Little Poland

Little Poland
Originally uploaded by newdaystobrave.

Vodka, Perogi, and Culture.

Soggy Saturday.

Right now I can go on and on about what a wonderful night I had last night, but, quite frankly I'm exhausted. Who knew that there weren't going to be any trains to Babylon between the hours of 3 and 5am? I didn't mind too much, how could I? I was in great company. I watched a great film, met quite a few interesting people, ate perogis, drank like a fish, and took the drunk train home. Could it get any better than this?

I know, I'm out of control with these quizzes.

Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's Your Inner European?

Today is a good day.

I just got back from the bank where I had a pleasant experience. Yep, that's right, I said PLEASANT experience. I was walking from my car to the bank and there was this older man also walking towards the door. He randomly shouted across the parking lot, "I'm going to get there first", meaning to the door. I said, "Ok, I'll race you", and he made like he was about to start running. Then we wound up getting to the door at the same time when he politely opened it for me and said, "after you" accompanied with a sly hand gesture. The bank manager was standing by the door, so this guy says to him "I'm here for the free money, you're giving out money today, right?" He was so jovial and playful and happy. Good to see. He elevated my mood from ok, to fantastic, then I passed my huge smile on to the bank teller, and I'm sure she passed hers on to someone else. See what effect a little bit of cheerfullness can have on a mundane errand like a bank run. Chain-reaction-style goodness.

Oh, to be a girl.

I just got hit on by the Wirtgen mechanic. He's been here for 3 days, from Pennsylvania, teaching the guys at my job how to use the new milling machine. He hasn't said one word to me until now, although, he did give me a hat that say's "Made Wirtgen Tough." He said "If you ever get to Pennsylvania, look me up." How cute.

How prevalent.

Bush decides to hold a prime time televised news conference during TV turn-off week. Needless to say, I missed it, so I'm blogging blind here. So far, I've read this article, which talks about Bush's plans for SS, and gives us this list:

On international issues, Bush:

• Praised Iraq’s National Assembly for approving on Thursday the country’s first democratically elected government, but declined to set a date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. Bush said he is pressing Iraq’s incoming prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, to keep hands off the Iraqi security force that the U.S. military is creating and training.
• Called North Korean leader Kim Jong Il “a dangerous person” and defended multination talks aimed at curbing his nuclear-weapon ambitions. The president said the missile defense system the United Stated is developing is part of his strategy for dealing with Kim.
• Expressed dismay with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. “We didn’t appreciate that,” he said, “But we made ourselves clear.” The two men are scheduled to meet in Moscow early next month.
• Stated that the United States, Britain, France and Germany all believe “we can’t trust the Iranians when it comes to enriching uranium.”

~

Tell me something I don't know. Please?

Math + Art = Solution

If you're like me, and you surf the web all day, you've already come across this story. But for those of you that rely on me to do the searching...this is a good one. It's about how 2 Mathematicians helped the Met make a digital photo document of the 500 year old Unicorn Tapestries that are housed in The Cloisters.



Image via Met Museum site

I didn't know Bath Houses still exist.

Where can I get a membership?

Friday Gallivant

Tonight is the much anticipated screening of Juxtaposed at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival at Village East Cinema in good ole NYC. 6:10 pm. You should come. The guys at Nargile Productions would be stoked if you did.

Phew!

Your Brain is 66.67% Female, 33.33% Male

Your brain leans female You think with your heart, not your head Sweet and considerate, you are a giver But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

We're gonna party like it's my birthday.

Do you remember the 21st night of september? Love was changing the minds of pretenders while chasing the clouds away. Our hearts were ringing, in the key that our souls were singing, as we danced in the night. Remember how the stars stole the night away. Ba de ya - say do you remember? Ba de ya - dancing in september. Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day.

Earth, Wind and Fire- September

Make waves.

Or enjoy these.

True-isms.

The desire of the man is for the woman, but the desire of the woman is forthe desire of the man. -Madame de Stael, writer (1766-1817)

Enormity.

Jesus contains multitudes.

It's scientific.

Some Scientists believe that we can read minds.

Grandma Tonner

Grandma Tonner
Originally uploaded by newdaystobrave.

Today is Yukito's Birthday! Happy Birthday Kito! We should all party like Grandma (then drink some beer...or maybe drink the beer first, then dance like lunatics).

I love nerds.

The candy too.

