Late night ramblings . . .

Since I have no desire to do anything productive...

Here is the breakdown and play-by-play (well... sort of play-by-play) of the great and amazing Disneyland trip that was last weekend!

Friday March 2nd: Left school at 2ish to go home and finish packing. Becca picked me up at 2:40ish to head down to Seattle (she was going to T-town but dropped me on the way). I ended up sitting and reading in a cute coffee shop near Seattle Center while waiting for Scott to get off work at 5. I got bored, though, and wandered to Seattle Center and then to a McDonald's. Traffic from Bellevue into Seattle sucked at 5pm on a Friday, so he did not arrive until 6:15ish. By that time I was tired. But that was okay. Because D-land in the morning! We had dinner, watched John Stewart, then went to bed 'cause we had to wake up at 4:30am to be at l'aeroport by 6am on Sat.

Saturday March 3rd: Up really early to get to the aeroport. I tried not to be cranky. We parked in the Masterpark place, checked in, and made it to our gate with plenty of time. I bought a "trashy" magazine (People) as is my tradition on plane flights. I bought Cosmo on the way back because I'm that classy. We took off at approx. 8am and arrived in Longbeach, CA at 10:25ish! It was SO warm and there were palm trees!!! The Longbeach airport is tiny and you have to go outside to get to security. We then got our rental car (a Chevy Impala) and set out toward the hotel to check-in and grab lunch. Arrived at the hotel at 11ish, and they let us check-in. Our room was nice enough... with double beds (?). Apparently Scott's company books him whatever room they want, so they never check the bed situation. Lunch at Subway (I LOVE that my b/f loves Subway like me!).... then to the Parks! We parked in the Simba lot WAY far away from the park and hiked through downtown Disney, found a restroom, then finally into Disneyland!!! Our first ride was those car things in Tomorrowland (Autotopia) because the park was so crowded by that point. As the day went on, though, we got to all of the big rides thanks to the new Disney FastPass system, which allows you to come back to a ride at a specific time and cut ahead. So we did Indiana Jones (AMAZING. How did they do all that??), Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Star Tours, and the Matterhorn twice! I'm sure there were others. We also took in a show of "Jedi Training Academy," which was so fun-- little kids were trained to be Jedis w/ fake light sabers and wearing those brown robes. Then Darth Vadar showed up and they got to battle him. Finally, we left the park to grab our jackets and grab dinner at a pizza place in Downtown Disney. We returned to the park to do a few more rides and catch the fireworks. Normally I'm afraid of fireworks since I think that they'll fall on my head... but these were different even though they were so close. Very magical. Le sigh.

Sunday March 4th: Up at around 8am with the goal of leaving at 9:30. Disney's Calif. Adventure was to open at 10am. Breakfast at the hotel then off! We got a better parking space in the huge Mickey & Friends parking structure and were able to take the tram straight to the park entrance. Once inside, we rode the Tower of Terror because there was a 15 minute wait! I'm so glad that Scott liked it 'cause it's my absolute favorite ride because I think the atmosphere is great and it's so creative. Then we waited about 20 minutes so that I could get a picture with Goofy. Why oh why am I 23 and not allowed to kick little kids out of line? It was wonderful being able to spend long days in the park and run through crowds w/out having to worry about kids, but it sucked to have to be patient with them in the parks when it came to rides and greeting characters. So... after Goofy we had hot dogs and fries for lunch at a place called "Weiner for best supporting hot dog in a supporting roll" or something like that... Scott got a picture (he got lots of pictures. Maybe I'll post a bunch on facebook when he sends them to me). Then off to explore the rest of Calif. Adventure. The pier area was beautiful, and we rode the huge California Screamin' rollercoaster there twice. Then explored more. Then onto the rapids ride even though it was cooling down. Then Scott decided that he wanted a rootbeer float. Where else in the world could you actually walk ten feet and find a place selling them? Disney. Delic. We took a quick break to chat with Crush (from "Finding Nemo") in an amazing simulation show (How do they do that??). Finally, left Calif. Adventure to cruise Downtown Disney, make reservations at the Rainforest Cafe, and go shopping. Scott bought his Mickey Mouse ears and proceeded to wear them for the rest of the trip. Dinner was amazing, and we were seated next to a robot gorilla thing that moved every five minutes and freaked me out!! After dinner, we returned to the park to ride Soarin' Over California since we had gotten that FastPass earlier. Then one more ride on the big, amazing rollercoaster. To end the day, we watched what we could see of the fireworks from the park over. How romantical!

