Sandy

Holy crap. I haven't written in a month.  Mostly grad school ate my life, then a little lady named Sandy came along and wiped out Long Island. I spent most of last week thrown into helping out at a quickly established shelter for those in need after Superstorm Sandy. About 2 months ago, a student worker in my office asked me to be the club advisor for a club she wanted to start. It was the American Red Cross Club and my reaction was "Sure, if we can get tshirts!" I was 80% kidding, but she got the club approved with shockingly speed and then she started planning things for the semester.

When I accepted the job as moderator, I thought it would mostly be about fundraising and handing out first aid kits. Maybe a blood drive, every once and a while. Then this crazy huge storm came through, devastating homes and changing the landscape of many areas of NYC and LI. So I donated money to the Red Cross and thought I did what I could. Then my college became a temporary shelter and the club president called and asked if I could come down and help them hand things out to people who needed them. This ended being most of my week last week, and we hit a lot more bumps than I expected.

As good as it was to help those in need, we almost had to fight and get constant approval to do it every day. And the kids who were there to help out were frustrated and demoralized. I found myself in a serious adult position. For the first time I had people, less than 10 years younger than me, truly looking to me for answers, guidance, and support. I really hope I helped them and that they don't get discouraged from helping in the future, but I felt that I was making it up as I went along, which I guess is what every adult does. I think we will get more people interested in the club when the other students have seen first hand that natural disasters happen at home, not just in far away places. And if this winter is as bad as they say it is, I think more of these kids should be prepared for little hiccups to big disasters. I think there is a lot of red tape when working with an organization as big as the Red Cross, but much of it is there for a reason. I have seen a lot of good work that these volunteers do and had people thank us for our generosity. I hope that I learn to be a little less selfish from this and maybe figure out how to be an adult that helps some of these kids stay on this course of good deeds and helping their fellow man.

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Social Media and me!

Today was a special day for me. It was one of those rare moments in my professional life where my heart and head swelled up just because some people think I am good at what I do. The other day I was approached by my boss about the new Journalism and New Media major we will be starting Fall 2013. I am the department liaison with English and close with the current department chair, so she wanted me to learn more about the program to share with the counselors. Then she mentioned that JP (the chair of the department) was singing my praises and was interested in having me teach a Social Media class. She said she was ok with the idea and wanted to let me know before I met with her. I got somewhat excited, but didn't let my hopes get too high until I talked to her.

So this afternoon, I went to talk to JP. We talked about the major and the classes she has in mind for it. Then she also mentioned me teaching a class on Social Media. I admitted that I had given it some thought because my boss had mentioned it and decided that it could be covered 3 different ways in relation to Journalism and New Media: Social Media and Writing (how journalists are using it to get their ideas out, find out new ideas, connect with each other, and market themselves), Social Media and Marketing (using SM as a marketing tool), and Social Media and Communication (how SM has changed the way we interact, talk, get ideas across, and think).  She said if it is possible, maybe it could be two classes (I think for my own knowledge, I would stay focused on Marketing and Writing, since those are the areas I know best). After I left, I found myself already planning activities and how would I teach this. I have been researching and utilizing Social Media for 5 years now, and to have two people I respect very highly have the confidence that I could teach a topic about it at the college level basically blows my mind. I don't think they realized what a compliment they gave me by thinking of me and approaching me with this opportunity. Even if for some reason it doesn't work out, it has been a turning point in my life where I realize that I am a professional instead of just working at a job.

I do hope this pans out, I already have some ideas (self reminder: make the midterm to create a Facebook page for a book, movie, or business and have then write a paper explaining why how they would use it and the benefits of each section). I have been saving articles for a  long time, but so much of it is related to SM and higher education. I know I can find plenty more though.

It is really exciting to think that the efforts I have put in to gaining as much knowledge as possible about this area is actually benefiting me this much. So I really hope that in Spring 2014, you can call me Professor Rowe.

My future faculty picture

I was also asked to be a club advisor earlier in September and the club was approved last week. So to add to my work, recruiting, and grad school, I'm now the advisor for the Red Cross Club @ SJC. Less than 2 weeks til our first meeting!

Now the question is, what should the name of my classes be?

GetGlue

So an application/website has finally figured out how to combine my two favorite things: points and television....

View Jacqueline Patrice's check-ins on GetGlue

Now what kind of name is GetGlue?? It's why I didn't join it for a while. The name confused me.

