr, purr, that be nice" pretty funny. Then we headed off to Blanchard for food and ice cream. We ran into Thomasena and all talked (about such topics as the strange relationship between the spooky talkative guy in the convenience store and the woman with the hats that checks you out at blanchard). Back in the dorm, I finally put my clothes away! They'd been sitting on my drying rack for awhile...

Saturday: Eventful day! We got up at a decent hour and went to Blanchard for food, then walked over to the greenhouse for the flower show. It was gray and sprinkling most of the day. Inside the greenhouse though was so so much better than outside. Daffodils and tulips and a mini golf course lined with flowers, squat citrus fruit bearing trees, every kind of cactus (some that looked like piles of mothballs), plants sprouting out of every crevice and tree trunk...

After, we went to the Big Y and I got some provisions (ie, a lindt white chocolate bar and triple chocolate cookies). Then we played scrabble (which was not fun toward the end when I was losing by 90 some points!!) What else... then we went to Fresh Side and brought back food, and had a lovely quiet dinner sitting on my bed. Then I was lounging about in my sweat pants while Andrew was on the computer, when the door burst open and Julia, Korisha, Beth, Lindsay, and Dale came in with a cake all on fire with candles! I was totally surprised, I had no idea Andrew was planning this with them! So I blew out all the candles (in one try!), and we scraped together enough plates and silverware for us all to eat raspberry chocolate cheese cake! Yum =) Then we all got ready for the V8s jam, which was good and fun -- the guys group was soo dorky though! They sang "Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego" and wore jeans and ties.

There was an after party in Pearsons, which was kinda cool, it was a real college party with beer and guys and dancing. I got shoved into the middle of a dancing circle, proceeded to stand still a moment, and then ran back to the safety of the edges =) Becky is not a dancer unless she is either in a coordinated dance skit on stage or is tipsy! Dale, Andrew, & I ended up going to the Amherst Brewing Company at like, 20 till midnight, for my first legitimate bar experience. The guy actually made me wait the one minute till midnight before letting me in! I had a cosmopolitan and was soon tipsy. Dale and I danced a little, and Andrew laughed at us. Then we ate yummy pizza and drove back to MHC =) Wonderful perfect day!

Lucky me, I also got to open presents since it was officially after midnight =) Mum found good things -- now I have fun reading for over spring break!! Also a watch, in Tiffany blue, so I won't be late anymore!! And Andrew found the perfect necklace to match my tastes in clothes and earrings =) AND I am going to subject EVERYONE to watching The Last Unicorn on DVD with me! (Andrew found it, and who knows, maybe they'll have developed little games to go on the DVD, too... like the unicorns fighting the red bull!)

Also got to sleep at a decent hour so we woke up earlier Sunday morning!

Sunday: Went to Blanchard for brunch, then Andrew & I took an adventurous road trip!! We went to Greenfield and Shelburne Falls and saw all sorts of cool stuff. Lots of backyard businesses between here and Greenfield, a rare books store, and Richardson's candy shop, and glass blowing (Andrew's seriously going to end up quitting the computer science field in order to make vases and bowls.) Geological wonders = pits where rocks carved bowls out of other rocks. Took pictures, and had tea and coffee and a good maple walnut scone. It was sunny but still kinda cold. We wandered around in Greenfield before the falls, looking at DVDs and books (America 24/7, very absorbing to flip through it). Got hungry rather early, so we had an early dinner in Noho. Spoleto's, which was totally new, I had a sculpture made out of shrimp and risotto (is that how it's spelled?) and vegetables. And we got home at an early hour!!

I ate more cheesecake Sunday night =) And we started a movie but it was too sad and I was laughing at all the wrong moments. So I spruced stuff up a bit, and talked to Mom, Mer, & Tim on the phone, and then we lounged about and showered. Good quiet evening after such a busy day!!

