Whew. The first week of school is over and Labor Day weekend is here. I survived the first week for school and am feeling better about life. Things are going well in Paul's job search and hopefully we'll have some good news to share next week. We've unpacked all of our stuff and repacked everything that needed to be repacked. The apartment is really coming together--we're not reaching for something and saying, Wait, we don't have a pot/a stapler/a desk.
Speaking about that, if you see a box of sweaters or lids to pots or my black purse, send it my way.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Sampler Tray of Posts
I was trying to figure out what to do with these three postlets I had written when I was inspired by Iron Chef to follow Bobby Flay's example of using sampler trays to make my work look more impressive.
Postlet #1: Tempe is Funny Place
Tempe is a funny place. Sometimes, it's like I'm living in Bizarro World Provo. There's an alleged grid system, but it's all messed up and all the streets have names and there's three 12th Streets (really)and lots of streets aren't through streets and there are random curves and it's all just very confusing. But then I pay $3.59 for gas and there's free shuttle buses from my apartment to downtown Tempe and ASU and lots of regular buses and light rail (in December) that I can ride for free as an ASU student. There are no grocery stores close by, but there is a Trader Joe's with which I am horrifically in love. There's tons of pizza places, but even more coffee houses and even more liquor stores. I can totally hook you up with a keg of beer for $65--Bud or Coors. I've got a coupon. Yeah, I picked up a Devil's Deals coupon books on campus and between the usual pizza/tanning/car wash coupons were coupons for "custom glass pipes" and free pregnancy tests. Life in Tempe is funny.
Postlet #2: Glamorous Grad Student Life
I went up to ASU last week and meet with a couple of faculty members. I acquired a temporary advisor and a course plan for the first year. The visits were semi-stressful and comical. First, all parking downtown--including the university visitor parking--is paid (cash only), which is very annoying. Second, the first person I met didn't quite remember me, so there was some awkward explaining about how no, that wasn't what I wanted to study and no, I hadn't taken that class. In fact, there was a lot of no-ing going on. Anyway, he assigned me to an advisor. My advisor is a very laid-back individual who used the word "synergy" like three or four times. It was a different experience. At least he seemed aware of who I was and what I was interested in. I owe him thirty bucks because he gave me a copy of his book (at a forty percent discount, he pointed out). I am to read sample works of everyone in the department before picking a permanent advisor in a month.
I have to take Japanese 101. I knew it was coming, but ugh. Paul tried to cheer me up by pointing out that it isn't a tonal language, but his optimism was cancelled out by the scathing reviews my textbook got on Amazon. Oh, well. Three foreign language courses in a semester never killed anyone, right?
Postlet #3: I am Surrounded by Nice People
Unpacking all of my stuff, I was reminded how I have been surrounded by nice people my whole life. For example, hanging on the wall next to the door in the living room is the cardboard mask named the Sick Monster. My friend Mary made the Sick Monster for me when I was sick to scare away illness. It's pretty awesome. On the red DVD rack is a picture of the Dying Gaul. It's my favorite piece of Hellenistic sculpture. My friend Joey took the picture for me on a trip to Italy. In the background is a really angry tour guide. (Taking pictures isn't allowed in museums.) One box was full of the cards my Grandma Kraemer has sent me. My grandma is a card person; I don't know if you know one, but card people are great. She sends cards for every occasion: birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, congratulation for special occasions. Nothing perks you up like a fun St. Patrick's Day card from your grandma. Occasionally, I have ambitions to become a card person, but ultimately, I lack the follow-through. Which is pretty much all there is to it. I could go on; I'm sure I have something from everyone I know. Maybe that's why I, unlike a certain ex-roommate currently living in a cave in Costa Rica, don't feel weighed down by my possessions. How can physical reminders of happy times and good friends and family ever weigh you down?
Postlet #1: Tempe is Funny Place
Tempe is a funny place. Sometimes, it's like I'm living in Bizarro World Provo. There's an alleged grid system, but it's all messed up and all the streets have names and there's three 12th Streets (really)and lots of streets aren't through streets and there are random curves and it's all just very confusing. But then I pay $3.59 for gas and there's free shuttle buses from my apartment to downtown Tempe and ASU and lots of regular buses and light rail (in December) that I can ride for free as an ASU student. There are no grocery stores close by, but there is a Trader Joe's with which I am horrifically in love. There's tons of pizza places, but even more coffee houses and even more liquor stores. I can totally hook you up with a keg of beer for $65--Bud or Coors. I've got a coupon. Yeah, I picked up a Devil's Deals coupon books on campus and between the usual pizza/tanning/car wash coupons were coupons for "custom glass pipes" and free pregnancy tests. Life in Tempe is funny.
Postlet #2: Glamorous Grad Student Life
I went up to ASU last week and meet with a couple of faculty members. I acquired a temporary advisor and a course plan for the first year. The visits were semi-stressful and comical. First, all parking downtown--including the university visitor parking--is paid (cash only), which is very annoying. Second, the first person I met didn't quite remember me, so there was some awkward explaining about how no, that wasn't what I wanted to study and no, I hadn't taken that class. In fact, there was a lot of no-ing going on. Anyway, he assigned me to an advisor. My advisor is a very laid-back individual who used the word "synergy" like three or four times. It was a different experience. At least he seemed aware of who I was and what I was interested in. I owe him thirty bucks because he gave me a copy of his book (at a forty percent discount, he pointed out). I am to read sample works of everyone in the department before picking a permanent advisor in a month.
I have to take Japanese 101. I knew it was coming, but ugh. Paul tried to cheer me up by pointing out that it isn't a tonal language, but his optimism was cancelled out by the scathing reviews my textbook got on Amazon. Oh, well. Three foreign language courses in a semester never killed anyone, right?
Postlet #3: I am Surrounded by Nice People
Unpacking all of my stuff, I was reminded how I have been surrounded by nice people my whole life. For example, hanging on the wall next to the door in the living room is the cardboard mask named the Sick Monster. My friend Mary made the Sick Monster for me when I was sick to scare away illness. It's pretty awesome. On the red DVD rack is a picture of the Dying Gaul. It's my favorite piece of Hellenistic sculpture. My friend Joey took the picture for me on a trip to Italy. In the background is a really angry tour guide. (Taking pictures isn't allowed in museums.) One box was full of the cards my Grandma Kraemer has sent me. My grandma is a card person; I don't know if you know one, but card people are great. She sends cards for every occasion: birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, congratulation for special occasions. Nothing perks you up like a fun St. Patrick's Day card from your grandma. Occasionally, I have ambitions to become a card person, but ultimately, I lack the follow-through. Which is pretty much all there is to it. I could go on; I'm sure I have something from everyone I know. Maybe that's why I, unlike a certain ex-roommate currently living in a cave in Costa Rica, don't feel weighed down by my possessions. How can physical reminders of happy times and good friends and family ever weigh you down?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Pics of the New Apartment
Here are some pictures of the new apartment. There's no exterior shots yet, nor are there any pictures of the second bedroom or balcony because it was too dark. I'll try to add those tomorrow.
...And We're Back!
After days and days of tedium and silence, we finally have internet and cable! Hurray! I have a ton of stuff to post over the next few days: the long-awaited Montana slideshow, video of our apartment, my first impressions of Tempe (hated, bizzaro world, but maybe eventually okay), and so on. Stay tuned!
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