Rhymes With Cori

In a matter of hours

2008-11-30T21:44:00.001-05:00

Birthday is tomorrow. B and I are celebrating after work (I think that all birthdays should be personal holidays...) at a lovely eatery in Hampden called the Golden West Cafe. We went there last night after the lighting of 34th Street (it was 2 hours after we thought it would be. Damn Santa was late!) and it was AMAZING. I had the best sandwich ever- Brie, Granny Smith Apples and Pesto. MMMM!

So it Seems

2008-11-24T15:46:00.002-05:00

Apparently, I either have less time or less motivation to blog, now that I'm out of my desk job.

But things have been good here- busy.

I was able to call up my old job, and convince them that they really do want to give me hours again- lucky for me they listened. B and I are also working the same hours, so hooray for getting to see him more!

The big news of the past week or so is that we got our holiday present early- a Wii! They're hard enough to find before Black Friday- so why even chance it? B also gave me Animal Crossing: City Folk for my B-day (t-minus one week!). It's pretty much been a ton of Wii all weekend. And this morning, since I had the day off.

As of today, I will be making more of an effort here... so we'll see how it goes :)

I Am Now...

2008-11-11T11:09:00.002-05:00

One of the thousands of people in my country whose "position has been eliminated due to the economic crisis."

It's really an unsettling thing. I know that I'm not the first (nor last) person that this has (and will) happened to. But, to have a job one day, and get laid off- even though you didn't do anything wrong... it makes me question myself. Hard.

Luckily, I did have some things in the works, I'll just have to speed up the process. That, and Borders always takes me back (it's the whole point of being contingent).

So, retail, here I come (again).

Psst...

2008-11-09T00:38:00.002-05:00

Hey. You.

Yeah, you.

Do you have at least one hour to waste?

Because I have the perfect way for you to do it.

Free TV Show from Ustream
These Shiba Inu Puppies are on constant streaming video.

They're even adorable when they're sleeping!

Potential Birthday Holiday Gift...

2008-11-07T16:55:00.002-05:00

Best.
T-Shirt.
Ever.

(it would be pretty silly if I ended up with like, 12 of these)

A Decision

2008-11-07T13:38:00.003-05:00

I've decided that I'm angry with the state of Maryland. All 23 counties.

As a Florida girl, I'm used to heat and humidity. I'm used to having only 2 months of weather under 70 degrees. What I am not used to, is having the temperature fluctuate between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with each day having no bearing on the next. It's just not fair!

Before we left for South Carolina, the weather was lovely. It was cold enough to wear a coat all day long. But when we got back, it's been consistently in the 60's (50's if we're lucky). Now, I know that I should probably be grateful for this respite before the cold really sets in, but I can't be. I just got a new winter coat. A good one too. And I want to wear it whenever possible! I also want to be able to bust my sweaters out of storage, because they're cozy. But instead, it's still just jeans and a t-shirt.

This is November!

Someone needs to inform the god of weather that if I can't wear my coat soon, I'm going to be very upset. And maybe set the state on fire.

(Just a side note: I would never actually set anything on fire- except for a candle or a campfire or some wood in a fireplace- on purpose. It's just my new favorite threat.)

OMG

2008-11-04T23:21:00.004-05:00

OBAMA WINS.

It's a historical night, my friends.

Civic Duty

2008-11-04T13:01:00.005-05:00

Today, I did that thing. You know, the thing that everyone over the age of 18 should do today. I voted.

It might have been a slight pain in the butt to wake up early and stand outside in the cold, but two things really helped me. 1- I'm doing my part to help elect a president that I actually want, and 2- My new winter coat kept me warm! It's a feminine pea coat, with fun button detailing... but I digress.

Lucky for me, the polling place is right outside of my door- I literally walk across the street, and I'm there. It was also a beautiful morning, and the trees are doing amazing things.

The negative? Everyone and their mom was there. The line took me about 45 minutes, which I was not a fan of.

This is what the line looked like when I was almost inside of the school.

The line, as I was leaving

And who did I vote for? I'll give you three guesses...

(Obama Munny, Dunny and Portrait found at the SquidFire store in Hampden. Believe me, I'm not that talented.)

A State... of Terror?

2008-11-03T13:09:00.004-05:00

B and I took a mini vacation down to South Carolina to visit his family. And I figured out something that I hadn't thought about before- South Carolina is perfect for serial killers/ horror movies!

I know, I know, it should have been obvious... but it didn't really click until we took a family trip to Harmon Tree Farm.

This place was downright creepy. Well, it started off like any other trip to a tree farm with a Christmas House, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and miles of no one else around. The Christmas House was okay- just a rinky-dink place packed to the gills with Christmas ornaments, creepy dolls, and Santa riding fish and hunting.

The true creepiness didn't begin until we went into the Barn. Which isn't so bad from the outside.

But when you walk in, and the place is completely empty- and set up with many many chairs facing the same direction, seemingly waiting for a sick twisted pageant... well, it was about that time we all thought that we should leave- but didn't.

We decided to walk around the tree farm, and stumbled upon a lovely little petting zoo. It's either a convinient place to store the bodies, or as B said, "The perfect place for a James Bond Villian's Lair," complete with robotic sheep, goats, and scuba divers with elaborate robotic swan hats.

While the farm itself could have become our certain doom, the acres and acres of Christmas Tree's just growing in lovely little lines was a picturesque thing to look at, before we all became goat food.

Do All Dexter's Have A Laboratory?

2008-10-28T14:11:00.003-04:00

B and I might be the last people on Earth who haven't been enchanted by Showtime's Dexter.

Well, until last week, that is.

There is something oddly sympathetic about Dexter. He seems to genuinely want to fit in with the rest of the world. Now, I understand the crux of the show is that Dexter doesn't feel. As he puts it, he's "empty." But I think that either begins to change for him, or he can just fake it. Really well.

When we first started watching this show, my first reaction was "I don't like this guy. I don't care if he's helping the world by killing bad dudes. He's creepy, and I want nothing to do with him." This reaction is quite a different reaction from every other show that I like, which usually goes "OMG this is awesome/hilarious/bad ass/by Joss Whedon! I love it, and we're not even at the first commercial break!"

But the more B and I watched, the more hooked I got. It even got to the point where I wanted all of the sick and morbid stuff to continue.

I was thinking about the average viewers moral compass, and how much this show effs with it. The premise? There is a serial killer out there. He's the main character of the show. But, he only kills people who deserve it. As a viewer, at first I was quite squeamish about all of the bloody/gory/power tooly stuff going on. But once you get used to the premise (which took me a few episodes), you start to want to see him take care of the bad guys. You want to know more about what made him who he is, Harry's code for killing, and (during the first season) the Ice Truck Killer.

I'm pretty excited about starting the second season. I hope there's a lot more about Rita and the kids, Harry, Deb, and Dexter slashing up bad guys.

Happy Holidays!

2008-10-27T14:03:00.002-04:00

Well, I know that Halloween isn't even here (but it is just around the corner), but B and I have already discussed our holiday present to ourselves.

I'll give you a hint- it looks like this:

This year, we are going halvesies on a Wii!

I thought it would be an awesome idea because of this game:

I mean, we all know how much I enjoy Animal Crossing: Wild World (which I've mentioned on at least two occasions). How much cooler is Animal Crossing for the Wii?! The graphics are intense!

Well, as intense as getting on a bus or hanging out on the beach can be (and I swear, those two things can be super intense).

Oh, and I should also mention how excited I am to be able to play Mario Party and Guitar Hero: World Tour...

But, Animal Crossing!

(Super Geeky Bonus- The four funniest Penny Arcade Comics about the Wii. Not for the faint hearted, those who hate practical jokes, people who are against Harry Potter, or people against Wii Sports, which is awesome.)

Rainy Days

2008-10-24T14:24:00.003-04:00

Apparently it is supposed to rain this weekend.

Really hard. Like, cats & dogs type rain.

