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>

New Jersey?

Tunes:peter gabriel

I am in love with the place.
New York City, too.

I have so much to say about my weekend that I'd probably bore everyone who reads this. I'll try to keep it short and sweet...

Seeing Conan O'Brien live was something I'll honestly never forget being a part of. It was so (oddly) thrilling to be there in that tiny studio with him right there in front of me. The guests were decent- I laughed and hollered a lot. While I did not shake Conan's hand, I did share a moment of dorkiness with him while the musical guest was performing. He looked over at the audience and made eye contact with me, which I followed up with a thumbs up-- to which he responded with a smile and thumbs up, too. So good.

I told LaBamba how awesome he was and I waved to the Jonas Brothers as the exited the studio. I also asked on the way out if it was possible to snag a cue card. The stage manager got me THREE and now I have proof that I was there...





SO awesome.

Also, Kristen's family was so welcoming and wonderful. We went shopping on Saturday in Red Bank (where I got to extend my vinyl collection), and lounged around on real furniture. I even got to attend her Aunt Linda's 50th birthday party last night- which was really a 4 course meal thrown together by her Uncle. I got to eat Fois Gras AND Black Truffles in the same night- and I had sort of assumed those were 2 things I'd probably never eat! All this happened at a house in the same neighborhood where Bruce Springsteen lives. I KNOW, RIGHT?!

In short, coolest time in Jersey ever.
Now, back to reality. Job applications, here I come!

<3 Leigh

Reality is setting in...

Tunes:"If I Have To Go"// Tom Waits

Well, I'm hitting the reality portion of grad school, it seems. Before I go to bed, I'm thinking about how I should have done more on portfolio. When I'm baking or cooking or doing dishes, I'm anxious about how I could be doing homework. I'm in two classes this semester, but it feels like I have a 5 class course load with the amount of worry I do.

I have begun to apply at the following schools:
-Marist College (NY)
-Johnson & Wales University (RI)
-SUNY Cortlant (NY)
-Bryant Univsersity (RI)
-Plymouth State University (NH)
-SUNY Geneseo (NY)

A ton more to do, but I can't do them all at once without having an anxiety attack. I'm hoping one from my early round of applications works out so I can stop sending my stuff to places in Virginia, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. But you know, I'd rather have a job than not, so I'll do what I have to (including applying for a full-time position here). I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on this for sure.

This weekend was decent. I am really excited for next, though as I will be going to New Jersey! In the meantime a lot of work awaits me. I'm doing a presentation tomorrow with 2 of my classmates on the topic "What Is Gender?" and I've engulfed myself in figuring out what to say about it all day. I also am reading this book for my Multiculturalism and Diversity class...




SUCH a great read. I am determined to finish it by tomorrow.
It'll happen. The author writes about her experiences trying to get by on minimum wage in a slew of different jobs, including serving in Key West and being a maid in Maine. Really, really interesting and not what you'd expect at all. I suppose it's only making my liberal heart bleed more, haha, but I'm glad I am being required to read it.

In anycase, hope all is well wherever you are.
Much love,
LA

sometimes, my life down here feels like I'm in a movie...

Tunes:random Bluegrass band that just set up & started playing


I swear, if I didn't know any better, I'd say Virginia was a land of enchantment sometimes. If it weren't for the smell of the chicken processing plants, the sound of sirens everywhere, and the vast amount of pretentious, uptight college kids, I would tell everyone I know that this place is the ideal place to be. I'm beginning to understand how strong the traditions of Virginians are-- particularly in this little city nicknamed Rocktown. The 'burg is such a weird mix of people. The ones who make the place really exciting, vibrant and comfortable are the ones who are tied to the land, the ideals and overwhelmingly, the spirit and MUSIC of the area. I'm amazed at how much I still have to learn about Bluegrass music, but I feel like there isn't a week that goes by where I am not educated a bit about the roots, the foundations and the traditions of a music that continues to serve locals who need a way to forget about the week's trials and tribulations. They come 'round for a "fiddle and a dance," and they pluck their upright bass', banjos and mandolins hauntingly and in perfect syncopation. I am always a little awestruck when I am able to sit transfixed on a Bluegrass band playing live.

Like right now.

I've been working on my resume, and agonizing over the portfolio I haven't started, at this little tea shop called the Earth & Tea Cafe.



It's got this super warm, earthy (ha) vibe and it's filled with Indian tapestries and Chinese lanterns and old tea kettles. I don't come here too often- as I am sort of still in the honeymoon phase with my relationship with coffee, I tend to opt for caffination over relaxation. Tonight, this just seemed right. As I've been sipping Chamomile (much like Gwen Stefani would say), a group of older men and women slowly trickled in with musical instrument cases. I gather they're a Bluegrass band-- or maybe something more a kin to a group of friends jamming on a Friday night.

Either way, there's a short woman with long, flowing gray and white hair, who's wrapped in a wool sweater, and a pink strap fastening her acoustic guitar to her front. She's got these lazy braids holding back pieces of her hair, and there's this certain air of dreamy, knowingness about her-- especially as she sings, beautifully, about coal mines, cowboys and mountains.

There's another woman- choppy bangs cover her forehead giving her youth and playfulness in her face. She is sitting while harmonizing and playing the washboard. It's hypnotizing and sorrowful, the song they sing-- fiddle whispering beneath the steady strums of the banjo man. And so I sit here, squeezing honey from the honey bear into my tea cup and think about how I am on the brink, the cusp, the beginning of the end or end of beginning or...I'm just about to begin a new chapter? And it just feels like a scene from a movie. Weary girl's about to go out there and live life, or find life to live...something like that. And this band comes in and reminds her what her true love is- musica!

[edit: I found out these people call themselves the Keezletones, since they are from Keezletown-- which is a town away]

Last night was a reminder of this. I spent the evening (as I usually do on Thursdays) at the Little Grill Collective along with my usual LGC crew- and also Natalie, a friend from undergrad who recently got an internship down here (it was so nice to have a little taste of home). We took up this huge table and as open mic started, the place was just chaos and music and laughter and...sing a longs! And jaw harps, harmonicas, pancakes, bagels, maple syrup, lots of tea, inside jokes, crazy poems, some beatniks, some hippies and some beer. I wish I could have filmed last night, it would serve as the perfect illustration to what I love about being down here and why I hold LGC so close to my heart.



One thing for sure is this town and its music has seeped into me more than I ever thought it would. I will for sure move out of the 'burg, and I'll find my way elsewhere in the world, but I've definitely got a soft spot for this place now and I think I always will.

On a fairly unrelated note, my hair is getting long and it makes me tremendously happy about it. I can wear a bandana around my hair like a headband now without the hair sticking up all weird in the back! It's little things, everyday, that make us happy and keeps us going.

Now- it's time to celebrate Bianca's birthday!
Much love from the valley!
-Leigh