Bang!

I got into yet another car accident today! I was on the off ramp about to head to the tolls when I had to come to a full stop for traffic. I left a lot of room between myself and the car in front of me. For some reason, I take a glance at my rear view mirror and notice that the car behind me is head straight towards my car at full speed while the driver is looking towards his passenger seat. My jaw dropped and I panicked. I swerved my car towards the left and hit the gas to get out of the way, but he was coming too fast. He hit me smack on the right hand side of my car's bumper! If it wasn't for my swerving to the left, I would have hit the car in front of me because the sheer distance my car flew forward due to the impact would have most definitely closed the gap between myself and the other car (and who knows what else may have happened).

I was in complete and utter shock. My nerves were frazzled, but luckily I wasn't injured. The guy's car was completely smashed in on the front left side. People were stopping to stare, especially since it was morning rush hour traffic. The state police came very quickly since it was part of an interstate highway. The guy who hit me didn't ask me if I was alright and didn't even apologize. What a jerk! The only satisfaction I get out of this is that it's COMPLETELY his fault, that his car is damaged more than mine and that he will have to pay for my damages. Ha ha ha.

What stinks about this whole situation though, is that within the last month I had my car bumper replaced because of ANOTHER car accident I had during earlier in the summer. Now the damage to my new bumper is even worse and my transmission may have been hurt by the accident too. And I'll have to go through all the insurance nightmares again. I'm sure that's the last thing I need with a 15 page paper, a presentation and a big publishing project due in the next couple of weeks. Please pray for my poor frazzled soul!

Quarter Life Relaxation

Yesterday, yours truly turned 25 years old. It was quite an unventful day. I went to watch a movie alone, and a child sitting behind me kicked the back of my chair at least 30 times. But I enjoyed the film (which wasn't Pride & Prejudice by the way) nonetheless. I went home. Ate lunch, watched TV, listened to my new itty bitty teeny weeny itsy bitsy iPod Nano (which now has 300 songs on it) and then ate dinner! Sounds boring, but the best part about it is that it was indeed mundane. I was able to, for the first time in a LONG WHILE, take the chance to relax, take it slow and easy and just enjoy some free time. That was indeed the best part of my birthday and the best present that I gave myself. And I don't mind working hard today and tomorrow knowing that it allowed me my one day of freedom.

Pride & Prejudice; Turkey & 25

I have a lot of nothing planned next week. It will be my first week in a while that I can actually take some time out to relax! I'll have part of Wednesday, all of Thursday, Thanksgiving affectionately known as Turkey Day, and all of Friday, my 25th Birthday, off! No work! Yippee! And since I have school only on Monday and Tuesday I'll have 4 straight days of freedom! I can catch up on some leisure reading, catching up on my favorite bloggers and some ZZZs. More importantly, I can take the time to watch a real movie at a real cinema. Something I haven't done almost all year! Particularly, I am anxious to to see the new Pride & Prejudice movie. I sobbed when I first saw the trailer (watch it here). I thought that I wouldn't want to see it, because that really annoying Keira Knightley is playing the best female character in all of fiction, Elizabeth Bennett. But when I saw some clips, I was in awe. It looked absolutely breath-taking. And it will be a nice change from the 5-hour BBC/A&E mini-series that I'm used to watching incessantly!

In other news, my parents have finally broken down and decided to join forces and buy me an iPod as a present. I gave them the huge sob story of how, year after year, I get unthoughtful presents like cash and TJMaxx clothing (my mom works for the store) while other daughters get REAL gifts, stuff they actually DESIRE! I told them how everyone at work and school has an iPod and how it would save them money if they made it a joint gift. I even offered to buy it online for them (with their credit card of course)! They fell for it, so I'm getting a white 4GB iPod Nano very soon! I'm so excited. I feel more technologically-advanced just knowing it's on its way!

Naughty Naughty

Now that I discovered that I can post to my blog via e-mail to a specific address (that I create), I know for a fact that I'm going to able to make more entries! Just thought I'd share something interesting with you guys (something interesting to me that is, but boring to most I'm sure). Recently I discovered that it is illegal for copy shops to photocopy parts of copyrighted books and in turn sell those copies to college students in coursepacks. The reason for it being illegal is that the copy shop is making money off of the publisher's product and the publisher doesn't make anything off the transaction. This makes sense, but I was confused because as an undergraduate at Northeastern University I would buy coursepacks of short stories, literary criticism, tables/charts/maps, etc. from the school's affiliate copy shop, Gnomon's. The coursepacks were basically photocopies from published books. And I thought to myself, in retrospect, how did Northeastern University and Gnomon's get away with this when my current school cannot?

