I know I said I was back and that I was going to blog. Well, I am back but I have been rather lazy in updating my blog and continually put it off to watch episodes on Netflix.
That being said, I am now vowing to blog at least once a week. Even though the blog might be a small paragraph about how much I hate grad school and how hard it is, I will blog.
In order to move things along, I am going to recap August with a list of things I have done:
1. Motor Vehicle Agency
I went to the Motor Vehicle Agency, Maryland's version of the DMV. It was an enlightening experience. I went the first week I was in Maryland in hopes of being able to get my car titled and registered, and get my license. Well I was able to get it titled and registered, for $170 dollars, but I didn't have all the documents for my license. So I try again a few weeks later, and again, I don't have the right documentation. After ranting on the phone, complaining about canceled checks and Maryland in general, I calm down enough to get the right documentation. And today, I went back and they gave me my license, for $45. And I am registered to vote. However, I still need to get my car inspected, something they don't do at the MVA. Ah, the convoluted ways of our government.
2. Borders
I got a job at Borders.....and then quit my job at Borders. I needed something to do and was able to get a job at Borders since I was sorta still on the books. All the while, I was applying for other jobs. And I really didn't like working nights in Silver Spring, a town I didn't know and one that has been known for some crime. So, when another job seemed close to being offered, I quit. Which leads into...
3. The National Gallery of Art
I have been offered a position, unofficially, at the National Gallery of Art. It is in the Image Collections Department in Library of the National Gallery of Art. I would be a Library Technician/Student Assistant. I say unofficially because the director chose me but I have to hear is officially from the personnel department. The position is 20 hrs/week during the semester and it can be full time during breaks. I will have it for three years and the networking/resume building could be fantastic so I am very excited.
4. Friends
I have friends! Yes, I know you all were worried that no one would like a loud, obnoxious, sarcastic Jersey girl but that has not been the case. My roommates have sorta been forced to deal with me since we all live together but I think they might like me. :) And I met some people in the iSchool (Library Science) and they accepted me. And I met a bunch of people at the History Orientation and they also seem to like me. I'm sure alcohol made me seem a lot more awesome than I really am but I am more than okay letting them believe that.
5. Washington D.C.
Living this close to D.C. is great. I can get on the metro (something I have almost mastered) and go anywhere I wish to in the city. I have learned where not to go, which is very important. I went to the Library of Congress and the Postal Museum, the latter I would recommend to everyone. It is very interesting. I also have been to a bar in D.C. It was fun, but it might have been a gay bar, something we realized after two hours. Whatever, it was fun.
6. Georgetown Cupcake
Staying with the D.C. chat, I went to Georgetown Cupcake. BEST.CUPCAKES.EVER. Nothing else to say. Seriously. However, it takes forever to get there. It took over an hour by the metro and then we had to wait in line for 40 minutes. But the cupcakes are worth it. They changed my life. And they can heal broken hearts, even if it is just for a few moments. Here is the website. You can order them and I will pick them up for a nominal fee of a peanut butter fudge cupcake. I'm very cheap. You can bribe me with cupcakes.
7. Sports
I discovered sports in D.C. I went to a D.C. United (soccer) game. It would've been great had I not been by myself. I did enjoy myself and would like to go back to another one if I get the chance. I also went to a Nationals game last Friday night. That was a lot of fun and I would recommend it to all. They stadium is nice and even though the Nationals are crappy, nothing can ruin a baseball game in the summer.
This list pretty much sums up my month of August in Maryland. It has been an overall good time and I really like it here. The one major downfall is the heat. It is 93 degrees out right now. Slightly unbearable.
Classes started today but I don't start until Wednesday. Hopefully my background check goes through soon and I will be able to start my other job very soon. I hope to return soon with a recap of my classes and maybe some tales of Labor Day weekend shenanigans.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
I'm Baaaaackkk
Miss me? I know you did. Don't even pretend to hide it. I missed writing about myself and my rather exciting life. So here I am, back to blog some more. Back to tell some tales of lore that will be passed down to my children, and my children's children, until they become stories on the epic scale of the Iliad. My goal in life is to become Homer of the 21st century and that goal begins here....
