Me and My Mighty Ukrainian Adventures

Hey Guys!

Tue, 30 May 2006 01:34:44 GMT

So I finally am getting a day off. Well two actually. Don't get me wrong I love my new job, but working outside in the sun all day can wear a person out, especially after 7 straight days of 9hr shifts. I'm exhausted, but happy to be getting paid tomorrow. My car needs gas and I have about 20 bucks in the bank.

I got a little more sun than I wanted to today and I need to take the day off tomorrow I think, so I'm scrapping my beach trip plans for a relaxing day of shopping. I need some skirts and shorts to work outside because my jeans aren't cutting it anymore. Also, I need to get some reading done, a lesson in my Russian book finished, and some much belated postcards out to friends. I'm getting into my routine so I'm looking forward to getting all caught up with everyone's ljs.

As for getting caught up with me, well not alot new here. I've been working at my little hut for the last 7 days straight like I said. Friday night I went out drinking with my new co-workers and I learned all the gossip about everyone. I was also re-warned about Chuck, the town heart throb. This boy is sweet, but almost too sweet and I don't buy all his southern charm. I can see how the girls in the town do though, and trust me they wander in and out of my hut all day looking for him. It makes me giggle and sparks 0% jealousy out of me. I've got my eye on Ben, the Parasailing guy from Atlantic Beach. He's a friend of Perry's and he told me that he'll "take care of me" if I get some people to come parasailing with him. He owns a jewlery store too on the side and he told me I can have all I want, if I make him some money this summer. He's gotta be in his upper 20s and he's as beach bum as you can get. Love it.

Well guys. Not much else going on here, thinking about seeing X Men III tomorrow night. I watched X II with Kelly last night and I have to say, that movie hasn't aged well. I was impressed by how cheesey it was and I loved it when it first came out. Ok, I'm going back to my glass of wine and my Life & Style magazine to read about how Britney almost dropped baby Sean again

On lockdown from here on out

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 13:35:41 GMT

Banner by gandor_girl

--Comment to be added

Need a vacation and my friends

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 16:35:44 GMT

Impromtu trip to Pitt. Can leave tonight and be there early morning. Anyone have a place for me to sleep for the weekend?

Domino

Wed, 12 Apr 2006 12:41:03 GMT

I started watching Domino a couple days ago and still have yet to finish it. I think its because I can only take that movie in small doses. The first time, I started watching it late and couldn't keep up because I was tired, and last night I seriously was about to scream at it to STOP! I understand now what people were talking about with the editing. It's like a nonstop drug trip. Now that can be cool, and I was digging it at first, but there is one scene in particular that I just wanted it to look normal so I could see what was going on and I found the whole thing frustrating. I have about 20 minutes left to watch tonight and though I'm inlove with the soundtrack, the editing and Keira Knightly (who I'm a fan of) in particular I find grating. I don't think I'll be speaking too highly of it in the end.

But anyway...lets see, House was the shit last night. Not as great as last week, but still great. I loved the moment when House sees Cameron in her dress. I thought that was handled very well. And dude, Cuttey. I love her. I really think she's my favorite character on the show. The dynamic in the scene between her, House and Wilson, was great. I wish we could get more scenes with them together like that.

Oh and another thing. It was like Christmas going through my closet last night. I was determined to weed through my shoes and I really underestimated how many pairs I've bought since I've been here. Though I tossed out a bag full and separated out another one that I'm donating to my step-mom's yard sale, I still have too many to take to with me and I can't bear to get rid of anymore. Also in my closet, I found a box that had some of my favorite jewelery from a year ago. Stuff I was thinking about lately and wondering what ever happened to it. I was giddy when I found it. So, today I'm rocking a shell necklace in anticipation of a summer at the beach.

I knew it!

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:04:04 GMT

In case anyone else is as in love with the new Jaguar commercial as I am, the song from it is "I Turn My Camera On" by Spoon. Just letting you all know because I've been dying to know since I saw the commercial a couple weeks ago.

And now I'm cutting a trailer to it. Awwwww yeaaaaa.

Equation for my happiness

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:34:27 GMT

Running + moving(leaving this shit job + getting out of my apartment + the ocean) + steamed broccoli + coffee = Melissa in a Great mood.

Giddy, simply giddy

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:50:02 GMT

I WENT RUNNING LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!!! WAHOOO!!!!!