I agree with a majority of this post. There's something a little odd about how many times Mountain Dew is referenced, although, it did make me want to drink some. Hey, is this a Mt. Dew advertisement? If so, it worked. And I hate soda.

Hump day.

I have a desk job, oh, yes, I do. I also have an addiction to post-it notes. They're everywhere. So, come, celebrate with me. It's the post-it notes 25th Birthday!!

I [heart] Photo of the Day.

Check it.

End Violence Against Women

Just last week a 29 year old Afghani woman was stoned to death for committing adultery. The man she committed adultery with got whipped and was let go.

TV Turn off week, Day two.

I'm going to resist the urge to watch "House." I am, really, I swear.
Here's some more propaganda.

April Showers.

They're on their way.

Sea Change.

My ongoing battle between coffee and tea.

I want to say it's a matter of preference. Some mornings it's coffee, some mornings it's tea, all mornings it's any kind of caffeinated beverage I can get my hands on, preferably at room temperature (I have a sensitive tongue). I used to drink two cups of coffee every morning. LIGHT and SWEET. Now when I say "sweet" I don't mean your usual 2 second pour of half and half and three scoops of sugar, nonono. The usual 16oz cup consisted of 1 part coffee:1 part half and half:2 parts sugar. I think back on that now and I think either, yum, dessert for breakfast-or-gross, candy for breakfast. Regardless I would crash by around 10am, and whine the rest of my day away until I could break for a nap.
Needless to say, I feel like caffeine is controlling my life. Come the weekend, if I don't get my lazy ass out of bed, into the kitchen, and put on a pot of coffee (even if I know I'll only be patient enough to gulp down half a cup), I'll be almost immediately crippled with a caffeine withdrawal headache. Crippled to the point of not being able to think, open my eyes, or function whatsoever. It's got a hold on me.
So what have I done to correct this horrible dependency that I've developed? Well, first off, about 4 months ago, I switched to drinking my coffee black. I figured, lose the sugar, lose the high and low. I've never really been into half and half, and normally any type of creamy substance makes me feel nothing short of icky. Whether it was a placebo affect, or my body really reacting, I did start feeling more awake and all together healthy.
Then, about 2 months ago, I discovered Irish Creme Creamer. On the mornings that I wasn't running late to work (few and far between) I would stop at 7-11 and get a 16ozer with enough Creamer to negate the whole "not adding sugar" factor. Ugh. But I think I've also gotten that under control now.
Recently I've started to drink tea. I don't know about anyone else, but I find that tea is just fine plain, with no added sweetener or milk. I also feel 20 times better knowing that it has less caffeine than coffee. And, oh, the variety!! My taste buds are amazed by the abundance of flavored tea there is amongst us. My favorites tend to be Green(duh), Earl Gray, Dejarling, and good old plain Lipton. I'm currently drinking: Lipton 100% Natural Tea with "150mg Protective Antioxidants." That makes me feel good.
I'm excited about my anticipated adventures in tea land. I think this could be the start of something good, fresh, and um...healthy(ier).
If anyone knows some good tea varieties, let me know!

Morning

Morning
Originally uploaded by newdaystobrave.

Tired Eyes and MeFi. Tuesday Morning.

Get this.

You're Bettie Page!


What Classic Pin-Up Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

He said it. I agree.

The remarkable thing about television is that it permits several million people to laugh at the same joke and still feel lonely. -T.S. Eliot

TV Turnoff Week - underway.

This week is TV turn off week.

Fight the Power. Go outside.

Reference these previous posts for nasty TV statistics.

Don't worry John, they're getting things under control.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that medical teams are finally getting a handle on the deadly Marburg virus which has been wreaking havoc on Angola since March. Already 244 dead.

Melis and Sis

Melis and Sis
Originally uploaded by newdaystobrave.

Check out some new pics from my sister's engagement party. Fun Fun.

Blogging Drunk

I admit, I do realize that this is a bad idea. I know I should stop here, step away from the computer, and rest my dizzy head upon my pillow to slip away to slumber. But, no, I'd like to blog. I'd like to blog about my brother being the greatest person in the world. He makes me laugh, constantly. I'd also like to blog about running into Jeff Pliskin at the Half Penny Pub tonight. I haven't seen him in years. God damn, what a fun night. Killians, humor, and old friends. Good times.

I need art.

I'm really itching to see the exhibit in this "man made museum." I know I've been talking about it for a couple of months, but I've been so lazy about getting my butt into manhattan. Perhaps next weekend? Who's coming?


