"the chef" written by Museumchick on estrip.org

Category: life

04/19/07 07:43 - 58ºF - ID#38963

the chef

Don't believe me when I say that I cook dishes like "Palak Paneer" and "navratan kurma" and "couscous". I can't cook worth anything. I honestly would like to, but I tend to make things implode (or is it explode?). I really just get those already prepared meals in a box at Wegmans, and I microwave them. It's cool to be able to tell people I make meals like that, though:).

I was able to register for classes for the fall. I wasn't able to get into one of the classes I was required to take, but I think I can get that worked out. I found out with the TA stuff that I don't have to teach any classes next year. I just grade papers and help students in large classes. I'm so glad that I don't actually have to teach my first year.

I'm taking:
American Cultural History of the 1950's
American Environmental History
The Politics of Memory (studying communist and fascist regimes)

I'm glad to be back in Buffalo. It's so warm out! Well, I probably better get back to work. I hope all of you will have a wonderful weekend.

Permalink: the_chef.html
Words: 193
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: albany

04/18/07 05:09 - 44ºF - ID#38943

so far

I'm in Albany right now. i went up there to put a few things in place with school. I really like it there, so far. The campus is very modern, but appealing looking. I went to Disability Services, and they were a huge help and were very nice. They have power scooters that people can use for the day anytime they need one. That would be a huge help, with the arthritis. Plus, they have adaptive technology so that I don't have to write by hand anymore. They gave me the lowdown on a lot of the university information I needed.

The one problem I've been having is finding housing. The entire campus housing is booked up already. I'm trying to find an apartment on the busline. I think I will find one okay, but it's kind of difficult being in Buffalo. Residence Life was disheartening to deal with, and the person we spoke with was pretty rude. Maybe she was having a tough day, though. I know it's not an easy job. Tommorow, I meet with my advisor to hopefully register for classes and find out more about the teaching job.

It was good to get away from everything. My Aunt and Uncle lives in Albany, and I went out to lunch with them and my parents. We went to this fancy chain restaurant called the Cheesecake Factory. I had never been there before. It was kind of pricy, but the food was good. Especially their key lime cheesecake:).

Permalink: so_far.html
Words: 250
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: news

04/16/07 02:10 - 37ºF - ID#38918

virgina shootings

You wonder what could lead someone to go on a shooting rampage that would kill dozens of innocent people. What inside their brain snaps? What leads them on a path like that? Are people who do something like that always mentally ill, or are some of them just evil?

vycious writes at 06:32:39 04/17/07 - Comment #17592: its obviously Take-Two and Rockstars fault for releasing Grand Theft Auto 4 this upcoming October.

metalpeter writes at 05:22:40 04/17/07 - Comment #17586: I just read an article on Yahoo's news page that says the Kid like never talked to anyone. When he signed a sign in sheet he put in a question mark. I guess he stalked a couple girls. In a writing class he wrote stuff that was very violant. Because of that he was sent into couciling. They found a note that said something out down with Riches and women. Assuming all of this is true. It sounds like he came from a working class enviroment and had a few serious issues. Then being in a place where there where people he didn't like and where he didn't feel he fit in maybe he just snaped. I'm not sure for how long this will lead to that article but for now it should. :::link:::

ladycroft writes at 03:57:33 04/17/07 - Comment #17585: let's start with: regardless if this girl cheated on him, it is not THE cause of this. there would be no reason for the deliberate selection of further victims. of course many crimes have no 'reason'. maybe he had an undiagnosed mental illness, maybe he was full of hate, it's only speculation because he's dead too.

human history has shown we are capable of incredible acts of horror, as well as incredible acts of selflessness. we witnessed both in this case.

it is saddening to have to use this as a prime source of learning concerning my degree, but it's the type of reality i know i'm going to face in the future. i have to do my best to learn from it.

jason writes at 08:51:11 04/17/07 - Comment #17568: Addendum - not that I 100% feel bad for the guy, but I've been in the place where a girl has gone behind my back, and I lost my mind too, the difference was I didn't get 2 9 mils and a vest full of ammo to go killing people.

jason writes at 08:50:23 04/17/07 - Comment #17567: A girl went behind his back, started seeing another guy, and the gunman SNAPPED LIKE A TWIG. Poor bastard, his guardian angel was asleep at the wheel!

brit writes at 06:05:27 04/16/07 - Comment #17557: I don't know what I would do if that was UB, one minute you're teaching then that happens and you feel so protective of your students, it's horrible beyond words

chico writes at 06:01:49 04/16/07 - Comment #17555: I have no idea what drives people to such depths, all I know is that I was practically physically sick reading a NYT article about it.
:::link:::

metalpeter writes at 05:35:13 04/16/07 - Comment #17554: On MSNBC's web page there was a claim that one of the women was his Ex. What the guys life was like at sometime may give us a clue. I'm kinda hoping that he left something like a video telling what caused this. Sometimes people all ready have violent thoughts or actions and then something pushes them over the Edge. Sometimes someone is mocked or bullied and teased so they strike back. My guess is that the only people who may know why where all killed. Reason I say that is the one thing a read said he wasn't shooting randomly he was aiming so it could be that he had a hit list, but who knows.

