wallowing in misery

I think I'm going to go buy a lottery ticket and then wish on a fountain. Maybe I can win enough money to pay for grad school. So I've been wallowing in my misery since I realized that YET another newspapers that is potentially interested in me is no longer because I can't work at night. This is seriously sad. I mean, the only job that I am actually really well trained for conflicts with the classes that will get me really well trained in another career -- with the main goal that I will do both in 2 years.

So maybe this lottery idea isn't so farfetched.

By the way, I saw "12 Angry Men" recently, and it's made me look at juries in a new way. You should watch it, too. It is a fantastic movie. The premise of the film is that one member of a 12-men jury in a murder trial convinces the other to consider all the evidence and witnesses before delivering their gut-verdict -- guilty. It's not really what happens in the film that matters, it's the characters in the film and the way the film is done that makes it superior. So I'm no film critic and, as my lack of reporting career as shown, I am also no writer, but this is an excellent movie that you should watch. Go rent it now. Add it to your Netflix queue. Go! :)

stuff!

I'm looking for a job in Boston that would fit my class schedule, and it's nearly impossible. Considering that classes start at 4 PM, it makes it hard to find a 9-5 gig and it's not possible to work a night copy desk. Or ... any copy desk. It makes me sad. :(

On other note, I found this story in the Boston Globe a while back, when I was procrastinating during end of classes/study days/exam week, and it's quite interesting. It's about how clothing companies are catching on to the female psyche and changing the dress sizes to fit.

Also, another story that I happened upon is that one scientist, one philospher and one farmer agreed that in the eternal question of which came first, the chicken or the egg ... it is the egg.

For the first time since I can remember (maybe the first time ever), I won't be in the South for hurricane season. I take it as a good thing. On the other hand, I will be in the Northeast for winter, which is a scary thought. :/

reading about Boston stuff

OK. I am well aware that what I am about to link is of questionable/skeptical quality. But I think it's fascinating and there is probably some grain of truth in it.

I was reading up some weird Boston stuff on the Web (like I did (and still do) with London a year ago), and I found this site with Boston word pronunciation and vernacular. It's extremely interesting/entertaining.

I'm also trying to figure out exactly which parts of the city is flooded and which ones aren't or if the city itself is flooded at all. It seems to me that the worst areas had been confined to the suburbs near the coast, but then, not really knowing the city, I'm probably completely wrong.

I never really liked horses....

But this whole Barbaro situation is sad. :( I kept hearing/reading that many horses that have such injuries are euthanized, but I kinda don't get it. It's a broken leg, why such a drastic measure?

Here are some scary X-Ray photos of Barbaro's leg.

yippee.

The grades tell me that I am an official USC graduate now. The diploma "should" be in the mail. Woohoo!

done ...

Well, I took my last final (media law), but I still can't be sure I'm officially done with college until I get my grades for that class. So I can't celebrate until I get my final grade. Or cry. Whichever is the case. That final was HARD. :(

je ne comprend pas

I've had this conversation with several of my guy friends, and the answer is always the same ... but it's worth writing about anyway:

Me: when I "grow up," I am going to adopt kids ... 2 girls! (or something to this effect) (and recently, those girls have been named Lorem and Dolor .... if you're a fellow newspaper nerd, you know what this means)
Guy friend: no way! There is NO WAY I'm having girls.
Me: Whyever not? Girls are so cute!
Guy friend: because I know what guys are thinking! If I have a daughter, I will KILL EVERY GUY ON THE PLANET WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH HER!!!!!
Me: but ....
Guy friend's friend and other buddies: ME TOO!
Me: ....
Guy friend and buddies: BUT if I have a SON, I/we will teach them about girls.
Me: .... so basically, my daughters need to stay away from your sons .... and I will wish all of you to have daughters.

... I love my guy friends. Funny, confused, so smart and worldly about child-raising. :)

Boston!!!!!

I went to Boston over the weekend for Boston College's open house -- more specifically, to its funding forum to find a job/assistantship/internship to fund this little education.

My flight out of LAX was at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, and true to form, I was there waaay early. But never fear, as my friend James called me while I was searching for a hairbrush in the giftshop (one of the things I always forget to pack) and told me that he hit an old lady and her car (both are apparently fine) with his Michigan rental car .... as a 21-year-old rental car driver. On the bright side, HE GOT THE JOB!!! The people in the store must've thought I was crazy when I heard the news. So incredibly happy for him. :) You should read the paper! It's the Adrian Daily Telegram, a bit outside of Ann Arbor. He'll be covering education (school districts, colleges, etc.).

