the sunny side returns

It has been far too long, and my life has been (generally) far too sunny to excuse my extended absence from my blog.  The main reason is that it took about a month and a half for me to get my own internet service in my apartment, so my online activities were rather limited.  In that time, I did get hooked on Big Bang Theory (love still having Midd borrowing privileges), and am all caught up!  Mostly, though, I was too busy with work at the lab and coaching to do a lot of other stuff.  Some random bullet points to sum up my life:

-I got a smartphone!  My old phone was 2+ years old and gradually stopped working, so now I am the proud owner of a Droid Incredible.  I love being able to take really good pictures with my phone, and having internet access - 4G nonetheless - has also been pretty wonderful so far.  I'm trying not to become too obsessed with it, but all the stuff you can do with a new phone is amazing.  Also, I have previously been rather anti-Instagram, but it's actually kind of fun...

-First season of crew coaching down!  Being a coach was simultaneously: thrilling, exhausting, frustrating, fun, etc.  It's so cool to see the transformation from complete beginner to somewhat competent, and watching my boats compete at the Head of the Fish a couple weeks ago was wonderful.  I'm so much more nervous for races as a coach then I was as a rower, but I'm still excited for the spring.  That being said, I'm also looking forward to a little more free time over the winter.

-Recently discovered: Songza, a cool app that I downloaded to my phone, but also a website.  It's sort of like Pandora, but it has a feature that suggests themes for stations based on the day of the week and the time of day.  I've been enjoying it so far...always on the lookout for good lab music options. 

-I am starting to knit a pair of socks, which I have done a few times, but with a pattern where you knit both at the same time!  I usually don't have too much of a problem with finishing knitting projects, but I think this is a cool idea.  I'm so excited it's knitting season once again!

-One last thing.  I just started reading "The Art of Happiness," a book co-written by the Dalai Lama and a psychiatrist, and I can tell it's going to be just the boost of happiness I need.  I'm only 15 pages in, but it's definitely already helping me realize my problems are pretty insignificant and that life is way too precious to dwell on the bad stuff.  So, here's to living each day like it's the last, taking the time to tell people how much they mean to me, and embracing the present.  Because, after all, you only live once, YOLO.  Live, love, laugh.

September Begins

Today, I came home after a long day in the lab, slightly flustered from my bike home and from rushing to get ready to drive down to Midd.  I opened my mailbox to find a package, which I had sent, saying I needed more postage (even though I had gone to the post office to get it weighed).  It was after 5, but I drove by the post office to see what the hours were.  There happened to be a postman there, picking up mail to put in his truck.  I went inside to use the self pay machines, since the window wasn't open, and, after reweighing the package, got the same $1.10.  During the weighing process, the postman came in and asked me about my shirt - Beach to Beacon - wondering where Cape Elizabeth was in Maine.  We chatted for a minute, then he went back outside.  After getting the exact same weight, I went out, frustrated, and asked the postman for advice.  He offered to take my package to the office downtown, have it weighed, and said if it needed a couple more cents he would make sure it got sent.  I wrote out this whole story because this friendly postman made my day, and made an annoyance less annoying.  It's great to happen upon genuinely nice people.

Other news: I had a fun weekend home in Maine for the long weekend.  It was nice to have a couple days to hang out.  The drive back was long because of all the Labor Day traffic, but I discovered how great listening to NPR is.  So much news!  I got a good 90 minutes in before the news started looping.  I think this will make up a good chunk of my commuting listening this fall.  I'm feeling more settled, as my cupboards gradually become less depressingly empty and I unpack most of my stuff.  I was down at Midd today, and it was surreal to see the incoming freshmen moving in.  That day seems like more than four years ago, but at the same time, I really can't believe I won't be a student this fall.

And finally, here are some great songs.
Settle Down by No Doubt
Pound the Alarm by Nicki Minaj (disclaimer: kind of crazy music video)

REAL WORLD

It's here - life after college!  I moved up to Burlington on Tuesday, and so far have: completed two days of work, become a bike commuter, cooked myself some decent dinners, unpacked most of my stuff, and assembled a bed.

WOAH also just realized I moved from zipcode 04105 to 05401!!  How cool!

So life as a Vermonter has been good, though seeing all the UVM students darting around campus makes me wish (sort of) that I too was going to be a college student this fall.  One big JTerm would be ideal.

Here are a few random thoughts that have been on my mind lately, in no particular order:

The NYTimes has been on a sort of anti-men streak lately...here are links to 2 articles.  The first is an editorial on how men, biologically, aren't really very necessary for reproduction.  And the second is an interesting piece on the role of men in today's economy (entitled "Who Wears the Pants in This Economy", very witty).

So excited for the new Mumford and Sons and Avett Brothers albums to come out!  Should be some great new tunes for my long commutes to Middlebury this fall :)  I am also planning to join the Burlington Public Library so I can get some books on tape.  Any suggestions are welcome!

And finally, a collection of pictures from my first couple days of "adult" life.

Dinner #1: Angel hair, tomato sauce, salad.  Basic but delicious.  Oh, and Mike's Hard, move-in day was a long one.

Dinner #2: More homemade.  Tofu, carrot, pepper, onion, garlic, soy sauce stir-fry with jasmine rice.  A pretty solid first stir-fry effort.  I had leftovers of this for dinner #3.  