Well it seems they can't get away with it! And in a recent issue of Publisher's Weekly, it states that a whole list of publishers are suing the same Gnomon Copy that I used to buy undergraduate coursepacks at, for breach of copyright! They are not suing the whole chain of Gnomon Copys rather just the one that works in conjunction with Northeastern. So all those old coursepacks sitting up in my attic are HOT illegal goods.

Favicon

I'm experimenting with Favicons. Let me know if you see the above image in your Favorites if you bookmark it (if you already have it bookmarked 1) thank you! I love you! and 2) delete it and bookmark it again) or beside the web address above if you don't have IE. I don't think blogger is Favicon friendly, but it's worth a shot.

FYI- the image is of Norma Shearer's eye. Hee hee.

Everything's Changing, Nothing Stays the Same

Eveything seems to be changing all of a sudden, and I've had to accept it. The dynamics of my family are changing. When relatives die there is a bit of restructuring. For example, my uncle Joaquim passed away recently and my aunt Noemiah was left alone. She moved in with her son and left her family farm. When ever we visited Portugal, their farm was our mainstay. It was our base. All of our nearby relatives would congregate there to see us. Now that's gone. We also visited family in the Dominican Republic. But now they've all moved to New York to Washington Heights. So trips to that Caribbean island make no sense now since we've got no one to visit. And up north in Canada, my favorite uncle John has cancer. He just underwent major surgery and no one's sure how much time he's got left. If he passes away, my aunt would move down here with us. Both my aunt and my mother are twins and equally psychotic in their own ways. But together they are explosive. If my aunt moves down here, I move out!
Well, I should move out anyways. My parents both drive me up the wall insane! Throw my crazy aunt into the mix and I would wind up in an asylum! And I'm almost 25 and I've got no independence of my own. So plans are underway to move out. I'll have to move near work, which is a very difficult thing to do. The closer you live to the city, the more expensive it is. And I need to move close enough to merit the actual move. I can't live with a roommate either. I'm scared I'll grow dependant on them. I really need to be able to live by myself, on my own with only myself to lean on. At least for a little while, so I can grow up! The gamble in all of this is that, my job's not one that I'm absolutely sure I'll keep for a long time. The company could restructure (there is that word again) with all it's growth and decide that they can split my job into two positions, with me not being in either one. Then there is school, which is becoming a major regret of mine recently. This was the only time I could start, but it's also come at the most inconvenient time ever. I wish I could have put it off for one more year, but unfortunately the school does not accept deferment for that program. So I had to at least start. And now I'm contemplating a leave of abscence for one semester, to give me time to put my life in order.
Ok, so I just spilled my guts. So be nice and pray for me as I'll be expecting some very difficult months ahead.

All Dressed Up for Autumn!

Moment of Despair

Halloween is evil! Pure and unadulterated evil! With so much Halloween candy going around, basically being passed on an imaginary conveyor belt right beneath my nose so I can't escape it, I was led into temptation and I fell! Fortunately not very hard, but I still fell. I had a revolting coffee this morning, which spiked up my insulin requiring sugar to keep a balance. I could have eaten that banana I had on my desk, but no. I was in the throws of heady, psychedlic low-sugar trip and my hand went right for the Mystery Flavor Airhead. I haven't had an Airhead in years!!! (I used to do other people's homework and received big bars of the stuff as payment. Shameful I know!). But the sugary Airhead wasn't enough! I had to go for that snack size Butterfinger Crisp as well! I ate half before complete and utter embarassment and and overwhelming feeling of failure passed over me. ::sigh:: You know, I didn't even enjoy it. I'm so past the point of enjoying sugar, that it's only societal pressure and the obligatory caffeine induced insulin high that make me want to eat sugar. Otherwise, I don't even miss it! I think this relapse is also part of all the stress that I'm enduring. Anyways, that my rant. I'm sure you'll hear from me again once the other commercial holidays pop around the corner, luring me into another sugar-craving frenzy!

Reading

This is all the reading I have to do for school (with the exception of the Chicago Manual of Style, which is purely reference). All of this needs to be digested by December 21! Lovely.

It's Snowing in October!