Last night was my first great run since I hurt my leg. Though I kept stopping after every mile or so to check for pain, I did managed to piece together 3 miles. That made me very excited and tonight I'm looking forward to a nice and steady 2 miles. If all this goes well (and I have no pain tomorrow on my day off), I'm going to jump right back into my training schedule. I need to get back in shape because I'll be at the beach in a month, just in time for BIKINI SEASON! Not to mention it looks like I'm going to be biking EVERYWHERE since I sold my car. I'm actually looking forward to this even though it means 7 miles to and from the beach and over 2 over 50ft bridges each way. But hey, I'll keep in great shape, right?

As for work, I might take the month of May off completely. I found out I'm getting a pretty chunk of change back from my taxes (rock on H&R Block), and I didn't have to pay rent for this month since the guys paid first and last months when they moved in 2 yrs ago. So I'm pretty set money wise, depending on my medical expenses for my Peace Corps clearance and my flight to NC. I also want to get a TEFL certification and I can enroll in a 40 hour program online. Though, I have my good friend Kelly scouting me potentially cheaper programs in the area because classes with actual face time in schools would be much better.

All in all, things are wrapping up nicely for me here. I can't wait to get out of my apartment since we've all but given up on cleaning since we are leaving. It's so gross in our living room that I almost didn't want to sit there and watch 24 last night. I can't wait to get to my moms where things are clean and I'll have space to walk around (my growing stack of boxes is taking over what little walking space I had left in my room). Not to mention, I can't wait to see TAZZY!! YAY for my kitty.

Please tell me why

Mon, 10 Apr 2006 17:55:50 GMT

Gwyn Paltrow and Chris Martin named their son Moses. Now please?. It's alittle better than Apple I spose, and has the possibility for some cool nicknames (Mo or Mos), but why? Must have been a religous thing.

Anyway, nothing much going on here. Going for some bomb cupcakes soon. It's just too nice to sit in this office all day. Getting my taxes done tonight (I know, nothing like waiting til the last minute) and then I hope to go running. WAHOO!

I heart tomato avocado salad.

Time to start counting down.

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:24:52 GMT

I'm worried if I'm making the right choice. My Chinese students love me and little do they know, I won't be coming back. I won't get to volunteer at the Tribeca Film Festival. I won't get to enjoy Central Park in the summer time or walk home at 4am drunk and deliriously happy. But most of all I have to say good bye to someone I'm afraid I'll never see again. I keep telling myself that the timing just isn't right at the moment and it may never will be, but he has burrowed into my heart and festered much more than anyone I've ever known. I never even dated him but I want to more than anything in the world. With this in mind, I know if he feels an ounce of what I do, 2 and a half years won't matter but once again I feel like something was dangled there in front of me at the moment after it's too late. First it was another guy and now it's Peace Corps.

I spent the weekend packing and I know its created some tension in the apartment. No one likes to see boxes andI'm very happy to be the first one out. I couldnt bear to sit here and watch them pack and leave me behind. It's much better this way.

I'm going for a run.

Moving Update

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:02:26 GMT

Just spoke to Pappa D. and I'm out on the 22nd. I then will be in Bloom until I get all my shiot done for my medical clearance and then I'm TO THE BEACH! WAHOO!

Time for a History Lesson

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 17:53:03 GMT

Jacked from thursday_last

Go to Wikipedia, enter in your birthdate (sans year), post three events, two births and one death.

February 4th:
Events:

1862 - Bacardi is founded as a small distillery in Santiago de Cuba in eastern Cuba.

1938 - Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is released and would become a majoy box-office hit, making more money than any other film of that year.

1998 - An earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale in northeast Afghanistan kills more than 5,000.

Births:

1913 - Rosa Parks, American civil rights activist (d. 2005)

1977 - Gavin DeGraw, American musician

Deaths

1983 - Karen Carpenter, American singer and musician (Carpenters) (anorexia) (b. 1950)

::sigh::

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 16:10:51 GMT

Well last night I technically "graduated" from film school. It makes me giggle that they refer to the completion of a 12-week course as graduation, but whatever. To celebrate our work we had a showing on a big screen which was cool. Everyone dug my Narnia trailer and I hope to upload the file onto my myspace site (which I'm pimping out today) soon so y'all can see it.

