So currently, I am at the ACPA conference, which is a higher education conference for student affairs professionals of all sorts. I'm in Louisville, KY and having a blast driving down with Cali Foodie, Dandy Woo, and Tough Southern Belle. We met up with Powder Climber, Frenchie's Choice, and eventually Tall Bear and have been exploring the downtown area in between our early sessions. This is shaping up to be a great trip and I'm having fun seeing at how strong the friendships we've begun building really have become. All teasing, joking, and snarky comments aside, I'm stoked to be here with these amazing people and missing those who could not join us this week.
Speaking of great friendships, and in light of my recent EPIC FAIL of trying to thank all the people involved in making my trip back home a success on Facebook, I've been reflecting on how much I take for granted, even if I'm trying not to. Moments where I can sit and banter with King Wrangler, or when Red Button and I agree on something Pokeboss doesn't and then in the very next topic sides switch while Captain Peanut and Shyly Sue watch amusedly. My sister guilt tripping me for being antisocial by reading a book, only to continue reading and pass teasing remarks alongside my brother without looking up from the page. Listening to Brock say something random and terrible and then feel really bad because Mama Goldfish was offended on behalf of the victim and five minutes later hearing Mama G go "Dammit James" because I did something like drop ice down her back. Dungeon Daddy and I both facepalming and laughing hysterically at the same time because Heavy Spy said something completely stupid and hilarious. These juxtapositions, these random exchanges, these snapshot moments are what make my life feel so full and complete. And words cannot express my thanks for all those friends and loved ones that make these things possible.
So while I go network, reconnect with folks and enjoy my conference, I also take solace that while I miss home and await future moments like these, I'm also making more in a non-exclusive ever-growing pool of life's blessings.
I think that's all I have to say. More to follow soon. Also know I'm keeping a blog of ACPA, but I may not publish it. Feel free to ask about it if you are interested.
-JTY
Reading: Hunger Games, all done. So good. I understand peoples complaints but I still enjoyed it. On to the movie.
Listening to: Cover bands in the bar area near the Louisville International Convention Center
Playing: Draw Something on my phone!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Friday, March 23, 2012
Spring Break Adventure Time
As is testament by this second extremely late blog, I'm on vacation. As this will be my last true break until late July, I opted to head home for brief but wonderful in-person time with some of my friends and family. As I write this I'm now back in OH, so here's both a recap of my adventures and an apology to the many folks I did not get a chance to see.
In no particular order, let's start with family time. As I was going back and forth all over the place, I saw my family two separate times. First, I made it to Tia Favorita's birthday dinner with my entire family including my grandparents, Cheeky Monkey, Drew Jules York and his gf Kirbs. We all laughed as my mom and aunt drank caipirinhas at the Cuban restaurant and as my grandparents instinctively spoke Spanish to the waiter even though he definitely didn't know what they were saying. The place was in a hipster anti-mall, so we also enjoyed making fun of that and how the music playing faintly (Florence + The Machine and Killers and Muse among others) didn't count as hipster because those bands are now well known. It's the little moments you remember: Cheeky Monkey and I randomly having a stirring contest with our straws. Drew pulling Cheeky's cup away as she tries to drink. Cheeky betting Drew he can't drink out of six cups at once and then watching him do it. Yeah... good times.
I also hung out with the family on other nights. I had an only child evening when my sibs were gone and my folks and I had sushi at one of those places with the conveyor belt. Also saw my sisters new house that she splits with a few friends. What did the three of us do while there? Play games with each other on our phones which was actually really fun. So yea, definitely a highlight of the trip seeing the family. My mom, who knew I was coming, still got teary eyed seeing me. Guess Ohio is further than we thought.
Now people who didn't know I was coming included Brock and everyone in la familia except Mama Goldfish. So when I suddenly showed up at my old apartment, knocked, and found the door open and Brock door closed, I was afraid my surprise might be turned on me. In a fitting reunion, I found Brock in his underwear after just waking up from a midday nap but still very happy to see me. We caught up and joined Mama G, AVP, Kareem, Bridges, Settler Type and the other visitors: Jordan and Penny from Georgia for a night of St. Patrick's Day festivities at a pre-determined NON-IRISH bar to keep the crowds down. It was a nice reunion where we had Hawaiian food (snuck in from a nearby eatery) Jameson (well they had green Stella and Guinness) and a lovely time. They even played quarters with me, those silly fools. We also had a nice brunch the next morning. Noone got too drunk, everyone had a blast. We must be getting older hehe.
