Secrets of Success

I'm just killing some time between Physics class and Basic Swimming, so it's time for another installment of This is My Life.

Hello folks! It's been a little while since I've been on the air, so let me just say that I missed you all greatly (cheers). Thank you.

It's been an interesting time up here in the great town of... ITHACA, NY!!! (wild cheers and hoots from the Ithaca crew) Okay guys, calm down. (laughter) Seriously, though, classes look like they are going to be pretty difficult (scattered boos). I know, I know. Can I tell you that on Tuesdays I have class from 8am to 9:30pm?? (audible gasps) Can you believe that? And that includes two classes that are 3-hours apiece (murmurs throughout the crowd).

Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, how does she do it? How does that poor girl manage to take 16.5 credits and work 20 hours a week at a large retail chain (whom we shall refer to as Worst Buy for the privacy of the store) and STILL have time to live up to everyone's dream of returning to college as an undergrad and partying your ass off??

Well I'm here to tell you how it can be done. It's all because of Hollywood. That's right, my friends. That loveable space in California is my inspiration, and it can be yours too! (wild applause) If Brad Pitt can dump Jennifer Aniston and move on to Angelina Jolie, why can't you have that kind of success too? If the Osbournes can have a reality TV show for three seasons, why can't you get an A in your Community Service class? The point here is, anything is possible. If Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton can attract a shitstorm of media attention by a flip of their hair, then you, possibly relying on your wits and charm alone, can pass Basic Swimming. And have a fantastic social life, to boot! (applause)

If you want to know more about my wildly successful plans, sign up for the next installment of This is My Life. Until then, in the words of the timeless Bon Jovi, "Keep the Faith, FAITH, you know you gotta keep the faith."

You stay classy... world.

Ithaca Is Gorges

I have to admit, I had forgotten how "gorges" Ithaca really is. I am finally back! Lookout everyone... I have been here since late Saturday afternoon - so about 5 days now - and it's just been incredible. There's been a few boring moments, mostly because I was alone until Tuesday night, but I have definitely been keeping myself busy.

Having Ange (my roommate) around is definitely going to kick my ass into shape. She is on a car boycott because gas prices are so high. This makes sense, in theory, and if you are going anywhere downtown and don't need to carry things that are tooooo heavy (like groceries), then okay. BUT. Anyone heard of 96b? Anyone who has been to Ithaca remember how steep and long that hill is up to school? It's going to take a good several months of riding for me to be able to tackle that hill on a bike. And by then it will be snowing (oh darn)! So it's safe to say I'm probably going to continue to drive up to campus.

Other than that, though, I'm game for the biking thing. One of the first purchases I made were toe clips for the pedals, and boy was that a good idea. Yesterday Ange suggested that we ride out to Taughannock Falls State Park and toss a ball around for a bit. I was all for it, but I failed to realize how far away this place is. In the end it's only about 8 miles out from the center of Ithaca, but it's pretty much entirely uphill. It took us around an hour to get there, and though I lived through it, I definitely won't be making the trip again anytime soon. I'm just not in that kind of shape right now.

Anyway, I am up on campus now for the first time since being back, and it's not even as surreal as I thought it would be. This is probably a good thing. I'm happy to report that Ithaca is as beautiful as ever, and if anyone wants to come down and visit me, I highly suggest doing so before it turns bitter-cold (which could be as early as next week, you never know around here). For now, I'm gonna go out and enjoy some of that beauty while I can....

San Francisco

I am trying to find a way to get to San Fransisco. Any suggestions?

I have heard so many fantastic things about San Fran, and my best friend lives out there now, so I figured now is as good a time as any to go visit her and see a place I've been told so much about. However, the problem is actually getting there. Why is air fare so damn expensive?? I've even been looking for flights in like October, which is not exactly a heavily traveled month, just so they're cheaper. I realize I'm looking to fly across the country, but does that really cost over $300? I don't think so. So, I can't afford to go but I really WANT to. I need to have more connections. Wouldn't it be great if I "knew people" and could just call in a favor? How does that happen? Where do you go to meet those kinds of people? It all sounds very Mafia-related, to be honest, but as long as I didn't have to kill anyone that would be okay. Maybe then I could end up in the witness protection program and THEY would send me to San Fransisco. Anything to get there at this point.

Seriously, though, I could use a vacation. Not that life is all that rough, but sometimes you just need a few days for pure play. I figure if I go in October, I'll be halfway through my semester and definitely ready for a break. Especially since I'll be going to school AND working.

Enough about my unfullfilled ambitions. The countdown is now at 2 days, but the reality of leaving Boston to go back to small-town NY has not hit me yet. It probably won't until I drive down 96B toward the Commons and see Collegetown Bagel and later the State Street Diner (great eggs at 4am). In fact, it probably REALLY won't hit me until I go to bed that night in a new place, and it will hit me even harder on that first day of classes which I am somewhat dreading. It will be weird to be surrounded by 18-22 year olds again. I am not sure I will like it. Good thing I'm there to LEEAARRNNNN, not to make out with YOUUU (Billy Madison).

Oh, and for all you former Ithacans looking to visit, Homecoming Weekend is October 7-9, the Cortaca Jug is November 12 and it's at home this year (and it's the last game of the season), and the Apple Festival is October 7-9 as well. Oh that's exciting, the Apple Festival is the same weekend as Homecoming! Also, Sim Redmond Band is playing 8/13 (that's this Sunday - I will have nothing to do so I'm sure I'll go!) and 8/27. And Musefest is Labor Day Weekend. See http://www.musefest.com . And thus ends my Ithaca Events Public Service Announcement.

