Turtle Power

Going to the Chapel...

2007-09-11T18:32:00.000-04:00

Casie, my friend since 6th grade, got married last weekend in Virginia Beach. This is a significant event of course for Casie, but also for me because Casie is my first friend to get married. Kind of freaks me out.

To be corny for a second, it feels like just yesterday that Casie and I met on a 6th grade field trip to the Air and Space Museum. When we thought one particular scene in Empire Records was hilarious, and kept watching it over and over. When we started high school, and remained friends. When we prided ourselves over never having had a fight. When she visited me in college. And, when she met her now-husband, Jason.

Middle school reunion!

My date Caitlin

Garter time.

Throwing the garter

Seeing the newlyweds off

Congratulations Casie and Jason!

Rocky Mountain Park: Part II

2007-09-05T18:41:00.000-04:00

After walking back from Alberta Falls, we began the drive up Trail Ridge Rd, to the highest point reachable by car. None of us were prepared for the steadily cooling conditions on the way up.

Towards the bottom, where it was still nice and warm.

Taken from the car while Jess and Lauren braved the brutal cold.

The weather quickly went from warm and sunny, to cold and sunny, to colder and rainy, to freezing and rainy, back to freezing and sunny, which at least resulted in rainbows.

Almost to the top!

We made it to the highest point reachable by car. But, there was still the highest point reachable by foot. The air was thin, and brutally cold. But, we made it this far, we couldn't stop now.

The stairs leading to the top. We didn't think we would make it.

But, at least we had a nice snowman to accompany us on the journey.

Finally, we made it to the top, 2.3 miles above sea level! Enough time for a quick couple of pictures before we froze to death.

Rocky Mountain Park: Part I

2007-08-22T21:00:00.001-04:00

Well, it's been two months since I came back from the road trip. Maybe I'll finish the wrap up in another two months.

After we left Monument Rocks, we passed through the town of Amy, Kansas.

Passing through into the Mountain Time Zone, which meant we were almost finally out of Kansas!

Finally we were in Colorado! You can kind of see the Rockies in the distance.

After staying the night in Loveland, CO, we were up the next morning, ready for Rocky Mountain National Park.

The Rockies in the daylight, view from the motel parking lot.

The drive to the Park

And....Rocky Mountain National Park

Bear Lake. And, as a little kid asked...no, there are no actual bears in the lake...I think

One of many cute chipmunks we encountered.

Alberta Falls

The two photographers

I am so ashamed

2007-08-04T20:27:00.000-04:00

This weekend I could have been at the Virgin Festival seeing (for free) the likes of Fountains of Wayne, Peter Bjorn and John, Interpol, and the Beastie Boys.

Ah, the Beastie Boys. Back in high school, I was such a big fan that I delivered a speech on their merits for an English presentation. Sure, I'm not as much of a fanatic of theirs as I was in high school, but I still consider myself a big fan. Or at least, I did.

This week on a local radio station, they were giving away tickets for the Virgin Festival, tickets that costs $90 for each day. Weasel, a local legend, who used to DJ for the fallen WHFS, now is a morning DJ on 94.7. On Tuesday morning, he told listeners to call in and win tickets if they could answer this trivia question: What is the profession of AdRock (from the Beastie Boys) father?

I was stumped.

I called in and figured I would wing it on the slight chance that I would actually get through.

And I actually got through.

And Weasel's distinctive voice was on the other end.

"What does AdRock's father do?" he asked me.

"Uh...is he a musician?"

"No" he said, "Try again."

So, what does his father do? He is a famous playwright.

So, instead of spending the weekend enjoying music, I am at home, avoiding studying for the GRE's, which I take on the 16th. I am truly a sad excuse for a Beastie Boys fan.

Sorry Boys for letting you down.

On the subject of DJ's, I also spoke with another local legend, Cerphe on the same radio station, later in the week. I called to see if they had already given away tickets that hour, and had a short conversation with him. A couple minutes later, I hear my voice come over the radio, replaying the same convo I just had with Cerphe.

I may not have gotten free tickets to the Virgin Festival, but at least I spoke to two DJ's I had listened to for years, and got on the radio.

We're almost not in Kansas anymore

2007-07-26T15:15:00.000-04:00

Before going to Colorado, we decided to check out Monument Rocks, which are 80 million year old rock formations, and up to 70 feet tall.

Driving to the Rocks, down a long dirt road, we encountered amber waves of grain.

Finally, we reached the rocks. And..they were really amazing. Warning: many pictures of rocks follow.

All right, enough rocks! Next blog: Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

More from the middle of Kansas!