Photo by Gregory Colbert

I lied.

I haven't been working out like I said I was going to. Strangely enough, now I only weigh 126 lbs. hmmm.. I don't think it's physically possible to lose 6 pounds in 4 days, but, who knows. Must be my steady diet of Fruit and Nut bar for breakfast; banana for snack; nap for lunch; and whatever I can get my hands on for dinner. I should start a fad diet based on these results. Looks like I'm only 4 pounds away from victory. Whoop! I win.

Plant a tree

Today is Earth Day. Good day to start drilling for oil in Alaska (see previous post).

Some interesting stuff to think about on Earth Day:

• Today is the 35th Earth Day, learn the history here, by the creator himself. Then read his update on Earth Day here. Sobering.
• The EPA has set up an Earth Day site, it has a question and answer section on how to show more respect for the planet.
• Sometimes I wish I was a teacher so I could do fun stuff like this.
• Go see Jeffrey Allen Price's artist in residence exhibit at the Islip Art Museum (carriage House). His use of recycled materials should inspire us all to be creative with trash. While you're there, go into the main building and check out the "The Nature of Things" show.
• KIC; Keep Islip (and any other town) Clean.
• Recycle (I mean really recycle, I know we all try, but we could all try a little harder)
• Get a hybrid car.

Vomit

This makes me want to puke.

It can't get much better.

"Tell me am I right to think that there could be nothing better..."
-The Postal Service

Back to back beach nights.
It keeps getting better.

Robert Moses. Damn good.

I think I could be a realist, sometimes.

This quiz said that I'm a Liberal and defined it as such:

Liberal

Liberals…
Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy
Trace much of
today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.
Believe
political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions
Believe
the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises
Oppose American
imperialism
Support international law, alliances, and agreements
Encourage US participation in the UN
Believe US economic policies must
help lift up the world's poor
Historical liberal: President Woodrow
Wilson
Modern liberal: President Jimmy Carter

Of course I'm a liberal.

331 oo

331 oo
Originally uploaded by newdaystobrave.

See how nifty Flickr is?

Flickr-licious

Flickr rocks my world. Plain and simple. They are now offering something better. A free account now has 20 MB of monthly uploading capacity! A PRO account has doubled their previous 1GB of uploads to 2GB for half the price!!! Crazy! (as you can tell by all of the exclaimation points)! Sign up now and share your pictures with me!

Yay!

I went ahead and did something silly. I created a wish list. Whoop! You know, for those times when you randomly want to buy me a gift. (see the link on the sidebar!)

Last Night.

I was here, and it was near perfect.

Before shot; Suzy 132 lbs.

Me Fat.

Resolution

I know it's April and I also know that I've never made a New Year's Resolution in my entire life, but I think one is due. Since moving back home, it's hardly a secret that, I've put on a few pounds. I mean, can I really help it if my parents keep a constant supply of Double Stuffed Oreo's that are constantly calling out to me to come bask in all of their DOUBLE the cream filling glory? Ok, so I haven't been that active lately either. Here's the plan. I resolve to lose 10 pounds by June 1st. I now weigh in at *yuck* 132 lbs. By June 1st I shall be 122 lbs. I just did a search and found out that the "ideal weight" for a girl my height is between 110 and 141 lbs. I think 122 lbs would be just lovely.
Now, I did have a gym membership in January, and I went every day for a couple weeks (before moving, and being too lazy to drive all the way to the gym). I lost about 5 pounds or more in those 2 weeks, so I'm pretty confident that I can lose 10 in 6 weeks. I'll be running on the treadmill, jumping rope, and doing pilates daily. I have a set of 8 pound weights, but they are way too heavy for me (I'm weak and out of shape), but I'll try to work up the strength and get them into my workout somehow. I'm also in the market for purchasing a bike. A road bike, and a stylish helmet, of course. If anyone has any good suggestions, please drop them in my comments box. Rock on.

Gilgo Surf Cam

Sunshine Day.

I'm going to the beach after work. I'm bringing a blanket and a book. Robert Moses, Field 5. Far Right. Meet me there.

Kill your Television

I'm so glad I only watch a half hour of TV per day...if that! These statistics are nauseating.

TV turn off week

Next week is TV turn off week. Read a book, or two.

