A little R and R

Although I've been back for a little over a week, it's time to do the vacation post!

The weekend before there was much planning. Who was making what on which night, what supplies would be needed, what type of beer would be most appreciated. All crucial things. On Sunday Travis and I decided to stop by Whole Foods to pick out some cheeses for our wine and cheese night. Honestly, I was most excited about this aspect of the trip. I have a serious weakness for a delicious cheese and a properly paired wine. After about an hour of sniffing and thinking, we decided on three: Roncal, a generic peppered goat cheese (also Spanish), and some other Spanish goat cheese whose name totally escapes me (although its floral and earthy flavors do not).

After making the wine selections (Tempra Tantrum, a Tempranillo/Shiraz blend and a Sauvingnon Blanc from Dyed in the Wool), Travis and I began our trek to Lake Raystown Resort. We left an hour or two later than we wanted, but felt optimistic about the drive. I couldn't really remember the last time I drove more than 1.5 hours, which is the exact amount of time it takes me to get to my parents' house. Well, I can. It was the 8 or 9 hour drive we made to North Carolina in the summer of '05. But if you know me then you should know that I hate the car, especially when I am in it upwards of 2 hours. But I just let the image of cheese and wine and a lake take over, and suddenly the 3.5 hour drive to middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania did not seem so bad. Oh yes and not to mention the good times that were about to be had. That helped too.





I remembered the route, as I had traveled it with my family about 10 years ago. My cousins live in Roaring Spring, PA which is about 10 minutes from the lake. Not much really stood out to me about the drive, aside from DRIVING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS! Well, maybe that's how enthusiastic I had been at the age of 12. I was still (somewhat secretly) excited about that part of the drive. I have a quiet obsession with mountains. When I see one, I just feel at home. I think I'll probably end up on a mountain top. As much as I love shopping and dining and civilization, I might just run away one day.

After getting lost once (the signs are very small in this neck of the woods), getting directions, and another 20 minutes of winding roads we found ourselves at the lake. It was a relief to be out of the car, and to see our lovely accommodations. Travis's parents had rented out 3 villas, which were located right on the lake. We were staying with Travis's oldest brother, his wife, and their 3 kids. As long as I had my own room I didn't care. This wasn't really the sleeping in type of vacation. Every morning at 6:30 Enno would wake up the die hard water skiers. This did not include me, and I would sleep to about 9:00. Just enough time to feel rested, and everyone would just be getting back from the morning run.

This was my first lake vacation, but I had been told many times about the schedule. There was always a morning run. Scott would like to go out around 7:30, but Enno would insist on 6:30. It was a constant struggle. But either way there was a run too early for my liking. This is the best time for water skiing, though. There really isn't anyone else on the lake, so the water is like glass. After the morning run everyone would have breakfast together. There'd be some time for resting and then probably another run. By now, though, the lake would be pretty choppy from the tubers and people on wave runners. I liked going out then because no one would expect me to ski and I could just enjoy the scenery.

Or go tubing. As you can see in the photo above. That was after a long night of drinking and an even longer morning of headaches and uncertainty. I must admit that tubing didn't do much for the headache. Luckily it was later cured by a hot dog, ibuprofen, and a nap.

So there were many water skiing runs made each day. I just liked to go along for the ride. Everyone had a really lovely time. There wasn't really any drama. Nothing that I would give a second thought to, anyhow. It was really nice to see everyone together and having fun. Oh and we jumped off a cliff. Travis said it was a little cliff, but I thought it was a big deal. I have vertigo so being up there was pretty intense. You can watch Travis's brothers jump if you'd like. They're in the red shorts. I was already in the water, and Travis was tossing me my sunglasses.


