Coffeeshop Happiness

Tunes: Iron & Wine

As most of the people who read this know about me, I'm a huge fan of local coffeeshops. It's irrelevant if they are local to a specific locale, I just like going to a place that is run by friendly folks and that isn't a cog in some corporation. I recently found one in Worcester called The Bean Counter over by WPI where the waitstaff is all hippie and wonderful, but there seemed to be something missing. How lucky I am then that today I was able to find a place called the Acoustic Java down on Main Street by Clark University. The man behind the counter, whom I assume owns the place, is so pleasant-- he seems to be a local professor, as well, which just means he is so much my kind of person. When I told him I had never been in here before, he smiled and was patient with me as I asked him about the sandwiches they serve and the coffee they roast. He later asked about where I'm from and what I do-- it was like being in the south again. People rarely ask those kinds of questions of strangers up here.

I've had the pleasure of watching an awkward first date take place between a raggedy, dirty blonde boy and a pretty, yet plain, blonde girl. They've chatted over their disposable coffee cups for a couple hours now-- as I have puttered away at a few letters of recommendation for past supervisees. I doubt they realize I've been watching them more than writing. They both seem to want to feel comfortable with the other, however most of what their both saying doesn't seem to be sitting well on the other end. It's tragic-- they want so bad for it to work, for the date to be successful. It just isn't going that way.

There's also a smart man in black trench coat in here. Well, he was in here earlier. He shares with me that he wishes he had enough money to collect so many books that he'd devote a whole room in his house to them. There'd be shelves from floor to ceiling, filled with stories and articles and philosophies, bound with leather, tattered, torn and well-loved. There'd be so many books he'd need a ladder that rolled along the edge of the shelves all the way around the room. Like in the movies. I smile and share his wish for a moment.

I look forward to frequenting this place. Perhaps with no work to work on. With a book to read, or a boy to meet up with. Here's hoping!

Rejuvenated!

Tunes:"somedays"// regina spektor

This weekend was amazing. Virginia is where my heart seems to lie these days and going back there really helped me see that I need to get myself back to the south. I am not, however, allowing myself to do that until 2011 at least. So. New England can enjoy me for now.

Anyways, this weekend was wonderful because of all the great weather (and sunshine!) and old friends and haunts that I got to see. Nothing beats driving to the top of Reddish Knob with the foliage being red, bright yellow and bright orange. Nothing beats listening to Aretha Franklin late at night catching up with 2 dudes with whom you could spend DAYS talking music and life with. Nothing beats breakfast at The Little Grill in good company...or FLAXJACKS! Nothing beats pitstops in New Jersey to see one of your best friends. Nope. Nothing.

I feel rejuvenated. Seeing some folks reminded me of things I'd like to get a handle on in my life. Reminded me that I need to get more motivated. So I'm going to try and do that.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a quote I recently found from one of my most favorite authors, Edith Wharton. I have always loved her; she wrote House of Mirth and Ethan Frome...she was a revolutionary in so many senses, and at the same time she was a rebel...a guilded-age Riot Grrl, you could say. She wrote books-- often racy, often blowing the doors off of the sham-glitzy lives of the privledged-- and did so beautifully, in a time where men dominated literature. Men still do. She's STILL a revolutionary. Anyways. Here's the quote...

"Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive." -Edith Wharton

As if it were possible, I love her more now than before.

In any case, things are well, life is good and I am pressing onward. I get to see the family this weekend! Very excited about that. Tyler and I also have a craft project to get working on. Pretty pumped about all things. It feels good be be rejuvenated!

Back in New England...& back to blogging?!

Tunes:"Walcott"//Vampire Weekend

Months have passed, haven't they? I have honestly lost count of the times I've sat and thought to myself, "I should really go update my blog. Uncle Dave and Uncle Claude read this and ask about it. You should really go update everyone on how life's been." And the one thing that's stopped be this whole time? My blog title.

Ridiculously enough, I feel sort of silly now that I'm back in New England to be writing in a bog entitled "The Transplanted New Englander"...as I am transplanted elsewhere no longer. Finally I have gotten over that, realizing I will likely be on my way living somewhere else eventually, so I might as well keep the same name on here.