(How this'll compare with a Florida Storm, I'm not sure, but I'll let you know)

If that's the case, no one in their right mind would want to leave the house (not even if their super adorable hounds tooth printed wellies didn't end up oddly discolored from sitting in the back of their car). So what's a gal to do when she's stuck inside for the weekend?

Well, here's a list of the things I will most likely do (unless it has to do with cleaning. I'd really prefer to stay away from that):

1. Make fancy felt purses using the sewing machine and yards of felt that I got the other weekend
2. Watch Dexter. B and I have only recently begun this, so why not marathon it?
3. Catch up on Chuck/Pushing Daisies (I like television. Especially fanciful television).
4. Watch Netflix movies

Thank You For Smoking

The Dinner Game

5. Brave the weather and go to the gym (doesn't fulfill my need to stay in, but I will feel accomplished afterwards)
6. Clean the kitchen
7. Do laundry
8. Sleep for two days straight

I think that's a pretty sizable list of possibilities... of course, numbers 6 & 7 are the least likely to happen. But let's not rule them out...

More Sewing Projects!

2008-10-23T11:32:00.002-04:00

I have decided that I really need to work on my sewing skills, since my ultimate goal is to make clothing for myself and B (note that I haven't attempted fabricating anything clothing like yet...).

So to practice things like sewing a straight line, and appliqué making skills, I made two purses! The red panda one is mine, and the purple bunny one is for co-worker T (yes, I swear, it's purple...).

They're both made of woolen felt. And thread. Yeah, that's pretty much everything that made them. I'm thinking about attempting something bigger, with more pockets (because while that little panda pocket has been really handy for carrying my ipod and reading glasses, I'd prefer both of those objects to be less exposed).

And, as promised month(s) ago, here is a picture of the entertaining apron that I made for TAG. Not the best picture, but you get the idea...

My favorite part is the part that took the longest- the ruffles!

Since I feel like I'm getting back into the sewing of things (oh, ouch. That one hurt me... but felt necessary anyway), there should be more projects to come!

A Ridiculous Campaign

2008-10-22T14:01:00.003-04:00

Have you been to a California Tortilla recently? Because I went today for the first time in a while, and found that they are adding more silliness to the current Presidential Campaign's than already existed.

The difference between the O-Chili-Bama Burrito and the McCain-Chilada Burrito?

The McCain-Chilada: Mexican rice, mesquite chicken, tortilla strips, velvety queso, fresh salsa, and shredded lettuce, rolled in a warm flour tortilla, smothered with green enchilada sauce and garnished with sour cream and cilantro.

The O-Chili-bama Burrito: Mexican rice, turkey chili, tortilla strips, jalapeño peppers, sour cream, and shredded lettuce, rolled in a warm flour tortilla, smothered with velvety queso and garnished with fresh salsa and green onions.

Oh, and it gets better... apparently, by ordering these political themed burritos, you're "voting" for that candidate.

Vote with your mouth! Choose the McCain-chilada or the O-Chili-bama Burrito. We'll be tallying the number of each of the candidate's burritos sold from October 13th through November 3rd and we guarantee that whosever burrito sells the most will win the election.

And who is winning this war of the stomachs?

Obama - 1,904 (48%) * McCain - 2,063 (52%)

Unfortunately for those around the country, the only people whose votes will count come November 4th, will be located in Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

I also snapped these pictures outside of this bi-partisan dining facility:

Classy!

A Quickie...

2008-10-21T15:03:00.002-04:00

No, not like that... I just wanted to say that a have recently branched out in the world of blogging to discover a few blogs that I'm absolutely in love with!

Clever Girl Goes Blog- Not really about anything specific. It's kinda like the Seinfeld of blogs, only more amusing to me.
Chocolate and Steel- I know, I haven't just discovered Christine's blog, but I think that her jewelery is absolutely amazing. I might (or might not) have already expressed to B that I want a necklace from Chocolate and Steel for my birthday... (::coughdecemberfirstcough).
Daddy Likey- Just as snarky as Clever Girl Goes Blog, but focused on fashion. Be sure to check out the section called "Don't Show-cha Your Chocha," about the new (and disturbing) trend to wear shirts the size of shirts and to call them dresses.
jewish girl in wasp's clothing- Once again, not really a new blog that I follow, but TAG is the one who really got me into blogging. Hopefully I can make a trip to NYC and have a lovely GNO (girls night out... hey TAG, should that be in your glossary?!)
A Collaboration- The collaboration (surprise!) between two extremely talented embroiderers (since they're both lady's, can I call them embroideresses?). Every two weeks they get a new (and random) word that they are supposed to interpret into art with linen and floss. Watching this project evolve is incredible!
Cake Wrecks- A hilarious blog about when professional baker's go bad... and not in a good way. I could (and have) spend hours perusing the oh so wrong doings of bakery's all over the world, from inappropriate messages to disasterous wedding cakes.

My Boyfriend is an Evil Genius.

2008-10-21T14:19:00.003-04:00

He's down right diabolical. Who could have ever guessed that this face could make me do something that is just... against my DNA?

B's new job at Borders Books & Music requires that he be there by 6am on some days. Where we currently live (hopefully not for long... as my friend Z says, fingers and toes) is in an awkward public transportation area. To get to Borders by 6am, B has 2 options- either take a bus into downtown Baltimore, transfer buses two more times, and arrive at work 45 minutes early... or take a direct bus, but constantly be 10 minutes late. So B went with option 3- convince his caring and loving girlfriend to wake up at 5:30am (an hour and a half before I normally wake up) to drive him to work.

After going to bed at 11pm, my morning went a little something like this:

5am- Alarm goes off. B lays there for an unknown amount of time, while I attempt to stay awake to make sure he gets out of bed. After this unknown amount of time, B gets out of bed and proceeds to get dressed in the dark.

5:30am- B wakes me up, in a kind and gentle way since he knows that I'm helping him out quite a bit. I roll out of bed, put on jeans, a black hoodie and some socks (all over my pj's). We go upstairs, B puts on shoes and packs his Squidfire bag for the day while I stumble about for car keys, coat and shoes.

5:45am- Walk out into freezing cold, glad I'm still toasty warm in my pj's and various other layers of clothing. We get into the car, and I tell B to put on some music. He chooses Reel Big Fish (Beer), which I'm surprised by.

5:50am- I drop B off at Borders. He is the first one there (I think. I really don't know. I left before he went inside. I'm a good girlfriend- I swear!). Drive home, now listening to the Once Soundtrack, because I can't decide if I want to attempt to sleep when I get home, since it's still dark out.

6am- Get home, strip back down to pj's and get back in bed. Decide I should probably be productive this morning, so I take a shower. The cats are locked outside of the bathroom while I do this, much to Isis's dismay. When I get out of the shower, she yells at me. A lot. And loudly.

6:45am- Decide that I have enough time to eat breakfast (for once!) and make a Tofurky and Provolone Veggie Cheese sandwich on Challah. It was good. :)

7am- Get bored, decide to channel surf. Find out that the Style Network plays Clean House at all hours of the day. I also take care of my Animal Crossing town (I'm watering red turnips. I'm going to have so many Bells!).

7:30am- I grab my microwavable lunch and head out the door- it's time to go to work!

The morning ended up alright, but man, am I sleepy right now. Here's to hoping that I can get to bed early tonight!

Little Gordon...

2008-10-17T21:28:00.001-04:00

...what a sweet little f*cker.

Little Gordon Ramsay 1

Little Gordon Ramsay 2

Little Gordon Ramsay 3

You can find all of these videos (and potentially more, but there aren't anymore at the moment) at the Little Gordon site.

Family Life

2008-10-15T12:46:00.004-04:00

How does that old saying go? The one about choosing friends and family?

"Friends are the family we choose"

Well, that's true sometimes. Other times, I think that it's possible to adopt an entire family as your own. Those are the best ones.

B's family has two sides: his mom's and his dad's. Both sides appear, at first, to be quite similar. But really, they're quite different.