Monday March 5th: Final day in the parks, and we made it count. Got to Disneyland at 9:30ish after stopping at Target to get sunscreen since both of us had suffered some severe tanning the day before. Scott was still wearing his MM ears, and I wore a UPS baseball cap because I did not wear ears. We entered Disneyland and noticed that it was significantly less crowded since it was a Monday. Yeehaw!! So we did every ride one or two more times. And we met Mickey in his house! (finally... Scott was very happy.). I made Scott ride It's a Small World. After lunch, we popped over to Calif. Adventure to do another round of Tower of Terror and the rapids ride to cool off. Then more rides in Disneyland park and an unsuccessful search for cheap dinner food. We ended the final day with the AMAZING "Parade of Dreams." Again, how romantical! Dinner that night was... Subway in our hotel room. Also very romantical.

Tuesday March 6th: We woke up at 6. I was dropped at the airport before Scott went to work at his on-site (the real reason that we got to go to Anaheim!). Long wait for 11:30 flight... landed in Seattle at 2... shuttle at 3... long ride up to B'ham... arrived in apartment at 6pm. Scott should be arriving at his apartment soon, I believe. Ahh... all in all, an amazing, most magical, most romantical trip. oh, and in the end, I did buy Mickey Mouse ears (and a stuffed, plush pirate Mickey Mouse who is oh so cute).

Tomorrow afternoon I am outta here. Saturday morning I am outta here for real-- as in leavin' on a jet plane for parts warmer, mainly Anaheim, CA.

I will spend the weekend with Mickey Mouse. And my boyfriend.

And I will not be in cold, snowy Bellingham with a severe head cold (the first part is a sure thing-- we're working on making the latter a 100% sure thing.)

I went skiing yesterday and had fun (and did not die!). Pictures are on my facebook profile (both my new profile pic and under the E&S Album).

I watched the Oscar's on and off (traded off w/ Amazing Race at 8pm). Okay, so I hate Rob and Amber on the Amazing Race (is it bad that his Boston accent grates on even me, a semi-Bostonian? "Am-buh, Am-buh!" Obnoxious.) Oscar's were long and pseudo-boring. My favorite part was the "Dreamgirls" medley. Dude, a Grammy-winner, an Oscar-winner, and a Tony-winner just singing the shit outta those songs. Good stuff.

Work tomorrow.

Then...

four more days...

and then I go somewhere where it will be 76 and sunny.

Good 'cause I can't take no more rain. My English is apparently sucking because of it.

So I had a fabulous weekend in Seattle/Bellevue:

1. Went to the EMP and Science Fiction Museum w/ Scott for Valentine's Day early. We spent about two hours in the sound lab alone just trying all of the different instruments. He is much better than me at the guitar and the bass (although I was getting better and better. I can now play the power chords from the opening of "Smells Like Teen Spirit!"); however, I kicked his ass at playing the drum set. Figures. And Rachel K. says that girls can't play drums. Ha!

2. Had a wonderful two hour fun time w/ the girls (Rachel K., Kristi, Amy, and Sarah) and Scott in Kristi's new amazingly cool apartment.

3. Had just an overall awesome time relaxing. Saw both "Army of Darkness" ("This is my Boom Stick!") and "Die Hard." (fell asleep like three times during the latter, though. Odd.)

4. Finalized flight plans for Disneyland! That's right. We are going to Disneyland in less than three weeks!

Excited. Too excited to write.

Issue.
Scott invited me to go w/ him on a business trip to Anaheim, CA (if that's how you spell it) the second week in March 'cause the site is right near Disneyland. Dude. How cool would that be?

Why I can't go:
-Classes. Somehow I don't think "going to Disneyland w/ my boyfriend" is a good enough reason to ditch a class that only meets ten times. DAMN.
- Work-- internship and assistantship. As a low-paid student employee, I don't think I get the benefits of vacation time. DAMN.
- My father's coming to visit during his spring break starting March 9th (like the day we would get back). Not so much "DAMN" since I love my father... but still.

I guess if I did go, I would be stuck doing nothing while Scott went to work during the day. However, if there was an easy way to fly down w/ him, do Disneyland on the weekend, then fly back on like Tues., I'd so do it. But I don't think there is...