That is not to say that I intend on leaving anytime soon. True, I miss Virginia more than I had imagined I would. Some days it almost feels to be an ache for the place; I wake up, roll out of bed and completely forget that there's no mountains outside my door or a valley to explore, with countless farms to drive through and get lost amongst. When I play my favorite Emmylou Harris record and bake cookies, I can swear I'm still in Virginia. But I am not! Now you can find me residing on the 3rd floor of Shamie Hall at Nichols College in quaint (tiny) Dudley, MA. My apartment is awesome. My coworkers are amazing. I'm only an hour from Boston (and my best friend! Ricker's in Allston these days, it's great)...life is good!

Living here has been filled with a-ha moments, challenges and fights, to be honest. The students I'm responsible for (all 377 of them) are great overall, but goodness- some of them just like to get into tussles. I have never encountered such an challenging group...probably because drinking here is also a lot more commonplace, especially since this school is pretty secluded, leaving students with little to do on weekends. My student staff is fantastic; 11 driven individuals who do the job without asking a million questions about everything. They understand that sometimes they just gotta do what's asked of them. I bake them cookies every week for our staff meetings. :)

Aside from work life, things are going well enough. I'm still getting my bearings living in Southern Mass. I go to Boston just about every weekend to stay at Ricker, Ryan & Katy's. It gets me off campus and gets me around the kind of friends I don't have to think much about being around...they've known me for years, so it feels so comfortable with them. I seem to have also met a dude, but it's nothing even remotely serious. He's real cute and I like being around him, but he's about an hour and a half north up near UMass...so we don't hang often. My best friend from Virginia, Bianca, moved up here in July-- she's living in Nashua, which is sort of awesome. But her Americorps job at the Nashua Red Cross seems to keep her just as busy as me. Bummer. Hopefully seeing her this weekend, actually. Whew.

I'm also planning a visit to Virginia for next weekend to see friends and get another dose of the mountains/south/little grill before winter time comes. Eugh. Winter. I forgot how much I enjoyed not dealing with snow and freezing cold. Although, I am totally enjoying the beautiful fall weather right now. Mmm. That crisp, cold air. Nothing beats it.

So, there.
A proper update.
I'll be sure to be more on top of writing in here, getting pictures up and everything, soon. Much love from Dudley...you should come visit me! :)

So many things have been happening!!

Tunes:"On Her Own"//Ben Kweller

It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks since I last stopped and updated everyone on my life! I have the attention span of a small child at the moment, so I believe I will keep this short at sweet...

-I graduated from Grad School! Now when I make business cards for myself they can read: "LeighAnn M. Soucy, M.Ed" ...which I think is super sweet.
I have no pictures yet of myself and my cohort in our ridiculous, purple robes, but will be sure to post those as soon as I get them.



[CSPA Class of 2009- Cheers!]

That was a pretty amazing weekend. My family came down on Thursday and got to meet so many of my favorite people- Bianca, Josh V, Amanda, Chris & Ashley from Little Grill...and then my entire cohort. The program put on a super nice reception (where the above photo was taken) and they recognize each of us through reading excepts of letters that our supervisors have written about us. It was a really humbling and gratifying to feel like I made my mark here. And I got so many hugs from people that mean a lot to me.

Next thing to report:
-I got a job! I will be a Resident Director at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts starting this July!




I'm pretty excited. My campus interview went really well and I got to meet the entire student affairs division as well as some students. The school is way small- about 1500 students with about 900 living on campus. My hall, Shamie, has about 300 something first year students...with laundry on every floor! My apartment will be on the 3rd floor and I can even have a pet, so I will be looking for the perfect dog this summer at local SPCA's. Best of all is that Dudley is only about an hour and 45 minutes from home. It's also only about an hour to Boston, Hartford and Providence, so I'll be close to home AND centrally located in New England. Such a great thing!

With this means that finally:
-I'm moving out of Harrisonburg this Sunday.




While I am anxious to see people back home and happy to have a job, I am not at all excited about leaving my NEW home completely behind. Alie and I talked yesterday about how I'll probably end up back here. I've come accustomed to life in the Valley-- the scenery, the people, the attitudes and ideals...I'm going to miss my friends, sure, but moreover, I'll just miss this place. Everything about it, tied together. I love the music here, the sunsets, the shops, the food, the coffee...

