So I signed a lease last weekend for my new apartment. A pretty big efficiency: it has a separate kitchen area and a nook for a kitchen table, a regular-size closet plus a big walk-in and then one big room for everything else. It's on the 6th floor, overlooking the front of the building (it faces south) so I can look at the courtyard and the elementary school across the street. Nice hardwood floors and big windows. No one lives there now so I was able to make sure everything was fine. I get the apartment Aug. 15 but probably won't move in to stay until Labor Day weekend. It's a big relief to know I have a place to live, and it is 3.5 blocks to campus so only a 15 minute walk to the History department. It is supposed to be a safe area, the Penn police go up to my street as part of their patrolling. And just a block away is a grocery store and 7 Eleven (yay slurpees) and CVS is actually diagonal from the apt. building.
Work has been good. Incredibly busy. Spent this weekend catching up on the house stuff since I've been in Philly the last 2 weekends. Caught up on ironing! A major accomplishment, actually, because I usually have a constant stack to get through. Not too much else to report, getting all of my Penn stuff together, bit by bit. Found out that there are 18 incoming grad students in the dept. (14 PhD and 4 MA), and I'll get to register for classes here soon. Can't believe I will be back in the academic grind in 6 weeks, I've sort of enjoyed not having a monstrous weight on my shoulders about what I should be reading or studying or writing instead of doing for fun. Ehhh.
LOVE the video of the JK wedding entrance dance. If you haven't watched it yet, you really should. I just want to know whose idea it originally was and then how they could convince everyone to do it for real. It's awesome.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Just a sneak peek at Philly
Went to Philadelphia yesterday to scout out some apartments. I was really nervous that I wouldn't like any of them or that I would love them but they would be really expensive or not close to campus but lo and behold, I liked several! Now I just need to review the pictures we took, compare all the pros and cons and start making moves to get a lease signed. Although it did just hit me what living in a studio is going to be like--- very very cozy. I appreciate the old Gainesville apartment more and more every day. A dishwasher AND a washer/dryer in the apt AND it was clean with no mice?! Oh.. the glorious days in Lexington Crossing... :)
I think I will be quite happy living in Philly though. University City (the neighborhood I will be living in, borders Penn) is cute, residential, definitely has personality. Lots of converted Victorian houses, quaint front porches (sadly none of the places I looked at had any but I will make friends with people who do. Perfect studying spots!) At most I will have a 15-minute walk to campus and there are lots and lots of little eateries nearby to tempt me from my economical and healthy home-cooking. (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and this awesome dessert cafe, Naked Chocolate, are right across the street from the History Dept. and Library. You know, the places I will practically be living in for the next year. Its going to be a daily struggle not to indulge!
This was only my second time to the city so when we left we drove through Center City and I got a glimpse of the museums and Independence Hall area. Then it was off to Geno's to familiarize myself with the local cuisine. Got a "Whiz with" cheesesteak and it was delicious. also put me into a food-coma for the 2 hour drive back to Baltimore!
I think I will be quite happy living in Philly though. University City (the neighborhood I will be living in, borders Penn) is cute, residential, definitely has personality. Lots of converted Victorian houses, quaint front porches (sadly none of the places I looked at had any but I will make friends with people who do. Perfect studying spots!) At most I will have a 15-minute walk to campus and there are lots and lots of little eateries nearby to tempt me from my economical and healthy home-cooking. (Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and this awesome dessert cafe, Naked Chocolate, are right across the street from the History Dept. and Library. You know, the places I will practically be living in for the next year. Its going to be a daily struggle not to indulge!
This was only my second time to the city so when we left we drove through Center City and I got a glimpse of the museums and Independence Hall area. Then it was off to Geno's to familiarize myself with the local cuisine. Got a "Whiz with" cheesesteak and it was delicious. also put me into a food-coma for the 2 hour drive back to Baltimore!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Fantastic July 4th weekend.
-Went kayaking because it was gorgeous out. Failed to put sunscreen on lower than my knees so I have lobster-red burns the length of my shins. So nice being outside, it really made it feel like a proper summer day.
-Caught the fireworks downtown at the Inner Harbor. Panch and I found a perfect spot, almost by accident. Figured since we were already paying for parking and were downtown we went to a dueling piano bar. So much fun. Really impressive how they just know so many songs. There were a few bachelorette groups, too, and I just cringed for all the embarrassment that those poor women were being put through.