His dad's side of the family is small(ish). It's easy enough to know everyone's name, along with somethings about them. A few of his cousins are really great, but there are a few people on this side of the family who ruin it for me. They're self absorbed, to the point of ruining other people's lives.

On the other end of the spectrum, his mom's side of the family is huge. His mom had 8 siblings- and they all have offspring. After being with B for going on five years, I still can't keep everyone straight. His immediate family on this side is wonderful. His mom, sister and brother-in-law all treat me like part of the family. They are warm and loving, without being smothering.

Throughout my time with B, I've felt included in every activity that happened on his mom's side. I went to his sisters wedding, I've stayed at her place, I've stayed at his mom's, I'm able to go to both of them for advice and I invited them to my college graduation. While I've been included in some of the activities on B's dad's side of the family, I'm constantly reminded that I'm not family.

But it's okay, because I know my family. My dad, aunts, uncles, cousins- along with a mom, sister and brother.

A(nother) Life Decision

2008-10-14T16:35:00.003-04:00

Well, this past week has been crazy. Not really a physical craziness, more of a mental one.

For the second (or third) time in this blog, I have decided that I know what I want to do when I grow up.

I want to be a Librarian.

What does this entail? Well, quite a bit actually. To become a full fledged librarian, you need a degree. There are many choices (Masters of Library Sciences, Masters of Information and Library Sciences, etc...) and which degree you end up with seems to (mostly) depend on which institution you acquire your degree from. The biggest part about choosing an institution is making sure that it's ALA accredited.

To get said degree requires the following:

Decent to good GRE scores
Decent to good GPA in undergrad (which is apparently sometimes called a QPA?!)
Entrance into an acceptable school
Money to pay for education from acceptable school.

I have... well, I have one out of four. But I'm working on the rest... Well, planning on it.

Then the question arises: Why a Librarian?

My thought process was thus: I want to be a teacher. No, wait, I don't want to teach. But I do want to have something to do with books. I live in the wrong city for publishing... and I like the idea of working in a school and helping kids... Okay, I can be the school librarian. What does one need to become a school librarian? Oh, a Masters in Library Sciences... Well, how much do regular librarians make? HOLY JEEZE I SHOULD BE A LIBRARIAN.

See? It fulfills everything I want from a career!

Now all I have to do is to take the GRE, get good scores, apply to grad schools, get accepted by one of them, find some financial aide, and make it through two to three years of classes! Voila!

Don't Talk About It part 2

2008-10-09T16:08:00.002-04:00

It's another one of those topics that is taboo in polite company: Religion.

I'm Jewish.

Well, I should say that I was born Jewish, to Jewish parents. When I was young, I went to Sunday School (up to a point-but that's a story for another day). We made hamantash, learned prayers, sang songs, painted ladders (I'm not too sure why... but we did. At least once), and went to Temple on the High Holy days.

Cut to 15 some odd years later and it's a totally different story. I'm a "Holiday Jew". Pretty much, if presents are exchanged, I participate. But you'll never find me at Temple, or praying, or painting ladders. Heck, it's Yom Kippur and I didn't even fast.

It's not as if my "un-Judaism" is connected to a conscious decision. I just didn't learn it. Sometimes I'm pretty sad about it, because I always viewed being Jewish was something to be proud of. I have a rich heritage that I don't know much about.

I do go through bouts of curiousness. In college I took a History of Judaism course (which I got an A in). In Orlando, I tried joining the on-campus Hillel group- but I got scared. I couldn't help thinking "What if I'm not Jewish enough?" I suppose it's a stupid thing to be afraid of, but people in college tend be ruled by their heart- and there's no arguing with someone who refuses to listen.

Do I ever think that I will become "more Jewish"? I'm not sure. It seems that Religion is one of those things that took a back seat when the world grew smaller and people got busier. I thoroughly respect anyone now-a-days who is actually religious- any Religion. I define these people as those who go to Temple/Church every week, allow the teachings of their faith to dictate parts of their life (diet, moral compass, etc.) and can actually have a religious argument backed up by scripture and (religious) fact.

Of course, there are zealots in every direction, which turn me off to Religion. These people turn a blind eye to the world, and tend to hold beliefs that their faith has dictated for two-thousand years (give or take). They are willing to attack women going into abortion clinics, not allow their children to participate in courses offered by their schools on sex education, have their kids leave science class when learning about Evolution and pass a world view to their children that involves racism, sexism, bigotry and homophobia- all while citing religious scripture.

The more I think about it, the less I think I will ever become a religious person. I try to live by my own moral compass- be nice to people, give back to the community and care for those around you.

What Does Cori Do When She's Bored At Work?

2008-10-07T16:42:00.004-04:00

She surfs the internet for ridiculous things. I've for some reason stumbled upon a baby/toddler costume website (because when you're a parent, there's nothing better than the ability to dress up your helpless little ones in stupid costumes).

Top five ridiculous baby costumes, in order from least crazy to most crazy:

#5

#4

#3

#2

#1

And the runners up (because they were too good not to share, but not good enough to make the list:

Personally, I find this child intensely disturbing. I'm not sure if it's the smile/gas/crying face or some unknown element...

I love that the Little Dutch Girl Costume has clogs and wig (attached to hat) included.

I don't know what's so amazing about this. Is it the little boy's hand gesture? The way his feet are positioned? Or that his shirt says 'Word to Yo Mommy' on it. Either way, it's amazing!

What Makes Long Drives Bearable?

2008-10-06T13:08:00.004-04:00

The scenery.

What makes the scenery on long drives even more bearable?

Amusing Billboards.

Anyone whose driven through the Carolina's using I-95 must know the billboards I'm referring to.

Oh yes, I'm talking about the South of the Border billboards. I-95 is littered with these tacky, wondrous billboards. Heading North on '95, you're treated to these monstrosities for the entire state of South Carolina. If you're heading South, you see them throughout North Carolina.

"South of the Border has a history as colorful as its lights at night. It actually started as a beer stand. Alan Schafer and his father were in the beer and wine business in North Carolina, but when the area went dry, they moved across the border to South Carolina to set up shop in 1949.
Legend has it that when Schafer ordered building materials a few years later, they were delivered to "Schafer Project South of the (North Carolina) Border." He thought that was kind of catchy and named his new enterprise South of the Border. From there it was a no-brainer to add Pedro and the Mexican theme."

I guess the signs used to be more offensiv e, using exaggerated broken English, but were eventually taken down.

My top 5 South of the Border Billboards (from least for most):

#4

#3

#2

#1

The Drive

2008-10-03T12:16:00.003-04:00

I like driving. It's one of my favorite activities. I find it to be an activity that is extremely susceptible to being emotionally charged.

If your upset, driving can be one of the most frustrating experiences. People don't seem to understand the concept of "Right of Way". They tailgate. They don't go fast enough.

But if you're in a good mood, driving is one of the most enjoyable things. You can put your windows down, let the sun shine on your face, listen to whatever music you want and just enjoy the moment.

Tonight I'm driving down to South Carolina, to visit B's family. I get the pleasure of leaving after work and driving through the night (just about). But the weather's nice. And I've got music that I enjoy. I'm going to stop at a health food store to pick up dinner and snacks for the ride down.

Here's to hoping that I don't fall asleep!

Update: My trip from Columbia Maryland to Columbia South Carolina took about nine hours. I'm sleepy, but Clerks 2 is on the TV and B is giggling like a girl... so I think I'm going to stay up :)

The Gym: Part Deux

2008-09-30T15:01:00.003-04:00

I've been tricked.
Hoodwinked.
Scammed.
Had one pulled over on me.
Deceived.

And I don't like it. It makes me angry, confused, betrayed and a little bit sad.

That's right, my friends. I was tricked into taking a Step class last night at the gym.

"But Cori, how do you get tricked into taking a Step class at the gym? Don't you normally have to sign up for those things?"