2007-07-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

During our scenic byway off of 70, we happened upon Mushroom Rock State Park, a national park that is exactly as it sounds: rocks that look like mushrooms!

Then, more driving

Somewhere in Kansas, we stopped at a grocery store. As we were leaving, an older guy in an old truck wearing a cowboy hat was turning into the grocery store. As he was turning, he smiled, and tipped his hat at us. Love it.

It was getting late, so we attempted to find a motel in Oakley, KS. Apparently, Oakley is hopping at this time of year, as all the motels we passed had no vacancies. Finally, we found a motel called the Free Breakfast Inn, around midnight. The office decor reminded me of the scene in Harold and Kumar in Freak Show's house The room's decor had not been changed since the 60's. I kept picturing the Bates Motel, and Norman peeking in at us through a hole in the wall. However, the next morning, in the light of day, the place did not seem nearly as scary.

And, we got free breakfast! Breakfast was served at a steakhouse across the highway.

They frown upon people driving like hell.

Next blog: The last of Kansas-Monument Rocks

Kansas: Part I

2007-07-15T19:46:00.000-04:00

After leaving MO, it was time for some good 'ol minor-league baseball, in the name of the Kansas City T-Bones in Kansas. Proudly wearing an Orioles shirt, we sat down to our seats. I hear "How bout them O's?!", and turn around to see a man in an Orioles cap and shirt. Turns out he was from MD, and was visiting his son in Kansas City. I love that I ran into an Orioles fan in Kansas.

The game was relatively uneventful, apart from the amazing sunset.

And a little sumo-wrestling in between innings

After the game, we headed to Topeka for the night.
Topeka from the hotel room.

After an excellent buffet breakfast from the Ramada (a little money will get you a long way in Kansas hotels), we went to the site of Brown vs. Board of Education.

At the museum, I learned that one of the cases that became the Brown vs. BOE Supreme Court case involved the University of Delaware. In 1950, UD became the first university to desegregate by court decree. Not something I ever heard on the campus tour.

We then passed through another president's town: Abilene KS, home of Eisenhower.

When we went through the house, Jess told the tour guide that we had been by Truman's house the day before. The woman scoffed and said that the Truman's house was much more high-class, and Eisenhower grew up in a blue-class household. Meow.

Abilene was nowhere near as cool as Independence, but still had character.

After that, we left civilization for awhile, and saw lots of the Kansas countryside on a scenic by-way off 70.

Next blog: more Kansas countryside, and attempting to find a motel in the middle of Kansas.

Pardon the interruption

2007-07-09T18:43:00.000-04:00

I interrupt the road trip picturefest wrap-up to talk about my camp job.

The first day, I was completely ready to call it quits. On Mondays, I don't have any groups, so I had to go to the pool to shadow a kid who was completely uncontrollable. He could not communicate, did not listen, scratched, and bit. At the pool, he kept pulling down his swim trunks, and at the end of the day, ran into the kiddie pool, pulled down his pants, and peed. To put the kid into perspective--he was so bad that he was kicked out of the camp after two days...and this camp has a number of difficult kids.

But, after two weeks, dare I say...I don't hate it. And, that's a pretty good review for me. There are a number of kids that I really like. And, it's kind of fun planning activities for the kids. So, I'll make it through the next four weeks, and at the end, I will have a really good experience on my resume for when I apply to grad school for OT.

St Louis and Independence, MO

2007-07-05T16:10:00.000-04:00

For our last day in St Louis, we headed to Laumeier Sculpture Park, a 72 acre, open-air museum.

A sampling of the sculptures:

After walking the park, it was sadly time to leave St Louis. But, not before taking some more pictures of the Arch!

From East St Louis, IL

On our way to a minor league ballgame in Kansas City, KS, we passed signs for Independence, MO, home of Truman. I sort of made the girls agree that we could quickly explore the town. And we were all glad we did. Not only did we see (the outside of) Truman's house, but Independence is a great little town! The downtown area was really nice and felt like you were stepping back in time.

Truman's house

Downtown Independence

My mom actually met Truman when she was four. Now, I am the second generation to "meet" him. Nevermind that it was just a statue of him.

Next blog: Kansas City, KS baseball, and Topeka

St Louis: Part II

2007-07-03T20:27:00.000-04:00

After the Arch, we were off to tour Anheuser-Busch, which was about 10 times as big as the Shipyard Brewery tour I went on in Maine.

First, we visited their Clydesdale horses.

My favorite was Bruce

Then, a tour of the rest of the brewery, which encompassed many blocks and buildings.

After the tour, the best part: two free pints of beer.

On the tour, there was a big group of young monks or priests or religious folks of some sort, speaking French. The monks/priests/whatever they were, enjoyed the samples most of all.