Foreign TA's

I've had many experiences similar to those in this article. I want to say that I would have gotten better than a "C" in Oceanography if I could have understood my Iranian TA, who basically taught the entire class. She definitely knew what she was talking about, but we didn't know what she was talking about because of her heavy accent and muffled English. I also might have come out of Stony Brook with that Math degree if I wasn't so discouraged by my Foreign Professors' inability to be articulate (or my inability to understand their English, therefore never fully understanding the lectures, therefore never doing well on the exams, therefore getting "C's" in my major). In many of these classes it was up to me and my text book to figure it all out. It makes you wonder why you're paying for an education, when you just wind up teaching yourself. It's all very unfortunate.

Smash up

Adobe to buy Macromedia

QoTD #8

What, do you suppose, is the biggest problem in suburban area's today?


My Answer:
Lack of affordable housing.

Sunday Noon

I feel mentally tired. Too much thinking, not enough doing. I think a trip out to Montauk is way over due. I'm leaving in an hour. Who's coming?

Question of the Day-Friday-#7

What is your favorite art movement?

My Answer:
Futurism or Orphism

Robert Delaunay
Umberto Boccioni

QoTD #5

If you could live in any African nation, which one would you choose?

My Answer:
Morocco; I know a little French, and I'd like to know a little Arabic.

Nike to Disclose Locations of Overseas Factories

This is why I don't wear Air Jordans.

According to the report, Nike audited 569 factories in 2003 and 2004 and found abuses it has previously identified. Monitors found cases of “abusive treatment” — either physical or verbal — in more than a quarter of its South Asian factories, and between 25 percent and 50 percent of the contract factories in the region restrict access to toilets and drinking water during the work day.

The monitors found that in more than half the South Asian factories, and in over 25 percent of factories overall, the normal course of business led to work hours in excess of 60 hours per week. In more than one-tenth of all the plants surveyed, refusal to work overtime led to a penalty of some kind, the report said.

Via: MSNBC News, via The Associated Press

QoTD #5

What is your favorite TV commercial that features a song?


My Answer:
The new Target commercial. What song is that? Does anyone know?

Idaho House Resolution 29

What in heavens name are those Idahoan's thinking!?! I've only been to a couple cities in Idaho, hippie lovin' Moscow, and Snake River surrounding Lewiston. Both very strange places. When I saw Napoleon Dynamite, I knew exactly what they were trying to portray. Positive? I don't know about that. I do love Potatoes, so Idaho isn't really that bad.

Buzztracker.

We all love Google News, am I right? Well, I should say that I used to love it more when I had it customized to Art and Architecture news, amongst the normal categories, but for some reason unbenounced to me, my two favorite categories have disappeared, and I cannot get them back.

Anywho. Buzztracker. Buzztracker is a site that utilizes software which locates and records the amount of news pertaining to any given city on the globe. It sums it up by displaying the top ten locations that are in any piece of Google News for that day, and conveniently adds the percentage of total news associated to that particular location. I think it's nifty, and pretty.

Question of the Day #4

Seeing these morning news headlines, which story did you want to read first?

1) Up to 150 Pilgrims Drown in India
Via: CNN

2) Historic Parallels as DeLay's Woes Deepen
Via: CS Monitor

3) U.S. Envoy to Sudan: World Watching Darfur
Via: Seattle Post-Intelligencer

4) Rumsfeld Warning to Iraq Leaders
Via: BBC News

My Answer:

I read the above stories in the numerical order I placed them in. Obviously.

Clay-mation-esq.

Se7en Redux-
The end scene in the movie Seven, acted out by stuffed animals.

I always thought of Kevin Spacey as an furry blue alien. He's adorable.

Piano and Klee

I've stumbled upon this fantastic work in progress while researching the work of Renzo Piano. A visit here and you get the best of Piano, and Paul Klee, the object of the museums intentions.

Question of the Day #3

Okay, hope everyone had a beautiful weekend...

If you could take back one thing you've said or done over the past week, what would it be?
No regrets? Then, if you could re-live the last week, what would you have done differently?

My Answer:
I would have went to Raed's concert last night, instead of fighting, endlessly, with David.
(sorry Raed!)

Question of the Day #2

Do you like to listen to music when you go to bed? If so, what song/album/artist do you choose to rock you to sleep?

My Answer:
Beck-Sea Change
Enya-Best of
Radiohead-Amnesiac

Good eyes.

So that's what that big red pointy thing above my car was yesterday...

This guy takes Google maps new satallite feature to a new level of fun.

I can't stop looking at it and laughing hysterically. Ha.

Question #1

If you were the author of this "Question of the Day" meme, what would be first question you would ask, and why?