On the last day Travis was pretty sad to go home. Neither of us had received any job offer calls, and we really didn't want to make the long drive to our empty apartment. But before we left the lake, we took a drive over to the marina where the carp live. I'd never seen a carp before and Travis wanted to let me have that experience. The little shop at the marina was selling dog chow for $0.50 under the name of "Fish Food" so we bought some to really enrich my carp time. I never knew fish were so crazy. I touched one, although Travis told me not to. I just couldn't help it, but I sort of regretted it later. I learned that carp are slimy. I have a little video of their craziness on YouTube just in case you'd like to relive my first time with the carp.


All in all it was a really fun week. Travis and I both could've stayed two more days, but oh well. We did wind up driving down to the shore the next day for some quality time with my parents, and to go to my cousin's bbq. But no trip would be complete without some kind of ridiculous event. So we got a flat tire. No biggie. Travis had changed one on my car a few months ago and he was pretty fast. BUT Travis did not have a jack in his car. What?! How could this be?


Needless to say I was pretty furious. Well, my Dad pays for AAA for a reason. I call. And I get transferred about 5 times, wait on hold for a total of 45 minutes, and have a fight with a dispatcher. Their customer service was not at all what I expected. They wanted an exact address for my disabled car, but I was on a pretty desolate stretch of road. I didn't know what exact township I was in. Am I supposed to be psychic? If I was I wouldn't have to subscribe to their service because I could predict any future road hazards. Eventually a man came with a jack and put on the spare. Then we had a lovely drive going 55mph on a road where you would normally do at least 65. Travis liked waving people around, but I just wanted to get home.

When I did finally get home I chugged a Miller Lite and hopped in my mom's Beemer. Ahh the luxurious life.

Birthday Saga + My Mega Wish List

Things have been pretty good since my birthday. Well, except my birthday (at first). So I predicted stormy weather, and was greeted by the apocalypse. I called a friend who lives in Wilmington and she told me that she couldn't come up because the weather was a serious monsoon, but I foolishly laughed and said, "It's not even drizzling up here!" About 25 minutes later the rain started, then the thunder and lightning, and then the 1000 mph gusts that turned our umbrellas inside out, more thunder, followed by some lovely birthday hail, and topped off with a few buckets of water. I found myself soaked from head to toe in front of a mysteriously closed falafel restaurant. I decided to head into the Starbucks to meet up with my friend (and attempt to dry myself off) when I realized that my arms were stained bright blue. Oh yes, the cute little thrifted electric blue clutch I was carrying got wet and leaked its dye all over my torso. And a little on my face. The torture did not stop there. There were no paper towels in the bathroom, so I had to wring out my clothes and try to dry out a little under the hand dryer. Oh and it was too late to even think about buying some dry clothes, as all the shops in Center City close around 8. Oh and I left my cell phone in the bathroom. A nice man found it, called my dad, and then Travis went and got it. Happy Birthday to me.

I wound up hanging around Jimmy's apartment for a while (although his girl did not own a hair dryer, and that was my main goal in going to his place). Any restaurant that might be open after 9pm (and would accept sopping wet patrons) was closed due to "flash flooding," and I resorted to eating Sunshine Trail Mix for dinner. I did also go to Dirty Frank's and drank a large quantity of beer. I don't remember getting inebriated, but I did have fun.

So maybe I should get to the goodness of my life. I had a job interview last Thursday for a seriously real job. It might not be exactly what I was looking for, but I think that I could be happy there for the next year. The interview went insanely well, and I should hear within the next week if I got the job. It's actually an hour away from my apartment, but it would be worth it. Plus if I get it, I'm going to buy a new car and I think I'd like to be driving it a bit. I've also picked out the new couch I want. Not to mention my very large Google wish list. There are just so many things...

Travis also has a promising job lead. He had an interview on Tuesday and hopefully we'll hear about that by the beginning of next week. If we both had jobs... there would be so much new furniture... and probably a flat screen TV. And definitely a new car. Oh and the new iPhone. Oh and a vacation. We wouldn't be poor college students anymore!!!