According to the instruction manual, you can only assemble this bed if you have friends.  Discrimination!

I already posted this on Facebook, but despite the haters, I made my bed all by myself!  From a pile of wood/screws to a masterpiece.  Now I just need to get myself a mattress!

That's the end for now.  Check back in for more of my adventures.  Can't wait to be back out on Dunmore, driving the launch!

feeling crafty

First off, thanks for helping me exceed 2,000 views!  Glad to know there's lots of sunshine being spread throughout the world.  Also, I don't think there's a way to share the map, but it's cool to see viewers in so many different countries!  Even if I have only been to three, I sort of feel like a part of me has gone wherever my friends go.

So I find myself with two weeks to go before the big move to Burlington.  I'm excited, but also a little wistful about my limited time that remains in Maine.  But I've gotten to do most of my favorite Maine activities this summer, and I'm feeling rested and ready to be a little busier again.  In the meantime, I'm gathering together all the stuff I need to bring with me, and finishing up on my newly painted table!  I'll post a picture next time...waiting for the paint to dry.

Last weekend, I went to the Cumberland Arts & Craft Show.  I love browsing, and it was especially fun this year since I have pierced ears (coming up on my one year anniversary).  I didn't end up buying earrings, but did get this necklace, made by a Portland-based artist who uses recycled sterling silver in her jewelry.  Here's her website.

And in other crafting news, here are some earrings I made this morning.  I really like the beads - I got them from The Beadin' Path in Freeport.  I think this is also a local artist who produces Japanese-style ceramic beads.  Hopefully there will be a bead shop in Burlington so I can keep up my earring-making!  Or I'll just have to stock up in Middlebury.

Well, that's basically all that's new in Maine.  Have a lovely day/weekend!  

on my mind

1.  I just finished watching the last episode of season two of Downton Abbey - so amazing!  I am beyond excited for the start of the next season.  If you have not yet gotten hooked on this show, I'd recommend starting to watch it immediately.  Every episode is jam-packed with great early 20th century drama, and it's fun and exciting.  And I'm also looking forward to all my other shows being back on the air this fall.
2.  Two major racewalking events are tomorrow, so I'm going to try and tune in for those.  Here's an interesting article from the NYTimes about controversy with officiating the racewalk.  Having been disqualified once from a race, I can tell you that it's really hard to walk quickly without violating the rules.  The idea of shoe alarms seems pretty cool, so maybe that's where the sport will go in the future.
3.  It's hard to believe it's already almost the middle of August!  I am starting to get ready for my move to Vermont.  I just brought up our old kitchen table from the basement and am trying to refinish it/eliminate some of the arts and crafts remnants stuck to the surface.  It's a bit of an undertaking, but if successful, I will post some before and after pictures.
4.  Posted this on facebook, but I LOVE this song and have been listening to it (almost) non-stop after hearing it on NBC primetime Olympics coverage.  Home by Phillip Phillips

hiya

An adventure from my most recent foray into fine dining: last night, I made some tasty lobster mac and cheese.  I'd call it a solid first effort.  With the abundance of lobsters in Maine this summer (see this article from the NYTimes for more info), it's a great seasonal dish and a fun twist on one of my favorite comfort foods.

I have been OBSESSED with watching the Olympics for the past 10+ days...it's especially cool to see sports that otherwise wouldn't make it on TV.  If you're missing swimming and/or haven't seen this video, watch the US swim team dancing their hearts out to Call Me Maybe.

And finally, in honor of my recent Rubix Cube addiction, here's a neat little article from the NYTimes about the reemergence of the Rubix Cube and hardcore cubers.

Those are my fun tidbits for now - keep on the sunny side :)

life in pictures

As a change, here's a collection of recent pictures.  And, as a disclaimer, these look sort of instagram-y/wannabe hipster/retro...really though, my camera is just kind of broken.

A super cool beetle from the Insectarium in Montréal.  There were so many amazing (live and dead) insects.  One of my favorite parts was a terrarium filled with mini walking sticks from Malaysia!  So cute!









Beautiful white orchids at the Montréal Botanical Gardens.  There was a whole greenhouse full of orchids that were all lovely.  Better than the garden full of poisonous plants!

MUMFORD & SONS!  Portland, Maine was one of four cities chosen as stopovers for their US tour.  They played as part of an all-day music festival with other bands, and it was an amazing show.  The Eastern Prom was converted into a seaside concert venue, and watching music while overlooking the ocean at sunset was pretty amazing.  They played a lot of songs from Sigh No More, as well as some of their newer stuff.  Here's a link to Lover of the Light, a song I hadn't heard before.  And the show ended with fireworks, always a plus!

Just another day at the beach!  It has been hot and humid in Maine, so I cooled off today at Crescent Beach.  Despite the huge waves, gusty wind, and sand blowing everywhere, it was still a beautiful day on the ocean.










As a side note - I had a great time in Vermont/Canada last week, especially hanging out at Midd and watching the Olympics!  And, if you're ever looking for a cheap thrill in Burlington, check out the Lake Champlain chocolate factory.  They give free tours that include samples!  That's all for now, be back soon.