After the screening, we moved the party down the street for drinks. I had planned on just having one but by midnight I was the ring leader for the "LET'S ALL SKIP WORK TOMORROW!" group. I had a good time watching my teacher sing karaoke, and got to dish out some film theory knowledge too. I'd totally hang out with this crowd again and it's a bummer that that was the last I'm sure I'll see of most of them. I should have hung out with them from the start, but hey, what can you do?

So here I am, in 3 hours late to work because "I'm sick" which actually isn't far at all from the truth. I've been feeling the onset of a cold or allergies for a few days now and I woke up this morning and couldn't breathe out of my nose. To make matters worse, Joe also planned on going into work late this morning because he sounded twice as bad as me and with a cough. I'm sure whatever he's got is what I have and it's a matter of time before Ham gets sick too. Nothing like shared suffering to say goodbye to friends right?

You know what? I think I might still be alittle drunk actually. Funny. I completely lost my train of thought.

What? No Twinkies?

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:49:45 GMT

Fact of the Day:

1/3 of children in the US are over weight!

I say, BAN THAT FATTY FOOD! GO CONGRESS! Please, lets stop the problem before it starts.

--My response to the Closing Bell topic (Congress to ban all fatty and sugary food from schools) on CNBC.

Survery Jacked from a Peace Corps friends friend

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 18:43:01 GMT

Name 10 Bands/Musicians You are into (no particular order):
1) Ellie Lawson
2) KT Tunstall
3) Jack Johnson
4) Flickerstick
5) Mike Doughty
6) Athenaeum
7) The Rasmus
8) Dave Matthew's Band
9) The Clarks
10) Modest Mouse

What was the first song you ever heard by 6? The first one I took note of was "If Baby's Gone". I've been told they play them on the show Made all the time and I'm a huge fan so I'm sure it was a different one, but this one made me jack every thing my roommate had of theirs.

What is your favorite album of 8? Under the Table and Dreaming. My first cd when I was a middle schooler and it's still my favorite. WAHOO!!

What is your favorite lyric that 5 has sung? very simple "I feel as though I'm looking at the world from the bottom of a well." from, of course "Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well"

How many times have you seen 4 live? Once, and I was hooked immediantely. One of the best shows ever. I'm delaying the moving process so I can see them again.

What is your favorite song of 7? “Playboys" or "F-f-falling"

What is a good memory you have considering the music of 10? I was hooked on the cd after the craze died down about them. I just remember it was in my car cd player for like 2 months and it reminds me of going to work really early in NC and seeing the sunrise. Also, I shared a karokee moment with a certain someone to "Ocean Breathes Salty" a few months ago.

Is there a song of 3 that makes you sad? not sad really, but reminds me of someone. "Sitting Watching Waiting"

What is your favorite lyric that 2 has sung? Suddenly I see this is what I wanna be. Suddenly I see why the hell it means so much to me." from Suddenly See. So great.

What is your favorite song by 9? "Cigarette", though "On Saturday" is a good one too.

How did you get in to 3? ::sigh:: the most beautiful boy I ever met, Brit, liked him.

What was the first song you heard by 1? "Down with You"

What is your favorite song by 4? oh god, that ones sooo tough. Umm, "Teenage Dope Fiend" or "Beautiful"

How many times have you seen 9 live? once and I had a great time, even by myself

What is a good memory you have concerning 2? that ones tough, i just downloaded her stuff recently. but I think if i was not in NYC, her stuff would remind me of walking down Park Ave or getting on the subway.

Is there a song of 8 that makes you sad? "Space Between" has always been kinda relevant.

What is your favorite album of 5? Haughty Melodic

What is your favorite lyric that 3 has sung? “Maybe we can sleep in. I'll make you banana pancakes. Pretend like its the weekend now."

What is your favorite song of 1? “999"

What is your favorite song of 10? “Bury Me With It"

What is your favorite lyric that 6 has sung? I love the lyrics to "If Baby's Gone"

My Train of Thought

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 12:58:35 GMT

My brain is playing this fun tug of war game over thinking about Peace Corps nonstop and thinking about being at the beach in a month.

Oh sigh....why must I be in this boring office?

hmmm

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:03:32 GMT

My new color layout reminds me of a pair of Nikes from the 80s.

--Just got back from my first run in well, a month and first workout since I hurt myself a week and a half ago. I'm finding that my leg seems fine, but my running stride is shot to hell from being on the elliptical for months. It's a little of a bummer and I must look so uncordinated when I'm running, but I should get it back in a month. The question is how fast do I attempt to get myself back to my 15 miles a week without reinjurying myself.