-Capped off the weekend with breakfast at the amazing, delicious, and chic Ms. Shirley's. Cinnamon danish pancakes? Yummm.
-Pulled off making a strawberry shortcake. With homemade whipped cream. So freakin good. (I've been eating 2 slices at a time...)
-Went kayaking because it was gorgeous out. Failed to put sunscreen on lower than my knees so I have lobster-red burns the length of my shins. So nice being outside, it really made it feel like a proper summer day.
-Caught the fireworks downtown at the Inner Harbor. Panch and I found a perfect spot, almost by accident. Figured since we were already paying for parking and were downtown we went to a dueling piano bar. So much fun. Really impressive how they just know so many songs. There were a few bachelorette groups, too, and I just cringed for all the embarrassment that those poor women were being put through.
-Capped off the weekend with breakfast at the amazing, delicious, and chic Ms. Shirley's. Cinnamon danish pancakes? Yummm.
-Pulled off making a strawberry shortcake. With homemade whipped cream. So freakin good. (I've been eating 2 slices at a time...)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
July. Already?!
Work/Life are good. The days seem to be all a big blur. Weekends are here again before I know it. Not quite sure how I feel about the fact that the school year is just that much closer each day. Yikes!
Got to meet Justice Souter yesterday. The interns had an hour Q&A with him. Pretty sweet job perk. He was beyond brilliant. An entirely different level of intellectual-ness. He was also at times pretty funny. He is looking forward to "serious reading" during retirement, going to reread Shakespeare. Said that the usual 2 month summer vacation for the Justices only allowed for light reading, "like appetizers. They don't fill you up." He also talked about the law (of course), and one of the things I liked the most was when he was saying how there are no absolutes. Things are all in relation to other things. It was just incredibly amazing to listen to him talk, it was awe-inspiring to think about what he has read, how he thinks. Being a Justice is a pretty tall order (personally, I'd have to say its now my favorite of the 3 branches of government. Actual work gets accomplished here and on a really consistent and efficient manner at that. Yes yes a little prejudiced I guess but really. SCOTUS has its act together)
The Julia Child book was fantastic. I've moved on to Sweet Revenge, a culinary mystery (one of the latest in a series.) Easy reads but they revolve around food which is awesome. The main character is a caterer who just happens to have murders occur all around her! Plus there are recipes in the back of the books. never made one but they sound delicious.
No plans for the 4th. I do get Friday off (thank you federal employment) so I get to sleep past 6am. Yay! But will most likely spend the day figuring out private school loans and hunting online for apartments. ughhh, probably going to be frustrating. Think Pancho and I will go downtown and watch fireworks over the harbor. Maybe make a strawberry shortcake (you know, something really American-y). My Blockbuster movie this week is Rachel Getting Married, pretty excited about it. We liked Curious Case of Benjamin Button last week, a little on the long side but a good movie nonetheless.
Got to meet Justice Souter yesterday. The interns had an hour Q&A with him. Pretty sweet job perk. He was beyond brilliant. An entirely different level of intellectual-ness. He was also at times pretty funny. He is looking forward to "serious reading" during retirement, going to reread Shakespeare. Said that the usual 2 month summer vacation for the Justices only allowed for light reading, "like appetizers. They don't fill you up." He also talked about the law (of course), and one of the things I liked the most was when he was saying how there are no absolutes. Things are all in relation to other things. It was just incredibly amazing to listen to him talk, it was awe-inspiring to think about what he has read, how he thinks. Being a Justice is a pretty tall order (personally, I'd have to say its now my favorite of the 3 branches of government. Actual work gets accomplished here and on a really consistent and efficient manner at that. Yes yes a little prejudiced I guess but really. SCOTUS has its act together)
The Julia Child book was fantastic. I've moved on to Sweet Revenge, a culinary mystery (one of the latest in a series.) Easy reads but they revolve around food which is awesome. The main character is a caterer who just happens to have murders occur all around her! Plus there are recipes in the back of the books. never made one but they sound delicious.
No plans for the 4th. I do get Friday off (thank you federal employment) so I get to sleep past 6am. Yay! But will most likely spend the day figuring out private school loans and hunting online for apartments. ughhh, probably going to be frustrating. Think Pancho and I will go downtown and watch fireworks over the harbor. Maybe make a strawberry shortcake (you know, something really American-y). My Blockbuster movie this week is Rachel Getting Married, pretty excited about it. We liked Curious Case of Benjamin Button last week, a little on the long side but a good movie nonetheless.
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