I'm already trying to plot out when I can come back here to visit and think I may shoot for a week in early June...come down for a long weekend then take my time heading back up to NH by stopping at Kristen's in Jersey and Mel's in Albany. We'll see how Summer pans out.

And now, I should probably start packing.
<3 you all (and I'll see you all soon!)
-Leigh

I said, "wait a minute, Chester, you know that I'm a peaceful man..."

Tunes:Real Housewives of New York City

I am approximately 2 and a half weeks away from movin' on out of here. Reality has been slowly settling in as my to-do list actually (miraculously) dwindles and my shoulders relax more and more each day (I store all my stress in my shoulders, apparently). Reality also set in last week when I got my tattoo. I've been thinking about this bird since moving here and getting it was an act of closure while also serving as an act of tribute...

The last two years here have been the biggest and most important learning experiences of my life. While living at UNH served me so well and helped me become who I am, the last two years here in Virginia I have totally come into my own. These last two years I haven't been able to fall back on home being a half hour away or my group of friends always being around. I've had to really evaluate who I am. That is hard to answer when you're constantly surrounded by people who know you well and have always supported you. It's become clear to me that who I am when no one else is around is truly me, and who I should strive to be even when everyone is watching.

Chester-Kay, my Cardinal, is a reminder of all of that. It's wings are spread, like mine are, and it's flying onto wherever the wind blows. I've put him on my shoulder so I can easily look back and remember the people and places that have become such an essential part of my life here. "Chester" is a name I stole from a song by The Band. "The Weight" is the this song Lauren, a wonderful classmate and good friend of mine, introduced me to last year. At the end of our Group Counseling course, I organized a mix of songs for everyone in class. Each class member gave me a song that they felt really encompassed what they gained from the class. Lauren's pick, "The Weight," struck me more than any other. While explaining why she picked it, she alluded to the chorus of the song-- "take a load off, Annie, and put the load right on me."

These classmates and friends of mine have done this for me so often while I've been here. When the weight on my shoulders has been far too much to carry, they have found such simple and subtle ways to help take the load off of me, and carry it for a while themselves. "Kay" is per request of Lauren, and I had to oblige. I've gone through a lot with her and everyone else in this program, and Chester-Kay (as silly as this name sounds) will act as a literal mark on me-- to signify the mark that this experience and Virginia has left on me.


Today I completed 3 big portions of my to-do list (1 of these things I've been putting off since the end of last summer), had a really great evaluation meeting with my supervisor and got my staff super ready for closing the building. I have mentally prepared for Thursday- my trip to Massachusetts for my on-campus interview and met with my group for my final project. So productive today!

I feel like I have earned going to bed early, but at this point it's 1:30 am and clearly not early at all. I'm going to instead go to bed now and not feel bad about sleeping in. :)
Much love!
-LA

Birthday Weekend Recap! (Lots of Pictures)

Tunes:"Foggy Lilac Windows"// Frontier Ruckus

The last week has been a pretty great one, minus the terrible sun burn I got this past Saturday. There's nothing fun about a sun burn's itchiness keeping you up at night. Last night was the first I slept soundly through since before Saturday...perhaps the long phone conversation with an old friend right before had helped. Not to mention rolling over at quarter til' 12, which rarely happens.

Regardless of the semi-sleepless nights, my past week was filled with good people, sunshine, fresh air, campfire, folk music, crafts, baking and singing loudly when no one's been around to hear me. All things I love, really.

Friday was beautiful-- sunshine, a warm breeze, a free schedule. I spent the afternoon sprawled out on a blanket at my favorite park reading Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris, followed by dinner with Alie & Emily up on the roof of Dave's Taverna. We haven't hung out just the three of us since last summer, really. So it was long over due. Saturday I slept in and eventually moseyed to the other side of campus for Festival Fest- an annual outdoor concert and Earth celebration here at JMU. It was BEAUTIFUL and the music was wonderful, as was the company...

[Alexis (right) & the crowd]

[Trent Wagler & The Steel Wheels!]

[beautiful ms. Amanda...loves pigs]

[Sunshine & Taylor...]

[Josh Vana & his harmonica]

After I watched the bands I had really wanted to see, I ran over to Walmart to pick up some things for a BBQ and met up with 12 or so friends to drive up to Reddish Knob. I used my birthday (on Monday) as an excuse to get people together up there, and it worked. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and took in the view. It was wonderful...