Today: I was having withdrawal! I eventually pulled myself through it by writing my Spanish essay and doing some reading. Then had lunch (I wasn't hungry but it was enjoyable to just sit and talk with everyone) and classes... I read the wrong selection for Spanish, but it didn't matter because only like 1-3 people had done the reading since there was a presentation for one group to do today and a paper due for all of us!! Also had the English Department meeting to present our findings on prospective professors. Before dinner I sat and read birthday cards, it was definitely a highlight of the day =) It was snowing today, it was a little crazy. But I'd rather have snowflakes falling on me than rain!

Lindsey: I love the scarf!! And it's the perfect shade of purple, I'm going to match my entire room =) And yay for Strawberry Shortcake, maybe the third generation will look like the ORIGINAL S.S.!!

It was a lovely birthday, thanks everyone!! =)

Thursday, March 04, 2004

Despite sad news, I'm looking forward to this weekend and my birthday. It's nearly spring. But Newton is "slowly down," as Rachel says. Must keep this blog light, as there are some fun things I wanted to record...

Today in Post Colonial Lit we were talking about Freud and death wishes and other such disturbing things. I was objecting to it as I hate thinking of people as being inherently violent (so all the rest of the morning this idea haunted me, thinking that people I walked by were wishing me dead. ack!) So Siraj joked "Yeah, when I was reading your posts, I was thinking 'I wonder if Becky Richardson has death wishes?'" The whole class had a good laugh, and it was vastly entertaining. I'm still resisting this idea, but I'll take it metaphorically and still keep some of my sanity.

Yesterday I was trying to put money on my one card so I could do laundry, and my dollar bill was halfway in the slot thingy when the other half, which was folded in half or something, managed to slip in, too. The machine totally freaked out. It kept moving the bill by millimeters in and out of the slot, but not far enough out so that I could grab it. Being cheap, I didn't want to leave it there. Being shy, I didn't want to bother anyone for help. So I took a bobby pin out of my bag and "wrassled" with the machine for awhile. I eventually dragged the dollar bill out with my bobby pin far enough so I could grip it and pull it out. Then I reinserted it, and, amazingly enough, it turned into a positive balance!

Yesterday I saw the white goose trying to drown some ducks while flopping about in the lake. I also saw it with its little cronies walking about on the dead grass, honking like mad. I hate that goose. If I have death wishes, they're all directed at that domineering white goose.

Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Congrats to Merrie on getting accepted to Linfield! And good luck with the NHS "cult-like induction ceremony." Whoa, glad that phase of my life is over...

So here's a stolen quote from Mer's blogspot, as novice bloggers borrow and real bloggers steal:

"Maybe it's left over puddle shit from the rain." -Mom, said while pondering the possibility of a leak in a pipe.

Monday, March 01, 2004

Oh wow, I forgot I had a blog spot for like, a week. Why? I'm going to blame it on Junior Show. Awesome time! Thursday was like a dress rehearsal that was nearly flawless, Friday was totally awesome and perfect, and Saturday the seniors totally messed things up! But I loved seeing the old characters from last year's j show, the pudding girl!!! Andrew was wonderful sitting through it all, and he definitely got a lot of the jokes. He objected to the Amherst impersonation: "I'm the most pretentious so I'll go first."

Saturday Fresh Side was yummy, and the after parties were kinda fun but I definitely wasn't in the intoxicated state necessary to appreciate them. We wandered around in Amherst in the afternoon and it was sunny and kinda warm. Drank coffee and sat on a park bench. Sunday we had brunch with Korisha and Emily, and then saw The Perfect Score in Springfield. Too much moralizing! For dinner we went to Noho and I ate sushi and ginger with my hands. Andrew laughed at me and said "It's ok, we don't have to come back here!" I probably completely offended everyone who saw me =) Oh well! I like eating with my hands.

Monday: First day of the Flip Flop! Yay! I don't think I did anything extra special today. Pretty normal Monday, reading, lunch, classes, I fell asleep reading, yep yep, normal day.