Next blog: St Louis: The Conclusion, and Independence, MO

St Louis, part I

2007-07-01T20:27:00.000-04:00

After the very exciting Indianapolis, we were off to St Louis. We stayed with Jess' friend, Becca, who just happened to be housesitting for her parents friends. Not only did we have a free place to stay, but we had a free place to stay in a nice, air-conditioned house! And, Becca, being from St Louis, made an excellent host, showing us around St Louis.

Upon arriving on Sunday night, food was of course the first thing on the agenda. For dinner, we had toasted ravioli, and St Louis style pizza, which was delicious. After dinner, we were all stuffed, so what better time to get more food? By suggestion of Listmaker, we went to Ted Drewes Ted Drewes, a St Louis staple serving custard. Jess and I shared chocolate custard with peanut butter cups, and it was oh-so great.

After passing out in a food coma, we woke up on Monday morning ready to be tourists. First stop: the Arch.

Going up to the top is a very strange experience. Unlike other tourist destinations like the Empire State Building, or the Washington Mounument, in the St Louis Arch, you go up in little cars that can fit at most, five people. As Lauren described it, the pods were like "a 1960's view of the future."

This picture kind of shows how small these little elevators were, but does not give it justice.

We made it!

The views from the top

Next blog: Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour.

Road trip, part I: Indianapolis

2007-06-27T20:03:00.000-04:00

Well, I got back from the road trip on Sunday. Our flight from Denver was at 7AM, and I did not get home until 6 since I had to drive back from the Philly area. This week has been crazy busy with starting camp, and a GRE prep class at night. Needless to say, I'm exhasted. I am sifting through the 600 pictures I took on the trip, so it might take me awhile to sort through them.

But, to get started---
Lauren, Jess, and I left from Exton on Saturday night, heading to Columbus to stay the night. This portion of the trip was pretty uneventful apart from some random cats in the middle of the highway in Ohio.

Crossing into West Virginia (which is apparently "open for business") in our attempt to capture each state's sign. This mission failed after Indiana.

After getting a few hours of sleep, we were off to Indianapolis for the Grand Prix.

After taking the wrong exit into Indianapolis, we actually came across a nice park in downtown.

But, we had to leave the park, as the Grand Prix was calling.

And -try as I might, I cannot comprehend the appeal of watching cars drive fast around a circle. I was dumbfounded.

This was pretty much it for two hours:

Trying to feign some enthusiasm

After it was finally over, we came across these guys, who were much more entertaining than the actual Grand Prix. I should have asked them to explain to me the appeal.

Next blog: St. Louis

Road trip!

2007-06-18T19:28:00.001-04:00

This week I am on a road trip with Lauren and Jess. We are making our way from Exton, PA to Denver. Right now, we are in St Louis. Lauren is updating her blog via text message, so make your way over there to see our trip so far.

Boston, part II

2007-06-05T18:39:00.000-04:00

On Memorial Day, Allie, Sam, Laura, and I saw a game at Fenway against Cleveland. The tickets were a bit pricey, but well worth it!

It was a first place showdown. Sam reads up on the facts.

Before the game, there was a nice tribute to Trot Nixon, who played for 10 seasons with the Sox, and a standing ovation from the crowd during his first time at bat.

As the game was starting, a group of four people around my age (three guys and a girl) arrived to sit in the seats in front of us. We all knew immediately that they were trouble. The girl refused to sit on the end, and was whining and would not sit until her boyfriend let her sit in the middle. She then started bitching about how much she hated Boston and baseball. Two minutes after they sat down, it was time for another beer run, where the girl said that they owed her the next round because she had bought the first two rounds.

And they kept drinking.

And they kept being more annoying.

Short video evidence: Drunkenly trying to start a wave.

The guys were extremely, ear-piercingly loud, and the guy in front of them nicely asked them to quiet down. They nicely said sure--and then for the rest of the game shouted into his ear. Nice.

In the beginning, the couple were oh so in love. They were making out, and just being generally obnoxious.

Look at that look of love, admiring her idiot boyfriend- before the drama went down.

But, as the night wore on, the making out became more sporadic, and the boyfriend's true colors really shined through. He started being really drunkenly mean to her, and slurring his speech. This resulted in her crying and demanding that they get up so she could leave. She did not come back for the remainder of the game. As we left the game, we saw them on the sidewalk outside of the park, so I assume they are okay. I'm sure they are making out right now.

Anyways, the rest of the game was great. Kevin Youkilis hit an inside the park home-run! And the Sox won!

Sweet Caroline during the 8th.