My answer:

My question would be:

If you were a post-it note, what color post-it note would you be, and why?

because:

I really love post-it notes. They are so handy. I especially like the neon green post-its. Not the 3"x 3" ones, but the smaller, 2" x 2" ones. I would be a neon green post-it for sure. I find that they are more eye catching, compared to the neon orange, yellow and pink. It might also be that I really enjoy the color green, and I have many neon green office supplies about my desk. I also have a darling little neon green, dark green, and yellow striped pot, with a cute little jade plant flourishing out of it, that is perched on top of my desk near the window. Green is a happy color. It reminds me of nature, and makes the confines of my office seem less like a cage, and more like one step away from the lawn, sunshine, and fresh air. I like the sense of freedom, even when controlled. And I like to stand apart from the crowd.

Therefore, I would be truly interested in what color post-it note people would want to be, and why, in fact, they choose that particular color.

Have I confused anyone yet?

That's it, I'm doing it.

Ok, so remember back in the day, about 2 years ago now, when I used to email everyone a "Question of the Day", that was fun wasn't it? It gave all of us college graduates a good reason to start using our brains again. With that said, I think I'm going to start posting a "Question of the Day" here, on my blog, for all who wish to participate. Let me know what you think (comments link).

First question to follow.

Tasty ancestors.

Now, I can't speak for everyone here, but I sure as hell wouldn't eat my Grandma, Great Grandma, Great Great Grandma...you see where I'm going with this. So why are we killing off the primate species, our closest living relatives? They're a crucial key to our evolution, yet some people only see them as food or experimental waste. The statistics are all very sad.

If you have the chance, and he is still teaching the course, everyone should take, or at least sit-in on, Dr. Paul Bingham's class titled "The Biology of Being Human" at Stony Brook University. Best class of my college career, and I was an Art History major.

You can take this one all the way to the bank.

I never use that saying.

While waiting in line at the bank, oh, I'd say about 17-22 minutes ago, I witnessed something truly upsetting. Now, I know, standing in line at the bank is quite upsetting to begin with, but to top things off I happened to be staring out the window when I watched something horrific happen. No, not a car accident, and no, a baby bird did not fly directly into the glass (which is so dirty I'm sure that never a bird would have been so stupid). I watched helplessly as this heffer of a girl, dressed in a Big Lots vest and stretch pants, ripped open her new pack of Newports and threw the plastic coating on the sidewalk without a hint of care. She more like casually dropped it to her side, and never looked back. Gross. Now, if you know me well, I'm a pro at acting upon my convictions. There would have been quite a scene if I hadn't been next in line. It took every inch of self-control in my person to not run out of the bank and make the girl pick it up and throw it in the trash receptacle that she so happened was WALKING RIGHT PAST when this horrible act of environmental defacement took place. All I have to say is she's damn lucky I hate the bank as much as I do, or else I probably wouldn't have minded waiting in line all over again (after making an enormous scene, of course). In hind sight I wish I would have done something. Eh, I'm sure there will be other chances to flex my "give a hoot, don't pollute" muscles.

Oh, the memories.

I once lived here. Really, no joke. Now you know why I learned how to knit.

Grey area.

So it seems that my place of residence has been smothered by some strange radioactive green slime type matter. That would explain the sixth toe on my right foot. Google is way off here. My humble abode is about 4 houses to the south and 3 houses east of the marker. Doh!

Tuesday Evening.

I've been violently sneezing for the past couple hours, and now I learn that Saul Bellow has passed away. The two have absolutely nothing to do with each other, but what a sad Tuesday evening it has turned out to be. I'm going to bed.

I'm me.

I've just begun reading Blink, and I've just passed the part where he mentions the Big Five. Here are my results...

Big Five Test Results

Extroversion (50%) medium which suggests you average somewhere in between being assertive and social and being withdrawn and solitary. Friendliness (92%) very high which suggests you are overly kind natured, trusting, and helpful at the expense too often of your own individual development (martyr complex). Orderliness (59%) moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly organized, neat, structured and restrained at the expense too often of flexibility, variety, spontaneity, and fun. Emotional Stability (47%) medium which suggests you average somewhere in between being calm and resilient and being anxious and reactive. Openmindedness (76%) high which suggests you are very intellectual, curious, imaginative but possibly not very practical.

Take Free Big Five Personality Test
personality tests by similarminds.com

It cost's too much to get sick.

Or I'm just poor.

