An unexpected surprise

Hmm, its a good thing I was checking
online for where (room #s) my classes
were assigned to and found out that
I actually teach M/W not M/TH as I
previously thought. Ugh it would've
been embarrassing to show up on the
wrong day. The good news however
is since school (In NJ) starts Sept 2nd a
Thursday I don't have to start till the following
week Wed the 8th. But technically I will go
back to work Tues the 7th (for the other school
I teach at in NYC)! Yay which means more
time with family!

Kidney stones anyone?

Well, these past 2 weeks have been
hellish with the plumbing below. At
1st I thought I had an UTI again but
after taking some antibiotics which made
me really sick and the pain was getting
worst. The urologist's office pushed back
my cat scan from next Tues to earlier
today to find out what the heck was
wrong with me.
Looks as if I passed kidney stones earlier
this week. Yes it was painful and the
worst of its over now, *whew!* I am
lucky though because mine were quite
small compared to some other people.
There is no more blood in my urine and
my bladder and kidneys look primo!
It was my 1st time having a cat scan
and I must say my tech was the meow!
She was awesome and knowing I was
Deaf decided to use a system where she
dimmed the lights and used a flash light
to signal when I should take deep breaths
and release the breaths too. Awesome lady!
Anyhoo, previously there were calcium
deposits noted either in my kidneys or
bladder, I can't remmy which and now
there are none. Yay! I am however left
with a bitter yeast infection from the
antibiotics (ironic because it made me
so sick! Doh! Double whammy!) today
was the 1st day I felt good in a while.
I am fortunate it happened now and not
next week.

Tomorrow I will go to the PA reinfaire, 1st
time in like 2 decades I've attended the
medieval festival in this state. MD's version
is ok. NYC version is weak! Can't wait to
check it out tmw and see my DB friend
Martin and my Deaf friend Blake. Will
be fun going to various shows that have
ASL terps ready! "Oh ye miserable wrench
fetch me ale!" or in my case hard cider, yum!

I'm still a "reality" junkie

Right now I am enjoying Comcast's on-demand
series Colony 2nd season. As much as I enjoy
end of the world movies, I certainly wouldn't
want to experience it first hand. This show
was first brought to my attention by another
blogger, Max Power (a little shout out :-]
This series is very interesting because
while it claims to be "experimental" they
had some practical luxuries such as "starter"
bins with food and medical supplies. Luckily
tho, it is still hardcore enough to get your
head shaking. Such as the idea of empty
1 week's urinal of (I think?) 7 people bodily
waste. Plus the pig fat to diesel was brilliant
In addition to that whiz mechanic woman
helps give this reality show an overall
sense of cleverness/resourcefulness. I
also like how they inserted clips of experts
resounding the participants actions/survival
methods. Very interesting to watch, not
my cup of tea to spend 50 days or my life
doing.

In other exciting news, I have decided to get
a new hairstyle. Its TiME. The side part has
to be transform to a middle one (that's gonna
be the hardest change. I can handle having
bangs but the hair part...hmm. Now that I
think about it, it is TIMe. I emailed about 4-5
closest female friends and attached photos
I snapped at the salon last night. I love Baba
but her hairstylist is too chatty for me.
This means I got to pick a place soon
and schedule an appt. I've done some
research but I am spoiled by NYC online
reviews of business. Around here there's
like maybe 1 review or less on the hair
salons around here....not a good sign.
Makes me work harder to find someone
who can cut GOOD! And actually for once
leaving the salon feeling good?

Yesterday I did preparations to
school starting up next week.
Things such as updating my Fall
classes syllabus. Plus a class schedule
for what units (a1, b4, c3) is covered
what days/dates (M or Th, Day/Month).
This I have found helps me prepare
for the semester as a whole and to
spread the instruction materials
accordingly. I made a rookie mistake
the 1st year as an Adjunct. I allowed
my midterm to occur too close to Thanksgiving.
Which meant my final exam was only 4 weeks
after the midterm instead of the halfway
point. Not fair to my students and made
my life harder too. The beauty
of teaching in my opinion is the ability
to modify and upgrade your lesson
plans and instruction abilities too. I'm
mostly an easy-going professor and
approach my class as somewhat a "fun"
atmosphere. But not to the point I come
off as a community center hobby class.
No, my classes are not painfully hard. Why
make the experience tortous for us both,
me as the instructor and them as learners
of a new language? The only way you would
say/think my class was hard is if were NOT
paying attention or missing a lot of classes :}

Jack return to NYC tonight for his classes
start tomorrow, bleah. Because along
side of missing him, his departure marks
the beginning of the end. Personally if
I was in his shoes I would bitch and moan
all the way back to NYC if I had to be in
school so soon. Its only August 25th ONLY!
:]
Sorry I am physically allergic to the idea
of going to school as either a student or
teacher before Labor Day. Funny though
the actual teaching isn't what I dread. Its
the lost of free time and relaxation.
Anyways Jack going back to our apartment
tonight makes me feel bad he's all alone.
Missing my dear friend tonight. He
really does love me despite our
many issues. I have no doubts about
that. Its the day to day living I question
at time. But right NOW, tonight I miss him!
For sure if he were here we would've
watched the Colony together. Or I would've
told him about it. I've really enjoyed
seeing the sweeter side of him these
past few months. When he's happier we
are happier.

