that it is the middle of the week already. My Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays are all my classes and tons of work and it goes by so so quickly. Have an independent study graduate reading meeting tomorrow so I've got to get through the 2nd book by 3pm. Totally fine. lol. It's true, I've become accustomed to the workload. Found out that my first draft of my big 700 paper isn't due until after Spring Break. a small relief, and now I'm amped up about spending a lot of time on it and getting my act together. Trying to channel the frenetic pace I had during fall senior year, writing my senior thesis. I was crazed. I don't know how I did it, looking back. ah well.
A small aside about what I've been reading lately--- sexuality in the 19th century encompassing publications for the first time of birth control and abortion information, the more widespread distribution and advertisement of condoms, etc etc. (some of the early stuff is insane. also, they screwed up the "rhythm method" so that basically women were told to have sex at the exact time they were most likely to get pregnant. oops!), obscenity laws, the "erotic canon", Free Lovers who advocated that the state shouldn't be able to decide through marriage about love between a couple ultimately makes links to marriage and slavery, and lots of stuff about reform physiology about how people should understand their bodies and sexual organs. For instance, the Graham cracker was invented by Sylvester Graham because it was a bland food that would "cool" down the body's passion and prevent masturbation which was seen as harmful to health. (seriously)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentine's
This has been quite the Valentine's Weekend. Pancho got in Friday afternoon and after sweetly driving me around downtown so I could do errands, we got straight to celebrating. He got me a deep-tissue massage (so excited), Toblerone chocolates, and these sweet flowers in a pink striped potter I can use once I've inevitably killed off the plant. (terrible, but true) I got him chocolate croissants from WS that are apparently out of this world amazing but due to the snow storm and UPS being royally incompetant, they are still sitting in a warehouse when they were an overnight air delivery. Probably no longer frozen after 5 days, so I'm a little miffed and will be on the phone to correct it very soon. But besides that little snafu, the gifts were superb.
Ok, so, Friday night we went to see Valentine's Day which has like a million famous people in it. It was verrrrry cute, I loved it, there were some really hilarious scenes that made my face hurt I was laughing so much. It was a packed theater and my guess is that there were no more than 10 guys. Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, and Emma Roberts were extra good. I liked seeing Taylor Swift but she plays the ditziest high schooler it was cringe-worthy. Highly recommend it.
Then we met up with some of Pancho's friends from Hopkins that now live in Philly and some of their friends from med school. Somehow I ended up very very drunk. By somehow, I mean, a long island and 4 beers. yikes. Needless to say, Saturday morning was rough. very rough. But we started watching some of the Oylmpics coverage and made chocolate chip cookies from scratch (I have such a chocolate monster of a boyfriend) and before I knew it, it was time for dinner.
Got dressed up (boots, black pants, black and white silk top) and we headed over to Center City to Bistrot La Minette, this adorable little French restaurant. The reviews on Yelp were all glowing and it ended up beyond my expectations. Started with this delicious apple, pear puree, cinnamon cocktail, wonderfully buttery and garlic escargot in adorable individual pots for each snail, and warm baguette slices. Pancho had terrine (chunky pate) and then orange-glazed duck. My main course was lamb stew with duck confit which was hearty, thick and like heaven in every bite. AND then, as if I could eat another morsel, we got pot de chocolate for dessert. Basically a little bowl of chocolate mouse/pudding with delicate butter cookies to dip in. Topped off with chocolates made in-house and some red wine, we were in food heaven. I love good food and every thing was authentic and served beautifully. Very very impressed. It was romantic and the definite highlight of the weekend.
Ok, so, Friday night we went to see Valentine's Day which has like a million famous people in it. It was verrrrry cute, I loved it, there were some really hilarious scenes that made my face hurt I was laughing so much. It was a packed theater and my guess is that there were no more than 10 guys. Ashton Kutcher, Jennifer Garner, and Emma Roberts were extra good. I liked seeing Taylor Swift but she plays the ditziest high schooler it was cringe-worthy. Highly recommend it.
Then we met up with some of Pancho's friends from Hopkins that now live in Philly and some of their friends from med school. Somehow I ended up very very drunk. By somehow, I mean, a long island and 4 beers. yikes. Needless to say, Saturday morning was rough. very rough. But we started watching some of the Oylmpics coverage and made chocolate chip cookies from scratch (I have such a chocolate monster of a boyfriend) and before I knew it, it was time for dinner.
Got dressed up (boots, black pants, black and white silk top) and we headed over to Center City to Bistrot La Minette, this adorable little French restaurant. The reviews on Yelp were all glowing and it ended up beyond my expectations. Started with this delicious apple, pear puree, cinnamon cocktail, wonderfully buttery and garlic escargot in adorable individual pots for each snail, and warm baguette slices. Pancho had terrine (chunky pate) and then orange-glazed duck. My main course was lamb stew with duck confit which was hearty, thick and like heaven in every bite. AND then, as if I could eat another morsel, we got pot de chocolate for dessert. Basically a little bowl of chocolate mouse/pudding with delicate butter cookies to dip in. Topped off with chocolates made in-house and some red wine, we were in food heaven. I love good food and every thing was authentic and served beautifully. Very very impressed. It was romantic and the definite highlight of the weekend.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Fact: I survived a blizzard.