I'm Drowning in Homework!

I'm literally drowning in homework right now. At orientation, the speaker said that most students re-evaluate their "reasons" for attending graduate school around the end of October. It's when they are hit the hardest with the huge amount of work and responsibilities that's just been laid on their shoulders. I said to myself, "no, that won't be me. I appreciate why I'm doing this and won't be overwhelmed at all!" Yeah, (expletive) right! Today I've spent almost the whole day immersed in reading and only just came up for some air. And now I'm going to dive back into my workload. I'm hopeful that SOMETIME or other I'll be able to find sometime to post about the concert I just went to last week along with a few pics!

Kelly Tagged Me, Now I'm It

Kelly's tagged me to post 20 random things about me. I'll try not to duplicate anything I posted on 20 Really Interesting or Just Plain Strange Things You Didn't Know About Me .

1. I'm obsessed with silver. Gold to me is subpar.
2. I hope to one day have a pet cow. Either Guernsey, Jersey or Holstein.
3. I always cry when I watch The Little Mermaid (1989).
4. The leading literary critic, Harold Bloom, once told me I was pretty. It's a moment I'll never forget.
5. When I was 7, I stole an Alf umbrella from a Bradlees.
6. I like to link things. Hee hee.
7. I wear lots of hats.
8. I love Fossil watches.
9. I love pocketwatches and curse the fact that I can't wear them because I'm female!
10. I once had a house in Portugal as part of my inheritance. Not anymore, though...
11. I secretly dream of being famous in the literary world.
12. Autumn is my favorite season.
13. I love the Oxford English Dictionary. It's a word-lover's delight.
14. I've danced tap, ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical and gymnastic all to countless '80s and '90s cheesy pop tunes.
15. I hate drugs.
16. I really really really want my own apartment.
17. I'm more immature than I let on.
18. I'm convinced that John Henson is the funniest man alive!
19. Turner Classic Movies is my favorite channel (can you see I'm struggling here?)
20. I love to rebel! If you don't rebel against something in your life, then you are just letting yourself be washed away with the tide.

Bev, tag your it!

The Big 25 List

With the big 2-5 lurking just around the corner (actually it's over a month away), I thought I would be inspired by French Toast Girl and do a Big 25 list. These are the things I want to accomplish in my 25th year of life. My goal is to complete all of these before I'm 26. Here's my list!

1. Get an apartment closer to work and school! This is crucial for my sanity and for the ozone.
2. Start becoming financially independent and buy less junk!
3. Shhhh... this one's ultra-personal so I cannot reveal it's contents.
4. Learn how to flirt! hee hee...
5. Travel to Paris, France.
6. Learn some French before I go to France!
7. Celebrate one year of no sugar on April 9th, 2006!
8. Sign up for 401k. And read the huge 401k info packet before I do so I make an informed decision.
9. Keep up reading the New York Times and Publisher's Weekly and listening to NPR.
10. Learn how to rollerskate.
11. Be cool, fork over the cash and finally buy an iPod. Does that conflict with #2 on my list?
12. Get a professional portait taken of myself.
13. Take a self-defense class, or learn some self-defense techniques. Or get a can of mace!
14. Look more people in the eye
15. Make a few friends outside of work.
16. Brush up on my Portuguese. It's really faltering.
17. Travel to Maine (I can't believe I've never been there).
18. Get rid of some of the shame I carry around with me. I hate being embarassed over everything.
19. Brush up on my writing skills.
20. Go see a musical, theatrical production or even some ballet. I have no excuse not to because my school is in the theatre district and I get student discounts. Yes!
21. Read more blogs. There are so many cool and interesting people out there in the blogworld.
22. Go to the beach and have some fun in the sun. Believe it or not I haven't done that in a few years!
23. Watch less TV! (pipe dream)
24. Go to another crazy concert! (I went to one on Saturday, I'll fill you in on the details later)
25. Above all else, strive to be happy!

It's Raining, It's Pouring

I'm starting to get concerned about all this rain we've been having! It can't be good. It's been raining on and off for a week now and it's been raining (not drizzling, but pouring) all day today with no stop! MSN even has an article about it: Hundreds Flee Soggy Northeast. Hey, I guess it could be worse. It could be non-stop snowing and I could be trapped in my own house! Wait. No I take that back. That would be a good thing!