19 yrs since you've departed...

Today is the anniversary of Papa's
death, this may also be another reason
why I am so down. I miss him and send
my love to him in the great beyond.

Papa, I have never forgotten you and
you'll never be far from my heart!
I am glad I was the apple of your eye!
That you took me sailing/boating.
And for all the wonderful memories.
Thank you for being the best grandfather
a girl like me could hope to have.

Things I am going to miss

So right now I am sort of sad about the
impending end of summer vacation and
decided to list the things I will miss!

I will miss ALL of my family!
I will miss cable tv.
I will miss eating at good restaurants or having access to really
mouthwatering fruits and veggies!
I will miss my cat Tom.
I will miss the bed I sleep on at Baba's, so comfortable!
I will miss eating well.
I will miss skipbo card game that Mom & I play
I will miss sleeping in daily and not having to feel bad about it.
I will miss watching historical docu-dramas with Baba and Jack such as
John Adams.
I will miss talking Star Trek stuff with Uncle David and seeing Jack
crack him up!
I will miss seeing Jack so happy and relax. He's so guarded in the city
:(
I will miss living with Baba as she's my rock.
I will miss seeing Aunt Nancy's new kitten, Kisa who is a doll!

When I return to NYC full time next week
I will have to say goodbye to my hometown,
and most sadly, my family. I have been
sort of sad today knowing that my days of
complete relaxation and lounging around
are fewer and fewer. I love living at Baba's
not only is her home beautiful, but its
warm and comfortable.

The good news is I plan to return here
fulltime either this winter or more likely
next summer. The cost of living in NYC
just keep getting higher and higher.
And I feel like if I can't live in Manhattan
then the next best place would be in PA!
My money/income would go so much
further. It would also mean giving up my
life in NYC which will also be very hard to
do. I love using public transportation!
I love attending Town & Village Synagogue
with ASL terped services, or DINGO
sponsored by one of the NYC Deaf clubs.
I have never grown tired of NYC but I do
miss having space! Most of my
recreational stuff such as books are in
storage! For what Jack & I pay now to
live in a shoebox there, we can get a 3
bedroom apt, 2.5 bath here! I could
actually have guests visit me! Or
host a dinner party, and have a real
kitchen!

Also having my family around has meant
the world to me. Mom and I hang out, and
she's one of the few people who make me
laugh! Aunt Nancy is my thrift store
buddy! Jack and Uncle Robbie work on
his classic car (Alpine Sunbeam). Plus Rob
& I compare notes on teaching :-]
Jack and I enjoy Baba's company immensely!
I like having dinner with David on Weds at
Baba's. I like seeing my Aunt Maria and
getting to know her as a person. Plus Paula my
childhood friend has greeted me with open
arms and is always fingerspelling or asking
me to teach her new signs. She deAfinitely will
keep me busy. So while I am sad right now I
must remind myself its only temporarily!
And I should enjoy the time I have left in the
Big Apple while I can.

I guess anyone who knows me knows
I hate goodbyes, even if its only for a
few days. When I was a kid I used to
cry/sob whenever Uncle Robbie would go
back to Boston. I even cried when Blondie
went back to NYC last June, despite knowing
I see her the following week. Sometimes it
sucks to be so emotional because I truly
feel it, the sadness and sense of loss. I
asked my therapist last spring if I was
normal to be emotional as I am and
she said YES. That I didn't need help
controlling it. People have various
degrees of it, mine just happens to be
more than some others. And while it was
nice to have affirmation that being emotional
is ok, it still feels like a burden or something
beyond my control and no one likes feeling
out of control! I have always admired people
who can remain calm and collected. Ever so
cool! Unfortunately, I have never been
one of them. When I am sad you know it.
When I am mad you know it. When I am
happy you know it. What you see is what you get.

My inner metal head!

Last Sunday my inner metal head came out to play. Paula came by and drove us to Middletown/Hummelstown to visit an old friend name Adam (pronounce Ad-Damn!) Man, I hadn't seen that mofo in like 15 years or more! We showed up for their band practice, talk about walking into a time portal and being transported back to the late 80s! The band members are all still metal heads and in to death metal. The standard requirements are the same, drinking beers, smoking marlboros, swearing and riding motorcycles or driving cool cars still exist and apply today. I saw leather boots, death metal tees, ripped jeans and so on. It made me want to go out and buy a bunch of tees with Guns-N-Roses and Metallica logos (and yes to death metal fans, I realize these guys are more hair bands than hard core metal bands!) but I am a girl and we love hair bands and cute lead signers like Brett Michaels from Poison or Sebastian Back from Skid Row.