Well, the class that I normally go to had something missing from it- the instructor. She is on vacation this week, which means that we had a substitute. And just like every other substitute in the world, she did not stick to the plan. She decided that Step was a good idea, since she normally teaches Step.

So Step we did.

Until I left about three quarters of the way through, because I had hurt my toe, and was having an asthma attack.

(Which is pretty weird for someone who doesn't have asthma. But it did feel like my throat was closing up, and I did need an inhaler when I got home.)

Note to self: Never take a step class for the rest of my life. It's the Devil, capital D.

Achy Breaky... well, you know the rest...

2008-09-29T11:48:00.002-04:00

The worst part about getting your heart broken?

The fact that it takes a while for the dull thump of disappointment to go away.

There is also the world. It expects you to pick everything up and be okay. But it isn't because underneath the exterior of calm contentedness is that dull thump.

thump thump. it hurts. thump thump. why me. thump thump. why now. thump thump.

I did something on Thursday that I never planned on doing- I had a meltdown. I left early because I couldn't keep my chin up. Because I cried on and off for the entire day.

Everyone has been really supportive. "There are more programs," "They're fools," "Try again next year," "Everything happens for a reason."

I appreciate all of the kind words from friends and family. (Well, mostly friends. I've sort of avoided talking to most of my family this weekend. Especially my Grandma. Now, don't get me wrong. I love my Gram, but she's a good little old Jewish lady. So nothing is ever about "I'm sorry, let's move on." It's always more like "I'm sorry, let's wallow in it." And that's just not what I need right now.)

I'm going on. But still, behind everything I do, say or think, there it is.
thump thump. thump thump.

(side note- B and I are fine. I'm under the assumption that hearts break over anything you want badly that doesn't work out for you)

Zen and the Art of Self Disappointment

2008-09-25T15:35:00.001-04:00

[written on Tuesday, 9/23/08]

I feel like there comes a time in everyone's life when you've got to do an inventory of yourself.

I'm talking mentally and materially.

This point comes to different people at different times. A large life event is usually used as a jumping off point for this inventory. Sometimes it's a graduation, an engagement, or a funeral. These events don't necessarily have to be your own. This large life event could also only be large to you.

For me, it came in the form of a serious talk.

So I did sometime slightly impulsive and nerve racking: I applied to the Teach for America program. I hope this works out!

[the rest of this post is written on Thursday, 9/25/08]

I got rejected. Today is the worst day in the world.

I don't get to help people. I don't get to work towards a career. I don't get to do anything right now except for answer phones as a crappy receptionist.

I have no clue what I want to do with my life, because I was really counting on this.

I Scratch Your Back...

2008-09-24T13:56:00.003-04:00

One of the best feelings in the world is knowing that you were able to help a friend.

My friend TAG has been in a pretty crumby mood for the past few days. She bares herself on her blog and someone decided not to think before they commented. There's a preview button there for a reason. Before hitting 'submit,' please have the decency to look at your comment through someone else's eyes. How might your comment be taken? Are you being overly familiar? Are you being flat out rude? These are things that should be taken into account. But this person threw those thoughts out of the window. And (I'm really attempting to not attack them here), they looked like the moron for it.

Since TAG lives in NYC, I can't exactly rush over there to comfort her (I mean, I could try. But being all jittery on a 3.5 hour bus ride isn't the ideal way to get to a friend in need).

I've also been promising her that I would make her a present for a while now. I finally bucked up and made her an apron worthy of entertaining in. I put it in the mail on Monday. Unbeknownst to me, Miss TAG would need a pick-me-up the very next day. She finally got her presie in the mail today, and to quote her, "You made my day. Seriously. It was JUST the pick-me-up I needed."

I love being there for people.

(ps- apron pics to follow)

I Miss Orlando.

2008-09-23T13:46:00.003-04:00

Theme Parks are fun for the guests. They have to be, otherwise no one would spend $60 on a ticket for admission along with countless other dollars spent on food, drink and souvenirs. The neat thing is, they're also fun for the employees.

Coming from Orlando, one of the Theme Park capitals of the world, I myself have been a Theme Park Employee. Granted, it wasn't at the most magical place on earth, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. I worked for Universal Studios, which has two kick-ass theme parks and a Cooler than Disney vibe.

My favorite time to work at Universal was for Halloween Horror Nights. The parks just... changed. It might have been the air getting a little cooler, the nights getting longer, or just the buzz about Halloween Horror Nights. No matter what it was, that even seems to seep into the parks, even during the day.

Now, I'm not a big scary movie person. I purposely avoid situations that scare me. Until October rolls around. Once October 1st hits, I can't be stopped. I want to watch scary movies, plan my halloween costume, eat candy corn, carve Jack'o'Lanterns and go to Halloween Horror Nights.

This years Halloween Horror Nights theme is AWESOME. It's Bloody Mary- and all of the scare zones and haunted houses are fairy tale themed (Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, etc). I'm almost tempted to sneak down to Orlando for a night while B and I are in Gainesville for the Fest... We'll see.

The Destroyer of Worlds

2008-09-22T10:16:00.003-04:00

With such an epic title, what could this post be about?

Well my friends, it's about a board game.

Oh yes, my friends. It's Monopoly. And it is, in fact, the destroyer of worlds.

It's one of those games where someone is always really happy (because they're winning) and someone is always sad and sulky (because they're losing). When you play with two people, there is no in between. You will be one or the other. And if the person you're playing with happens to be the person you share a bed with, things just got even trickier.

B and I played this game on Saturday night. I happened to be person A, whereas B was person B. It gets to a point where being the person whose winning just isn't fun anymore. Soon after the game, we went to bed in a haze of tiny houses and multi-colored money.

Although, I must say, I never win at Monopoly, so this was pretty fun.

A Fickle Female

2008-09-19T15:39:00.002-04:00

All I want to do is bake cupcakes, go to the gym and create crafty things.

Of course, a few months ago all I wanted to do was go to yoga class and explore Baltimore.

Before that I just wanted to sleep.

I seem to be quite fickle in the activities that I'm wholly consumed by. I'll run towards something full tilt for a while, but as soon as something happens to break my gait, that's it- I'm done. I can't seem to find the fervor that I once had for an activity.

I seem to lack the stamina to do anything for an extended period of time. Even the things I do for a while are sporadic. I've kept a livejournal since 2001 or so (although I'm on my second one. The first had to be deleted for issues I'd rather not go over...). There are whole months where I don't write anything.

Even as I write this, I'm losing interest in it. It took me all day to think of a topic (there are so many out there!) and it isn't even that intriguing. I could have written about a thousand things. Instead, I chose my lack of attention span.

Perhaps I'll get over this slump of not being able to pay attention.

I think that a better, more focused Cori is in order. It'll be easy enough...

Wait. What was I saying again? I saw something shiny.

ANYWAY, this upcoming Monday I have a tough decision when it comes to television: Watch the 3 hour long season premier of Heroes, or the hilarious half hour premier of How I Met Your Mother.

Any input?

a quick announcement.

2008-09-17T14:47:00.002-04:00

I officially submitted my application for Teach For America.

We'll see how this goes.

::crosses fingers::

And to counteract this nervous little post, here is a picture of B at the Renaissance Festival this past Sunday. He's about to participate in battle ax throwing.

Surprise!

2008-09-16T11:35:00.002-04:00

Well, it turns out that the big highlight of the weekend was Hampdenfest. While the Renaissance Festival was extremely fun, it was also extremely hot which made the day slightly less enjoyable.

What did we do at Hampdenfest, you ask? Well... We went to Atomic Books (for the first time ever!). How have I never been in this store before? It was fun and amazing! B got stuck in the trade paperback section (he ended up getting some Hellboy trade paperbacks and one Preacher one). T, from work, got stuck in the Tokidoki stuff, along with the Sanrio funness. And her boyfriend, S, got caught up in... well, I'm not sure what. But it was way expensive. Personally, I was looking at the Kid Robot vinyl toys. Goodness I love those. I ended up with a yummy breakfast keychain that is adorable! They do them blind box, so you never know what you're going to end up with (I really wanted the cupcake, but I ended up with the muffin).