[Kim explores the mountain top]

[Savannah, Danny & Bianca watch Josh make the fire]

[Stacey!]

[Like a 7 year old, Danny enjoys some Kool-Aid...]

[Kristen beneath the setting sun]

[Bianca, Sarah & Josh- 3 of my most favorite people]

[Kristen, Myself & Stacey...CSPA love]

[The View...]

[Everyone!]

[The reason we go up there...the sunset]

I slept so soundly Saturday night. Sunday Kristen and I went to the Little Grill for eats to start our day off right (Mum- I'm going to bring you all to the Grill on the Sunday you leave! You need to experience it). Spent the day getting some work done and prepping for the RA Recognition Celebration (or "Rec-Cel" as we affectionately call it). My staff looked sharp and I think overall had a really fun evening being dressed up, snapping photos and sharing a nice meal all together. I know I enjoyed it, despite the sunburn and everything...

[Treehouses 08-09]

[Trees...again...being our goofy selves]

[Bianca and I]

[2 of my best friends here- Bianca & Amanda...& I]

[dynamic duo- Bianca & Josh]

[Justin, LaRhonda & Liz...in a staredown?]

[Matt & Sondra]

[Oh, Bryan...]

[Whole staff! Wish Paigey would open her eyes, haha]

[My favorite Jersey girl, Kristen & I]

Monday was my birthday. It was gloomy, but still good. I got a lot of sweet things in the mail from people I miss tremendously and phone calls from family...I can't WAIT to go back home!

Posting all of those pictures took a while, so I'm going to get a move on with the rest of my day. Thank you for all the birthday love!
Hope all is well wherever it is you are!
<3 LA

Spring! Sprang! Sprung!

Tunes:"chinese translation"// m. ward

It's already been about a week since I updated last, hasn't it? This week began as most weeks do- and I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of things I needed to get done in just the span of a few days. Also, as most weeks go, it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be.

This weekend I was on-call for the campus meaning every RA needs to call me if any sort of emergency happens in one of the 27 halls. It wasn't as bad as it could have been (Easter meant lots of people went home) but I did have my fair share to deal with. Needless to say, I missed out on a fun weekend home with my family...which was a tremendous bummer. Not only was their Easter on Sunday at Aunt Joce's but Saturday night I missed Aunt Kim's 50th!
In trying to keep myself busy, I prepped and made a huge breakfast for my friend Amanda, her parents, her boyfriend- Josh (he's an HD here with me) and another girl I'm an HD with, Sarah. I was even impressed with myself; I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull it off. But the Panuline's loved it and I felt really great being able to feed a bunch of people on a day that I'd normally be spending with family...they were my surrogate family for the morning. It was nice.

At current I am on duty for one of my RA's...sitting in the office, goofing off on my computer and doing rounds? I feel like I'm a sophomore again.
What's making this better is that I am eating lofthouse cookies...



Yes, the cookie IS as delicious as it looks. And yes, I have a lot of pride for the Sox lately...although they're kind of killing me. 4th to last place in the league?! Beckett suspended for 6 games??!! It's too much. I can not WAIT to be able to watch games on TV again.

Which reminds me, I got a phone call today from Nichols College up in Dudley, Massachusetts. And I will be visiting their campus/interviewing on the 1st of May! Exciting to feel like I'm making some sort of progress...even if they're the only on-campus I have lined up. I really like this school, though- so this really could be a great opportunity for me. Don't worry, I'll be sure to keep you all posted.

Tomorrow I'm going with Bianca to get her first tattoo...she even let me design it! While there I'll be talking to Margaret, the tattoo artist, about mine. She should have a sketch all ready for me and then hopefully I'll get it in the next few days!

There has been entirely too many exclamation points in this post. Sorry about that!!
ha.

Off to finish duty...and I'm going to bed EARLY.
so excited about it.

Much love!
-LA

Getting there...ever so slowly

Tunes:"good enough"// westbound train

So close to the end (exactly a month away from graduation!), yet so so so much to do and get done. I feel like I have talked like this all year. But really, the light is shining at the end of the tunnel. It's just a matter of time (a month) until I reach it.