During the game, a guy behind us said to his friend "There is only one thing better than going to a game at Fenway- Going to a Fenway game and the Sox winning." Indeed.

More info

2007-06-04T23:07:00.000-04:00

A couple months ago, I wrote that I was planning on pursuing Occupational Therapy. Today's New York Times has an article discussing the pediatric sensory integration area of OT, which I will be working in this summer. It is a somewhat lengthy article, but pretty interesting, and gives more detail on what I (think) I am intersted in doing.

Boston, part I

2007-06-03T16:17:00.000-04:00

Last week, I went to Boston. I visited Allie for her birthday, saw the Bossman, Heather, the Edward Hopper exhibit at the MFA, and best of all, went to a Red Sox game!

Some highlights:

Celebrating Allie's 25th with a birthday cake decorated with icing adorned Pocky.

Orchard House in Concord, MA, where Louisa May Alcott lived.

Being "little women" in front of the house.

On Memorial Day, before the Sox game, we went out on a boat, with Allie's friend Erin's family and friends from Lesley into Boston Harbor.

Stay tuned--next blog: Fenway!

The Golden Girls

2007-05-04T11:35:00.000-04:00

Lauren Graham carries Alexis Bledel off into the sunset.

Just yesterday, Stone Groove remarked that this week's Gilmore Girls episode was much better than the rest of the season. I have been remarking all year that this season should be the last. The show was getting painful to watch.

So, this morning at breakfast, Stone Groove looked at the paper, and started to moan. It appears that this season will be the last for the Gilmore Girls.

I say good riddance. While I count Gilmore Girls among my favorite shows, it has just been so bad this year. Season 6 was not great either.

Only two new episodes left! All I have to say is that Rory better not marry Logan on the series finale.

But, I am sad to see it go.

I don't know why Stone Groove is complaining. We are only 10 episodes in on season 2, so by my calculations, he still has about 100 episodes that he has never seen before.

Gilmore Girls-Where you lead, I will follow- to DVD. Thanks for the memories.

Oh, and on the subject of TV--did anyone watch the two hour Grey's Anatomy/pilot for Kate Walsh's spin-off last night? It was truly awful.

Great

2007-05-01T16:03:00.000-04:00

Not so happy to be left-handed right now.

Just Another Day in the Neighborhood

2007-04-25T11:31:00.000-04:00

Last night, in my seemingly tranquil neighborhood, my house was happy as can be. My dad was in bed, my mom was watching Law and Order, and I was watching YouTube. Around 10, my mom and I found it a little strange that there was a low-flying helicopter with spotlights repeatedly circling the skies. Unusual, yes, but nothing we hadn't seen before.

But, one helicopter grew to two, and kept getting closer to our house and louder.

My mom decided to look outside. Not only were there helicopters, but a number of people in the woods behind our house with flashlights.

We may have been overreacting, but we decided to call the police to see what was going on. Oh yes, the dispatcher told me, there is indeed something going on. "Are all your doors locked?", she asked. Apparently, there was an armed robbery at a gas station about 10 minutes from our house, and the helicopters and people in the woods were cops. There were two suspects, one was in custody, the other one was thought to be near our house. She told me if we see anyone on foot who is not a policeman, call the cops.

Right. The only thing that I was going to call was my bed.

This morning, it was reported that two cops were injured near my neighborhood, chasing a drunk driver. But, this happened at 1:30 in the morning, hours after the helicopters and cops were circling my neighborhood on foot. But, I find it hard to believe the two were not related. They would not have had such a high-powered search if cops had not been involved.

Whatever the cause, I am damn sure locking all the doors tonight.

Why?

2007-04-23T13:46:00.000-04:00

It's been a week since the horrible shootings at Virginia Tech. A week filled with sadness, anger, and endless questions about why and how this could have happened.

In the last week, I have been unable to get the 32 people killed out of my mind. Most of those killed were around my age, just sitting in class, just like any other day. I can not even begin to imagine the horror they must have felt in the last moments of their lives. I can't imagine the amount of grief the friends and families of the victims are left with.

Which goes back to the endless questions. Why did this happen? I have endlessly been reading articles to try to make sense of what happened. But, I can't. I have read articles that have turned to God for a sense of comfort. But, I keep wondering, if there is a God, how could he allow stuff like this to happen?

A few years ago, I asked an acquaintance, who had recently become religious how God could allow such things as the Holocaust, September 11, or the countless other horrible things that have resulted in needless deaths throughout history, and continue to exist throughout the world? Her answer was that God created in people free will.

In the days following Virginia Tech, I asked my mom the same question. Yesterday, she sent me this article, which basically says the same thing that my friend said years ago.