If anyone can think of a way to get me to Disneyland w/ my b/f, please let me know...

So far today I've had an undergraduate tell me that I'm "strange" and another undergraduate (who doesn't know me nearly as well!) tell me that I've got "spunk." I'm taking these as both compliments. Who doesn't want to be strange and have spunk? I feel like they make me stick out more... or something.

Who invented the idea of academics wearing black? I ponder this.

Today at work ALL of the female academic advising and tutorial services staff members (including me!) were dressed in ALL black. Coincidence? I think not. I think that there's something about:
a.) Women in the northwest and black
b.) Women in academia and black
c.) all of the above.

I always thought that wearing black turtlenecks/skirts/turtleneck sweaters, etc. was an English Dept. thing. So, when I wanted to pretend to be a great English prof., I would just dress in black. But apparently other people do this, too-- like the academic advising staff. And I don't think it's because they want to believe that they are great professors of the English.

Enlighten me, please.

So I've been sitting at my computer (my black MacBook!!!) for the past two hours apparently writing my Winter Quarter Learning Contract (which was, oops, due today at 2pm-- hey, I've had "computer troubles"!). Needless to say, not so much done on it. Whoops. I am going to bed soon, though. And, thankfully, while I've been sitting here, my cold has been slowly, slightly sliding away (at least I can hope that it has been!).

Snow? Ice? Ick. I do not like this deep freeze. Please fix it.

I am SO smitten. This is so unlike me. I would hate people like me-- the "no, YOU hang up first," "I hung up first last time; YOU hang up first." kind of people. Gag me.

HOWEVER... this is me. I am smitten/have been struck down by Cupid's arrow/am walking around w/ stars in my eyes. I feel like this is a good sign since we're fiveish months in and there's a definite spark... I don't know what that really means, but whatever. It's all good. One more week to go then I'm back out West! I have enjoyed seeing 'boro people, but I'm getting cabin fever and am excited to speed through my last 2.5 quarters. zoooommm.

Okay, I am obviously tired. And smitten. Sigh.

Help, I can't sleep. I'm stuck on PST in an EST zone. Yikes!

Happy almost Christmas Eve.

I'm excited to see family tomorrow night/tonight. I've been thinking about jobs and stuff lately, which I should NOT do right now 'cause it stresses me out. How much would I like to know where I'll be at this time next year?? Very much. East or West Coast? Hmm... Who knows?!

Oh well.
I need a good book to read. I think I will be getting about eight of those for Christmas.

Why is being a woman so expensive??? Seriously!

I want to be healthy, non-pregnant, and happy. Why must this cost me a lot of $$? And insurance is no help!

Anyway...
I know that I haven't updated in a while. I'm in Massachusetts and chilling out in front of my Dad's new 46" HD TV w/ surround sound. Yep, I'm that cool.

I miss Scott. It's nice to see my family, though.
That is all. Maybe more later.

I share a birthday with:

Nostradamus

TWO actresses who have portrayed Gypsy Rose Lee/Louise in the musical "Gypsy" (Tammy Blanchard, who was in the most recent B'Way revival and Cynthia Gibb, who was in the 90's made-for-TV movie version w/ Bette Midler)

Jimmy Doolittle-- the WWII pilot (played by Alec Baldwin in "Pearl Harbor")

Patty Duke

AND

Shirley Jackson (American, Gothic author who is most known for her short story "The Lottery" and the novel, "The Haunting of Hill House")-- I think that this is kind of fun, especially following last spring's Eng. 470: Gothic America.

Guess what? My b'day is now over. It was spent in class for six hours. However, I did go out tonight w/ classmates/friends and had a few fabulous alcoholic berverages. I also watched two fab. episodes of "South Park" and an episode of "Frasier."

And now you must excuse me while I head off to bed... before my power goes off due to the high (and VERY scary) winds in B'ham.

is better than 22.
But how would I know? I'm only about 12 minutes in...

And I am doing schoolwork! As always, my b'day falls during finals week. SUCKS. Oh well.

Okay, back to FINAL paper of fall quarter.