So much to do and so little time.

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 12:55:47 GMT

So, I have so many thoughts and excitements running through my head right now, I can barely think straight. First off, today was the first day I was walking to work and thought to myself, I really think I can start running again. I'm hoping to squeeze in 2 miles tonight after class because since I'm almost done with all my stuff, I shouldn't be there long tonight. Keep your fingers crossed for me that my injury won't return.

I need to get to packin because my roommates have decided to follow my lead and move out as well. This throws a wrench into my plans because I was planning on staying the first week of May to finish up working with the Tribeca Film Festival and our land lord wants us out by the 1st. Boo. But thats ok, I need to get my medical stuff done for Peace Corps ASAP so I'll just go loof around Bloomsburg for a week or so and then catch a flight out of Philly to my moms.

And for those of you wondering, no I don't know where in Eastern Europe I'll be going. The way the process works is now that I've been nominated for a program (Education) and region (E.Europe), my name gets thrown in a poll with the other nominees leaving around the same time. As people get their medical and legal paperwork in, they are pulled out of that and placed in specific programs in specific countries. I won't know where exactly I'm headed for atleast 2 months I'd think. Depends on how fast I get my medical packet and get to the doctors. Also I have to clear up all financial debt other than my school loans. But I will no doubt keep you posted.

jacked from Tom

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:36:50 GMT

1.Who was your first prom date?
BJ Bowels when I was a freshman.

2. Who was your first roommate(s)
Angela Slampack. Oh god. Didn't last long and then I got to live with lovely ALLISON!

3. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk the first time?
Tequilla and OJ. To this day I can't drink it.

4. What was your first job?
Weis Markets as a cashier

5. When did you go to your first funeral?
11 years ago for my grandmother

6. Who was your first grade teacher?
Ms. Bozeman

7. Where did you go on your first ride on an airplane?
when I was a sophmore and I flew to Harrisburg, PA from Nebraska.

8. When did you sneak out of your house for the first time, who was it with?
I never really snuck out of my house as a kid.

9. Who was your first Best Friend and are you still friends with them?
I moved so much that I didn't really make great friends until high school. So I'd say Jen H. and we still talk.

10. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parents house?
Tower B (or was it A?), 22nd floor REPRESENT!

11. Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
Laura usually.

12. Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsman?
My brother's, 4 yrs ago.

13. What is the first thing you do in the morning?
After snoozing an hour past my alarm, get in the shower.

14. What was the first concert you ever went to?
Dream Theater

15. First tattoo or piercing?
ears, when I was 9 the day before we moved to AZ. tattoo, 18th bday.

16. First celebrity crush?
Oh god. Um, I loved Devon Sawa in Casper

17. Age of first kiss?
14 with one of my older brothers friends ::wink::

18. First crush?
PJ, my other brothers best friend in middle school (I was like, five and he was 10. match made in heaven :))

19. First time?
summer before sophmore year

20. First word?
i think it was "dog"

21. First broken bone and when?
none, knock on wood.

22. First cd?
Dave Matthews/Under the Table and Dreaming

23. First favorite movie?
Aladin. I could quote that shit back in the day.

24. Age you were the first time you ever got drunk?
15, I think.

25. First class you ever failed?
I almost failed math in high school as a senior, but I skimmed by. I would have failed Urban Sociology and Politics in college if my withdrawal hadn't been approved at last minute before my final.

26. First favorite food?
I remember always being into cookie dough icecream

27. First detention?
middle school cause I lied about chewing gym when my band teacher caught me.

28. First suspension?
never. WAHOO!

Because I NEED another spot to waste my time

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:58:56 GMT

I just joined myspace.com though I'm confused how you add people and set up your blog. So annoying but theres so much more potential there for stuff that lj just can't do. We'll see though.

It is in!

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:47:27 GMT

EASTERN EUROPE HERE I COME! I just got nominated to teach English in Eastern Europe leaving sometime in August or September. I am so stoked. Now onto the medical clearance.

Fun

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 20:05:24 GMT

Just got back from my interview and it went really really well! He gave me thumbs up to further my application and I should have my nomination (assigment area, region and general departure date) by the end of the day! WAHOO!!!!