I also want to go back to Atomic to pic up some zines- there were a few that looked quite interesting.

After that, we stopped at the Brewer's Art tent to grab some large plastic cupfull's of Ressurection. Man, I've told you guys about this beer before- it's still awesome. One of the most refreshing things after a long hike uphill from the Light Rail.

We also stopped at the B.E.S.T. tent to see what my favorite Baltimore Crafters are up to. B bought me a lovely pendant from The Broken Plate! I was quite excited about the whole thing, because The Broken Plate does some pretty kick ass, original stuff. While at the B.E.S.T. tent, I also donated some fabric to Art With A Heart (I'm also potentially going to be volunteering there. I'll let you know on Thursday).

We all ate at Holy Frijoles (B and I can't get enough of this place. It's too good!)

There wasn't too much going on after that. We walked around, perusing tents and shops (Including In Watermelon Sugar, my new favorite place to get yummy smelling things). After such a lovley day, we all took the Light Rail into the sunset.

A Fest-ful Weekend.

2008-09-11T15:43:00.004-04:00

So far the plans for this weekend are shaping up pretty nicely.

Saturday is Hampdenfest. I'm going to be going with some of my coworkers. It'll be way fun! Local food, bands and crafts! Yep, The Baltimore Etsy Street Team (B.E.S.T.) and Charm City Craft Mafia will be there. I'm pretty darn excited.

Then on Sunday we're all going to the Renaissance Festival. Man, I haven't been to one of those in years! T, from work, was saying there's cheesecake on a stick. Huzzah!

Decisions, Decisions

2008-09-10T16:39:00.002-04:00

Last week B and I had "the talk."

The "you've been graduated from college for a year now and you're still working in a company with no position for advancement" talk.

That's a hard talk to hear. And to agree with.

This past year, I've gone through so many different plans for the future. I'm going to Grad School to get my M.A. in English Lit. I'm going to Grad School to get my M.S. in Library Sciences. I'm never going to school again. I'm going to Culinary School in Baltimore. I'm going to Culinary School in New York City. I'm going to be a teacher. I'm going to be a bartender. I'm going move to New York City. I'm going to live in Baltimore forever. I'm going to be an editor. I'm going to be a writer.

Well I've finally made a (semi)permanent decision. I'm getting my application ready to send into Teach for America. I'm going to try to get stationed in Baltimore. B and I are going to live in Hampden. B's going back to school.

I hope that this plan works out. Because while obsessively planning the future is borderline crazy, there is still a part of me that will never let go of the idea that I can be whatever I want when I grow up.

Don't Talk About It.

2008-09-09T15:36:00.003-04:00

The topics that polarize people the most: religion and politics.

There is a whole generation of people who won't discuss either topic at work, or in the midst of polite company.

The thing is, if no one talks about these things, no one learns. We all get caught up in our own ideas and we forget how to listen. Granted, people will always be bogged down in their own ideas about religion and politics. You won't change anyones mind by simply talking- there needs to be an exchange of ideas taking place. The best you can hope for is to make the other person think. Just getting someone to think about what you're saying is a victory.

I wouldn't consider myself to be the most political person, but I'm hoping to change that.

I've gotten to thinking about this because of the upcoming election. And about the fact that it really pisses me off. Because the candidates are attempting to trick people, and many are falling for it. Somehow McCain's camp has gotten support from the Hilary supporters, all because of Palin. McCain's camp went "well, these people want a woman in the White House. I can give them the next best thing- a female VP. And there's a lady up in Alaska who is as far from the Democrats as possible, so she'll help my agenda and fulfill Hilary's role. Brilliant!" And the sickening part? It's working. There are women out there who will vote for a 72 year old man whose had 3 battles with cancer and could die pretty soon, leaving us with a neo-conservative uber rightist in the big chair.

If that happens, B and I are leaving the country. Officially.

Oh, for those of you who might end up here regularly, I've added a Rock the Vote widget to the right. If you aren't registered to vote, please please please please register. You can click the Rock the Vote box and register right now. It's super easy. Use the voice that you've been given. VOTE.

This Can't Be Good...

2008-09-08T12:04:00.002-04:00

Well, a disturbing new trend has begun for me. The past few times I've ridden my bike, I've fallen.

Into bushes.

So far this has resulted in a bruise (only one? better than usual for me!), a scrapped knee, a bruised ego, dirt in my shoe, grass in my bike, my bike chain falling off (don't worry, I fixed it) and grease all over my hands since I fixed my bike chain.

Riding my bike around makes me feel like I'm 10 again, which was a nice time. So I think I'll go over a list of my favorite things from around that time:
1- Riding my bike
2- Playing Hide & Seek in the woods across from my friends house
3- Being the "Weather Girl" for the school news
4- Reading books that were way out of my level of understanding
5- Billy Joel
6- Lisa Frank
7- Hampsters
8- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
9- Kickball
10- "Got Milk?" ads

I would like to think that I was a pretty good combination of tom boy and girlie girl. But I really wasn't. I only wore dresses and skirts when forced to.

Cori's approach to fashion: Jeans & T-shirts can do no wrong. Fancy occasion? Jeans that aren't torn and a button up! ... perhaps this is why I always feel under dressed?

The Gym

2008-09-03T09:59:00.002-04:00

So, when I was physically inactive I labored under the delusion that the gym was where people who aren't in shape go to get in shape.

Boy was I in for a shocker.

B and I joined the gym to get in shape. But whenever I go there, I just see all of these incredibly fit people, trying like hell to be even fitter (which, you know, good for them, but boo for me), and giving the evil eye to any shlub who dares touch their elliptical machine. After working out a whole bunch for the past few weeks, I think I might have even worse self esteem then before I started.

This is especially true when it comes to the classes offered by the gym. The first one I tried was an all body workout class. While I did work my entire body, I was definitely the least in shape in the class and I feel like I was constantly holding the class back or lagging behind. That was a night that I went home and cried. Last night I attempted a spinning class, for the first time. I thought I knew that it would be tough- but I really had no idea. This was the first time I've ever worked my body so hard to keep up with something to the point where I almost vomited. It was also the first time that I had to leave a class early because I just simply couldn't do it. The balls of my feet were aching, my knees were killing me and I thought that my heart was going to explode. Some classes operate under the idea that you should only go as fast as your slowest person- this was not one of those classes. I might have felt like I was lagging in the all body workout class, but I was seriously behind in this class. This was the second night that I went home and cried.

But I understand that it's an uphill battle. I've gotta keep pushing myself until I almost vomit, otherwise I will never be where I want to be.

Ode to My Bike

2008-08-29T10:49:00.000-04:00

Dear Bianchi Bike in my living room, that doesn't necessarily have a name yet,

You are amazing!

In my rush to grow up, I completely threw aside the idea of bike riding. I thought that motor vehicles were the way to go, because you never see the cool kids on bicycles in their senior year. So biking fell to the wayside, along with exercise and my carefree sense of "who gives a crap what I look like."

But now, with gas prices on the rise, the bicycle seems to be the best way of getting around locally. Of course, riding in Maryland is a bit tougher than riding in Florida- takes a lot more leg power, due to hills. But it's also more enjoyable, because of the downhill bits. Those are my favorite! There is something exhilarating about coasting down a hill, wind in your face, rushing past your ears- and knowing that you're not going to crash.

So far, we haven't been together for too long, but it's been quality time (except for when B knocked you over in the middle of the night, since you were in the middle of the living room). We've gone through Loch Raven Village (both the nice parts, and the ghetto parts), climbed up hills in first gear, and coasted as much as we could. We've almost been run over (not my fault!), and "holla'd" at.

I hope that we can continue to cultivate the type of relationship this seems to be turning into. I will make more of an effort to ride you around town (especially after I get a lock, so no one can steal you) if you promise to do your best to guard against flat tires.

