Master of Karate and Friendship for Everyone!

It had been close to a eight months since I had done anything remotely crafty. I thought that when I was laid up I would have time to knit everything I wanted to, but I did one row on a scarf and put the TV back on. Summer isn't really a good time for knitting anyway, but I have all this fabulous yarn hanging around and I totally want to make tons of things.

On top of that I have fabric paints, t-shirts, fabric, beads, wood burning tools, scrapbook paper, canvases, other paints, etc.

I started my jewelry and metalsmiting class on Sunday morning and I made a simple silver band. Cut the metal, sodered it, sanded it. The whole she-bang. Next week, I will set the stone and we will move on to something else. My hands were unsteady though. I had no confidence. I was really scared.

Therefore, I am unveiling a new project and a new blog to conincide. (For some reason I can't connect to blogger now, but will update when I make the new site).

Basically here are my rules:

1. I already have to have the supplies (exceptions are thread, glue, things under $5)
2. I will take suggestions or recommendations
3. They generally have to be projects I can finish in one night or in one month.
4. I will post pictures of finished items and progress that I have made.
5. I will also have some craft nights.

Yay!

 i gots big plans for tomorrow, y'all, big plans. 

I'll be at the Phoenix Landing tonight around 10:30/11 after Michelle's boob benefit! Come if you're feeling like being grabbed at. By me.

Before I move, I want to do a walk/run. Not like the walk for hunger or something. This is purely selfish.

I can't run...yet, but I want to attempt one of these things. Just to see how I do. Any recommendations for anything before June 24th?

Gracias.

 1. You think $30,000 is "really making it"...
2. You don't really know what it's like to work with men.
3. You know all the latest lingo for drugs, where to get them, and how much they cost.
4. You've started a sentence with "so what I hear you saying is..."
5. You've had 2 or 20 more jobs at one time just to pay the bills.
6. You tell people what you do and they say "that's so noble"
7. You've had to explain to people that not all social workers take away kids
8. You use the words "validate", "appropriate" and "intervention" daily
9. You spend more than 1/2 your day documenting and doing paperwork.
10. You think nothing of discussing child abuse over dinner.
11. You are very familiar with the concept of entitlement.
12. You've never been on a business trip or had an expense account.
13. You know a lot of other social workers who have left the profession for another.
14. You've had to explain to family/ friends on more than one occassion why the law enforcement personnel know you by name.
15. Staying at a job for more than 2 years is "a long time".
16. Your phone number is unlisted for good reason.
17. It's a common occurrence to walk through metal detectors.
18. You are very familiar with the term "budget cut".
19. You dream of stacking shelves at Walmart.
20. You've had clients who liked you just a little too much...
21. Having lunch is a luxury many days.
22. You've been cursed at or threatened... and it doesn't bother you.
23. Your job orientation has included self defense.
24. You know all the excuses clients use for a failed drug test by heart.
25. You assess your date (in your head) just to see if they meet the criteria for any DSM IV diagnosis.

I was driving home on Rte 16 Wednesday after grabbing my post vacation burrito. I was stopped at the light at the Meadow Glen Mall when I saw someone gesturing wildly to my left. I look. He gives me the finger. So, I roll down my window.

Me: Excuse me, did I do something?
Guy: Yeah. You have a peace sign on the back of your car.
Me: Okay. Yeah?
Guy: FUCK you and FUCK peace

He gives me the finger again and I notice the collection of Marines bumper stickers on the back of his pick up.

Yup. Back in America.

you guys! my trip is awesome!!!!!!!!!!

i'll be writing MUCH more lately, but let me just say that both places are cool, i've had a life changing experience AND i have the best travel buddy ever.

i'm hoping that the huge blister on the bottom of my left foot goes away. crocs are good, but they can't fix what the doc martens have caused.

<be back tuesday night!

I leave work in four hours. One of those hours will be spent at lunch. And from there, it's off to Logan where a coach seat on Icelandic Air has my name written all over it for a 5 hour period on my way to Iceland. I really could not be more thrilled!!! After a few days there, it's off to Sweden to enjoy some of my heritage. Hooray!!!

A few months ago I went to the Gulf station on Rte 16 on the Medford/Somerville line. Pumped some gas, paid with my card and noticed that they, illegally, charged me a different amount for using my debit card. So, I went in and had a conversation with a very defensive man named Donald. I was calm and tried to explain to him that his station can't do that and that they could get in real trouble.

Cut to Sunday, V and I stop at this place because they have a Dunkin Donuts and he wants coffee. I bought a soda because I needed cash back. Donald was my cashiere.