I did scavenge a few Brock quotes for your viewing pleasure:
"Oh, is it too early for words?"
"Don't worry. all the midgets were employed as leprechauns yesterday."
And my favorite" I have this app on my phone. It's the Bible. But it's always updating. I'm like, AREN'T YOU ALREADY FINISHED??"
I also spent a brief bit of time at the University. I spent the night at Naysayer P Squirrel's apartment and besides getting some catch up time with him both at lunches and in the evenings, I saw my old boss Santa Claus and a few other coworkers. And of course, I spent some good times with Pokeboss, Red Button, Captain Peanut, Shyly Sue Hoo, GoGo Co 2.0, Shy Rider, King Wrangler, Britney Bell, and Nobel Dancer. I even briefly saw Royal Rose and Hungry Brawler (I know I know, you are all now looking at the cast of characters to remember who I'm talking about). Red Button Nobel Dancer and Pokeboss took me (well I drove them but still) to a new restaurant near University that serves awesome pizza and has one of those futuristic Coke machines with a million flavors. So gooooodddd. We also had Awesome Burger Chain (I ended up eating there three times over my weeklong trip!). We also hit up the bars, which since they are older and I don't supervise them, was quite fun. Between their amusing variances in tolerance, jumbling towers, dominos and gossip we were probably really funny to watch. I'm not sure if life and love advice are best given under alcoholic influence, but interesting phenomenon, that tends to happen more in those situations...
Other highlights including: Disneyland with Heavy Spy and Dungeon Daddy, homecooked food with my grandparents, lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants with Tenshi, bar hopping with Drew, Kareem, Mama G, and Dungeon Daddy, and book shopping at my old haunt back home, alone simply enjoying being in California. Also, I checked, the Pacific Ocean is still there. I was getting worried. Overall a very fast, terribly fun, drama-free, smooth, happy trip home, my last one until after China. Sorry to all of those I didn't see or tell I was coming, it was kind of a last minute surprise trip.
For now, that's all I shall write about as I owe another blog in two days. Gotta get back into the swing of things.
-JTY
Reading: Hunger Games- Very enjoyable so far. I'm on Book Three! And I basically started on Tuesday. Gotta get my pleasure reading down in time.
Listening to: New Born- Muse, heard Muse a bit more on the radios back home. I miss them. Therefore, this is my mood tonight.
Playing: League and TOR though I almost picked up Demon Souls again....
In no particular order, let's start with family time. As I was going back and forth all over the place, I saw my family two separate times. First, I made it to Tia Favorita's birthday dinner with my entire family including my grandparents, Cheeky Monkey, Drew Jules York and his gf Kirbs. We all laughed as my mom and aunt drank caipirinhas at the Cuban restaurant and as my grandparents instinctively spoke Spanish to the waiter even though he definitely didn't know what they were saying. The place was in a hipster anti-mall, so we also enjoyed making fun of that and how the music playing faintly (Florence + The Machine and Killers and Muse among others) didn't count as hipster because those bands are now well known. It's the little moments you remember: Cheeky Monkey and I randomly having a stirring contest with our straws. Drew pulling Cheeky's cup away as she tries to drink. Cheeky betting Drew he can't drink out of six cups at once and then watching him do it. Yeah... good times.
I also hung out with the family on other nights. I had an only child evening when my sibs were gone and my folks and I had sushi at one of those places with the conveyor belt. Also saw my sisters new house that she splits with a few friends. What did the three of us do while there? Play games with each other on our phones which was actually really fun. So yea, definitely a highlight of the trip seeing the family. My mom, who knew I was coming, still got teary eyed seeing me. Guess Ohio is further than we thought.