I arrived at Logan International around 10 p.m. and called the hotel (Four Points by Sheraton ... yay for accumulating points) to pick me up and they couldn't find me! "Couldn't find me" ... my ass. I was the girl with luggage in the arrivals area with an obviously out-of-town USC sweathirt on. Apparently, they went upstairs ... where the departures are. Now, tell me, why would I be at departure when I am staying at a hotel?!?!?!

After I called three times (once to tell them I'm here, another after 25 minutes ... another after 30 minutes) .... they finally "found" me. I got to the hotel around midnight.

I heart the T, by the way. Especially compared to LA's metro system .... well, anything is better than LA's metro system.

Boston College is GORGEOUS, albeit with weird green roofs and a crazily laid-out campus. I'm pretty sure I got lost at least once.

I know this whole "open house" thing is made to make people LOVE BC (being on many a admissions panel myself), but it really made me think that I made the right decision for the right reasons. It was touch-and-go for a while there, before I sent in the deposit.

There were several possibilities for jobs -- I'm really hoping to intern at the Chestnut Hill School -- it's a private elementary school near BC and the recruiter lady seemed REALLY nice. We'll see what happens. I'm also going to apply to be a substitute teacher during the school year ... they get paid pretty well, so that's gonna help a bit.

After the open house, I hung out with my friend Andre from Tampa (remember?) and had great fun. I think I laughed and destressed more than I had in a really long while. By the way, MIT has an awesome student center. I'm jealous. >:( I also made some (but not enough!) flash cards while his frat had its beach party in the basement ... I kept falling asleep and couldn't get any work done ... plus mom started calling me about storage questions .... and my resident called about move-out inspections .... and I fell asleep .... and woke up and read about copyright .... and fell asleep -- apparently "fair use" and the "sunshine act" weren't too fascinating with jet lag and very little sleep and a day of pushing my hire-ability.

Leaving Boston Sunday morning (7:20 AM! with no sleep, what with celebrating Andre's friend Nick's birthday and the KS party that I didn't go to) was really sad. :*(

But Boston was AMAZING and I can't wait for June 26!!!!!! :D

By the way .... I'm in the middle of finals, so don't expect too much of me for the next 2 weeks.

Currently listening to on repeat: "Amsterdam" by Guster. :)

it's done.

My four-year/eight-semester tenure at the Daily Trojan is over. In a way, I think it's time anyway; I was getting really cynical and bitter, and it's good that someone else is taking over. :) But it's been a huge part (some might say the entirety) of my life at USC, and I'm going to definitely miss it.

Today, I've also turned in my decline form to USC Rossier. I mailed my acceptance form and deposit to Boston College. So unless I don't graduate in 2 weeks, I'm going to be in Boston from the end of July until winter 2007, at least.

I also got my cap and gown from the bookstore today with my gift certificate that Mona gave to the senior editors. It's a good investment of the money, I think.

Today, I also set up my Alumni Association account and my permant alumni forwarding e-mail. So that's done.

So many things got done today in terms of finishing up my college career, but as sad as it might seem, it's time.

Boston, HERE I COME!

almost there

I'm almost decided where I want to go -- Boston. The thing is, though, if I'm going for the right reason. I see it as a fulfillment of a dream, but what else is pulling me there? Am I going to regret this down the road when I can't find a job in Massachusetts?

I'm going to Boston Friday to the BC Lynch School Open House to attempt to find a job to fund this endeavor. Either way, though, I'm almost there.

there is a decision to be made

Just because I got into my top choice doesn't mean I am guaranteed to be able to go. There are MANY questions I have to ask and my parents want to know. And right now -- without calling to get those questions answered -- it seems to be leaning toward USC. But I'm calling tomorrow for anwers. Will update.

YES! YES! YES!

I GOT INTO BOSTON COLLEGE!!!!!!!!

YES!

just like London

Today, I rode the bus to the Beverly Center to get my contact lenses from Lenscrafters. It rained. I had an umbrella. I was wearing sneakers. I walked everywhere. It's just like London. (tear).

I got a messenger bag from Old Navy ... they are in the men's department, but whatever. It's a messenger bag. They all should be unisex.

Macy's was also having a HUGE handbag and shoe sale and I got a Guess wallet that retailed for about $45 for $15. :)

I bought end-of-semester books from Borders for my students. Borders gift wrap! :)

And I bad boba.

It's a good day. (Other than my enormous headache.)

great ad(vert) campaign

I always see this ad in Tube stations, and I never got a picture, of it. But this is a great ad(vert) campaign for London.

This one is my favorite.

Brad Whitford!!!!!!!!!!!

I was biking to Cafe 84 on Thursday with my sister when I thought I saw someone from West Wing .... BRAD WHITFORD!!!!!! I love Josh Lyman.

