Five shots just fired in front of my apartment and the woman on the stoop just kept standing there lighting her cigg in the rain

I need to stop taking the D train.
What I used to love about it was that it travels over the Manhattan Bridge. It transcends subway and leaves the ground. Taking this bridge is one of the few times above ground may be favored over underground (I know my neighbors 3 blocks down hate that the S train comes out of it's hiding place and rumbles past their windows at night).
From over the water on the D train you can see the Statue of Liberty, The (gorgeous) Brooklyn Bridge, and the (breath-taking) Manhattan sky-line. I love that last part at night the best.
From your decent on either side, you can see clothes hung out to dry, museum-quality graffiti, and life going by. People coming and going from stores and movies, people biking other people's foods to stoops and front-doors.

I need to stop taking the D train.
Because it makes me reflect. I see these stereotypical symbols of New York City. I witness on my way to Jamba Juice sights that people purchase on post-cards, prints, and posters. I see life happening, and it makes me realize how little I've done in the past year.

I moved to NYC a year ago (next Wednesday) and I haven't moved closer to my actual goal to moving here.
When people ask "Why did you come to New York?" my answer is always "I needed a job". Which yes, is true. But I could have worked in Philly, Allentown, DC...anywhere slightly urban, really. But I chose to move somewhere where I knew no one. Yes, it is still near my parents (2 hours), but in all the places I mentioned, I would have been within walking distance of someone I knew since my childhood, if not birth. I didn't want that.

I came to NYC, knowing Ryan wouldn't be with me. I knew he would be in two years, but that I had two years to figure myself out. I played undergrad too safe (something I vocally admit to anyone who will listen. I regret my choice in schools immensely) and never really explored myself academically or career-wise. I have no idea what I want to do for a job, and I know people move around and change that all the time - but I wanted to come up with some idea during these two years. I wanted to figure out my strengths, my weaknessess, my skills, my talents ... and I have spent a year going to museums, teaching fourth grade, and shopping for clothes.

How does one force an epiphany?

It's been a while...

I haven't posted in a long time, but here's what I've been up to:
1 - Almost done my NYU summer classes. I am enjoying one a lot but the other one is pretty stupid. Well, there goes $6,000
2 - I stepped on Sarah Silverman's foot at H&M. oops.
3 - Ryan and Gregory came to visit for a week. We saw celebs, went to UCB at Central Park, went to a Michael Showalter show, and GOT THE HARRY POTTER BOOK. We were photographed by a million people in our costumes and had a great time at the party at Union Square. I finished the book by 7:30 that morning. woo!
4 - I cut off my hair
5 - I bought 3 new pairs of glasses. yikes.

Yeah .... that's the last three weeks summed up.

39,789 good things are outweighed by 3 bad

so a ton of good things have been goin on since i got back from VA, but somehow all i can focus on are the bad.
this week alone i've seen: (ALL FREE) Ratatoui, Evan Almighty, Harry Potter 5, Patton Oswald Stand-up, Courtney Love concert, Tom/Steve/etc. Chapin Family concert .... but all I can think about is that I HAVE NO RUNNING WATER IN MY APARTMENT! This means no toilet, no sinks, and no shower. Monday is the EARLIEST it will be fixed. I am so upset. I had a WONDERFUL day today ... and at 10pm this happens. ugh.

I swear to never live below the Mason Dixon Line

So, I just got back from vacation in VA. It is awesome that school is out and being away for over a week was great. School ended on Wednesday, Thursday I had some appointments, and then I went to my parents' house. I was there with my parents, aunt, and cousin until Sunday after brunch. Then I drove down to VA to stay with Ryan and Gregory.

My time in VA was great - hanging out, sleeping in, laying by the pool, drinking beers, and oops .... getting a citation.
Apparently it is illegal to drink on PRIVATE property if you can be SEEN from PUBLIC property. (ie: you can't drink on your front porch because people can see you from the street. ie: you can't have a FOURTH OF JULY BBQ outside because people can see you from the road). RIDICULOUS.

so I now have a citation for Drinking in Public. My only fear was about my teaching career - but this is a lesser infraction than a speeding ticket, so as long as I pay it, there is no problem.

Now I'm back in NYC, taking classes at NYU and counting down the days to the last Harry Potter book.

Also, I'll be teaching 3rd grade next year.
Also, my apartment is full of bugs. I can't figure out how to get rid of them.

Wowza

From my NYU Professor:

Hi Liz,
I hope you are well. Your FBA was excellent. You received an A in the course. Here are some of my comments:
Your Frequency Chart & ABC Chart are both very thorough & succinct. The ABC Chart gives a lot of info in just a few clear words. I liked the idea of using magnets . I haven't heard of that before. I would also teach him a variation of the 4B's to further decrease anxiety. In terms of reinforcers, see what he likes. Many youngsters like taking pictures of themselves & or with friends & favorite teachers, clubs, choice time or other activities.
Given all the info you present, I think he should be evaluated by a physician or psychiatrist for a Tic Disorder, such as Vocal Tic Disorder or Tourettes.
You did an outstanding job, and I would like your permission to use your work in teaching the NYU course and in training psychologists with the Dept of Ed. Let me know.


YAH!!!!

Also, tomorrow is the last day of school. It is insane - I'm almost done.
I'm moving into another classroom in the main building so I have been packing and moving all week - but the woman whose classroom I'm moving into is NUTS. Totally crazy. SHE HASN'T PACKED A THING.
Tomorrow at 3:00 I'm out. She can have fun cleaning until Sunday.

Big Weekend in the City

My 10-year-old cousin came to visit this weekend. It's only Saturday night and already we have:
- gone to build-a-bear
- gone to dylan's candy bar
- ridden the ferris wheel in toys r us
- walked times square at night
- gone to the mermaid parade
- swam at coney island / hung out on the beach
- gone to the NY aquarium
- ridden the cyclone
- ate at nathan's hotdogs on the coney island boardwalk
- went to chuck e cheese
- seen the Nancy Drew movie

and she is still here for another day.

It's been expensive. but really fun.

Tired

I'm tired, so I'm going to post in bullet points. Enjoy.

. Ryan came to visit last weekend and it seemed like the longest weekend ever but in an awesome way. Usually fun weekends go by really fast, but this one did not. Making it harder to return to school today. We did a lot of different-parts-of-NYC-bar-crawls, went to the beach to see the skyline at night, saw Apples in Stereo, and hung out. Jimmy came to visit on Saturday too.
. Ryan is now officially old.
. A professor from undergrad, Dr. Hardcastle, came to NYC yesterday and we went to a show and then dinner together. It was awkward but fun. Indulging my ridiculous school-girl crush on his dreamy blue eyes.
. Today 11 kids were absent. It was amazing.
. I got my end-of-year rating sheet - I scored Satisfactory (it's only satisfactory or unsatisfactory. when I first saw the S I thought it meant that I was just mediocre, but such is not the case)
. My uncle took me out for the most expensive (AND BEST) dinner I've ever had tonight. I had escargot for the first time too. It was really good food.
. I can't wait for summer.
. My Harry Potter book release costume is coming along nicely.

Done.
I know you were holding your breath until the end.