In the meantime, I am finding ways to have fun amidst all of things I need to accomplish. Last weekend here in Harrisonburg was MACRock. It's this annual college radio conference where a lot of popular, college radio bands play showcases all over town and the public gets a badge and can go to all the different venues to check out the different musicians. BEST weekend all year. The weather was beautiful, the company I was in was wonderful and the music was just fantastic. Nothing beats some good live tunes. Nothing.

Highlights were these 2 bands:


[maps & atlases]


[patten is movement]

It was the best release to not have to worry about things, walk around town in the sunshine, drink cold beer on tap, watch some rocking bands up close and just...be. I feel so often down here I am constantly stressing about what I should be doing or need to do eventually. Last weekend though, nope. I just existed and had some fun. Was good for my soul!

As my time here is, again, winding down, I've been trying to determine the specifics of the tattoo I want to get to commemorate my time here and sort of cap it all off. I've been planning on getting a Cardinal (the bird) since last year and now it's a matter of finding the right style/picture/place. I'm getting there. My friend Erin is drawing me something along the lines of this one: here
My hope was to get it on my birthday in a week or so, but I might settle for getting it either when my family's here (want to hold my hand, Mum?) or if and when Ricker comes down to help me move home. I want it essentially in the same spot- on the back of my arm so I can "look back on" it (and the experience, too!)...I'm excited about it.

Now that it is 1:30am, I am going to get to bed.
I'm helping with load-in for a concert tomorrow. Fun!
Much love from the (getting green) valley!

an update from the conference...

Tunes:espn on tv (Brad's choice)

We (Stacey, Brad, Lauren, Kristen and myself) are sharing a hotel room here in National Harbor at the Gaylord where our conference (ACPA) is. It's this enormous and immaculate hotel that is charging us way too much to stay here (and not offer us a cot- so we're rotating sleeping on the floor) and way too much for food, so we can't eat here- almost literally. I have spent so much money this week, I get scared even thinking about it. Thank goodness for the enormous amount of money I am getting back from my taxes (and MUM for figuring that out for me).

So! I have been here 2 day's now, and have spent the majority of these 2 days in interviews with colleges and universities I could potentially work at. Yesterday was Siena, Hampshire & UMass Lowell. Today was SUNY Oneonta, Nichols, Keene, Salem State and Hofstra. Tomorrow I have 4 interviews- 2 of which (U of Southern Maine and Emerson) are first round. The others are second interviews (with Keene and UMass Lowell). I also was invited to go to a reception for SUNY Oneonta, which is just as good of a sign as the second interviews really. Hopefully I get a couple on-campus interview invites.

In short- this process is long and SLOW.

Today a lot more of the JMU professionals showed up, which made me feel more at ease. Tomorrow night they'll be having a reception and I am kind of excited to hang out with everyone dawning our Purple and Gold (duuuuukes). I may try and see Tyler on Tuesday after my interview with the School of Visual Arts. Yes, Tyler Kavanagh. I just really want an excuse to go up to DC.

I can not wait to go home on Wednesday, though. I am going to sleep so so so much.
It'll be glorious.

Miraculously the 5 of us in this little hotel room are still getting along so well. I thought we'd all be at each others' throats. But instead we're all being really gracious. And laughing often. I love them so. :)

Now, to bed.
Much love from National Harbor...

no rest for the weary...

Tunes:the colbert report.

This week was a big, big week for me and the rest of my classmates. Portfolio was due Wednesday at noon. I worked on it at the library for 17 hours just this weekend and then countless more last week and this week. I stayed up until 4am Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning to finish it. But! It is done. I am pretty proud of it. I feel like I did as well as I could given my procrastination.

And what I thought would be a really huge moment in my graduate career was extremely anti-climactic. Figures.

Kristen & I made a celebratory cake Wednesday just the same and had a bunch of our cohort over for a champagne toast to the end of that mountain of work. And then I was so ready to just collapse into a heap until graduation...but no. I spent all day today shopping for professional attire to wear at the conference I'm going to this weekend.
It was the crummiest day ever. It was grey and rainy and BLUH and I wanted to crawl under a rock. Instead I meandered around JC Penney for the better part of the afternoon. I did end up finding things to wear- thank God. But this weekend cannot end soon enough.