Obsession

Obsession: (NOT the Calvin Klein version)

ob·ses·sion
Pronunciation: äb-'sesh-&n, &b-
Function: noun: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling; also : something that causes such preoccupation —compare COMPULSION, PHOBIA

obsessionn
1: an irrational motive for performing trivial or repetitive actions against your will [syn: compulsion]
2: an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone [syn: fixation]

fix·a·tion ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fk-sshn)
n. The act or process of fixing or fixating.
An obsessive preoccupation.
Psychology. A strong attachment to a person or thing, especially such an attachment formed in childhood or infancy and manifested in immature or neurotic behavior that persists throughout life.

So, I think this last one is the most telling. Has anyone seen Fever Pitch? I might be getting that bad. In the past 2 weeks I've gone to 3 games, taken close to 80 pictures, and bought 2 short-sleeve t-shirts, one long sleeve t-shirt, two hats, a window sticker and a 2005 World Series Champions license plate frame.

But it's been a helluva good time. Especially last night's extra-inning win (which should never have gotten to that point but an extra-inning win is always exciting regardless of you blowing a 5 run lead in the sixth inning).

But enough about the Red Sox. I have been having a whole lot of fun during my last week here in the great city of Boston. I have not, however, been having NEARLY as much fun as I should be. What can I do to remedy this? I feel like I need to go out with a bang. This morning I was so dead-ass tired (and it's only Wed!) that I had to give in an get a double-shot of espresso in my coffee. This, from someone who, until recently, had given up caffeine. But it got me through the day! And it went right through me, forcing me to use the PUBLIC RESTROOM where I work, which we share with our 150 year old patients, (ewwwwwwwww), but hey, when life gives you lemons, use them to highlight your hair (it comes out much better than the store-bought crap). Also, I think the lack of sleep has started to affect my brain.

Plus, I have all next week to recover. I will be all alone from Saturday until Thursday afternoon when AD shows up, so VISITORS WELCOME hint hint hint. I will hopefully spend some time mountain biking (see previous blogs regarding getting lost for 4 hours while attempting this before) and perhaps hiking and swimming. These are fun activities alone but MUCH better with people. Plus then you can go drinking afterwards and not feel like an alcoholic.

Oh well, "it is what it is." If anyone has suggestions for things I could do to keep myself busy my first week in Ithaca, feel free to post them in the comments section below - then I would know that somebody actually reads my blog, other than myself. Time to go. Seacrest, out.

The Transition

I'm a little bored lately. By "lately," I mean the last two days. I don't really deal with boredom well - it generally results in me doing totally unnecessary things that can be self-destructive (massive cleaning sprees, drinking, the sudden urge to exercise despite the poor state of my physical health, massive money spending, etc.). For the past two days it has resulted in a mass amount of internet time... all while at work. See, it's like I'm not even here anymore. I feel like I need a t-shirt that says "For Emergency Use Only" (and if anyone has that t-shirt, I want it). The co-ops have my job down cold. They don't need me to teach them anything new. The PTs use the co-ops for all their patient treatments now because I won't be here after next week and the co-ops need the experience. So, I do "paperwork" that is boring and not nearly as time-consuming as I would like it to be (you know it's bad when you want your paperwork to be MORE time-consuming).

As always, I am living in limbo. My stuff, almost everything I own, is in Ithaca. My body (and some clothes) are still in Boston. My head... somewhere in between. I feel useless at one job, I hate my other job (still), and I don't even have a home to go to at the end of the day where I can feel like I've done something productive. Not that I would do something productive if I DID have a home to go to, but at least I'd have the option.

Instead, I'm doing what I do best - going to Red Sox games. I already had tickets to two more games before I leave, one tonight and one next Monday. Then - and again, boredom's fault - I went on Craig's List and bought hot seats for Tuesday night's game, too. Oops... But, come on! Three games in 10 days! Two games in the corporate box seats on the roof and one game in the right field box seats just foul of Pesky's Pole! You can't beat that! Especially when I will be stuck in Yankee Country for the next 4 months of my life.

Maybe Push is right... I do have a problem. You know what? I'm okay with that. If my vice must be my obsession of the Red Sox, bring it on :-) You know what else? I gotta go... it's time to leave work and head out to the game. But one last thing before I go:

Dear Red Sox,
Soon, I am leaving my beloved Red Sox Nation behind in pursuit of a higher education. Unfortunately, this will take place in the Yankees home state and over the most important time of the season - the end, and (hopefully) post-season. I will be here to cheer you on for 3 games before I leave, and 2 games in September that I will be driving back for an entire weekend for.
I just ask one thing of you, my beloved team. Win some games. Keep on doing what you do best. Tito, keep with those crazy lineups of Mirabelli batting third and Schilling closing if that's what works. I know we have 3 men who can play first, 3 who can play second, 2 who can play third, and about 12 outfielders, but this is a TEAM and everyone has their part to play, even if that means sitting down for a game. Trot, get better before you come back - you only hurt the team's chance of winning and yourself worse when you come back early. And Foulke... I'll talk to you some other time.
When you won the World Series last near I was in Boston and it was incredible. Think of how sweet it will be to win 2 in a row... and I will be there, in the heart of Yankee Country, with my Nixon jersey, my Varitek t-shirt, one of my 86 Sox hats, and my Red Sox Nation bracelet to celebrate.
You have your mission. Go Sox.
Love,
Erin (Sox Pack, Lower Bleachers, Section 38, Row 23)