Readdddy... break!

2 year anniversary trip to Niagara Falls this weekend.
Coworker's wedding next weekend.
Lots of recruiting in September and October.
Comic Con October 12-14.
J.K. Rowling October 16.
8 papers due is September and October.

This is going to be a crazy fall!

Doctor Pumpkin Spice

I think I live on a diet of pumpkin spice chai and Doctor Who.

I am having so much fun accepting my nerddom and obsessing over Doctor Who... preferably while drinking pumpkin spice chai from Starbucks.

11

I think I officially have a Lost-level obsession with Doctor Who. My husband and I have been rewatching David Tennant episodes and it is so much fun. I love having new episodes and talking about it with my nerd friends (which seems to be mostly old coworkers from Borders). My favorite is laughing over the Doctor Who Tumblr or things people post on Pinterest. I am lucky enough to nerd out over this stuff with G. The problem is how much I want to distract myself with DW instead of writing papers or reading for school.

It is pretty much fall now which means a couple of things:
pumpkin everything
georgetown burritos
lots and lots of homework and papers
hoodies
christmas shopping
halloween
Comic Con

What I want to wear for Halloween/Comic Con:

11th Doctor!!

Back to the grad school hidey hole

I can already feel my job and grad school work sucking me into the black hole where free time is a laughable thing. I did have a rather nice moment where I found out one of my readings that I need to write a paper on by this weekend was much more manageable than I excepted.  It was a nice buy fleeting moment. If I am good, I will write my synopsis/reaction paper to the reading tomorrow after work... if I am good.

This past weekend was  a nice one, especially since I fit in a lot of things I won't have time to do til Christmas roles around, like breathe and see friends. I went to the beach on Friday, which was a lot of fun and just perfect weather.

Then we came home to find out our pool may not have a permit, according to the town, and somehow no one told us this when we moved in or the 2 and 1/2 years we have lived here. Not a great moment. When we called about what do we need to get a permit, they said it was only $150 but the pool needs to be 5 ft from the property line and have self latching gates around it. Well it's maybe 2 feet at best and those gates are basically for show by now. So we discussed and decided we will have to get it taken down. RIP above ground pool, I hope once you're gone, our property value is raised.

Friday night we drove to NJ to see our friend in Taming of the Shrew in a park.

It was very fun and the drive was quite enjoyable, thanks to Jim Gaffigan and his amazing standup. We are hoping this will also make the drive upstate and then to Niagara and back just as fun, but that is a much, much longer drive.

Saturday, after sleeping in, I went to high tea at the arboretum with my in-laws then walked to see the dahlias they had out for show. Aunt Diana bought each of us a bouquet and I took a couple pictures.

I definitely enjoyed the tea (mmmm strawberry tea).

Later I picked up the hubby and we went to Outback with friends and later that night to see Avengers at the movie theater. It was just as good as I remember.

Sunday I did homework then we spent a fun night with my extended family for a BBQ and to wish my cousin good luck in Afghanistan. I love that kid and will be thinking about him a lot until he is home safe and sound. I really love spending time with my aunts and cousins. It always feels like we can just hang out and joke around and feel comfortable. Plus they make some damn good food. Mmmmm ribs and cake.

Monday was homework day. I am grateful I had the time to spend doing homework and a supportive husband who gets Taco Bell with me and understands homework time, since he is also working on his Master's. He almost didn't get into classes this semester, but at the verrrrry last minute was called with wonderful news that the classes he needs to finish his degree will be offered this semester. This means we will both finish in the spring. Which means parrrrrty or baaaaaaabies, whichever. I would reaaaally like to go to England. Sigh. We even have a place to stay in both London and near Southampton. Just need a flight. Sigh, stupid expensive flights. Graduation gift anyone???

On the road again...

I did it! I keep my promise, blog readers! I walked to work today. It was very nice until the last 5 minutes which involved walking up hill the stairs, but I powered through! Now, unlike my other walks to work in the past, I don't have a ride home. And it will be in the mid 80s and humid when I leave, but it will feel good!

Sometimes I think Patchogue has its pretty moments, especially through an Instragram filter (Mom, this is a camera filter for iPhones and is what I used to take the above picture). Walking over the bridge over the lake is always my favorite part of the walk. And sitting down at the end, that's my other favorite part. I think if I want to walk to work more, I should find an audiobook to listen to. Any recommendations?

