Physics class is awesome...I mean that.

I totally love my physics class, and not just because he lets us out an hour (or more) early each week. The professor is so amusing, and he knows it. For those that went to Ursuline with me, he's like Mr Neiman...for those that didn't go to UA...he's like all good science teachers...totally into his subject, with lots of self deprecating jokes, and a love of goofy ties...today was a snoopy print. I'm settled in, I suppose...since I just celebrated my two week anniversary of being back...and it already seems like I've been back for a while. I am still really glad to be here, and it helps to have a friend that joins me for fun activities each week (so far...he's not only a student, but works in an accounting firm..so his year is about to get busier) Yesterday, we went to the Krohn Conservatory and I could have kicked myself for not bringing my camera (sorry Angela!). But there are some ok images on their website. Yesterday was downright frigid, a perfect day to go to the rainforest...even if it is just a simulated one. My favorite room was the "spring" room (as I called it, it's really the Floral Display Room...take the virtual tour)...full of tulips and daffodils and orange trees...the whole feeling was warm and joyful. Afterwards we retired to the former Rookwood Pottery Restaurant, which they have since re-named something stupid, which I will not print here...the inside of the restaurant looks pretty typical, except for the large brick kilns scattered all over the lounge...each big enough to hold a table for eight or so. For those of you that watch Antiques Roadshow, you may have seen Rookwood Pottery come up...it's a world famous pottery house that produced ceramics at the end of the 19th and into the 20th century...it has since been shut down, but pieces still surface. After a few bloody mary's (for me...I love bloody's!) I met the family for dinner and learned that my 17 year old brother is expected to grow another two inches at least...topping him off at 6'7"...the tallest Horan man ever to walk the earth! Today I had a class and a resume critique and then physics, which starts at 6PM and is supposed to go until 10, but the professor let us go at 8:30...getting back to the subject of my entry...I'm off to change and go to a meeting of the Business Fraternity on campus...Phi Beta something greek...hey...free pizza.

Beating Dayton...a Xavier tradition

Tomorrow is the big game against the Dayton Flyers, and my dad and I are totally going and totally wearing matching t-shirts...it's going to be our first collegiate sporting event together since the 90's! My family are not sports fanatics by any means...but we do like games of all sorts, and especially when our team wins. With so many allegiances (sibling colleges are Clemson and Fordham and Xavier and UC, plus Ohio State by proximity)and local sports teams (Bengals, Reds)...nobody that I'm related to goes into any deep depression when anyone loses...and as Bengals fans, we DO lose. I've had boyfriends in the past that lived and died by the NCAA Men's basketball schedule...and for years after we broke up, I celebrated NOT caring about March Madness. But now, being back in a community of fans...I can find myself getting swept up into it again. I'm glad that I'm not being MADE to watch the games...and even if I am, basketball is a way shorter game than football...which cannot hold my attention at all. However, my friends Tanner and JB did give me a short list of football terms and phrases...I love going to a sporting event and looking stupid. I either get a bunch of eye rolling, and then change the subject (which is funny) or they try and explain the rules and THEN roll their eyes when they realize that I'm too far gone to bother with. Either way, it passes the time. Speaking of time passing, my time with Norm has ended (sad) but it was so so much fun! Here are the pictures from last night's adventure...and if any of y'all visit me down south, you can expect the same good time, tempered with frequent visits to local restaurants...like Home of the best burger and cheapest beer I've ever had...our meal consisted of two Zipburgers (one word) with cheese and "through the garden" (which means "with all the veggies") and fries and a bottle of Hudepohl, Cincinnati's distinctive brew. Today was another day of classes and work...and my first paper for English is due Monday, and I'm getting it out of the way tonight...even though it's Friday night. Luckily, our student center has free laptops for checking out, and a 24 hour computer lab...and a bar...which one will I go to first? My paper is about defending one of four "traditions" described in my English text...and I'm drawing on my experience at City Market to write a narrative about expressive individualism within the structure of a republican tradition...not those kinds of republicans...I'm not that midwestern! I tried to visit my bar after work (Teller's is right down the street) but alas, it is Friday and the bar was already crowded at 5:30PM...full of suits.The other bar down the street was empty...but their whiskey is $5 more than Teller's...and since I'm really taking my econ class seriously, I opted for tea at the coffee shop...put my feet up and read until I had to catch the bus. Since Jinx has left, I am back to reading my book while I eat in the dining hall...but the solitary life is cool with me...I've a great deal on my mind.