Thinking Big

It's been a dreary and miserable week. I swear I haven't seen the sunshine since Saturday! Or was that Friday? It's been so long I can't remember. We've had non-stop rain and perpetually overcast skies. And it's supposed to continue through the weekend. It's enough to make one suicidal. Fortunately, my thoughts have been towards the more progressive side of things. I've been doing lots and lots of thinking. About my situation in life right now. My 25th birthday is coming very soon and I don't have a lot to show for it. I feel that I'm successful professionally and academically, but in life, I'm a bit of a failure. I really need to get my act together and straighten out of my life. And I'm hopeful that if I do that, everything else will fall into place.

I'm Still Alive, Barely

Shame on me for not posting in almost a week! I've been completely inundated. I feel like I'm buried under a mountain of junk that needs to be sorted and organized. I've literally spent the day reading stuff away. I finally read through the Friday and Sunday editions of the New York Times and am making my way through my stack of magazines. Not to mention all the reading for school I'm doing. It's an incredible amount. I thought my having to read 5 Bronte novels as an undergraduate was tough, you should see my reading now! When I find my digital camera (it's somewhere in my mess), I'll take a picture of the mountain of books I have to read for classes and post it. And it's not just reading, I need to sort through and organize all the physical junk in the house. All the excess clothes, books, cds, boxes, shoes, and other random things that seem to be everywhere! I feel like having a big clear out! A grand purging of the whole house. I want to go through every nook and cranny of every room and just throw stuff into the trash. Just get it out of my house and out of my life!

Good Old-Fashioned Home Cooked Meal

That's what I'm hankering for right about now as I sit eating my cold Bruegger's bagel with onion and chive cream cheese. Because of my new schedule of full-time work, part-time school I've had to change my priorities food-wise. Lots of frozen pizza, frozen dinners, bagels with cream cheese, bagel sandwiches, burritos from the local Mexican place, bagged popcorn, fruit in ziplock bags, etc. Any food that is fast and portable and BORING. And even during the week, it's mostly the same old take-out standby. Which in my case is pizza, pad thai, and Applebee's buttermilk shrimp. Mmmmm, the variety! I've had to start drinking coffee again to keep myself awake enough to work and study. Problem is coffee is a hypoglycemic's worst enemy. It kicks up my insulin levels so when my blood sugar starts to dip the difference between the two is staggering. So I have to drink coffee and follow it up an hour or so later with an orange juice. Now I despise the taste of both. Bleh! Luckily, I have tomorrow off, YAY!!!!, so I'm going to try to cook a homemade lunch and dinner. Hmmm. What shall I prepare? Soup? A classic meat & veg dinner? Ooohh Seafood? Shall I even attempt some kind of low sugar dessert? The possibilities are endless.

Robert Mitchum ::swoon::

I think I'm about to faint. The good folks at Turner Classic Movies (who are obviously my long-lost family, they just don't know it yet), decided to dedicate the month of October to the sexy, hunkalicious, charming and debonnaire Robert Mitchum. They will be showing 32 movies and one documentary throughout the whole month. Did they read my mind or what? Robert Mitchum is my all-time favorite classic male movie star (move over Kirk Douglas!). Not only was he outrageously good looking, but he was a talented actor with a rebellious side. He is highly underrated which is why I'm glad a whole month is being dedicated to the man with the sad eyes! Here are some pictures for you to ogle at:

My Darling Sweetheart!

Stupidly Efficient

Sometimes I surprise myself. I know I shouldn't talk about work, as that's a taboo topic in the blogging world and can get you on the fast track to unemployment, so I'll talk in general terms and not specifics. I have a project that needs to be done in three phases. The first to be completed in August one in September and one in October. I know in the back of my head that the August one is complete. And today I had the sudden realization that it's September 27th and my September portion hasn't been done yet. Now I hate to be late for anything! I have a tremendous fear of failure and that extends to letting people down, showing up late, missing a deadline, etc. I get nervous, my palms get sweaty, and I start to speak in incoherent sentences. Then when I have to face facts and confront my lateness, I start making excuses so that I don't look bad. It's not pretty, it's not honest and it's the opposite of what a responsible adult should be. So when it came to it, I tried everything to save myself from this situation. When finally, I apologized, gave my side of the story and made promises of working on the project right away, I come to see I've already finished the project. In fact I finished it two weeks ago! That's what I call stupidly efficient. I'm efficient enough to do all my work on time but stupid enough to not remember that I did it.