For breakfast I am having a pumpkin spice granola bar from Whole Foods. It's actually quite good and I like knowing that I can recognize each ingredient. Yay organic! I haven't figured out lunch yet though. There is a deli and 7-11 on the corner of this road I might walk to (more walking during lunch?! Lunacy!!). One of the things that helped me get out of bed when my alarm went off instead of laying there with the dogs and my sleepy husband was that I have been so lazy about walking to work. When I worked in the city, I walked from the subway to my job after a 45 minute commute for a mile. The same distance my house is from my job. I feel pretty pathetic sometimes. But now I am spoiled by my car.

Eating habits of the middle class and non-famous.

So I have noticed a good amount of my facebook friends have blogs and the ones who advertise theirs have ones that revolve around food. I think it's probably because it is less embarrassing to share a story about what you made for dinner and the ingredients than it is to share a post about babies or dreams or dogs. I post mine on my Google+ page, but that's only because Blogger is owned by Google and it prompts me too.

Anywho, it's back to school! My last year of my Master's degree is upon us. I start my online class on Monday and my on campus course on Tuesday. One of the downsides to a busy semester of work and classes is I often let my eating habits get to an all time low and gym attending (which I think I went once this summer) goes down to never. I am looking forward to warmer clothes since it hides my body more. I will miss dresses though, they are more forgiving.

Ok, I am getting too honest. So I made dinner the other night..

It was quite delicious. I think now that the weather is cooler, I should be smart and walk to work. 

Okay, blogosphere! I am proclaiming it here, and hopefully I will stick with it. I am going to walk to work as much as I can before it gets too cold. Only excuses will be rain or class after work. Let's make it happen! 

In the meantime, I am going to get Mexican food with Beanie. 

I left my heart in Austin, TX.

I have been made painfully aware of how I am the worst blogger because I did not blog about the one thing that deserves a blog post the most...

Austin, Texas.

Now, you, like I, may be thinking how Texas is a terrible state, full of governors like this d-bag:

"I'm Rick Perry, and I approve these guns!"

But there is a wonderful hipster haven in Texas, known as Austin. Austin is where I would live if it was near a beach... and my family and friends... and I had a job there. 

So my hubby and I jaunted off to Southeastern Texas to see our friend Ludwig (normally I come up with nicknames for my friends, but his name is so awesome, it is perfect on it's own) on Memorial Day Weekend 2012. Now, it's been nearly 3 months since we went and I didn't write anything, so you will have to forgive me and I will write up the highlights. 

Of course, since we were in Texas, so G had to try on a Stetson and cowboy boots. But since he works out like a crazy man, the boots were quite snug on his muscley calves.

We walked around S. Congress and went into awesome shops, and I got a very tasty chai. I love the area and the shops because it was all independent awesome stores. 

S. Congress is a street named, aptly, because it ends at the Congress building, aka the State House.  So we walked around there. And it was air conditioned. And the air condition was glorious. 

The best taco in the entire world. Don't let the word bison fool you. They mislabeled it and it was beef with spices and cheese. Oh man. I miss it so much. And I got it at a Farmer's market in the middle of downtown Austin. But this is no ordinary farmer's market. It has all kinds of different food, including BBQ, tacos, breakfast (I may have had this taco for breakfast. OK FINE! I had 3...). There was amazing fresh and fancy lemonades. (Ginger mint lemonade anyone?) Live music was playing and there were so many cute dogs!!

Ludwig, send me like 8 Taco Deli tacos nooooow!!!!

One day we went kayaking (where the worst sunburn of my life on my legs was born). It was a ton of fun, but it helped that I had muscle arms sharing a double kayak with me so I could stop paddling if I was tired. The lake was amazing and beautiful. Just like most things in Austin. 

After kayaking, we went to Barton Springs Pool where Sunburn 2012 continued in the gigantic pool that is a consistent 68 degrees year round.  I mostly floated around on a floaty that I didn't even blow up.

Nor did I have to deflate it. Thanks boys!

Mount Bonnell has beautiful views of Ladybird Lake. Why is it called a lake when it's clearly a river? Because it's Austin and why not?!

We had the most glorious BBQ at the Salt Lick, where it was BYOB. We may have had to wait for 2 hours, but 1) it was worth it and 2) they had live music and a popcorn machine. 

Here is the menu. Meat on top of meat on top of meat with BBQ sauce. End it with cobbler. Yum yum. 