Hip deep in the 'nati

I have forgotten my camera cord, so I cannot post pictures from tonight, but it was really really nice! Today was all about seeing people from the past. Today at work, I ran into my preschool reading teacher, who remembered me and my large family, as she had taught at least the first three of us to read and or write. I excitedly told her that I was an English major, before I had to run and catch the bus...but not before I went to the coffee shop to get a tea and ran into my old boss Brian (whom I called Jim). While waiting for the bus I saw my friends husband, who let me know that his wife was working...at Xavier! I went to see her after class got out, and we had a great time talking about the past few years. then, Norm and I went to dinner at Zip's, which has the best burgers in the city...and $2 local bottled beer...Hudepohl...soooo west side, but it can't be beat! Then it was off to Greater's the best iced cream on god's green earth. After the eats and the sweets, we piled into the car for a tour of the ninja's childhood...including first and last apartments, homes and grade school...as well as a walking tour of the location of my wedding...no, I don't even have a boy in my life, but I've already planned my reception, invitations and ceremony...Norm approved of the site very much, and let me tell you...bringing the two parts of my life together like that was a feeling I'd been looking for. It's like Dorothy said...even though I felt far away, I was home the whole time. I love you, my friends.

A buncha pictures from the last few days...

It's Thursday, and I've just finished for the day...at 3:45. My days seems short, but they are really packed with things to do. Today I worked at my new job, a home accessories store in the middle of Hyde Park Square (for those locals and familiar)...it's like April Cornell mixed with Kiss the Cook (for you Burlingtonians)...and almost everything is breakable, which makes me very nervous! Yesterday I was helping with a display, and I was carrying $2,000 ceramic urns from here to there...it was like holding a newborn baby. The manager of the store is a great merchandiser (I think) and mostly I've just been helping her make displays...business is not as brisk as we would like...yesterday, only seven people came in...and mostly just to look. this morning, however, a woman came in and bought almost our entire window display...she spent more than I made in two weeks working at City Market! After work, I ran to catch the bus and then another fine meal from the Xavier cafe. (a veggie burger and fries, consumed in philosophy class.) I sat in the back row for the first time ever, with three kids typing their notes on laptops, while I scribbled away in my notebook...when I snuck a peak on their screens, I saw they were IM-ing and surfing the Reno 911 website. I considered passing the girl a note about my own devotion to Clemmy and Lt. Dangle...but I decided against it. Oh yeah, I mentioned pictures, huh? This is The Echo diner, in Hyde Park. My grandfather and I went here after church all the time...he attended church every morning...I love The Echo, simply because, like all great diners...it hasn't changed. Same with Arthur's, the bar next door to The Echo. I'm not sure if you can see it, but the wall behind the sign has a mural with charactatures of all the old school regulars...when I was a kid, I used to try and find people that I knew...now I just want to be on the wall myself. I'm not (and I never was) a regular by any means...but I have a few fond memories of Arthur's. It's what I thought the Daily Planet was, to me... The following pictures are the before and after of the snowmen on our front lawn. It's been snowing and cold all week...but there's no helping these snow creatures...they are past the point of no return. Does anyone remember Calvin and Hobbes building snowmen that represented their enemies, so that as they slowly melt, Calivin can feel superior? Melting snowmen are depressing to see... Finally, a picture of the beloved Norm eating the beloved skyline...Clifton Skyline...not the original, which is in Price Hill...but I'm an Eastsider and I cannot navigate the West Side...ask anyone from Cincinnati. Tonight, we are going to Zips or The Echo and then...and then...GREATER'S! My first Greater's in FOREVER...and Hyde Park Greater's, to boot! We could go to Clifton Greater's, it's more traditional Iced cream shop, with the marble tables and wrought iron chairs...but HP Greater's is MY HOUSE! I'm out, yo...I have to go to my house and perhaps do laundry, or maybe just catch my breath.