What would be the answer to why God would allow something like the tsunami that killed 300,000 people? Or Hurricane Katrina? Or cancer? Or AIDS?

I probably should not be saying this, and I am sorry if I have offended anyone. But, I would really like some sort of explanation to my seemingly unanswerable question.

It's Oh So Quiet, take II

2007-04-13T14:31:00.000-04:00

Start your weekend right with this video.

A Somewhat Simple Plan

2007-04-12T15:26:00.000-04:00

For the past month, I have been doing Public Affairs stuff for a plant biology non-profit. This is my last week, and I am currently extremely bored. So, what better time to write in my defunct blog...to update you on what I have been thinking of for a career.

For the past couple of months, I have been thinking of Occupational Therapy. I had thought of Physical and Occupational Therapy in high school, but was turned off by the science that was involved. However now, I feel that if I am sure about the job enough, then I will work hard enough in the science classes to do well. I think it would be a good job for me because it would be helping people, creative, not a desk job, decently payed.

So how do I get there? Occupational Therapy requires a Master's in OT. Before I can apply to grad schools, I need to take two semesters of Anatomy& Physiology, and maybe a lifespan Psych class. I also need to take the GRE's, and volunteer/work experiences in two different sectors of OT.

I have signed up to volunteer in the OT Department at a local hospital once a week. This summer, I have lined up a job working at a camp that features OT, working mostly with autistic children. Last week, I worked at their spring break camp, and while it was exhausting, I enjoyed it.

I am looking at grad schools in Philly, Towson, and a few other cities. Although I don't want to stay in Maryland, the Towson program looks good for the in-state tuition, and the option of doing your six months of fieldwork abroad.

In the meantime, I will hopefully continue to work with the non-profit staffing agency before and after the summer, volunteer, take classes, take the GRE. Jess and I still talk of traveling all the time, but hopefully we will push ourselves into going somewhere in the fall.

Hair Hair, Go Away

2007-03-13T13:46:00.000-04:00

I have always had bushy eyebrows, which apparently runs in the family. When I was 17, I finally started getting them waxed, having been too afraid of the pain to get them done before. I was happily surprised that the pain was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Since then, for the price of $8-10, I have gotten my eyebrows waxed about once a month. I leave with my eyebrow area a little red, but it is well worth not having bushy eyebrows.

But lately, I have noticed a trend at the various nail salons I go to get them waxed. I go in and tell them I need my eyebrows waxed. They take me back to the waxing room and in the process of waxing my eyebrows, they will always try to upsell me. The exchange will usually go something like this:

Woman Doing the Waxing: You want your nails done too?
Me: No, just the eyebrows today.
Woman Doing the Waxing: You want your lip waxed?
Me: Nope, I'm still good with just the eyebrows.
Woman Doing the Waxing: You want a bikini wax?
Me: Um...that's okay.

Now, I dread going to get waxed because I then leave feeling worse about myself. I have to keep telling them no, plus, they apparently think I need all these beauty services. But, unfortunetly, my eyebrows have no choice, unless I want to go back to looking like the female version of Bert.

Does anyone still read this?

2007-03-11T20:21:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I haven't posted in awhile (thank you for reminding me many times Jess and Kristin.)

For today, I will just post some pictures of Allie and Sam's visit a couple weeks ago.

Sam had only been to D.C. once, so being tourists was a priority. Even though I grew up outside of D.C., I still love going to the museums, and monuments. The first day they were here, we spent all day at the Spy Museum which was cool but definetly not worth $16. The next day was spent at Ford's Theater, going up the Washington Monument, walking in the waterless reflecting pond, and more museums.

Sam is very mature.

Views from the top of the Washington Monument

Walking around the monuments in the windy cold.

On their last day here, with plans of hitting up more museums, we were annoyingly stuck in house because of snow. Instead of sightseeing, we shoveled, made cheddar beer soup, pumpkin bread, and watched the seemingly endless Oscars.

Well, that's it for today. I will try to be better at posting but I can't guarantee anything.

Hair Club for Jeremy

2007-01-26T16:01:00.000-05:00

I have been a fan of Jeremy Piven since the days when he was on Ellen Degeneres' first sitcom in the mid-90's, and how could you not love him on "Entorage?" So, I have been happy seeing so much of him on TV lately promoting his new movie "Smokin' Aces."

Since I have seen him so much in the last week, I have been struck by his hair.

Take a look at his luscious locks:

But Jeremy, come on, who do you think you are kidding?
Jeremy, 10 years ago

Obviously, he's had something done to his hair. Was it hair plugs? Toupee? Whatever it is, I think I actually prefer the balding Jeremy. I think his soaring fame is literally going to his head.