Now people who didn't know I was coming included Brock and everyone in la familia except Mama Goldfish. So when I suddenly showed up at my old apartment, knocked, and found the door open and Brock door closed, I was afraid my surprise might be turned on me. In a fitting reunion, I found Brock in his underwear after just waking up from a midday nap but still very happy to see me. We caught up and joined Mama G, AVP, Kareem, Bridges, Settler Type and the other visitors: Jordan and Penny from Georgia for a night of St. Patrick's Day festivities at a pre-determined NON-IRISH bar to keep the crowds down. It was a nice reunion where we had Hawaiian food (snuck in from a nearby eatery) Jameson (well they had green Stella and Guinness) and a lovely time. They even played quarters with me, those silly fools. We also had a nice brunch the next morning. Noone got too drunk, everyone had a blast. We must be getting older hehe.
I did scavenge a few Brock quotes for your viewing pleasure:
"Oh, is it too early for words?"
"Don't worry. all the midgets were employed as leprechauns yesterday."
And my favorite" I have this app on my phone. It's the Bible. But it's always updating. I'm like, AREN'T YOU ALREADY FINISHED??"
I also spent a brief bit of time at the University. I spent the night at Naysayer P Squirrel's apartment and besides getting some catch up time with him both at lunches and in the evenings, I saw my old boss Santa Claus and a few other coworkers. And of course, I spent some good times with Pokeboss, Red Button, Captain Peanut, Shyly Sue Hoo, GoGo Co 2.0, Shy Rider, King Wrangler, Britney Bell, and Nobel Dancer. I even briefly saw Royal Rose and Hungry Brawler (I know I know, you are all now looking at the cast of characters to remember who I'm talking about). Red Button Nobel Dancer and Pokeboss took me (well I drove them but still) to a new restaurant near University that serves awesome pizza and has one of those futuristic Coke machines with a million flavors. So gooooodddd. We also had Awesome Burger Chain (I ended up eating there three times over my weeklong trip!). We also hit up the bars, which since they are older and I don't supervise them, was quite fun. Between their amusing variances in tolerance, jumbling towers, dominos and gossip we were probably really funny to watch. I'm not sure if life and love advice are best given under alcoholic influence, but interesting phenomenon, that tends to happen more in those situations...
Other highlights including: Disneyland with Heavy Spy and Dungeon Daddy, homecooked food with my grandparents, lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants with Tenshi, bar hopping with Drew, Kareem, Mama G, and Dungeon Daddy, and book shopping at my old haunt back home, alone simply enjoying being in California. Also, I checked, the Pacific Ocean is still there. I was getting worried. Overall a very fast, terribly fun, drama-free, smooth, happy trip home, my last one until after China. Sorry to all of those I didn't see or tell I was coming, it was kind of a last minute surprise trip.
For now, that's all I shall write about as I owe another blog in two days. Gotta get back into the swing of things.
-JTY
Reading: Hunger Games- Very enjoyable so far. I'm on Book Three! And I basically started on Tuesday. Gotta get my pleasure reading down in time.
Listening to: New Born- Muse, heard Muse a bit more on the radios back home. I miss them. Therefore, this is my mood tonight.
Playing: League and TOR though I almost picked up Demon Souls again....
Monday, March 12, 2012
Cohort Days
Sorry for the late blog. Between finals week and spring break starting, I haven't been able to spend time procrastinating like I usually do. This week just happened to be the week of edits also, with several applications, cover letters, resumes and the like for several friends. I love helping out it just means blog time is less of a priority.
I often get the question of "How's Ohio" and I don't always know how to answer that. Generally we talk about the weather, since people asking me often experience weather differently. Like how we've had several fluke 70 degree days. Or how its raining then sunny then threatening to snow. Or maybe how the people here are nice but really can't drive. Or how "classes are going fine". Those are all general icebreaker-like conversations. But I think in some sense people are going, well how do you spend your day? How do you have fun?
Generally I spend my day at work in the business college conducting mock interviews, resume workshops, and job hunt tips and in class for a couple hours. Topics include social justice, student development theory, organizational theory, international affairs and the history of higher education. Classes are lecture discussions and you have to do the reading, which lately I do bits and pieces of on Sundays and Mondays or when I need to cite things in papers.
Naturally, you're now bored and ready for me to tell you the more interesting things I do. Well for one thing, as grad students we don't stay out as late as I used to before grad school. I have yet to be in a bar at closing and typically I'm back home by 1 at the latest. Board games have become a pretty big deal around here. A bottle of wine and a new board game is a great way to pass the night with friends. Just the other night, myself, Powder Climber, Tall Bear and Hopeful Introspective tried out Cardmaster Cider's new game Small World. Add to our library games like Dominion, Seven Wonders, Blockus, Settlers of Catan and many many more and you see we don't play your run of the mill board games either. Intellectually challenging games with rules sometimes so complicated you need a Youtube video is more our style. They payoff is high, though Tall Bear does deliberate a bit too much on EVERY turn for our tastes. He's a good sport to our teasing so I gets it balances out.