Speaking of yum yum, we went to Gourdough's doughnuts another day where I had a mouthwatering donut with fudge and oreos. It is made in the truck and so tasty and HUGE. The food trucks were among my top 3 favorite thing about Austin. (Also in the top 3 was the music and the warmth).

LOOK AT THOSE AMAZING DONUTS!!!!!!

Austin kept out rolling out the punches with gems like this: The Cathedral of Junk. It's in a guy's backyard on a random side street and considered art. 

Our own little postcard.

Ludwig: The best host ever.

Bromance cannot be denied.

There is some great, heartwarming graffiti around Austin. This is on the side of the coffee shop where I got the aforementioned amazing chai. We were informed that a lot of engagement photos are taken there, which we even saw happen, later that day. 

Even the college coffee shops are adorable and hipster. This whole section is, of course, outside. 

I am making the "okay" sign with my hand in response to "Hi, How are you." You can see why the motto that often goes along with Austin is "Keep Austin Weird."

Our last food truck of the visit, but I actually didn't partake. Instead, I had Amy's Ice Cream for dinner and it was quite tasty.

A mix cd exchange. Sigh... I wish I lived here. I love new music and I make awesome mix cds. 

Things I did not get pictures of: 

The bat exodus! 

Bar hopping on Sixth.

The delicious dinners that Ludi took us too. I never ate so well anywhere else. 

Breakfast tacos.

The flagship Whole Foods. I love Whole Foods and this one was no exception. It sat across the street from Waterloo records. My now all time favorite record store where I discovered a ton of new music. 

Jazz at the Elephant Room. Great voice on that lady. 

The hat shop (I didn't know hat shops still existed, let alone one's that opened up 2 days before we got there). 

And the best part of the whole trip. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. What could be better than combining a bar/restaurant with a movie theater? Don't worry, I will answer that for you, NOTHING!!! I laughed until I cried and choked on my food at the Master Pancake Theater. It was the highlight of my trip and just a great moment in life. Even making that place more amazing, there is NO TALKING OR TEXTING during the movie. And when they say it, they mean it. And they will kick you out. They give you fair warning though.  No movie theater could live up to it, but I am excited that they are opening one on the Upper West Side of NYC. 

A lot of the fun things we saw happened to be on a handy dandy list we found about halfway through the trip in Austin magazine of 25 things to do to be an Austinite. We accomplished a good chunk of them.  So much credit for this amazing trip goes to our host, the incomparable Mr. Salomon. 

The Doctor will see you now...

So the TARDIS is outside my office...

What? You don't know what the TARDIS is? Go watch Doctor Who, and get back to me after 6 seasons that you watched back to back because you were sucked in like I was. I am waiting for the right time to paint "Police Box" on it and then wait patiently for the Doctor to come out.

Preferably this Doctor...

I am so close to being caught up, and then I don't know what I will do with my life. Wait each week for a new episode?!!?! Ugh... Where is my time machine. I need more episodes please.

Winding down staycation with visits from friends

Ok, so I can stay young as we did not make it to the vineyard on Thursday. Instead I spent the morning completely nauseous until around 1pm. So we went to Panera and to see Dark Knight Rises (again) and come home and relax. We cleaned upstairs so L-bomb could have a decent place to sleep. Yesterday I was joined by my companion (DW references <3) and we went to the mall and Whole Foods, where we were trapped by sideways rain. So we had lunch and took our sweet time grocery shopping. Even then the rain would not let up, so a lovely WF employee walked us out to the car under a giant umbrella. I love that place. As we drove home in the monsoon, the rain started letting up and as we got closer, it even stopped, so we went to Shop Rite and finished my not so healthy or natural food shopping. Then Beanie joined us in the evening for homemade queso and drinks. It was a lovely evening. Very respectable, I assure you.

This morning:

We have reached a whole new level... Level of what? Don't worry about it.

Today we plan to enjoy the company of a Mrs. Brotella and donate clothes at a thrift store, which probably means shopping at a thrift store.

Tonight will be girl's night with my loves that I have known for many many years and tomorrow, I pretty much want to lay on the couch and watch Doctor Who all day, for it is back to work on Monday. I am very much looking forward to the 20s/Old Hollywood themed wedding I am going to on 8/17. And my sister E-town is visiting as staying with me. Stayed tuned for updates of me trying to hug and not kill my sister and we battle for being happy to see each other and trying not to fight about everything.

Olympian Doppelganger?