Here's what feels good...finishing my homework

Sorry I have been so remiss about posting the updates to the blog...it turns out that college life makes me busy, and I am just now sitting down to rest after what feels like many days of going from place to place and learning about things. I am not complaining...no way...I am so beyond happy to be back in school...except when I am in Theology class and the children in the back row refuse to shut the hell up so that I can hear Professor Tan. I swear, I didn't even realize that I was shooting them dirty looks until halfway through class...oh yeah, I'm that girl. To be fair, we were answering questions about religious experiences, and one kid said that eating mushrooms was the most awesome experience he'd ever had. I roll my eyes. My fellow Dagger Deb Norm is here from Vermont with a car full of things (thank you Norm!) and lots of nice warm friendship feelings. Oh, our time together has not been without it's trials...today, I had issues with the cell phone, which I also dropped and cracked...and the bank machine ATE the card we were using, sending both of us into a tizzy for the rest of the afternoon. Luckily, we ended the evening with a trip to Beelistics studio for Norm's ohio tattoo, our state flower, the scarlet carnation. and it was an awesome experience. The artist (Tony) could not have been nicer...even if he is from the West Side...represent! I also took the beloved Norm to the beloved skyline, where she got a 4-way (onion...nice) and appropriately enjoyed the hell out of it. Oh yes, and the whole time she's been here, I've either been in class or at work (I got a job! I started today!) or doing my homework, and she has been reading or hanging out in my so so hot apartment. Really...the apartment is fucking tropical in temperature...and one of my roommates thinks that it's cold all the time, so she turns up the heat once I turn it down. the apartment is so very hot that my other roommates actually turned on the AIR CONDITIONER...true story. But Norm is a trooper, even eating two meals with me in the dining hall...now that's friendship! I'm just glad she's here! It has snowed a bit more since I last posted, and there appeared on our lawn a three person snowman family, complete with a mustache on the "dad" and even a snow-dog...the next day, they looked a bit worse for the wear, and I gave Norm the final directions to my house by saying "it's the one with the dilapidated snowmen in the front." She found it ASAP. Blogger is not allowing me to post anymore pictures tonight, so I shall leave you with these images...plus, I am tired and I must rest before work and school tomorrow. I have finished my homework for the week, however, and nothing more is due from me until next Wednesday...a feeling that makes my heart flutter. Last night I was doing my economics homework (Econ, Mia!) and when I saw that I was on the last problem of the chapter, I could not help the smile that flitted across my face...I feel like a nerd a little bit...but it a really good way. Oh yeah...I've also had my first physics class, which was much less scary than I thought...and my professor is pretty funny, actually...I mean, the jokes that he makes are mostly physics or science related...but he's super. He kept doing things (like staring directly into the laser) and then telling us not to do that...but he kept doing it because he said he was already too "far gone for it to matter". I love geeks. There is also a crucifix in our Physics lab, a fact I think is so funny...even though this is a religious school, the Jesuits have a healthy view of science...but "everything under God" I suppose. I wonder if I can answer any of my physics questions with "Because of Jesus!"

The girl from the north country

Last night/this morning I went to bed at 5AM after reading my book AND watching "V for Vendetta" (which was wonderful)...and there was no snow on the ground. I woke up 5.5 hours later to a call from my Dad "You know this is all your fault" he said (sarcastically) into the phone. I pulled my head off the pillow and saw the fresh three inches of snow that had fallen in the time I was dreaming. Sure, the snow just followed me here. It's nice to see, thought...familiar. Last night was kind of a trip. I was in my pj's watching the movie when two girls (friends of the roomies) came in asking if there were any boys in the girls room. Confused, I said no, and they proceeded to push past me and barge into the bedroom, rousing one of the girls out of bed and screaming about a fight with a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. Tears and sreaming and traded cell phone calls went on for all of 10 minutes, until I (in the words of Scissorfight) "Put the Hammer Down"...demanding that anyone that didn't live in my house was to "...vacate the house before I get super pissed." It pays to be older sometimes. These girls were just wasted and after fighting with their boyfriends, decided to come over and find my roommates to fight with. I'm sure that's not the whole story, but I don't give a fuck...get out of my house when I'm trying to watch a movie. I'm not sure if this girl will remember what she did last night, but I'm not into drama in the casa. Speaking of which, here's a blurry-ish (sorry) picture of my new digs. I'm on the first floor, with three girls, and three more girls live upstairs from us. I'm in the student center again, blogging before I catch the bus to Hyde Park and hang in the bookstore, reading magazines...or I'll clean the bathroom...hmmm, which sounds more appealing?