Last Friday Travis had his birthday, and we went to see Ariel Pink at the M Room. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect of the bar as I heard mixed reviews. People said it was pretentious, but I just think those people are too self-conscious. I like $2 PBRs, fun friends, and crazy times. I'm glad I was drunk otherwise I would have been annoyed by the assault on my cutely sandaled feet. The next morning we went to Honey's Sit n Eat and had a delicious brunch. Love it. I think we'll go back tomorrow night for dinner.

Ariel and Jimmy

Next week is the lake trip. It will be me plus all of Travis's family plus Enno. It will be interesting. I'm bringing a lot of busy activites. They like to go water skiing, but I don't care for it. I have books, beads, guitars and keys, paints and pens, and magazines. I think that will be a few days worth of things to do! When I say there will be pictures, I actually mean it.

Today is...

My birthday. Well not officially. I will be 22 around 12:29pm later this afternoon. But I'm sure my mom was anxiously awaiting my presence at this time, and I was anxiously waiting to break free. Not much has changed.

Well I contemplated my last entry. I have come to realize a few more regrets that have been weighing heavy on my heart, although I'd rather not admit them. This week (maybe month or hour) I have come to terms with some serious regrets that could be filed under "friendship" and hope that I can mend or overcome. I'm not hopeful, but honest.

So on this night of my birth, I enjoyed drinks with some really great friends. I went to a strange house party with interesting characters (and stories to tell selected confidants), drank cheap ass beer, and relived moments with fabulous friends. My night took me from North Philly, to South Philly, to Fairmount Park, back to South Philly, only to rest my weary bones on North 5th Street where I am finally able to think about the 21st year of my life.

Every year I ask myself if I'm everything I hoped I'd be at this time last year. I've concluded upon assessment that I've fallen short in some areas, but exceeded any hopes in others. I think I've finally found my calling. I've become much more honest and free-spirited. I know what scraping the bottom of the barrel (financially and emotionally) really means. I think I can be somewhat proud of this last year. I only hope that I can can do better during my 22nd.

Tomorrow (today?) is probably going to be rainy (it's raining as we speak). My plan is to sleep in, get ready, go to dinner, and then eventually wind up at Dirty Frank's for $5 pitchers of Lager. If you read this and you like me then you should join me. Wish me a happy birthday.

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So I promised mini pony pictures. I'm sorry that I can't deliver right now. They're on my mom's camera and will probably make it to my laptop this weekend. But I can say this: Buckwheat (the mini horse) is fresh and likes when Travis chases him around the corral, and the fancy baby horse (whose name escapes me) gave me love and then stepped on my toe. All in the name of good horse lovin'.

My parents are taking me to dinner in Atlantic City on Saturday night for my birthday. Not exactly what I would've picked, but it's always fun. Maybe I will slip my silver quarter dollar into a slot machine. I am hoping for a million, but expecting -25 cents. I think I deserve at least $100. It would be nice.

There's probably more to say, but I'll post it later with birthday pictures and rambles (brambles?).

We regret to inform you...

So lately I've been thinking about regrets. Not my own, really, but more like people's views on regret. It's such a strange thing. I'm sure you could survey 50 people under 50, and most of them would claim they have no regrets. What's the point of regret, anyway, when you can't do much about it? But really, if you have the ability to be honest with yourself you will probably realize how many things you actually do regret. Recently I have regretted not applying to the PhD program I was eying up for a few months. At least then I would feel more secure about the next 12 months. But what can I do now? So why regret it? We must experience regret for a reason, however. Maybe to keep us from making such mistakes in the future. I sure do regret not holding my tongue during a sensitive family crisis, and now I've learned. I also regret missed connections through out my life. We have all been there. That moment of direct eye contact made with a stranger but never pursued. The person you liked at worked but never hung out with. Maybe even a relative that you would have liked to know better before they left your life (for whatever reason). But my regrets have afforded me with the ability to not let these opportunities drift away. So when I think of all my regrets I am reminded how important it is to live in the now, and do what is going to make me happy (no matter how silly I look or feel).