So... about that last post, about "Snowmageddon." Ummm.. well, I spoke too soon. Because Tuesday night-- Wednesday we got hit with a blizzard. A real, honest-to-goodness blizzard. Did my little ol' Floridian heart think such a thing was going to happen in "Oh, Philadelphia doesn't get that much snow"? NO. But it was awesome. Mainly because I never left my toasty apartment, and I could look on in wonder from the inside. It sleeted, it snowed, it was super windy. And the white stuff just piled onto the snow from Saturday that still hadn't even begun to melt. yikes.
Today I couldn't take it anymore, already going stir crazy, so I just went on a walk to the ATM. lol. (I needed some sort of purpose). It was glorious outside. Cold, but I was bundled so it felt good, sunny, and with rain boots I feel invincible so I can stomp around to my heart's content. The roads were in various states of packed snow/sorta plowed/cleared and already muddy. I'm actually dreading what this is all going to look like when it starts melting. ughhh. But, its still nice and clean and white now. I posted photos on Facebook. Its difficult to explain the ridiculousness of how much snow there is. 3-4 foot piles between the sidewalk and street.
Pancho is coming in on the train tomorrow. So far there are no delays, keeping my fingers crossed. The plan was for me to do some grocery shopping and then pick him up on the way back, but I have serious doubts about the road conditions. sigh. Driving on snowy-ish roads is terrifying but maybe everywhere I need to go is all salted and plowed. Let's hope.
Today I couldn't take it anymore, already going stir crazy, so I just went on a walk to the ATM. lol. (I needed some sort of purpose). It was glorious outside. Cold, but I was bundled so it felt good, sunny, and with rain boots I feel invincible so I can stomp around to my heart's content. The roads were in various states of packed snow/sorta plowed/cleared and already muddy. I'm actually dreading what this is all going to look like when it starts melting. ughhh. But, its still nice and clean and white now. I posted photos on Facebook. Its difficult to explain the ridiculousness of how much snow there is. 3-4 foot piles between the sidewalk and street.
Pancho is coming in on the train tomorrow. So far there are no delays, keeping my fingers crossed. The plan was for me to do some grocery shopping and then pick him up on the way back, but I have serious doubts about the road conditions. sigh. Driving on snowy-ish roads is terrifying but maybe everywhere I need to go is all salted and plowed. Let's hope.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
"Snowmageddon" of 2010
It snowed! Lots and lots and lots this weekend. It. was. awesome. (said like that little kid on The Incredibles)
It started Friday evening and didn't stop until Saturday afternoon. Estimates range from 22 to 28 inches for Philadelphia, so I'm not 100 percent sure exactly how much, but obviously enough. I spent a lot of time sitting at my kitchen table just watching it fall. Totally transformed the view. Everything is completely covered by white. Its very pretty. Looks like winter. Wish it looked like this for all of winter. Got bundled up on Saturday afternoon (when it was still 22 out but supposedly felt like 7 according to the weather report) and went playing with my friend, Noria. By playing I mean throwing myself into piles of snow, literally throwing myself, I even have a bruised knee as proof. (apparently one pile wasn't as packed as I thought so I plunked right through it to the ground) but made snow angels and tried to pack snowballs but it wasn't wet enough. It was wonderful. The roads hadn't really been plowed so people were just walking in the middle of the street, also because the sidewalks were like up to my knees almost. Very peaceful and quiet and makes all the other cold and non-snow days worth it. And we're supposed to be getting more snow on Wednesday! If I hope for a Snow Day am I jinxing it?
I was very good today and spent time catching up on my reading and getting ready for the week. Didn't watch the Super Bowl, but I did just happen to switch over during commercial on Nightly to catch the Tebow commercial. I don't know what the big deal was, it was like the lamest commercial ever and didn't even explicitly say anything about abortion. Hopefully I can see the highlights of some of the good commercials later this week, though.
Very excited that Pancho is coming on Friday to spend Valentine's weekend! We're going to this romantic French place, Bistrot La Minette, over in Center City for dinner. Haven't done anything fancy in a long time so really looking forward to it.
It started Friday evening and didn't stop until Saturday afternoon. Estimates range from 22 to 28 inches for Philadelphia, so I'm not 100 percent sure exactly how much, but obviously enough. I spent a lot of time sitting at my kitchen table just watching it fall. Totally transformed the view. Everything is completely covered by white. Its very pretty. Looks like winter. Wish it looked like this for all of winter. Got bundled up on Saturday afternoon (when it was still 22 out but supposedly felt like 7 according to the weather report) and went playing with my friend, Noria. By playing I mean throwing myself into piles of snow, literally throwing myself, I even have a bruised knee as proof. (apparently one pile wasn't as packed as I thought so I plunked right through it to the ground) but made snow angels and tried to pack snowballs but it wasn't wet enough. It was wonderful. The roads hadn't really been plowed so people were just walking in the middle of the street, also because the sidewalks were like up to my knees almost. Very peaceful and quiet and makes all the other cold and non-snow days worth it. And we're supposed to be getting more snow on Wednesday! If I hope for a Snow Day am I jinxing it?