Love,
Cori

Ps- all of those hours doing cardio at the gym on those fancy machines means nothing to me- you're the only one for me, baby.

A Pet Peeve

2008-08-25T22:18:00.003-04:00

You are not worthless.

I think that it is absolutely disgusting when someone feels so insecure in themselves, that they need to manipulate another person into thinking that they are either worthless, unloved by anyone else, or both.

Being broken up with is not the most amazing and wonderful experience in the world. To quote from somewhere (I'm not too sure where though), breakups are called breakups because they're broken. But sometimes (okay, usually), they are for the best. The way the happen sucks. You're going to feel like crap, and have puffy eyes from crying. But in the end you're better for it. You become better because of the relationship itself. You are better because you've gone through the breakup. And you are much better because you've gotten through it.

If you subscribe to the theory that education is everywhere, and that you learn something new every day, well then breakups are like the mother of all learning experiences. You learn to be stronger and more independent. You also learn more about yourself- what you're willing to put up with, what you aren't, how you act in situations that are pleasing and those that aren't. There is also the matter of taste- you learn more about yours. The next time you decide to date someone you can think to yourself, "Well, that last schmuck (or pleasant thought) didn't have a beard, and dig them. The next guy will either have a beard, or be able to grow one!" You might also find that dating people younger, or older than you isn't your taste.

To recap: No one's worthless, stop treating people like you own them, it's not the end of the world, and everything is a learning experience.

Hampden Blues (and Green's)

2008-08-22T13:45:00.003-04:00

B and I have been looking for places to live for a while now. I would prefer to have roommates, so that way we have the opportunity to meet new people, have a built in person to hang out with, and just generally grow in the world.

So in our attempt to live somewhere other than B's father's basement, I have emailed dozens of people renting out rooms in their houses (or houses that they rent). And every response that I get is a polite, but resounding "no".

I suppose that B and I are death to attempted rented rooms. We're a couple (who insists on living together. What a drag, and how boring!) with two cats. If being a couple wasn't bad enough, we also have to find someone (or someones) who don't mind two tiny beings running around their house (who also isn't allergic. Or have an animal that doesn't play well with others) .

This search is two things to me: a beacon of hope and a source of despair. While I would love to stay positive about the whole thing, sometimes it's tough. The only places I've found that would take us was... well, let's just say it's not up to our standards of living (which aren't too high. I swear). But the idea of getting out of the basement and living above ground, keeps me afloat. While it would drain my bank account, it would all be worth it to not have to go home to a place that I don't want to be.

That leaves us with two options. Option 1 is to just get our own place (this is the most likely option of the two). While it would be a bit more expensive, and we would actually put out an effort to meet people, it's the easiest solution. Bonus points for being able to decorate in any way we want, and not having to ok our overnight guests through someone else. Option 2 involves magically meeting another person (or couple) who is looking to move into the same neighborhood that we are, around the same time, that we get along with and doesn't mind the cats. Once that (simple) thing happens, we all go looking for houses to rent, together, until we find something that we all like. And we live happily ever after, the end.

Of course, with all of this stress happening, we do have the stress of picking out the neighborhood we want to live in. Now, I know that my first love affair in Baltimore was with Federal Hill, but it was a fling. Federal Hill can be (and is) quite expensive, and "yuppie" as B puts it. Fell's Point is too Frat for us, and Canton is where hipsters go to buy their first house (we're not there yet!). So we went to Hampden, to explore. And we (yes this time it's a we, not a me) fell in love! Hampden is like the Baltimore equivalent to Williamsburg Brooklyn. Only, it's less expensive than other neighborhoods, not more. It's funky, with enough punk in it to be hip. There are bike posts everywhere, and it seems that cutoff shorts are a uniform. We would be walking distance to our new favorite bar/restaurant, Holy Frijoles. And close enough to B's friends, that we could all easily go biking around Baltimore without hassles.

Oh yeah, and we're also getting our bikes this weekend!

mine:

B's:

Arts & Crafts with a Twist

2008-08-20T12:54:00.002-04:00

So, I've been really into making things lately. It doesn't matter to me if it's baking, cross stitching, sewing, or writing. As long as I'm creating something, I'm happy. I wasn't always this creative. for a while there, I never made anything original (except for essays, but even then my "original" item was based on other peoples original thoughts). But now I seem to be creating something every day. Even when I was sick, I sewed a key chain out of felt (which lives on my keys as I type...). Two days ago I made a little tissue holder. I'm in the process of making something (I won't say what until it's done and in the mail) for T.A.G., our very own Jewish Girl in Wasps Clothing. But it's something that I'm creating, sans pattern.

I suppose I've been inspired by a book that I picked up recently:

I plan to make as much as I can out of this book, because it's so intesely adorable!

Of course, I'm not the only creative one in the house. B has been helping me out by creating a logo for my cupcakery website (I'm not too sure when that'll be up, but I'll let you know!). And last night we sat in the living room, until late in the evening, doing our respective crafts. I was embroidering part of TAG's gift, while B was building and priming some Warhammer figures. It felt quite nice to sit there, each of us concentrating on our respective tasks, and being able to show the other our progress every now and then.

On an unrelated note, does anyone out there have Animal Crossing: Wild World for DS, and have access to wifi? It's sad to admit, but I don't have any Animal Crossing friends, and would love to move my little town past the stage I'm stuck on now. Let me know if you want to be DS friends, and we can exchange codes!

New Half & Half Cupcakes!

2008-08-19T12:44:00.000-04:00

I had forgotten to post about my half & half cupcakes! The night before our trip to NY, I baked some chocolate/vanilla cupcakes. But since they were for my Gram (even though she didn't get any), I colored the vanilla half purple.

I'm going to start playing around with these in different flavors. I'll let everyone know what works, and what doesn't :-)

p.s. An observation that I just made since everyone in the office ordered Chipolte for lunch: the combination of aromas from different, spicy meats ends up smelling like boy b.o. Granted, the smell is the strongest next to two offices inhabited by guys... so it might not be their lunches.

The Pluses & Minuses of Having a Cold.

2008-08-18T11:37:00.000-04:00

For me, no vacation would be complete without getting ill afterwards. The first time I visited Baltimore, I went home with a pretty awesome Lung Infection (that was borderline pneumonia for a while there). After visiting B in South Carolina, I would get a cold. So why would this vacation end in a different way?

But, I think I will attempt to be positive about this. So here is my list of the +'s & -'s of having a cold.

+ Spend as much time in bed as you want/ Sleep as much as you want.
+ People cater to you. "Honey, I think the only thing that would make me feel better right now would be a grilled cheese and tomato soup. Pleeeeeeease?"
+ You don't have to do anything you don't want, because you have a pretty good excuse. "I'm sorry, I can't attend the family dinner tonight because I have a cold. I wouldn't want anyone else to catch it."
+ An excuse to watch trashy television! "Yes, watching 4 straight hours of 'Shear Genius' was excruciating. But i was so weak, I couldn't turn the channel."
+ An excuse to take Nyquil without coming off as crazy.
+ The ability to bitch as much as you want. This one sort of goes hand in hand with getting catered to. Because if they don't, then you can :)

- You can't get up to do things that you want to do.
- One word: Snot.
- Cold medicines that don't work, i.e. only make you groggy, but your symptoms don't go away.
- The inability to taste food.
- The tendency to snore (due to snot). This doesn't bother me, as much as it bothers B.

Back in Action

2008-08-14T15:32:00.000-04:00

Well, B and I are back from our vacation to visit the family in Upstate New York. I think it went quite well!

The six and a half hour drive was okay. Luckily, the rental car that I have is awesome on gas. It only took one tank of gas to get there, and a second one to get back. For an almost 800 mile trip, that ain't half bad.

We were bored on our very long journey.

This is the view from my Aunt & Uncles backyard. It's breathtaking.

My two little cousins, with a collective 5 hours of sleep between the
two of them, for three days straight.