We also go to an apartment party every once in a while, usually hosted by Judicator Brewskie and his roommates in the self-dubbed Cohort Apartment. We had one such party last weekend and while theres the usual gang of 5-7 of us that try to attend most big events, theres always new faces that make to one or the other. One of our cohort members showed up before I arrived simply to show off her new engagement ring, as her longtime boyfriend proposed that day. These types of parties also let us meet significant others visiting in town and see the people with whom we have class together several times a week in a more relaxed setting. Naturally, we still have a bunch of stupid and then heavy conversations, like our religious dissection followed by how we are going to have to drink a lot in China (apparently wagon wheeling is a welcoming tradition).
We also have other random get togethers, like on Tuesday when we watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers because both myself and Tough Southern Belle were humming "March comes in like a lion, what else..." in class and realized many of us enjoyed the musical. So we went to her and Dandy Woo's house along with Frenchie's Choice, Powder Climber, CC, and Hopeful Introspective to have a romp-roaring time with the show, complete with wine and popcorn and homemade cinnamon roll ball things.
CC, Powder and I have taken advantage of the sun by playing Can Jam, where you try to throw a frisbee into a trash can sized goal. We have also gone restaurant exploring, based on some recommendations for Cali Foodie. We probably shouldn't eat out as much as we have, but theres something about finals week and then spring break coupled with sunshine that just makes you want to be out and about. In California, when it rains randomly, people just kinda of stop whatever it is they are doing and hole up inside on account of the weather. Same thing happens in Ohio, except when it's sunny and people go outside.
I had one, you-know-youre-a-grad-student when moment as I sat on a bench outside eating Chipotle in one hand while grading papers for the class I TA for in the other. It was just one of those picturesque grad student moments.
So yea, that's a bit of what its like out here. We have a conference coming up after spring break, so it'll be road trip time with Dandy Woo and Cali Food (may my sanity survive) as we head to Louisville for the ACPA conference. More on that after it happens. Til then I plan on hitting the bars tonight to celebrate the official start of spring break before people begin heading to their various destinations for the next week.
I'll do my best to update on time next week, but I am on vacation so the motivation is going to be lessened. Happy weeks to all of you and beware the Ides of March!
-JTY
Listening to: Spring, Spring, Spring- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Writing about the play got it stuck in my head.
Reading: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer- It occurred to me I can read for pleasure again!
Playing: Mostly league of legends with dashes of TOR thrown in there with my brother.
I often get the question of "How's Ohio" and I don't always know how to answer that. Generally we talk about the weather, since people asking me often experience weather differently. Like how we've had several fluke 70 degree days. Or how its raining then sunny then threatening to snow. Or maybe how the people here are nice but really can't drive. Or how "classes are going fine". Those are all general icebreaker-like conversations. But I think in some sense people are going, well how do you spend your day? How do you have fun?
Generally I spend my day at work in the business college conducting mock interviews, resume workshops, and job hunt tips and in class for a couple hours. Topics include social justice, student development theory, organizational theory, international affairs and the history of higher education. Classes are lecture discussions and you have to do the reading, which lately I do bits and pieces of on Sundays and Mondays or when I need to cite things in papers.
Naturally, you're now bored and ready for me to tell you the more interesting things I do. Well for one thing, as grad students we don't stay out as late as I used to before grad school. I have yet to be in a bar at closing and typically I'm back home by 1 at the latest. Board games have become a pretty big deal around here. A bottle of wine and a new board game is a great way to pass the night with friends. Just the other night, myself, Powder Climber, Tall Bear and Hopeful Introspective tried out Cardmaster Cider's new game Small World. Add to our library games like Dominion, Seven Wonders, Blockus, Settlers of Catan and many many more and you see we don't play your run of the mill board games either. Intellectually challenging games with rules sometimes so complicated you need a Youtube video is more our style. They payoff is high, though Tall Bear does deliberate a bit too much on EVERY turn for our tastes. He's a good sport to our teasing so I gets it balances out.