I was very good today and spent time catching up on my reading and getting ready for the week. Didn't watch the Super Bowl, but I did just happen to switch over during commercial on Nightly to catch the Tebow commercial. I don't know what the big deal was, it was like the lamest commercial ever and didn't even explicitly say anything about abortion. Hopefully I can see the highlights of some of the good commercials later this week, though.
Very excited that Pancho is coming on Friday to spend Valentine's weekend! We're going to this romantic French place, Bistrot La Minette, over in Center City for dinner. Haven't done anything fancy in a long time so really looking forward to it.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
It's late (1:10am) and I'm tired but I don't feel like actually going to sleep. Except I should, and I need to. I will regret this tomorrow. It doesn't feel late and thats the problem. Like I just want to keep wasting time online or do something. Therefore I shall blog.
My cohort had a Game Night tonight at one of the girl's apartments in Center City. I've been to 4 other people's places in my class now and seriously, the sight of a living room as an actual living room, is sometimes almost too much to bear. Don't get me wrong; I love my apartment and I honestly think its perfect sized for one person, but having the option to have room for a couch or a cute overstuffed armchair would be nice. So we played Taboo, for our 3rd consecutive game night. I will confess to initially stumbling on "actor" as my first word. I just get a little anxious -> tongue-tied -> feeling as if there are no words in my brain. But then I found my rhythm. I also brought beer bread that I made from a Trader Joe's mix. Quite possibly one of the easiest things to make. ever. Open mix, add hard cider, pour in loaf pan and drizzle melted butter. Bake. and it tasted pretty darn good.
So there is a Winter Storm Warning for this weekend. Apparently its a Big Deal. Like, potentially 12 inches of snow between tomorrow afternoon and Saturday afternoon!! I'm envisioning me all cozied up inside, hot cocoa, catching up on all my tv shows from this week and my reading (boo) with the snow flakes gently falling.... Then I'm heading out to jump around in it and frolic with another girl from the South. (because we still think snow is awesome)
What else....?
Classes are going well. I actually feel on top of things. and prepared for discussions. Its a great feeling. Though I'm beginning to have anxiety about my research paper. Our first drafts are due in a month which is problematic because I do not feel at all ready. ugh. It will get done. It will get done. It will get done. This is true and I know it, but its the actual doing that is yucky.
Pancho has been getting some exciting news from grad schools and has interviews lined up. Looks like we'll be in Boston, Philadelphia, or Atlanta come September. I honestly have no preference at this point, I have pulls toward all of them. Crazy, considering that I wanted to live in Boston for, oh, say, 10 years but seriously now I'd be happy in any of them.
Ok, I've written myself sleepy. Guess this was a good idea after all.
My cohort had a Game Night tonight at one of the girl's apartments in Center City. I've been to 4 other people's places in my class now and seriously, the sight of a living room as an actual living room, is sometimes almost too much to bear. Don't get me wrong; I love my apartment and I honestly think its perfect sized for one person, but having the option to have room for a couch or a cute overstuffed armchair would be nice. So we played Taboo, for our 3rd consecutive game night. I will confess to initially stumbling on "actor" as my first word. I just get a little anxious -> tongue-tied -> feeling as if there are no words in my brain. But then I found my rhythm. I also brought beer bread that I made from a Trader Joe's mix. Quite possibly one of the easiest things to make. ever. Open mix, add hard cider, pour in loaf pan and drizzle melted butter. Bake. and it tasted pretty darn good.
So there is a Winter Storm Warning for this weekend. Apparently its a Big Deal. Like, potentially 12 inches of snow between tomorrow afternoon and Saturday afternoon!! I'm envisioning me all cozied up inside, hot cocoa, catching up on all my tv shows from this week and my reading (boo) with the snow flakes gently falling.... Then I'm heading out to jump around in it and frolic with another girl from the South. (because we still think snow is awesome)
What else....?
Classes are going well. I actually feel on top of things. and prepared for discussions. Its a great feeling. Though I'm beginning to have anxiety about my research paper. Our first drafts are due in a month which is problematic because I do not feel at all ready. ugh. It will get done. It will get done. It will get done. This is true and I know it, but its the actual doing that is yucky.
Pancho has been getting some exciting news from grad schools and has interviews lined up. Looks like we'll be in Boston, Philadelphia, or Atlanta come September. I honestly have no preference at this point, I have pulls toward all of them. Crazy, considering that I wanted to live in Boston for, oh, say, 10 years but seriously now I'd be happy in any of them.
Ok, I've written myself sleepy. Guess this was a good idea after all.
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