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The past few weeks have just been a blur of work, sleep, and car rides. I'm still waiting to hear about the research jobs. I've been told multiple times from different people that it often takes a month for things to go through. I'm thinking about applying at another university just in case. I need something before the scary thought of a second part-time job becomes an even scarier reality!

I formally (kind of) announced to my families that I am not going to be pressured into medical school and am going to apply to Biochemistry/Molecular Biology PhD programs for the fall. The slight disappointment in my Mom's voice when she realized I was serious was rather rewarding. She'll be happy for me one day, I'm sure. Travis's dad was already telling me which people to avoid at my two top school choices.

I wanted to post some of my Independence Day pictures. Travis and I were feeling rather independent that day and decided to stay home. He ran up to Stone's on Fairmount to pick up some beers. I made a blueberry cobbler. Jimmy came over and I made a really good dinner (recipe can be found here). The neighbors were setting off fireworks in the baseball field, so Travis and Jimmy coaxed me up onto the roof. We realized that we could probably see the fireworks being set off at the Art Museum, so waited around in the drizzling rain until they decided to set them off. Unfortunately a house was in the way and we could only see the top of each firework, so crawled back in through the bathroom window. But we did get to see the displays of all the North Philadelphia neighborhoods.






I sort of wish I would have headed over to my boss's house as there was an inappropriate guest and I wanted to witness it. It just always happens that I feel crappy on the 4th, so staying home was probably the best idea.

This weekend I'm heading to my parents' house. I plan on eating their food, drinking their wine, playing with puppies, and visiting a mini horse. You can bet your sweet bippy there will be some cute horse pictures! Enjoy your weekend (without regret).

Days and Days

Obvi I'm a total slacker when it comes to blogging. This has been mentioned before, I think. It's not that I don't think about blogging, it's just that I have been lacking some motivation lately. A lot has been going on, but I've been pretty bored none the less.

Travis and I graduated last month. It was a good finish. I was relieved to be done, but felt really lost not knowing what I would be doing for the next year. Med school didn't seem to be in the cards for me (not this year at least), I hadn't applied to any grad programs, and I was still waiting to hear about a possible research position at a big university. So it kind of felt like I was going on my summer vacation, but I knew in the back of my mind that I had to find something to do with myself for 12 months.


Not much has changed there, although I've made some big life decisions. For the past 3 years all I've been hearing from various friends/family members is that I am destined to be a doctor, that I would be so happy, and that I need to keep trying for Med school. But guess what... I honestly don't care about being a doctor. I love science. I'm awesome with health science, but that doesn't mean I should become a doctor. No one can even use the "awesome salary" excuse any more. The cost of medical school is astronomical and malpractice insurance is through the roof. I think I would make an amazing doctor, but I know that I would be just as happy, if not happier, in research. I've decided that I will be applying to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology programs this fall, and I don't care who I disappoint!

Travis and I moved into our new apartment. So far it's been amazing, with the exception of one neighbor. She's really not worth an explanation, and will be moving in July. Hopefully more courteous neighbors will move in. The loft itself is awesome. 1100 square feet of old factory space. It's completely open and full of light. It's perfect for us. The only things I don't like are the kind of cheap fixtures and the amount of noise that travels from one apartment to the other. But it's fine. The neighborhood is the best!!! It's full of families and we live just steps from the BEST Mexican restaurant I've ever been to. It's like if you were Mexican and your family cooked you a feast. It's guaranteed that if you visit us and like to eat Mexican food, we will go there for dinner. Plus it's BYOB. We went there on Tuesday night with Bert, and Bert decided to give the owner a beer. I have a feeling we will all be good friends...

Since we've lived closer to Center City, Travis and I have been out a lot more. The subway is just 4 blocks from our apartment. Last Thursday we hit up Bob and Barbara's for the Drag show, which was really fun. I'd never been to one before so it was a real treat. I pretty much love any kind of live performance, but watching this while getting progressively more drunk was the best way to spend a Thursday night.