I THOUGHT it was him, and I DIDN'T STOP.

I turned around and said to Amy .... I think that's someone from the West Wing.

I WAS ON A BIKE.

He was walking.

I could've turned back and talked to him.

Damn it.

It's my first real celebrity sightighin my whole 4 years in LA.

Sigh.

failed the kids :(

I spent Tuesday night finishing (!) British history reading/homework. I was done at 3:30 AM. I spent the rest of the time transcribing my students' interview tapes, researching their topics on Lexis-Nexis and making a story template for them to easily write a story.

I went to sleep at 6 AM. I set the alarm clock for 8 AM. I was going to set my British phone, too, but saw that it was still set to 3:30 AM from my nap before I left for Heathrow. I got allll sentimental and put the phone back in my desk drawer.

I went to sleep.

The alarm clock rang at 8 AM for about 3 minutes or so.

I woke up.

I turned off the alarm.

I reset the alarm for 8 AM.

I went back to sleep.

I woke up at 10:15 AM.

My reaction: OHHHHHH NOOOOOOOO!

Especially because I don't have a car, and Steven was probably waiting for a long time with no way of contacting me BECAUSE A THIEF STOLE MY BAG.

more stolen stuff

Turns out the thief also took my 1G flashdrive and my Miu Miu-but-I-didn't-realize-it-was-made-by-Prada-at-the-time sunglasses. The only pair of PERFECT sunglasses I have ever owned. The model number is SMU59E. It took me an hour to find the model number and another hour to call London stores to see if anybody have it in stock. And some more time to scour the Internet for them. Is it worth it, though? To buy another pair of the sunglasses I didn't even know was designer until I got back to the States? To buy another pair of the sunglasses that I got on sale in the first place?!??!

stolen!

In the back of my mind, I always knew that one day, I'm going to get something stolen in my college career. It's inevitable. Well, it happened tonight at 11:20 PM on the nortwest corner of Jefferson and McClintock as I was waiting for a light to turn green.

I actually saw the perpetrator standing on the hill where Bank of America was and thought that it's strange that he was standing there alone in the middle of night as if he's waiting for someone or something. So I distinctly remembered to get a good look at him.

I was waiting for the light, and he literally ran from behind me and snatched my Trader Joes bag from my right handlebar and ran away northbound. By the time I remembered that I should scream for help/chase him down/etc., it was too late because he was gone. I didn't remember a car drive away, though, so I'm not sure where he went.

Anyway, there was nothing of real worth to anybody else than me. There was only $3 in there. And my precious 2 British pounds. And sheet music (Harris' Prelude, Pachelbel's Canon in D, Love Actually songbook that I bought in London).

About an hour ago, I remembered that I also have in there my voice recorder that I bought in London. But luckily I've already uploaded the Foshay interviews, contrary to my procrastinating styles. Man, those Foshay interviews would've been hard to get back.

My cell phone is also gone, but I think that's the only real thing I would need to buy to replace.

I was already in the market for a new wallet as a graduation present to myself (as I had done in high school), so that's just an expense that would've happened anyway. I've canceled my credit card and check card. I have a negative balance in my USC check card, and I can replace my driver's license. I don't have a car here anyway.

There are probably various receipts and papers in there that I don't remember exactly, but thankfully I took out my Lenscrafters stuff and thankfully I didn't have any notes or textbooks in there. Because that would make studying a little hard, seeing as how finals are coming up.

This incident tonight has also illuminated for me how DPS works, and I have mixed opinions about it. It is true that they responded pretty quickly, but I think they took too long in trying to nail down a description. It took 10 minutes to get the preliminary info, and by the time I actually went in the squad car with the officer, I have a distinct feeling that it's already too late. We sat in the squad car for a few more minutes while I tell the officer what I told the officer at the main desk. It was then that we drove to Jefferson and McClintock to look for the guy. There were a close call, but the guy didn't have the correct hair style.

We went back to the DPS office, and they took a formal report. They got a description:

5-foot-8 to 6 feet
stocky build, about 230-280 lbs
Hispanic
black shoulder-length curly hair
baggy white shirt
long short blue jeans
white socks
white sneakers

They got a description of what was stolen:

black Tommy Hilfiger wallet, trifold
credit card
2 check cards
SC driver's license
$3 cash
2 British pounds
cell phone -- Siemens (although I now think it's Samsung) silver flip

They called it plain theft.

On the bright side, my parents can stop worrying about my going over the cell phone limit and my credit card spending, as I have neither.

a chronogical oddity

in a couple of hours in midwestern and western U.S., it's gonna be 01:02:03 04/05/06.

fascinating

Internet sex abuse victim talks to NYT.