Permalink: virgina_shootings.html
Words: 49
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: dating

04/15/07 08:55 - 33ºF - ID#38896

i wish...

I talked to the boy for a few minutes last night. He called me during a break on the Sabres game. That meant a lot to me. Usually, the hockey game is always a sacred time for him, not to be interrupted by anything. He sounded happy for me when I told him Albany- he was supportive about it.

I wish i could have been able to really talk to him about it as far as us goes. I probably won't have a chance for awhile, because he's so busy with everything. He has to write forty pages worth of papers for college, he has paperwork from his business, all kinds of crazy stuff. Which I understand, and feel bad for him about.

What's hard is that I know there is no possibility for a long distance thing. I didn't have the chance to talk to him about it. One of the first times I ever hungout with him, he had told me that he would never do a long-distance relationship with someone again. He's told me that numerous times since. He had a really bad experience in the past with someone he loved in which he was in a long-distance relationship with. I may want it, but it would be unrealistic of me to think it would even work if he actually wanted it.

I am really happy for all these good things coming up in my life, but the thought of not having him with me hurts so much.

Permalink: i_wish_.html
Words: 251
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: books and writing

04/13/07 10:39 - 33ºF - ID#38877

Vonnegut

All time is all time. It does not change. It does not lend itself to warnings or explanations. It simply is. Take it moment by moment, and you will find that we are all, as I've said before, bugs in amber.
Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse V

My friend sent this to me:

(Thank you guys for all the encouraging comments on the last entry! I really appreciate it).

Permalink: Vonnegut.html
Words: 69
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: albany

04/12/07 02:46 - 47ºF - ID#38860

Albany

I just got an email today from SUNY Albany. They just offered me a teaching assistantship that opened up. Three years of financial support from the department, plus my tuition is paid for. I also get health insurance. I teach a class or two a semester.

I can't believe it... I'm just shocked. I'm so excited to have the chance to get the doctorate, and to teach. I can't wait.

The hard part is going to be leaving Buffalo. I'm going to miss the city a lot, and especially miss all my friends here. That's the part that makes my heart ache. I'm 24, but I've only ever lived in Jamestown and Buffalo. I'm not leaving Buffalo till the end of the summer, though. I'm going to finish up my thesis, and work at central library for awhile.

Wow, I feel so wierd... but so happy at the same time.

james writes at 02:51:16 04/13/07 - Comment #17485: From a former Albanian:

They have an amazing food coop. Not like our fake one. You will love it.

Diners: so many diners! near washington and Lark. These are the kind of places that inspired Hopper.

Lark st: A new bar opens every month. A bar closes every month. There is a constant rotation of neat little dives. There is a wine bar in a cellar store front. It will look like a hole in the wall but their wine list is top notch, the music is great, and did I mention the wine list?

NYC and Montreal are not that far away. Stalk Leonard Cohen, I know you want to.

The museum in North Adams, MA is about 40 minutes away and is the best little MOMA you never heard of.

To get the feel for Albany, rent to movie Ironweed. Jack Nicolson, Glen Close, and Tom Waits play drunk, homeless people in Albany during the great depression. It is based off a novel of the same name by Albany's own William Kenedy. The movie is a little somber, but it is a great cultural relic in understanding Albany.

Say hello to my old home for me.

ladycroft writes at 02:35:16 04/13/07 - Comment #17478: yay- hurray for you! what i like to say to most people on an upcoming move, don't view it as leaving anything or anyone behind; view it as finding something and someone new! life is an adventure, have fun with it!

leetee writes at 01:25:29 04/13/07 - Comment #17470: Coolness. And congrats. I hope it is everything you want it to be and more! I am sure you will do well!! Don't forget to keep in touch with us here! :O)

chico writes at 10:21:01 04/12/07 - Comment #17450: Congratulations! And good luck.