I would love to post some pictures of the loft, but I don't feel like it's ready yet. We have quite a list of projects. Would you like to know about them? I bet you do!!!! Here we go...

• build a wooden screen to separate the living area and the sleeping area
• buy a crafting desk and set up my crafting space
• put up shelves to divide the dining area and the workspace
• paint accent walls (tomato soup red in the living room, vibrant olive in the kitchen)
• buy bench seating for the dining room table
• hang lamps in the living area
• make storage boxes to go on the utility shelves
• buy lovely decorations (my favorite part!)

We will see when all of this happens. I'm thinking everything will look amazing for our Christmas party, but I'd love it if we could have things done before then.

I think it's time for ice cream and some wish list making.

Wow!

It's been two months since by last post. Sorry I'm a major slacker. Not to mention the whole school thing. Oh and the unhappy accident of spilling water next to the laptop and inadvertently screwing up my keyboard. Luckily Travis is busy because it gives me the chance to commandeer his keyboard!

So here are the Colleen updates: I am taking a year off of school to save some money/retake the MCATS/enjoy my life a little bit; Travis and I are in the process of moving to Northern Liberties; classes are over and graduation is in 2 weeks! Really not much is new. I'm a busy girl, but I will stop neglecting my blogger duties.

I wish I had some cute pictures to post... I'm going to do a search and find some things for your viewing pleasure.

I take my vitamins with wine

The past week has been as close to hell as I have been so far this semester. It is just one thing after another. By tomorrow night I will have had: 1 test; 2 quizzes; 1 project; 3 labs; 2 shifts at the retail job; made 30 electrophoresis gels (15 of which didn't work).

So I don't want to complain, but it's somewhat inevitable. One piece of good news is that Travis and I can move out early IF AND ONLY IF we find someone to rent the apartment. So as long as someone is fabulous enough to move in by June 1st, Travis and I are on our way to real city living. Thinking of the apartment... we finished the main wall a few weeks ago. I am almost loving it. I still wanted to stain the shelves to match the wood on the couch, but I couldn't find the stain we used. Hmm. Well, here it is (if you haven't already seen it)

It's so cute. That whole area cost under $150. It just took a little time and experimentation. I decided that if I made a ton of money I would decorate for a living. I just have SO many ideas and I'd like 1,000 living rooms to put them into! Give me money and I will make your vision happen. I'd love to do that for the rest of my life. Oh my.

My mom's friend is head of PR (I think) for the Flyers, so he got Laura and me free tickets to the Flyers vs. Sabres game on Tuesday night. Unfortunately we lost, but I had fun anyway. I'm not a big sports person, but there's nothing like seeing a game in person. It's so easy to get into it! I have a few pictures, but I'll post them later.

I have a general question... Why don't people like beets? I mean fresh beets. Canned vegetables shouldn't count as vegetables. Anyway, why do people cringe at the mere mention of this delectable root? Roasted beets have such a wonderful sweet and earthy flavor. And such a beautiful color! As I type this entry, I worry that my beet-stained fingertips might be contaminating the pristine white of my laptop. So far, so good. Beets are just amazing. In salads, in slaws, in soups, roasted and dappled with soft cheese... There are so many ways to enjoy them. I'm sad for all the people who refuse to try beets. So if you're curious about the beet (I know, it's very mysterious and misunderstood) I suggest you buy a bunch. Make sure their greens and stems look fresh. Trim the stems, wrap the beet in tin foil and bake it for about an hour. Unwrap your new little treat, wait a few minutes and peel off the skin. Slice your beet and enjoy. I like to eat mine in salad or with some goat cheese. They're also delicious with pickled fennel and bleu cheese.

Just eat a beet. Please. You'll love it. I know you will.

As for me, I'm bringing my leftover beets to lunch tomorrow. Maybe I could entice a few people. Ah time to study, however. Cell membranes (which make me think about beets and all of their lovely beta cyanin) and their transport proteins await me!