My husband's niece (I guess my niece too?) told me on Monday that when they watched they Olympics, she thought I looked like Missy Franklin. It is quite interesting how much of a stretch children can make about who an adult "looks like." When I mentioned this to L-bomb, she said I don't look like her, but I do make this face...

Who? What? Huh?

I also wear a bun like that frequently enough. And I guess I have freckles. I think she look Scandinavian enough to be compared to me. Thanks Amelia.

Staycation

I was informed today that I am not doing my staycation right. I have not been taking pictures or blogging or rubbing it in the face of the working folk. So far this staycation has consisted of the following:
Beach on Friday and Sunday. Saturday we went to a minor league baseball game that was followed Grucci fireworks.

And Monday I spent the day making my own scent at Scentsational with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and her two girls, followed by lunch. That evening, I promptly had a breakdown about how fat I am when I didn't fit into a pair of beach shorts I bought. Today we went to Long Island's sensation for a one day vacation, Splish Splash (get set to get wet!). It was a lot of fun and I realized that I have been every three years for since 2006. So see you in 2015, Splish Splash!

In between all the fun times, we have been catching up on cleaning and other errands. Tomorrow we will rent a tux for a wedding we are going to next week, wash our cars, and go food shopping. I am hoping to make these for my in-laws when/if they come over in the evening:

Thursday our plans involve a vineyard on the North fork, provided it's not pouring out. I have never been to a vineyard and I'm not even a big wine drinker, but I live on Long Island and I am pretty sure you cannot be considered an adult until you do this. I could be wrong though.

Mug Day

Yesterday was a joyous day, which will henceforth be known as Mug Day! Lynne and I received our mugs for our fake morning show, Lynne and Jackie in the Morning!

Here is my mug next to my mug. Get it! Mug = face. Too much explaining the joke? It's not funny anymore? I overdid it? Well.. sorrrrrrry....

I am excited to use it. I think I look really excited about it too. I really think we need to get to work writing our television show; share our awesomeness with the world. It's really not fair to keep it all to ourselves and our blogs.

Tissues and Napkins

How is it almost August already?? Where did my summer go? I have only been to the beach once and in a pool once, and it was not even my own. Tomorrow is supposed to be 75! That's so cold! And it's going to rain! (That was so much complaining for 6 sentences.) At least the husband and I have plans to go to see Dark Knight Rises tomorrow.

Right now, it looks like my allergies gave me a two day reprieve where I only had a stuffy nose instead of sneezing a million times. I have sneezed 5 times so far this morning. I know, I should make an appointment with an allergy doctor. My fears include the following: the recommendation that I get allergy shots; prescription nose spray (Who likes to put things up their nose and then spray?! It is the worst feeling ever.); or I get another allergy pill that isn't strong enough. I am hoping if I do end up going, that he or she has found some miracle cure in patch form or even magic. I can deal with a magical cure. I am just sick of blowing my nose and having my boss ask me if I am sick every single time, every year, even though I always tell her it is allergies.

Okay, I am pretty sure no one wants to read a whole post about allergies. So I will tell you about last night. G and I made dinner together. It went smoothly and came out pretty delicious.

Look at all those cooking stations!

He let me put on my music and we chatted, then sat down to a nice dinner and talked. This sounds normal except that our usual routine is to eat dinner in front of the tv. It's a habit I am trying to break. I made our dinner a little more fancy by setting the table and adding the roses he sent to my job last week and some candles. The fact that we were wearing pajamas does not take away from the fanciness.

Napkins and everything!

Yes, Benny is there. He was circling the table. Silly pup. After dinner we went upstairs and he read while I played on the computer. I have to say, it was the first day in a long time that we didn't watch tv. I really enjoyed the night.

Tonight we are going out on a date into town. I got a Living Social deal for a wine bar called Bella Vino, though it doesn't cover wine... or alcohol at all. So apps and drinks at Bella and if we are still hungry, we will go to dinner. I love date nights with my hubby. I already have a dress in mind to wear. Sometimes when I am having dinner with my husband or going out on a date, I try to capture the moment mentally because I am crazy and always have a fear that I am not enjoying the moment, which I might regret later. I guess that happens when you lose someone close; afterwards, you want to remember everything you do with the people you love.

In other news, I guest blogged for my close friend LMC yesterday. It's a good read on what she deserves in a man, according to me.

Happy Thursday, my lovely readers! Hooray for summer Fridays off!