The main reason why my family gathers, in reunion style, is because of my Grandma. We seem to celebrate her birthday, every five years, with a large party. For her 70th, we all went to California (it also happened to coincide with my cousin graduating from Berkeley Law School). Five years ago, for her 75th, the whole family went to the Catskill Mountains, where we rented many hotel rooms. This year was the big eight-oh. So we all took planes, trains and automobiles to my Aunt & Uncles in Hartford, NY. The party was huge. It was completely catered and butlered, and there was even a bartender!

B made a friend in Rags, their dog.

My Aunt, and beautiful Grandma. This was a little halfway through the party.
Let's just say my "Grandmother is Buzzed" (exact quote from her, too!)

B and I. Both a little... "happy"

And, the obligatory family portrait.

The party was lovely, and getting to spend so much time with the family was great. B got to meet everyone, which was a long time coming. All in all, a grand success!

I Hate Mondays.

2008-08-06T13:49:00.000-04:00

I know, it's Wednesday. So why complain about a day that is two days behind? Because of this:

My shiny car, gotten this past December, now looks like this.

Don't worry- no one was hurt. But luckily (or, I suppose as lucky as one can be in the instance of a car crash) they hit me. So their insurance is taking car of my car getting fixed, and a rental car so I can still get to work.

Now, other than this accident, B and I had a wonderful Monday. We hung out with our friend V, who I met through Z at a hostel in DC (jeeze, that sentence had too many initials...). V is from Ireland, and ended up in Baltimore during his stay in the States. We took him for a lovely dinner at Holy Frijoles, in Hampden. We then ended up at a bar close to B's work, with some of his co-workers.

So, here's the tally for the day:
+ Worked
+ Hung out with V
+ Accident wasn't my fault
+ Went to Holy Frijoles
+ Met up with some friends from Ukazoo (B's bookstore).
+ Had Bourbon for the first time

- Got into a car accident
- Stranded at home on Tuesday, for lack of transportation

Okay, so only one negative on the list, which caused the second negative (and third positive?). So maybe the whole day wasn't a bust. But it'll still go down in my perosnal history as the day I got into an accident, with an Irish kid that I'd known for two days in my passenger seat.

The Essay vs. The Blog

2008-07-31T15:28:00.000-04:00

When it comes to reading, I tend to stick with certain things. A lot of it is conventional, although there is room for experimentation. I like to read novels- give me something with defined characters and a plot. I enjoy short stories because they are baby novels.

I've recently become enamored with Essays: they are the size of a short story (or long one, depending on how verbose the author is), and usually ingrained with some truth that the author has discovered at some point in their life. I had a coworker in Orlando who used to read a lot of Chuck Klosterman, and I was alway intrigued. But not enough to out of my way to read him.

It's a slow work day today, and was perusing one of the many Esquires that grace the mens bathroom, when I started reading an editorial. It was witty, funny, and spoke the truth to me. Little did I know that this amusing essay was by Chuck Klosterman- my new favorite essayist (extremely new. Granted, I've spent practically all day on the Esquire site reading his essays). He manages to roll movies, tv, music, pop-culture, old school ideals and a sense of purpose to his essays- and that's not easy.

I also have been wanting to read Lester Bangs for a while now. Ever since Philip Seymour Hoffman portrayed him in Almost Famous (one of my favorite movies of all time), I've been intrigued.

One essayist/writer that I have greatly admired, and enjoyed reading is Nora Ephron. I'm sure you know who she is, even if you don't know who she is. She wrote When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. Or at least she directed SiS. Whichever. She has a collections of essays that has been out for a while, called I Feel Bad About My Neck (and Other Thoughts on Being A Woman) that was an extremely amusing, and quick read. I highly recommend it.

I've also gotten to thinking about essays, blogs and how they are connected. I know this isn't an amazing realization. But in writing my dailiy blog entry, I'm attempting to share some kernel of truth from my life with people I've not necessarily met. And I'm not the only one out there doing this. My friend TAG shares every little preppy thing about herself with her (quite large) readership. FIB lets those of us wanting to be in NYC live vicariously, and those who do live in NYC get another perspective on the things around them. You can surf blogs all day with topics ranging from cooking, animals, cities, and guns. You could also go into your local Borders Store, and browse essay books on the same subjects for days.

I guess this puts me in the 21st century. So here I am, laying my pen and paper aside, to share my knowledge with you.

Should Have Been a 50's Housewife

2008-07-31T08:52:00.000-04:00

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately. Nothing special, and everything I've made has been mostly from t-shirts. But still, it's a great creative outlet for me.

I used to feel as if I had all of this energy pent up inside of me, but I had no way to let any of it out. It was frustrating, because I would try to draw- but I'm shit at drawing. I can't play music. I don't sculpt or write (a lot).

But between the baking and the sewing, I've been feeling less like I'm about to burst at the seams (always a plus).

The first thing I made was a pillow for my dad's birthday. He's a big Rush fan, and I had gotten this t-shirt at a concert we went to in 2004 for his birthday. B thinks he's going to cry, because it's so sweet and adorable of me.

B and I have also been working towards thinning out our wardrobes, because we were getting to the point where we didn't wear about half of what we own. But we've also avoided getting rid of a lot of these things (mostly t-shirts) because of sentimentality. So I made the decision to make a blanket out of these t-shirts, and make them work for their keep. It's only about half finished, but I'm extremely proud of that half!

I am the ghost of t-shirts past!

Oh yeah, t-minus one week until the big trip. I've semi-started packing the car already. My dad's pillow and the directions are in there. Tonight begins the giant laundry cycle, and then the real packing begins. On the docket for this weekend: work at Border's in Friday night for the midnight party of Breaking Dawn, go to DC to visit Z (who surprised me yesterday with a call telling me he's here), laundry, packing, baking some cupcakes for my Grandma, and figuring out what to pack, to eat, on the trip.

Embarassing Music.

2008-07-29T10:15:00.000-04:00

Once again I was tagged by TAG, with a fun and wacky meme. This one's all about music!

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 5 songs you are embarrassed to admit to others that you like and tell why.
3. Tag 5 random people at the end of post and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I've taken a day to mull this over, because there isn't anything in my music collection that I'm particularly embarrassed by. I suppose the worst it gets is that I still listen to some music from high school that all of my friends have "moved past" and B gives me weird looks when I listen to it.

1. "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by the Offspring- The first Offspring album I bought was Americana (I know, I know- all of the cool kids had Smash first). I thought they were fun and funny. Listening to this song/album makes me think of my freshmen year of high school, and just wanting to fit in- so I listened to this song a whole lot (ironic, eh?).

2. "My Paper Heart" by All American Rejects- Whenever I hear All American Rejects (or AAR if you're neat), I'm transported back to a particularly silly day when I was working at my first Hot Topic. We had just gotten this album in at the store, so we were listening to it over the sound system. My friend Z came in- he was always up on his pop-punk- and began serenading me. And then my boss. Lots of giggling ensued, and that moment was burned into my brain forever (and makes me smile whenever it comes up).

3. "You May Be Right" by Billy Joel- I'm a Billy Joel fan. My two favorite Billy Joel albums are Piano Man & Glass Houses. While I think that Piano Man is just plain good, I think that Glass Houses is just plain cheesy and 80's. But, to quote that album, "It's still Rock & Roll to me." Although, I must admit, the song "Sometimes a Fantasy" freaks me out pretty badly. When I was a kid, I thought that it was silly- some guy talking on the phone to people. After listening to it some 10 years later, I now realize that it's about phone sex.

4. "Love Fool" by The Cardigans- The catchiest song on the album, but still the most fun. This song is connected to two, very different, periods in my life. The first is listening to the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack in my friend Michelle's room during middle school. The second is from about 2 years ago. Some friends and I had gone to I-Bar (in Orlando), and this song came on. The dance floor became insanely crowded, and everyone was just dancing and having such a good time. And it was all because of this silly song.