The only things that make me leary were that I most likely will have to change my diet (which I was just getting use to) and I might not be able to run. It all depends on where I go and if I can get them to understand I'm an athlete. Also, depending where I go, I might have to only wear long sleeve shirts in public. Yes, the tattoo is coming back to haunt me. But these seem like minor things that I will deal with in exchange for what I have to the potential to learn and do.

Will keep you posted on my location as soon as I know!

Quick Rundown

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 13:01:54 GMT

--Saw Brick with thursday_last and it was really interesting. Like Double Indemnity meets Get Over It!. I'm sure that doesn't work in your head, but the dialogue was really trippy and if you didn't listen to every second it was like "What the hell is going on?" I liked that. It was high school film noir, great idea. And Joseph Gordon Levitt was brillant.

--Got wasted this weekend because I couldn't workout.

--Ate 17 chicken wings last night and now feel like I want to vomit. I'll never eat meat again.

--Offered to change everything for someone and got shot down, not that I didn't expect that. I just needed to be sure.

--Finished Nine Hills to Nambonkaha. Liked it a lot. Have moved onto the Chronicles of Narnia

--Have my interview today with Peace Corps at 2pm and have so many questions for my recruiter, that my head is spinning (or is that from the meat overdose?).

--If feeling better after work, hope to attempt 2 miles of some light jogging, but we'll see.

Yo Laura and Erin

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 17:23:36 GMT

I just wanted to point out that I've been doing some reading on the programs in Africa and I really want to call out Erin and Laura because I think this is something you both should do too.

For you Erin, in Ghana they have a library rehabilition project in the school systems. Isn't that so right up your alley? And Laura, you should see the Public Health demands in this area. If you get fed up and need a break from grad school, I'm sure they'd let you serve and come back right? Just think of the experience?

Dissatisifaction runs deep @ NAM

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 15:13:27 GMT

Wow, so shit hit the fan after I left work last night. Apparently there was some yelling and pointing out of the obvious. I feel like the kid that missed the party that everyone at school is talking about. See here's the story.

We have this trader thats a complete moron. He started here in October of last year, replacing my good friend, Judie, who was WAY more qualified than him (but made the mistake of wearing too trendy of clothes to the office and having a vagina if you know what I mean). Well anyway, so its becoming more and more apparent about how retarded this guy is and its to the point that my boss said yesterday "What do you think this is? A class and I'm your professor. Get your shit together because this isn't college anymore and I'm not telling you anymore of the answers." I really wanted to be like, and you fired Judie for that? I feel like this isn't a career job here at NAM, it's like a teaching job if you know what I mean. This guy has no experience so he's just here to get trained. That's what Judie did, she graduated the shit here and moved on to bigger and better things.

But anyway, that's just some background on how dumb this guy is, and it's not like we didn't know this before yesterday. Well, we had an investor in yesterday and we had gotten food for the meeting. The woman stepped out to use the bathroom and get some tea and when she comes back, he's in there eating off the food tray. When the NAM employee with her was like, DUDE! GET OUT! He looked like a deer in headlights and mummbled an inaudible "I'm sorry." before he stummbled from the room. Now, that was all I saw because I leave at 5 on the dot, but when I got in today, I was told by that employee that everyone that was here when the meeting really ended, laid into him. She even brought up Judie and the fact that we can have someone like him working for us and toss aside someone like her because she liked to wear tank tops to the office. Apparently, it got pretty heated because there's an unspoken rule that once someone leaves, you never mention them again here.

But like it said, I feel like I missed the party. I'm just pleased to be out in a month and it looks like the two people that I still speak to here are also counting their days.

But all the work drama aside, I'm going to see Brick today with thursday_last. I'm stoked to see this movie. It was a hit at Sundance. I plan on spending my day reading celeb gossip and deciding on Peace Corps programs to discuss in my interview. I can't really go in there and be like "PUT ME ANYWHERE!" That might be too desperate.

concerned

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 03:52:01 GMT

So it's been 4 days since I worked out and I'm concerned because my injury almost feels like it's getting worse. I've even started to wrap it and it's most painful when I sleep (I just can't get it comfortable when I lay down) so needless to say I haven't slept well since the weekend. Anyone have any advice for a hamstring issue??

I can't be out of the gym that much longer because I got my new bikini today and I still need to do some hardcore toning before I can look super sexy in it (freakin lower back flab). ::sigh:: And the longer I'm out of the gym, the harder I become on myself. The timing really sucks on this one.