A day of art...an evening with an adult

Today was really enjoyable. I woke up late and cleaned up after my roommates party. It's not going to become a habit, hope...the cleaning I mean, not the party...but it did give me the excuse to vacuum the place. Running the vacuum is like shaving my legs...soooooo enjoyable, especially when there's lots to get rid of. After enjoying another glorious meal courtesy of Xavier, I caught the bus for a quick ride into the city to meet the boy for an afternoon of art.I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the museum itself, but the show that we went to see was really wonderful (I thought)...albeit short and sweet....one of the things I liked best about the Charley Harper show was the actual way the pieces were displayed. Next to that show was a room of video and assemblage pieces from performance artists, piquing many conversations between the boy and I about what art really was. Surprisingly, he responded to the pieces that I thought were a bit passe...there were whole corners of the room piled high with discarded furniture...as we turned the corner, he said "now, I like this." and I stifled a giggle thinking that I could have saved time and just taken him to ReCycle North, or my apartment. As for the rest of the museum...well...there wasn't much to the rest of the museum. The CAC doesn't have a permanent gallery, and I guess the winter is not the time that the museum packs them in. I did drag him down to the basement to see a few moments of Warhol's film "Empire"...an eight hour single shot of the Empire State Building. We came in during the evening shot, so the only thing visible were the lights...and then every so often some random flashes, like satellites or something. I had heard so much about the film, I was, at first sort of let down by the screening...but then I found myself thinking about what the random lights meant...where were they coming from...and why did Warhol do this in the first place...all the questions Andy wanted me to think about. I wanted to stay longer. I also thought a lot about Tyrone and the rest of the sardines and remembered the Green Door Art Hop installation they did a few years ago. I miss those kids. After the movie, we went to the top floor to the UnMuseum...the interactive kids area, which actually had the coolest piece (I thought)...an elephant made of cloth with all sorts of drawers fit into the side...each drawer housing a unique diorama...right up Martha's alley! Once we had exhausted the contemporary art (it took all of 30 minutes) he suggested that we go to the top of the Carew Tower, the tallest building in Cincinnati, where the following pictures were taken. I used to work in the brown and black striped building...on the 19th floor. We stayed up on the roof for a while, sharing memories of downtown and talking about the past few years...and asking random questions of each other. Actually, he was asking lots of the questions...I was feeling a bit selfish, talking about myself and my past more that I was giving back to him. I must work on that. As we spoke, I noticed that my name had been scratched into the paint on the guardrail (click to enlarge...it's there, I swear.) Once the sun went down, the beautiful day became a beautiful but frosty evening, and we retired to the Palm Court for drinks... and then to a new chinese restaurant for dinner. Over drinks, he and I finally had a conversation about what had gone down between us in the last few months, which (I hope) cleared the air between us...I'm not going into details or anything...nor will I name names...but I think that after tonight, things will be a little easier between us. The thing I like best about this one is that he likes to talk and not just about himself or his feelings...he asks thoughtful questions and random ones as well. Should nuns and priests be allowed to marry? I'm not sure...but it's fun to debate. I suggested to him that we meet weekly just to hang out and talk...he seemed amenable to the suggestion, and we have tentative plans to go to the "regular" art museum next time. I got the feeling that Contemporary Art wasn't really his thing, but that's cool...classic artwork isn't my thing, but it beats sitting on my ass watching TV, which I am about to do tonight. My roommates and I still don't have cable, but they have a great movie selection and tonight I'm screening "V for Vendetta"...or I'll retire to my room and read my Econ. book. It's not as boring as it sounds! We're reading "Nickel and Dimed (On (not) Getting by in America)" and it's really enjoyable. I suggest that y'all read it, although it's depressing...in that it deals with the struggle of the working poor, which I related to, coming from my background in Burlington...no degree and working in high-stress minimum wage jobs...scraping by from paycheck to paycheck. Ugh. One of the other boys from the past just called me (at 12:30 AM) and demanded I come out with them...why couldn't they have called me earlier...when the goddamn bus is running? I can already hear Werner thinking "This is why you should be driving a car!" yeah yeah yeah...but parking is $13 and that's a bitch.