I have 9 interviews lined up total.
3 on Saturday: Siena, Hampshire, UMass Lowell
5 on Sunday: SUNY Oneonta, Keene, Nichols, Salem State, Hofstra
1 on Monday: University of Southern Maine

Monday evening there's this reception just for JMU people which is supposed to be fun, and then in theory I'll be done Tuesday. I may get asked to a couple second interviews. I may find it difficult to share a room with 4 other people for 4 days. I may be seeing Mr. Tyler Kavanagh while up there (the conference is outside DC)...
In short, I may go crazy while I'm up there. Ha.

All I know is this time next week I will be so less stressed out.
In the meantime...cripes. I really should pack.
Lots of love to New England- I miss everyone so much!
<3 Leigh

PS. This weekend (after 17 hours in the library) I went to a late showing on Sunday night of "I Love You, Man" and it is absolutely my new favorite movie. Nothing made my weekend better than watching Paul Rudd flounder helplessly with modern lingo and slang. Ha. so so so good...and c'mon, the man's a fox (yup, I said it)!!

"it's only grad school"

Tunes: http://tinyurl.com/austin100

I keep telling myself to stop making the task at hand greater than it really is...but it's impossible! However- the weather has been helping me stay sane...like right now- the sun is out and it's WARM...it's casting a long column of light onto my checked kitchen floor. Normally I need to have something on my feet to keep them warm, but today my toes are warmed by the light of the sun through the window in my door.

I was up at 6am with the birds, they're singing now, too.
To celebrate the weather I am determined to go outside and finish The Handmaid's Tale before my class at 3pm.

The next week and a half will either make or break me...but it's only grad school!

I've found sanity not only in the weather, but in radio. Lots of it.



Now, onto things that need to get done.
<3 LA

home, or something like it...

Tunes:radio

Some of the main reasons why I love Harrisonburg is because of its numerous coffee houses and cozy places to get my work done. I've been generally disappointed with what home has to offer mainly because Manchester and Hooksett aren't exactly cozy, snuggle-up kind of places. Or so I had always thought. Until right now.

Yes, I should be working on my portfolio-- it's why I came out to the Queen City today, afterall. However, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the place that I have finally decided to try out today: Jewell & The Beanstalk.



My mom mentioned seeing it on Chronicle recently the other night, but I remember Amy B. talking about coming here for Valentine's Day with James forever ago. I also remember passing by it a few times while out gallivanting after while still in high school. Now that I am inside, I realize it is exactly my kind of place. It's big- bigger than their website makes it seem. There's essentially 3 seating places, lots and lots of antique looking knick-knacks and lots of charm. I hate that phrase, but it really is charming. All the tables and chairs are a hodge-podge of what is surely flea market and yard sale finds, and the decor is much the same.

The woman who is running around taking orders was incredibly nice and welcoming to me- I wish I knew her name as she has since introduced me to her husband and mother-in-law who are here eating. The short woman in the back, Amber-- who I presume is the owner (as her face is in on the cover of some of the framed publications up on the wall)-- has been frantically making things since I got her. I envy her spunk and her storefront for sure. There is so much about this place I already love- like how I don't have to order coffee, I get to just help myself. I know, it doesn't take much to sway me. It helps that it is Free-Trade Sumatra, which is probably my favorite. It smells like brownies right now, too-- which is also a plus. There's lots of baked goods up front, all from scratch I'm told (by my new, nameless waitress friend). There are fresh cut GERBER DAISIES on each table, and a bunch of home made treasures such as jewelery and bags all over the place for sale.
Also, the menu is KILLER. All home made, all made with love (I'm sure-- this place seems like a labor of love).
*Sidenote: no sooner had I written that, my waitress friend, after being asked by a customer how the Maple Balsamic dressing is made, explained that Amber makes everything "with love." "Right, Amber?" she hollered to the back. "That's right, lots of loooove."

...and well, now I'm in love. End of story.



Stacey, among a slew of my other friends, keep on urging me to open my own bakery someday-- which is something I DO want to achieve in my life, I've decided. But being in a place like this really gives me a pang of jealously. I could make a cool, cozy place like this. Decorate it with a bunch of my artwork, have my crafty friends sell their wares, collect flatware and dishes and glasses at flea markets and yard sales in the summer time, bake things that are different and quirky and just plain good...I want this. Haha. In time, in time- I know.