I have a friend who teaches in the Political Science department at SUNY Albany -- if you like I can reach out to him for advice to someone who is moving to Albany for grad school. :)

mike writes at 07:22:49 04/12/07 - Comment #17444: Congratulations!

anne writes at 06:48:16 04/12/07 - Comment #17440: Congratulations! Albany has some nice things to offer. Try to get to the Adirondacks sometime, they are simply amazing. Not THAT close...maybe an hour and a half, two hours...but worth the trip, if you like that stuff, and even if you don't.

matthew writes at 03:58:40 04/12/07 - Comment #17426: Congrats!

carolinian writes at 03:41:46 04/12/07 - Comment #17425: Knock'em dead.

theecarey writes at 03:01:55 04/12/07 - Comment #17421: Thats seems to be an awesome deal! congrats!

and Albany is still close enough for your friends to come see you or you can venture out to B-lo whenever you have free time ;)

jason writes at 02:50:29 04/12/07 - Comment #17419: Well done, (e:Museumchick). It sounds like too good of a deal to pass up. Sounds like it leaves you pretty much able to focus on your work and your teaching.

Permalink: Albany.html
Words: 149
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: buffalo

04/10/07 06:58 - 41ºF - ID#38841

Rust Belt

Oh, I forgot to mention that I stopped into Rust Belt Books today. I had never been there before. It's really awesome! A lot of great used books at good prices. It seems to have some unique kinds of books that you wouldn't normally find elsewhere.

Permalink: Rust_Belt.html
Words: 46
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life, work

04/10/07 06:50 - 41ºF - ID#38840

working

I went on two job interviews today, and they both went well. I was hired at the first job I went to, which was a telemarketing job. It pays decent, but not something I really want to do all that much. Still, it's good to have it as an option.

The second job interview was at central library, for a part-time assistant position. That's the job I am still waiting to hear about, and the one I hope I can get (I'm not really sure if I will be hired, though). It pays a little less than the telemarketing job, but it has more opportunities for advancement and promotion. I might be able to get promoted to work as an assistant with local history/archives. Plus, I just think it would be fun to work in the library.

Both positions would start at the beginning of May, so I am going to use the next couple of weeks to crunch down on finishing up my thesis as much as possible.

I was rejected at the doctoral program at UB. I think what I am going to do is defer admission to the SUNY Albany program for a semester or maybe a year, save up some money to live on and reapply for an assistantship, and then possibly go. Or maybe apply to UB law for next year. I'm interested a lot in different facets of activist law, as well as cultural and intellectual property law.

So that's my version of a boring update:).

Permalink: working.html
Words: 253
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: thoughts

03/30/07 01:39 - 53ºF - ID#38696

guilty

Do you ever find yourself looking up blogs of people that you've had a falling out with over the years? A kind of morbid curiousity that you can't shake, even though you feel guilty about? Even though they have made their entries public, you still feel like your intruding on something that you shouldn't read.

museumchick writes at 01:50:10 04/07/07 - Comment #17217: Thanks for everyone's imput! I really appreciate it.

mike writes at 11:34:55 03/31/07 - Comment #17012: i totally know what you mean!

carolinian writes at 11:18:12 03/30/07 - Comment #17007: I think it's probably natural to be curious about the current lives of those who've hurt you in the past. I myself frequent myspace from time to time to see what the jocks who gave me so much BS in high school are doing with their lives, and look to see how my life compares with theirs. It's that sick morbid curiousity you feel when you drive past a really awful care accident where you shouldn't look but you just want to.

And sometimes, it does seem that the people you check out are leading the perfect life, where they have the beautiful wedding and beautiful spouses and 2.5 kids. But it's also possible that the what looks like to perfection to us on the outside might be very screwed up on the inside, and eventually the messed up part of themselves that hurt us rears its ugly head in their lives. Occasionally people do change, and if they do change for the better, take comfort in the fact that in order for them to really change, at some point they had to admit to themselves that the way they treated you and others was wrong.

metalpeter writes at 06:56:42 03/30/07 - Comment #17005: Ok I'm not a shirnk but I can sometimes analyze people. I say that if you fell out with them and are looking them up then that means you still care about them. That doesn't mean you want to be buddies, lovers, friends or family again. It just means you still care about them. Now sometimes it could be that you still hate them and wish them bad things and are hoping you find that on there blog but I doubt that is the case. There is nothing wrong with reading what they write. But the question you need to answer for yourself is why are you reading it. It could be fore a number of reasons like I said maybe you do care if they are ok, or maybe you are hoping that there entire world has fallen apart. Or maybe you are considering trying to fix what ever was broken. What ever the reason it isn't bad to read there blog. I guess the after you look into your true motivations you may want to consider saying something on there blog or you may not want to.