Well enough of that. I am back mainly because I have moved! Yes, I have moved from my hometown in Jersey to a new place in Maryland. My new place is located about 20 minutes northeast of Washington D.C. It is a nice town in a nice area with extremely nice people. As Frank says, it's nice to be nice to the nice.
Why did I move, you ask? Well I am here because I am starting grad school at the University of Maryland. I will be studying to get my masters in both History and Library Science. It takes three years.....so you're stuck with me for at least that long.
What will I be blogging about? Excellent question. Anything and everything that I might be involved in. No I will not include trivial details about what I ate for dinner, although that could be a topic when I choose to make an awesome meal. I will not blog everyday either. Only when I do something that I deem riveting enough to tell the world. This might include trips to DC and the surrounding area or updates on the half marathon I will be running in September.
For my first blog post, I will tell of my move to this lovely state. I don't have any packing pictures so I will describe as best as possible and then give you images of the final product.
Packing for my move began in June. I knew I would have two weeks to pack after returning from Alaska so I have to get a head start. I began the process by packing my books. If you know me well, you know I have a small library. I packed 8 boxes of books. I left a bookshelf and a half in New Jersey.
Yeah, I gots lots of books
So after packing the books, everything else would be simple. We went to Alaska, had a fantastic time, and then we came back. Suddenly, I had two weeks to pack up my life. Two weeks to say goodbye to friends and family. Two weeks to PTD. (That is pack, tan, drink to those who don't get my Jersey Shore reference.)
So I packed. Some clothes in suitcases but most was left in the dresser. Put all my stuffed animals in a big tub. Packed toiletries and other necessities. Packed games, pictures and knickknacks. I tried to tan. Went to LBI one day and then to Sea Bright another day. Didn't succeed too well in that department.
But I passed with flying colors in the drinking department. Not like any of you expected any less of me. Did some karaoke, went to the Stone Pony for the first time. Danced my face off at the Downtown. Had my first experience in Seaside Heights at Hooks and it was pretty awesome. Said goodbye to great friends at a going away party at my house. Really enjoyed my last two weeks.
Saturday arrived. Pops and I packed the Budget Truck to the brim. Then I packed up my car and called it a day. My room echoed as I walked through it, empty of all the furniture that made it my room. Gone were my bed, my dresser, my lamps, my bookshelves, my tv, my filing cabinets, my photos, my rugs. A few things remained, items I couldn't bring with me. I slept the last two nights in Tim's room, sleeping fitfully in a room that was not my own.
Then Sunday morning arrived. I went through the morning ritual as if in a trance. Washed, ate breakfast and got into the car. We drove to Maryland, Mom and I in my car and Dad in the truck. Barring a few direction problems, we all arrived by 1 and began unpacking.
We were lucky that is didn't rain. It had called for thunderstorms but nothing happened. WE unloaded the truck, broke for lunch, and then finished the unloading process. Then came the unpacking process, something that is infinitely more difficult than the packing process. However, it got done, albeit some minor scuffles between mother and daughter.
It's a vanity that spins. Thank you IKEA
I have a walk-in closet. I'm spoiled for life.
No room is complete without a sexy picture of Johnny Depp.
We did our shopping trips on Monday and finished the decoration process by Tuesday morning. We had enjoyed a good weekend together, settling me into my new home. Spent lots of money, leisurely walked through IKEA and ate in great restaurants in the area. We went into DC today, got lunch in Union Station and discovered all the shops in the station. I saw mom onto the train. She headed back to New Jersey, a true empty-nester, while I embarked on my new life in Maryland. I've cut off most of the apron strings - no more comments about it, Tim.