On a different note, I no sooner got home and we were pummeled with another snow storm. New England has a way of reminding me that life in Virginia isn't so bad most days, that's for sure. For what it's worth, today is beautiful weather out, but goodness. Yesterday had me wondering why I've concentrated my job search in the area, ha. Then again, lets be honest, seeing my little brother whenever I'd like would be amazing. Same goes for my besties...Ricker called during his lunch break from work yesterday. I find this to be oddly adorable. I spent an hour on the phone with Mel last night-- even though I will be seeing her on Friday. I haven't seen ANY of the girls (as in THE girls-- Amy, Amy, Beth & Nin) but I know that I will see them all super soon. This break doesn't quite feel like a break. But I think I'll live.

In the meantime, I have to send my resume to Hofstra and finish section one of my portfolio (I've already finished section 2). Happy Tuesday!
<3 Leigh

this post is unnecessary.

Tunes:

I watched Jimmy Fallon last night and hated it.
I want Conan back now!



(I really just wanted to post this picture of me at NBC. ha)

the ball is rolling...

Tunes:"brother sport"// animal collective

The last 2 days have been oddly productive, yet wouldn't seem like it to most anyone else but me, I'm sure.

I have lined up interviews with SUNY Oneonta (which is just an hour and a half outside of Albany) as well as SUNY Oswego (which is north of Syracuse, right on Lake Ontario). I have also sent information to:
-Emerson College & Northeastern (both in Boston...the top of my list!)
-Siena College(again, right outside of Albany)
-Salem State College (Salem, MA)
-University of Southern Maine (Gorham, ME)
-UMASS Lowell (Lowell, MA...clearly)
-SUNY Cortland (Cortland, NY...upstate, west of Cooperstown)
-Nichols College (Dudley, MA...in the middle of nowhere)
-Keene State College (Keene, NH...Go Owls!)
-Bentley College (Waltham, MA)

So, I'll be sure to keep on updating because as of now I have only heard back from 3 or 4 places. I'll be sending out my information to Hampshire College (Amherst, MA) and the School of Visual Arts (New York, NY) this evening. It's very exciting to know that in a few months I will be headed somewhere new- and closer to home and people I care about.

In order for that to happen however, I need to submit a portfolio on March 25th. I've known about it since starting the program, but in true procrastinator fashion, I have put it off to the last minute. My goal is to finish 2 sections of it this week (doubtful) and then 2 more over break (here's hoping)...I want to go home to see the bro- but as of now it's going to be a very short trip so I can utilize the days off to fully work on my portfolio. I COULD work on it at home, I just don't envision that happening. But in anycase- break begins this Friday evening and I am incredibly stoked to not have any obligations to attend to here for a full 9 days. HOLLER.

Now...I need to run. Staff meeting to hold, dinner to eat, a cake to buy (an RA's birthday is tomorrow)...things, things, things.
Thanks for reading- I miss everyone a lot!
Much love,
LEIGH!

surprise party- in pictures!

Tunes:"valencia"// the decemberists

[tired from all the planning, and waiting for the birthday girl to arrive]

[the cake!]

[I love Stacey so so much]

[funsies on the front stoop...Miles, Me, Kristen & Lauren]

[CSPA 2009: Me, Brad, Josh, Kristen/ Lauren, Stacey, Kristen & Miles]

Life is good. I emailed 12 schools today in hopes of lining up interviews at the conference. I also filled in for a show at the station and had fun catching up with my old co-host, Phillip. We danced around while Animal Collective played. You would have, too! Check them out!



Welp. It's time for me to do things. What?
I'm not too sure. But only a week till spring break.
woo!

<3 Leigh

Tunes:"Check Your Time"// Westbound Train

This week was a very quick one...went by super fast.
The majority of last Sunday, Monday & Tuesday I spent reading this book:





Phenomenal.
It's for class, but it didn't feel like it was for class, so I really was able to get into the reading of it and let it really affect me...which it REALLY, really did. Margaret Atwood is a genius. Her play on words, her metaphors, her simplicity and minimalism...it made me want to start writing..again, I guess.

I forget that I was once on the track to be a writer (journalist) of sorts...but I've been thinking more and more about starting to focus more of my attention on writing. I'm not interested in short stories. Or novels. I find that I am most intrigued by being able to accurately describe a short moment of time (like I often do in here, while at coffee houses or wherever I may be) and have it be something that's captivating to read. I'm afraid that there is no niche for that...but I may just create one for myself to dwell in. We'll see.