Donald: $1.75 (for a 20 oz. coke. ridiculous)
I go to swipe my card
Donald: $2.00 minimum
Me: ::sigh:: You can't do that.
Donald: Yes I can. Store policy.
Vincent: Right, but its against the terms and conditions of the credit card company.
At this point Donald looks at another employee who shrugs.
Donald: $2 minimum
Me: Okay, I guess I need something for 25 cents then.
Donald: LOOK DON'T GIVE ME SHIT! HERE! A CHARLESTON CHEW!
Me: Excuse me, I don't appreciate you swearing at me.
Donald: OH REALLY!?
He rings me up, I say nothing.
Donald: Have a good day IF YOU CAN.
At this point I push his door open really hard to leave.
Donald: HEY DON'T SLAM MY DOOR, YOU ASSHOLE

and then I heard some murmurs behind me from him.

I'm proud of myself. Never in my life have I wanted to grab someone by the neck and punch them so hard in the face that their head comically spins around. For the next 30 minutes or so I thought about all the things I could've said to him and they all ended with "you stupid old fuck." Again, I'm really, really proud of myself.

But seriously, what an old stupid fuck.

7 months old!
 

After submerging myself on Saturday and most of Sunday and Monday in watching and rewatching Wainy Days, my crush of David Wain has grown to Rick Moranis proportions.

Anyway, here is one of my favorite episodes of Wainy Days.

I love it!

AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

My ibook G3 is officially gone. I knew it was bad sign when the dude at The Computer Loft wasn't entirely sure how it opened and then muttered "A G3? They don't even make parts for this anymore." It's 6 years old. I don't know what I was expecting.

Well, bottom line is this. I know some people on here have made fairly recent investments in Macs. I will not switch over to a windows computer. Yeah, it's cheaper, but they're more prone to viruses and, in my experience, have a much shorter life span. I'd rather spent $1200 on something that would last me another 6 years.

But I can't. What is happening is that my awesome dad has decided to help me pay for a used one as part of my birthday gift.

Here is what we came up with

Is this a good option? Any known problems with this model?

Saturday morning V and I woke up early and drove to Providence to pick Sam up at her mans place. It was the first time I met Kevin 2. First impression, I like him. Seems like a nice guy and has a fun hat.

The drive down wasn't bad at all and we found out hotel very easily. After a very confusing conversation with the front desk clerk, we dropped off our stop and headed out to M&M world. Vincent had found the pamplet while I was checking in. There was no stopping him.



It was cold. Damn cold. We walked through Times Square admiring the 2009 ball and 30 Rock ads. We stopped in a Borders to warm up while we killed time waiting to meet Claire for dinner.

Claire was a good friend of mine sophomore year. She was a Korean exchange student who ended up transferring to NYU my senior year. She's finishing up her Masters at NYU before moving back to Korea in May. I'm incredibly excited that she's going to be there the same time as me!!

We ate dinner at Saigon Grill. Claire was ECSTATIC to see us. It was pretty great. Especially since I hadn't seen her since 2003.





After a quick change at the hotel, we walked the few blocks over to the Cort Theatre to see Will Ferrell's one man show: You're Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush.



Review with Spoilers: The show was awesome. I love his portrayal of GWB. He doesn't make him come off as an asshole or even a moron, really. Just an average guy who kinda stumbled into the presidency, doesn't know how and doesnt want to do it because its a lot of pressure. My two favorite moments were the incredibly sexual dance with Condi Rice to Michael MacDonald's Keep Forgetting and the part where he gave audience members nick names based on their real names and jobs. He even had a moment of silence for those we've lost in the war.

After the show, about 30 people and ourselves waited in the freezing cold to catch a glimpse of the big man himself. About 20 minutes later, he came out to take some pics and sign some autographs. It lasted about 2 minutes. I managed to get a few shots of his hat.



and one of his face!

We finished out the night by drinking expensive beer and eating expensive bar food at a bar near our hotel before hoofing it in the FREEZING cold back to the hotel.

Sunday morning we drove up to New London, CT to visit, Cassie, Rich and Brendan. It was a short, but fun visit. The baby is adorable and so sweet. I would've kidnapped him, but I've got one closer that smiles more at me. And Cassie looks great for having a baby 6 weeks ago. I also garnered the best facial reaction ever from Rich when I asked him if he ate the afterbirth.

Awesome weekend!

This Adventure Monday was not as adventurish as usual nor was it as Mondayish as usual since everyone had the day off due to MLK's greatness. But, as City Year says, it's a day ON not OFF!