Between the doctor's appointment and my prescription I've spent $55.43 to get well. On top of that, while waiting for my prescription from the drug store, I racked up another $30.00 charge on stuff that I didn't exactly need, but would come in handy someday i.e. good smelling shampoo and every flavor chapstick you can think of. I'm a sucker for chapstick. On top of all this, I might not even get paid for today. Err.
Well, having slept the better half of my day away, I have now concluded that I should just get back into bed and sleep until tomorrow, 6am, when I need to rise and shine again. We'll see what happens.

I love Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, how did this test know?

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I've always wanted a mustache.

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

My alma mater.

This sign is on the major road in my town, at the entrance to the high school. I think I might have an idea who did this. You have to give it to them, good humor.

Anything but purple!

Give me a break. Please, tell me this is a joke. I have a box of red pencils in my drawer at work, I love red pencils, well, you're right, I love pencils in general, but I do especially like the red ones.

12 sided die reference.

After forcing Rick to take the plethora of online quizzes I have posted to this blog, I was greeted with an interesting fact. Seeing as I had absolutely no clue what the "how many sided die are you quiz" meant, I was shocked and extremely satisfied to find that Weezer makes a reference to a "12 sided die" in their fabulous ditty titled "In the Garage." A fun facto about this song is that it was on the first mixed tape Joe had ever made me, back, back, back in the day. Now Joe, who I haven't spoken to in a trillion years, is in Rick's band (which I might go see Monday night). Everything seems to be interconnected these days.

Constant Variable

All the info you need to be a walking contradiction.

what? me? non.

Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover

You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires. And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek. You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships. It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.

What Is Your Seduction Style?

Ends

why am i so sad about this? yes, I was brought up catholic, and yes, I have no "official" association with any church or religion at this time, and yes, I never exactly believed in the Vatican and it's independent nation of religion, yet...sadness ensues. I think it's more of the fact that it's an end of an era, than the end of a leader. maybe it's because he has the same disease as my father, and it frightens me. I guess I'm sad when anyone is sick and dying...and it's so publicized and dehumanized. death and dying are intimate things, it shouldn't be broadcast. we shouldn't all be watching patiently as this man dies.

update

i'm not going anywhere on Saturday for fear of melting, athough I am a very good swimmer, and I would like to see you, Chris!!!

traffic hullabaloo

i experienced something truly amazing this morning. i woke up feeling well rested. i woke up almost a full hour before my alarm went off, and i was wide awake, ready for the day. now, seeing as i went to bed 4 hours later than i usually do, this is all a puzzle to me. not one of those easy, say, one hundred piece puzzles, but a whopping 1,000 piece puzzle of a snow covered forrest. that's they type of puzzle i'm talking about. for all those who know me well, you'll know that suzy goes to bed at around 9pm on a normal week night. perhaps i've been sleeping too much? less than 5 hours of sleep and i don't even feel like i need any coffee. madness.

perhaps i can account for my happy morning by reflecting on my happy night. i had a wonderful night (aside from the attempt at being civil with my ex, only to end things on a bitter, bitter, sour, nasty note--as per usual). I went up to good ole stony brook to see the movie "Sideways" which was playing at the Staller Centre. I got to campus way early, so i tried to meet up with raed ahead of schedule. unfortunately i was greeted with his voicemail. to sum it all up, the rest of the night went like this: found a parking space in the loop where i racked up $500+ in parking tickets over my 3 years as an art student, called olesya, was invited to olesya's house, went to her house, chatted it up, stole her away from her man, went back to campus, met up with raed (who snuck us into the movie for FREE), watched the film, laughed a little, frowned a little, came away feeling strangely satisfied, headed to the university cafe, met up an old friend (claudio), chit-chatted for a few, dropped off olesya, taught raed how to pump gas in the rain, dropped off raed, drove home in the, at times, pouring rain while successfully avoiding falling asleep behind the wheel, put my pj's on, crawled into bed, read a little vonnegut, crashed at around 1 am. good times, with good people. i've really been enjoying Raed and Olesya lately, i wish i had enjoyed them more while i was in school. they are both very interesting people.

this morning i was driving behind one of those people who put a shit-load of stuffed animals in the back window of their car. what is that? can someone explain this to me? crap. i find it to be the least visually stimulating thing i can desire to see at 7am. it makes me want to vomit. good thing i was in a bopping good mood courtesy of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's and the Talking Heads. Early morning mixed cds are the way to get to work.