We also go to an apartment party every once in a while, usually hosted by Judicator Brewskie and his roommates in the self-dubbed Cohort Apartment. We had one such party last weekend and while theres the usual gang of 5-7 of us that try to attend most big events, theres always new faces that make to one or the other. One of our cohort members showed up before I arrived simply to show off her new engagement ring, as her longtime boyfriend proposed that day. These types of parties also let us meet significant others visiting in town and see the people with whom we have class together several times a week in a more relaxed setting. Naturally, we still have a bunch of stupid and then heavy conversations, like our religious dissection followed by how we are going to have to drink a lot in China (apparently wagon wheeling is a welcoming tradition).
We also have other random get togethers, like on Tuesday when we watched Seven Brides for Seven Brothers because both myself and Tough Southern Belle were humming "March comes in like a lion, what else..." in class and realized many of us enjoyed the musical. So we went to her and Dandy Woo's house along with Frenchie's Choice, Powder Climber, CC, and Hopeful Introspective to have a romp-roaring time with the show, complete with wine and popcorn and homemade cinnamon roll ball things.
CC, Powder and I have taken advantage of the sun by playing Can Jam, where you try to throw a frisbee into a trash can sized goal. We have also gone restaurant exploring, based on some recommendations for Cali Foodie. We probably shouldn't eat out as much as we have, but theres something about finals week and then spring break coupled with sunshine that just makes you want to be out and about. In California, when it rains randomly, people just kinda of stop whatever it is they are doing and hole up inside on account of the weather. Same thing happens in Ohio, except when it's sunny and people go outside.
I had one, you-know-youre-a-grad-student when moment as I sat on a bench outside eating Chipotle in one hand while grading papers for the class I TA for in the other. It was just one of those picturesque grad student moments.
So yea, that's a bit of what its like out here. We have a conference coming up after spring break, so it'll be road trip time with Dandy Woo and Cali Food (may my sanity survive) as we head to Louisville for the ACPA conference. More on that after it happens. Til then I plan on hitting the bars tonight to celebrate the official start of spring break before people begin heading to their various destinations for the next week.
I'll do my best to update on time next week, but I am on vacation so the motivation is going to be lessened. Happy weeks to all of you and beware the Ides of March!
-JTY
Listening to: Spring, Spring, Spring- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Writing about the play got it stuck in my head.
Reading: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Slayer- It occurred to me I can read for pleasure again!
Playing: Mostly league of legends with dashes of TOR thrown in there with my brother.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Penance
I had the opportunity to go to confession today. As part of my penance, the priest asked me to write down ten things I was grateful for. He said, and I agree, that with gratitude, we can appreciate the blessings in our life and not be so tempted toward sin. While I am grateful for more than just ten things, I thought I would publicly share these things with everyone.
I am thankful for my family. My brother, my sister, my mom and dad, who support me, love me, and root for my success in all I do, as i do for them.
I am blessed to have this educational opportunity, paid for by my assistantship. An advanced education is such a gift.
I am thankful for Mass. I t is my spiritual recharge and helps me keep the important things in perspective.
I am thankful for technology. The phone i'm using for this list. Skype to stay in touch with people. Word processors for my huge papers this week. The internet that binds me to so many.
I am thankful for my health, Lord. Even as I battle this cold, I know I have been blessed with an able body and good health.
I am grateful for the weather. Tha random but pretty snow flurries today. The beautiful 70 degree leap day where I could play frisbee outside. The rain that refreshes, the winds that humble us.
I am thankful for my gift and love of writing, to crank out a paper, to compose a poem, to write a blog, or to edit the many resumes I looked at this week. Thank you God for this universal blessing.
I am thankful for all my friends, here in columbus, in california and around the country, especially those who I talk to so frequently and who keep me sane and let me voice random thoughts out loud, or tease them in affection.
I am thankful for the opportunities i've had to travel. I think of my upcoming china trip, where i've been a representative of osu to a chinese delegation here and will continue to this summer in Wuhan. I think also of trips like my last one to Rome, where I last had a very powerful and spiritual confession.
Lastly im thankful for Lent, where God is helping enrich and transform my life, one day at a time. May this be a week of love, humility, and prayer.
Amen.
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