I've officially heard back from Marist College and they've already filled the position I applied for. But! I did get a call from Plymouth State University and will be doing a phone interview with them next week. Finally! The ball is rolling.

Thursday a friend of mine from undergrad, Amanda, came down here and stayed at my place while she interviewed for the same program I'm in. She and I were RA's together back at UNH and she's so sweet and wonderful...I hope she gets in.
I spent Thursday showing her around and catching up with her.
Yesterday I spent in a weird haze due to the dreary weather, but was able to bake a cake for Stacey's surprise birthday party last night. It was a Yellow Butter cake with light and fluffy chocolate icing and Strawberry/Amaretto compote as the filling. Everyone enjoyed it. Stacey's party was a huge success- she had no idea, she cried and we had a blast all evening (ending with a ridiculous dance party in the kitchen). I really do love some of these people I've chanced to be in the program with. Such fun, caring and supportive people. <3

Now...I'm trying to get myself out of bed.
I have things I could and should be doing. I think I shall.

sometimes, I am so unproductive. But I did write this really long post!

Tunes:"my last mistake"// Dan Auerbach

What a long and draining week. I feel like I've been anxious and worried about things non-stop all week. One really awesome thing that I did this week was break down and buy a record player. They were on sale at Target, and it's a 4-in-One system with a cd player, tape deck, radio and even a place to plug in my ipod. So, I caved and got it and have been enjoying the vinyl I'd been collecting the last 2 years finally. My favorite thing to crank up loud (besides NPR on the radio) is this double live album by the Rollingstones. If anyone has any vinyl they don't want, don't throw it away! I'll gladly take it off your hands.

This week I spent a lot of time agonizing over the job-search process. When I read articles like this one though, I feel happy with my decision to make my career in Higher Education. When the economy sucks, everyone goes back to school. And what is needed to make that school run? Administrators. Like me (well, sort of like me). That thought is offering me enough relief to keep me going.

My weekend seemed to fly by. I've spent the majority of it under the fog of a tough headache, but I've also managed to bake a lot and clean my kitchen a bit. Friday, a day I normally have completely off, was spent in fake interviews all morning (to prep for real interviews in March) and then with the afternoon-long process of RA room sign-up. I enjoy this process because I get to try and sell certain dorms to certain RA's (and by "sell" I mean convince them to live and work there next year).

I've been unsuccessful in trying to catch up on sleep. It's really super frustrating.

Yesterday was the CoolAid craft fair to benefit the Harrisonburg Food Bank. It was a bit strange as it was moved from an on-campus location to a house off-campus where some radio station kids live. So it was way out of the way, and it was in this cramped little house. But it was oddly successful- I made about $25 selling magnets, record bowls, mini paintings, greeting cards and (my biggest seller) vegan cupcakes...

[cute tablecloth, hm?]

[oh, record bowls]

Chris Evans showed up and sat with me for a while- I never see him these days, and I miss him! It was nice of him to stick around amidst the awkwardness that was the craft fair.

Later when I got home, my headache was so much worse than it had been all day. I tried to lay down and nap, but I was antsy and anxious and instead watched Conan reruns online. Which reminds me- Friday his last show aired. I teared up- the man was so gracious, thankful and genuine and I just hope the best for his move to California.
Having said that, now seems like an appropriate time to post round one of pictures from my trip to NYC. These are from my cell phone- I hope to put my real photos up here sometime soon...but! In the meantime, here's what I captured on the camera phone...

[waking up in New Jersey...the railroad behind the Selheim's house]

[hot dog icons!]

[inside Gray's Papaya...best hot dogs I've ever had]

[times square!]

[we saw Isla Fischer later that afternoon!]

[outside 30 Rockafeller Center]

[obligatory shot of the ice rink at 30 Rock]

[Kristen in the NBC store, waiting to go up to studio 6A]

[me with the NBC peacock, after the Conan taping]

[wine at that fancy-pants dinner party]

[sweetest range I've ever seen at Kristen's Uncle's house]

[Mum, this kitchen reminded me so much of one you'd love]

[soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Covino- Bryan and Kristen are so domestic]

[the sunset over Baltimore...driving back to VA]

Now, I will attempt productivity...or maybe I'll sleep. We'll see.
<3>