My name is Emily, and I have a problem finishing homework...
gah. I've been working on this stuff for the past like five hours. And it's like stupid learning journal entries that should have ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN. Yes, I'm backdating things.
Frustration.
Such frustration.
I just want to be home in le boro. Yes, Attleboro is now masculine. Because I said so.
And driving along Route One to Borders and Best Buy. And Panera. Love me some Panera.
And Boston. Going to Boston w/ the Meg for our Christmas gifts to each other. Going to go see Havahd. Or Harvard.
Too bad they don't have Alaskan Amber on the East Coast. I already checked.
do bee do bee doooo....

So I'm currently eating store brand mac and cheese and guzzling down some Alaskan Amber. Yeah, totally trying to kill my stomach slowly...

I can see the light, though! The light that is the end of this quarter! SO close.

I had a good weekend w/ Scott. We did some Christmas browsing, went out for a nice Italian dinner, and saw "It's A Wonderful Life" at the Bellingham Theatre Guild. He is picking me up here to bring me to the airport on Saturday. Yeehaw!

Okay. that is all that I have time to write right now... Massachusetts soon!

Oh, and the finale of "The Amazing Race" was awesome, even though I did want the shouting couple, Rob and Kim, to win. Whatever.

Okay so it's "Ragtime" time again. I'm serious. Is this going to be an every Friday event?

Bad weather makes for funny lj posts on the wwu community.

you should check it out.
i'd post the link, but i lost it. and i am tired and silly.

friends don't let friends write student development papers and lj when it is raining killer freezing rain out.

My name is Emily, and I am scared that an icicle may fly through the window and pierce me in the heart. That is all.

Seriously. It is scary out w/ the wind and the blowing snow.
Hold me.

So you wanna go to grad. school? Ha.

No, I'm not having second thoughts. I'm just reflecting, and damn, I should've paid more attention to my advisor. Yes, even though I'm in an M.Ed. program, this shit sucks sometimes... not the program, just being a grad. student.
Even if you were really motivated even at the end of senior year... not any more! It's just too much to go straight through.
- I just got home and ate dinner after being at work/class from 9am-8pm. Wait, I have more homework to do before class again in 12 hours.
- It's cold. And I'm too poor to put the heat up to where I really want it.
- Wait. There's a finals week in grad. school, too. Maybe no tests, but definitely end-of-quarter papers. Only there are more of them. And they're bigger. Oh, and if you're b'day was during hell week as an undergrad... it's still during hell week.
- Thought you could write? Well, now you're gonna second guess yourself because you just write so much. Wordiness will show through.
- Did you procrastinate as an undergrad.? Chances are that you will in grad. school, too... only worse.
- Miss people? Yeah. I miss them a lot. I'm wicked lonely. All i want to do is go home for break. Wait. There's still a "winter break."

And if you'll excuse me, I need to go read some more critical essays...

(sorry for that interruption. You may now return to your regular scheduled programming)

Since I have no patience to finish my (potentially brilliant) paper on student development theory like I was planning on before bed, I will write here instead. Maybe not the masterpiece that that paper will be, but we'll see.

So. Today.

2nd Snow Day in a Row.

I'm enjoying them, don't get me wrong. But it's a bit lonely to be trapped in one's apartment because the world is covered with ice and one will fall on one's ass if one goes out into the world. Which I did today. Fell on my ass. But only once. I walked down to Starbucks around one to get coffee and do some reading, which I amazingly finished. It was packed there, though, and very loud. Then I hiked up Bill MacDonald Parkway back home on the ice, which was very icy. I think the one thing that annoys me is that Western Washington does not know how to deal with snow. If this had been Massachusetts, we would not have had two snow days. Maybe a 90 minute delay, but that's it. There are about 6-8 inches out there. But the roads are a MESS because the county owns like one plow. And there's no sand or salt out there to maybe expedite the melting process. And brrr, it's so cold! So everything's gonna freeze over again tonight. It's a gamble whether or not there will be school tomorrow. Honestly. Bellingham School District's already vetoed school for tomorrow. Ditto Whatcom CC and Bellingham Tech. So Western, whaddya waiting for to make the decision? Ah, that's right. Tomorrow at 6:30am. That's when we'll know.

I could go either way on the school or no school thing. It'd be nice to sleep in AGAIN and have the freedom to work with my laptop in my apartment in my pjs. However, I'm sure that I'd be much more productive in one of my offices. That's my plan tomorrow if I do have to go in. I'm gonna shut the door to Miller Hall 312 and pound out the end of this essay and a few pages of my Master's thesis.

But right now... cold, tired, bored, missing Scotty. Sigh.