We started the day around 2:30pm with a stop at KenTaco (no hut). V had been craving KFC and I consider eating at either place to be an adventure. We both ordered something from each place.

       

"No gravy, please" This actually worked out as I know sorta like gravy and, refusing to eat my food with a spork, found that scopping some mashed pots and gravy with my chicken, to be delish.

After that it was on to Kendall to see Slumdog Millionaire - a beautiful, heartbreaking and inspiring film. I enjoyed it much more than I had expected. Almost as good? The trailed for a thriller called Donkey Punch - which - I *think* had to do with some Brittish girls partying on a yacht, things get out of hand, one dies and then bunches of stuff happen. Sounds like the spring break version of Very Bad Things.

What do you do after a two hour movie? EAT MORE FOOD! Especially when it's lobster macaroni and cheese.


We went in to Faneuil Hall to Boston Chowdah Co. because we had a seen a sign advertising this delicious dish on new years eve. They only had one, so we split that along with some Lobster Bisque. Oddly enough, I still thank Trader Joes has the best LB. The LMnC was pretty heavy, but delicious and full of CLAWS.

Next stop, TD Banknorth Garden for the Celtics/Suns match-up. I was expecting an even closer match-up than the Celtics/Rockets game Michelle and I took in, but since the Celtics led by 30 points for almost the entire game, we watched the third string hand Steve Nash and Shaq their asses.

 
I love the energetic crowd at Celtics games, but there was none of that. I think most people were bored. Glen Davis did not ask me to get riled up in the fourth quarter. Stupid, Big Baby.

A co-workers car:





And a Mario dishcloth that looks nothing like Mario :(

In honor of MLK day, which is viewed by some as the greatest national service day ever, Alan Khazei, City Year co-founder and resident whack-job, was on The Colbert Report Wednesday night pimping out his new national service organization Be The Change. Even after internet research and listening to the interview, I really have no idea what his organization is about.

I love community service. I do. Helping others is a passion of mine. Being forced to help others that don't want it comes at the exact opposite of that spectrum. My thoughts on national service have changed. Do I think everyone should do community service? Yes. I do. Wholeheartedly. Do I think that forcing a group of people to pick up rocks in a cul de sac in San Antonio is community service? No. It only really benefited the city since they didn't have to pay workers and prisoners since they didnt have to do it in 95 degree heat. It did not benefit a community.

There doesn't need to be structure to make service important. Not every community service experience needs to have a service learning component. If you want to volunteer and something interests you, do it. There are plenty of jobs that people don't want to do and if you really liked doing service, you'd do those to.

Anyway, Alan Khazei is nuts. Thats what I've been meaning to get to. He has the distinct pleasure of being the only CY big man that I have had the pleasure of participating in a round table discussion with. He presented unrealistic grandios ideas for things he wanted us, two months into our year of service, to accomplish. He left in a huff when we questioned his ideas - which were made in an attempt to understand just what it was that he was talking about.

He left City Year a few years ago, on amicable terms, supposedly, and was going to write a book. He only rattled off CYs name in a list of other organizations doing the same thing during the Colbert interview. I'm starting to think it wasn't amicable and he either got annoyed with all the BS associated or they told his ass to take a hike.

On the Leadership Compass, which is a test given to all CY corps members within the first week, Khazei registers as an East (and myself a West - this may be why he drives me nuts - also you should take this test) which means that he is know for ridiculous ideas with incredibly poor execution.

Does it surprise me that Alan Khazei went on national tv to talk about an organization that only has an "about us" section on his website? No. Not at all. Will he be sucessful? If he comes up with a plan. Will he come up with a plan? He has one. It's to go on tv, say he has an organization, and tell people to do community service. And it's probably going to work.

So, here is what interests me....Have you done community service before? Voluntary or involuntary? What did you enjoy? What did you hate? If you never have, what do you think you might like? Would you want to meet the people you are helping or learn about their community? What would make for a great experience doing community service for you?

I went to the gym and it was fine. I was wrong about the no money down though, it was no contract. And thats fine. It's still cheap enough. They have yoga and a separate women's only section. It's right up my alley - for a gym.

The previous sentences were brought to you by....Dana still kinda has her wednesday migraine and wishes she was wearing sunglasses and was sleeping.

Seriously, a cohesive thought should find me at some point...right?

Soups class!   $48 as part of a pay what you can class

Reflexology    $55

Hip hop dance! $90 runs until March

thats all i have so far. anyone care to add anything else?