Of course, I will be back to visit New Jersey and enjoy my friends and family who live there. Who knows, I might end up back there one day. Keep reading to see how my future unfolds.
Well enough of that. I am back mainly because I have moved! Yes, I have moved from my hometown in Jersey to a new place in Maryland. My new place is located about 20 minutes northeast of Washington D.C. It is a nice town in a nice area with extremely nice people. As Frank says, it's nice to be nice to the nice.
Why did I move, you ask? Well I am here because I am starting grad school at the University of Maryland. I will be studying to get my masters in both History and Library Science. It takes three years.....so you're stuck with me for at least that long.
What will I be blogging about? Excellent question. Anything and everything that I might be involved in. No I will not include trivial details about what I ate for dinner, although that could be a topic when I choose to make an awesome meal. I will not blog everyday either. Only when I do something that I deem riveting enough to tell the world. This might include trips to DC and the surrounding area or updates on the half marathon I will be running in September.
For my first blog post, I will tell of my move to this lovely state. I don't have any packing pictures so I will describe as best as possible and then give you images of the final product.
Packing for my move began in June. I knew I would have two weeks to pack after returning from Alaska so I have to get a head start. I began the process by packing my books. If you know me well, you know I have a small library. I packed 8 boxes of books. I left a bookshelf and a half in New Jersey.
Yeah, I gots lots of books
So after packing the books, everything else would be simple. We went to Alaska, had a fantastic time, and then we came back. Suddenly, I had two weeks to pack up my life. Two weeks to say goodbye to friends and family. Two weeks to PTD. (That is pack, tan, drink to those who don't get my Jersey Shore reference.)
So I packed. Some clothes in suitcases but most was left in the dresser. Put all my stuffed animals in a big tub. Packed toiletries and other necessities. Packed games, pictures and knickknacks. I tried to tan. Went to LBI one day and then to Sea Bright another day. Didn't succeed too well in that department.
But I passed with flying colors in the drinking department. Not like any of you expected any less of me. Did some karaoke, went to the Stone Pony for the first time. Danced my face off at the Downtown. Had my first experience in Seaside Heights at Hooks and it was pretty awesome. Said goodbye to great friends at a going away party at my house. Really enjoyed my last two weeks.
Saturday arrived. Pops and I packed the Budget Truck to the brim. Then I packed up my car and called it a day. My room echoed as I walked through it, empty of all the furniture that made it my room. Gone were my bed, my dresser, my lamps, my bookshelves, my tv, my filing cabinets, my photos, my rugs. A few things remained, items I couldn't bring with me. I slept the last two nights in Tim's room, sleeping fitfully in a room that was not my own.
Then Sunday morning arrived. I went through the morning ritual as if in a trance. Washed, ate breakfast and got into the car. We drove to Maryland, Mom and I in my car and Dad in the truck. Barring a few direction problems, we all arrived by 1 and began unpacking.
We were lucky that is didn't rain. It had called for thunderstorms but nothing happened. WE unloaded the truck, broke for lunch, and then finished the unloading process. Then came the unpacking process, something that is infinitely more difficult than the packing process. However, it got done, albeit some minor scuffles between mother and daughter.
It's a vanity that spins. Thank you IKEA
I have a walk-in closet. I'm spoiled for life.
No room is complete without a sexy picture of Johnny Depp.
We did our shopping trips on Monday and finished the decoration process by Tuesday morning. We had enjoyed a good weekend together, settling me into my new home. Spent lots of money, leisurely walked through IKEA and ate in great restaurants in the area. We went into DC today, got lunch in Union Station and discovered all the shops in the station. I saw mom onto the train. She headed back to New Jersey, a true empty-nester, while I embarked on my new life in Maryland. I've cut off most of the apron strings - no more comments about it, Tim.
Of course, I will be back to visit New Jersey and enjoy my friends and family who live there. Who knows, I might end up back there one day. Keep reading to see how my future unfolds.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)