I truly thought this breed had died off boy was I wrong. My metal head radar must have dimmed after being in NYC for the past 6 years. It was so much fun to be there and just chillax with old friends. Paula is so much fun to be with and I just enjoy her company immensely. As different as we are, we are still both the same, even after 24 years of friendship. We drank beer and listen to them play and they were kick-ass! I had no idea Ad-Damn could sing so good. They did a lot of cover band songs. I really liked their version of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire song.

Being with the band brought flashbacks of the days when Wayne's World was popular and everyone was citing quotes like

Party on Wayne/Party on Garth

Schwing!

Exsqueeze me? A baking-powder? [for excuse me, I beg your pardon]

No Stairway, denied!

Benjamin is nobody's friend. If Benjamin were an ice cream flavor, he'd be pralines and dick.

Yesterday was my birthday and for the 1st time ever, it snuck up on me. See normally I start talking about my birthday in May, 4 months prior but this year was different. I don't know how or why I wasn't as excited. It's a very weird feeling indeed. Nonetheless, Baba and Jack brought me this awesome peanut butter pie and champagne. Exactly what I wanted. It was a low keyed birthday and that was fine by me. On the 21st, Nancy (my aunt) and I will have a joint bday party (her bday is the 20th) with the whole family. I am looking forward to that a lot. But I wanted to give a special thanks to both Baba & Jack for yesterday. And to my sweet Mom who gushed I was lucky she didn't call me at 10:22am (the time I was born) to wish me a wonderful birthday. I joked to her, even if she had called at 10:22am, I wouldn't have heard the phone ha ha ;-)

Lastly, a funny tidbit I wanted to share; you see I was using relay earlier today to call Con Edison to dispute my bill ($114 for 1 month is insane and not possible since neither Jack and I have been there in weeks!) anyhoo the relay operator typed the recording "Hi, you have reached Khan Edison..." ha ha Khan! Yeah its true, this ruthless leader Khan Edison is ripping me off financially!

Cluster headaches

For the past week ore more, I've been having
on-going cluster headaches. The last episode
lasted 3 days! And last night it started up
again. Its debilitating and really wrecks
havoc on my plans. For example last week
I had to cancel with Mom and my aunt Nancy.
Today again because I didn't sleep well due
to the pain behind my left eye/temple area
I had to cancel on Mom again! Very annoying
to have my life interrupted with this cluster
headache :( I've been taking aspirin and using
nasal sprays in case my sinus is also causing
the severe pain? Nothing is helping and it
makes me nauseous too. Thank goodness my
Mom completely understood but still it makes
me feel like a heel to cancel again. I MUST go
tmw and see her, headache or not!

In other news Hanover Dutch day wasn't
as interesting as I had hope. I thought there
would be more artwork instead of
pre-manufactured country goods which isn't
considered art to me. Don't get me a wrong
a few vendors had their own art work for sale.
The high light of Hanover Dutch day was the
food and antique cars. Nancy was in 7th
Heaven after eyeing (er drooling) over her
dream car, a Chrysler Concord, an 85 I think?
The color was yucky but that didn't put a
damper on the heart shapes flying off of her :]
Uncle David seemed to like some of the cars
too. We also drove by their old house and
it was a nice day. Then that evening Uncle
Robbie and his clan came by and we watched
Kung Fu Panda which was light and fun.
Who doesn't love Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman,
Jackie Chan and David Cross just to name a
few of the star studded voice actors.

Sunday Baba took me out for a real treat
at Marshalls where we brought a new summer
blankets and a matching set of towels. I was
a very happy camper. Marshalls has some real
cute affordable stuff for home furnishing in
addition to clothes and accessories.

Last night despite my headache, the 3 of
us (Jack, Baba & I) watched a movie
called "The Siege" about Islamic terrorist
activities in NYC which I think was made
back in 97/98, a few years before 9-11
happened. How eerie is that? If you haven't
seen this film, it is a MUST. Bruce Willis
plays the Army General and as always plays
the cold hard ass type perfectly. Denzel
Washington and Tony Shalhoub are the main
stars and give a tremendous performance.

Well its August the 3rd already! By far, despite
some health issues and not being able to go to
Maine for the literacy camp or WV for a volunteer
opportunity this has been 1 of the best summers
of my life. The free time has been such a blessing.
Not having to go to work or plan lessons or deal
with the usual stress has been wonderful. I have
1 month of freedom left and I hope it doesn't go
by too fast!?! In less than 2 weeks my friend Ellie
will visit, yay! Then at the end of August my DB
friend Martin will come. I am excited for both of
my friends to see my hometown and meet my
family. Plus on the 19th I will get to meet my
friend Karen in Hershey for a few hours too and
hear about her new motherhood and being
married less than a year. Her life has changed
dramatically in the past year and a half and its
amazing to be on the sideline watching.