28 December 2004

the power of e-commerce

There are a lot of people surfing the web today browsing e-commerce sites. I am absolutely amazed by how many donations Amazon has taken on behalf of the Red Cross for disaster relief after the tsunamis. I just refresh and watch it count up and watch the numbers grow. I am wow-ed by it.

27 May 2004

One day more! Another day another destiny...

"One Day More" - Les Miserables the musical
VALJEAN
One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary;
These men who seem to know my crime
Will surely come a second time.
One day more!

MARIUS
I did not live until today.
How can I live when we are parted?
It is another day till we are parted: my students and I. Tomorrow I teach my last class indefinitely. Tomorrow at 8:05 I take my last attendance and cheerily wish the kidlings a goodmorning to their grumbles and glowers. Tomorrow is a great class (hopefully!)

I shall have food and guests and robots and kids tomorrow. It's scary to invite the entire school to your last class ever. It's fun to know they're interested. I've made it.

Today I bid my last 9th grader adieu, and the quietest girl was the first to say goodbye and wish me goodluck. Today I interviewed another candidate for my position; tomorrow another phone interview with a different candidate.

Tomorrow I stop being on a school schedule. Tomorrow I take on a "real adult" schedule. Tomorrow isn't the last day of school, it's just the last day of classes. Which in reality is so close to being the end of the end. I can count on one hand my remaining responsibilities at school (grade ET ads, grade robots, write advisor comments, meetings & other prof obligationy goodness, & tech workshop).

It's nearly the end of teaching indefinitely (yes, I do still wanna go back - I love the kids). It's nearly the beginning of my new job. I'm on the brink of moving to Seattle to become a Software Developer. One day more... of teaching and being a role model for kids... Another day another destiny.. a new job as a developer leading me to my next phase and role in life... letting me grow and live.

I'm sad; I'm excited.

See you tomorrow!

23 May 2004

Eating in the Upper River Valley

Dartmouth is surrounded by excellent venues for dining. Of all sorts. There is not enough time in my 4 day retreat here to eat at all the establishments that I would like. There are even lovely new venues - two of which I've tried. However, this subtracts time I can spend eating in the old. However, last night I had a fusion of new and old in a very long eating jaunt.

The new:
  • The Canoe Club - bar and funky resteraunt. A bit overpriced, but the food was delicious - especially the chocolate raspberry martini (alcohol) and the chocolate martini (dessert - mousse). And the live music and ambience were wonderful.
  • The Wrap - all sorts of wraps which you can get with all sorts of options. And smoothies. Good option all around.
The old:
  • Murphy's - one of my favorites - an Irish pub. The bread bowl of clam chowder or stew - so yummy!!
  • Molly's - the one that I think I've been to the most - brick oven pizza, burgers, sandwhiches, pasta, and $2 margaritas that are very tasty.
  • Ramunto's - new york style sauce, garlic knot pizza - 'nuff said.
  • EBA's - also known as Everything But Anchovies is the local pizza joint - not as good as Ramunto's but caters to the college student. Everything's big and tasty and cheap and greasy and served late. They even cater to the fact that Dartmouth is so internet-friendly by having the best service given to the web site orders.
  • Lui Lui's - yummy italian and brick oven pizza.
  • Firestones - even better italian.
  • Sweet Tomatoes - yes, even better Italian - the great thing is that these 3 are very different in options and atmosphere.
  • India Queen - smile at the owner and look like a poor college kid to get free samosas. Order communally for 4 and you'll have enough to feed 8. So yummy. Chicken Shahi Korma babay!
  • Yama's - Korean deliciousness.
  • Jessi's - steakhouse goodness
  • Lou's and Lou's Truck Stop - diners owned locally that are DELICIOUS!
So we can definitely say I'm having trouble choosing food options. Which is why I let my friend's choose and just tell them that I won't repeat a resteraunt during my stay. Fair? Mk - time to eat. Yama's is next!

18 May 2004

*sing* bzzz bzzz bzzz went the cicada!

The cicadas are here. They emerge every 17 years in Baltimore (except the pathetic lil' guys who emerge early / late).

Cicadas have a very pathetic life: sleep for 17 years, come out of ground, fly around blind whacking into things and if you don't get stepped on by an annoyed animal (or eatten by a dog) then you have one round of sex, lay eggs if female, and die.

Being reincarnated as a cicada means you pissed the big guy off. And you did the pissing off with such style that you get to be taunted with one quickie in your life.

I haven't been "freaked out" by the cicadas, although one did try to freak me today. He flew up my skirt. He was a rude lil' bugger and I gave him the smack down and stomp out. I'd feel sorry for him if he wasn't such a player.

Cicadas create this humming sound that I can't accurately describe - sometimes it sounds like a lawnmower, sometimes not. I hear it constantly at work and it's "coming closer" to my apartment. I didn't notice it at first since it's a very "background" noise.

And did I mention that these bugs are ugly and stupid? They can't see but they have stereotypical red bug eyes. They're fat and they fly like drunken blind bugs. Poor pathetic cicadas.

I play softball tomorrow. I hope that the cicadas don't decide to join the game.... although if they did, I might actually catch the ball!

13 May 2004

SPF 50???

Today I went to Hershey Park with the 9th graders. It was a day with much fun spent riding roller coasters and listening to the girls clamor to tell me something new. I also saw just how "mature" 9th graders are attempting to be - scary stuff.

In the meantime, I managed to get sunburnt even with only being outside for 4 hrs, and putting on 2 seperate and complete applications of SPF 50. Yo yo yo - I am a white girl!

Go me! I'm badass - 9th grade cool, red and white! Meaning, my official theme colors must be pink, red and white.