5. "Freak of the Week" by Marvelous 3- I rode my bike 3 miles to the record store, the day this album came out- just based on my love of this song. Unfortunately that record store didn't have it. So my friend and I rode our bikes the 3 miles back to my house, caught the bus to the mall and I was able to buy the album there. Yes, it was totally worth it. And yes- every now and then I will put on my Marvelous 3 album, and sing at the top of my lungs (on the way to work. alone. in the car).

PS- I won't be tagging anyone to do this meme (yet again). Tagging people still requires knowing people.

On another note, B and I will be taking our big trip to Upstate New York to visit family in about a week. I'm pretty excited by seeing everyone. We also haven't taken a proper road trip since December, so I'm looking pretty forward to that part, too!

A Confession

2008-07-23T21:26:00.000-04:00

I want to grow up to be an ex patriot.

Mostly because my favorite authors were either ex patriots, exiles, or just living their lives abroad. Sylvia Beech (born in Baltimore) ended up with a small bookstore in Paris called Shakespeare & Company. This was a favorite hangout of quite a few different people you might have heard of Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Gertrude Stein and F. Scott Fitzgerald (to name a few). She single handedly got Joyce's Ulysses published (using nefarious ways too!) and helped to bring together what would later be known as the "Lost Generation" (we can thank Ms. Stein for that phrase in that context).

Another large reason why I would love to be an ex patriot is (a bit) less nerdy- I'm an Anglophile and a Hibernophile. I love all things British, English, Scottish, and Irish. Some of my favorite bands are from this area of the world (or people think that they are)- The Noisettes, Lily Allen, Sons & Daughters, The Decemberists (thought to be British by some... I believe an exact description of them was "Uber literary, pseudo British Indie Rock." I swear, I don't have super specialized taste in music...), and The Frames. I dig authors from this area- James Joyce, Roddy Doyle, Zadie Smith, Philip Pullman and J.K. Rowling (we've been over the nerdy thing, right?).

Now, I know that England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales don't always get along. How the idea of "British" can be offensive to English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish people. That the English were assholes to just about everyone in the world, especially their neighbors.

But I love 'em anyway.

A to Z about me!

2008-07-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

Of course, it's not the internet without a meme. Tagged by TAG... oh man. I can feel awful jokes and puns ahead.

A. Attached or Single? The former. For a long time.
B. Best Friend? My boyfriend, fondly known as B around here.
C. Cake or pie? What an awful thing to make me choose! Let's see... I love to bake cupcakes, but I have recently fallen in love with Dangerously Delicious Pies... I'm going to side on indecisive here, and go with both. <3<3<3
D. Day of choice? Saturday. There is no other day of the week where I'm able to sleep in and stay up late. ::shakes fist at my 9 to 5 job::
E. Essential item? The necklace that B gave me for my birthday this year. It only comes off for yoga (I'm not a fan of being hit in the face while I'm trying to relax in downward dog).
F. Favorite color? It's very recently become Teal.
G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummi Bears! You've gotta love a candy with a theme song and cartoon.
H. Home town? Margate, FL
I. Favorite indulgence? Books. Man, if we got nutrition through reading, I'd be Jabba the Hut.
J. January or July? January. Winter's the best!
K. Kids? Hopefully. Eventually. Potentially undecided.
L. Life isn’t complete without? B and the Kitties, Otter & Isis.
M. Marriage date? ... Good question. B?
N. Number of brothers and sisters? The big Zero.
O. Oranges or Apples? Apples are great, but there's nothing more refreshing than a ripe, juicy orange.
P. Phobias? Being lonely- not alone. Sometimes alone time is nice. But when I'm sick of it, it's lovely to have someone else around.
Q. Quotes?

In reading a novel, any novel, we have to know perfectly well that the
whole thing is nonsense, and then, while reading, believe every word of it.
Finally, when we're done with it, we may find -- if it's a good novel -- that
we're a bit different from what we were before we read it, that we have been
changed a little, as if by having met a new face, crossed a street we never
crossed before.  But it's very hard to _say_ just what we learned, how we were
changed.  
 Ursula K. Leguin, Introduction of The Left Hand of Darknes

R. Reasons to smile? Cupcakes, Vegetables, Kittens, Silly Hairstyles & my friends.
S. Season of choice? Fall & Spring. After living in Florida my whole life, to witness the dying, and rebirth of the Earth is the most beautiful thing out there.
T. Tag 5 people: No can do, man. No one to tag! (Note to self... Make more friends with Blogs...)
U. Unknown fact about me? Unknown, but not surprising- I learned how to read early on in pre-school. And I haven't stopped since!
V. Vegetable? Almost all of them. What kind of vegetarian would I be if I disliked vegetables?
W. Worst habit? It's a tie- nagging and jumping to conclusions.
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? X-ray. They're less invasive.
Y. Your favorite food? Hrm. It really depends on the week. Pasta's pretty awesome, though.
Z. Zodiac sign? Sagittarius. Gotta love them fire signs.
Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? Monkeys and Walruses.

They call it Charm City for a reason

2008-07-21T13:24:00.000-04:00

This weekend B and I were visited by a few good friends from Florida. Since they had never been to Baltimore before (!!) we had to show them everything we liked! Or, try some things we've been meaning to try.

After picking them up from the Travel Plaza (what a great first stop in B'more, btw...) we took them to the Annabel Lee Tavern, in Canton.

The food was absolutely incredible! With three vegetarians at the table, it was a treat to get to try most of what was ordered. There was bruschetta , which had mozzarella melted on the top; a portabello, spinach and mozzarella burrito (which was so yummy, B didn't let me try any of!); and a grilled veggie panini with hummus. The only meat eater at the table got the barbecue sandwich (and he loved that!), with sweet potato fries. These might have been the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. They were sweet, but they also had a nice kick to them (most likely the cajun spices...). And then, there was the beer. I had the Resurrection Beer- a locally brewed Baltimore beer... It's definitely in my top 5. It went down easy, tasted great and came in a pint glass with Edgar Allen Poe's face on it. Could I have asked for more?

After a good night's sleep, we all trekked back downtown to Federal Hill Park. I believe I've already gone on (ad nauseum) about my love of this park. So what better place to take someone who hasn't seen Baltimore?

After the park (and some lovely 100 degree weather), we decided to go to the pie shop! Dangerously Delicious Pies is on my "must see" list in Baltimore. It's right on Light Street in Federal Hill (not even 1 block from Cross Street Market!). Easy to find, great pie- what more could a person want?!

Sunday evening we all went to see The Dark Knight (second time around for all of us) at the Senator Theater.

It was a lovely way to end a really great visit. We got to watch a movie that we all geeked out about, in a historic theater, with some good friends (and great pie. Yes, we snuck our pie in. And it was totally worth it!)

A Dream Come True!

2008-07-18T10:48:00.001-04:00

Well... I created Cori's Cupcakery. Which doesn't sound like much- and it isn't. But I also have completed my first transaction.

A woman in my office bought 1 dozen strawberry cupcakes from me. She received them this morning. Apparently, I run a pretty efficient business (which is easy to do with 1 customer and 1 order).

She also grabbed a bunch of fliers from me, to hand out to people. I'm pretty excited.

I never made strawberry cupcakes before, and it was quite the interesting experience. Granted, I find everything with baking an interesting experience. That's why I do it so much!

I'm also debating culinary school, with a specialty in baking and pastry. Then, maybe I can get a job at Charm City Cakes, and work with Duff Goldman!

All Mixed Up

2008-07-16T13:26:00.000-04:00

Todays topic is a very important one to me. It's near and dear to my heart, and it's in my life almost constantly.

Cupcakes

Now, I know that you probably think that cupcakes aren't even worth another look. But I'm here to say that's bull. Cupcakes are amazing. It's easier to decorated a cake. You get more out of a batch. Cupcakes can be made as fancy or plain as you want. They can be kid food, adult food, wedding food, or everyday food. Use a little less sugar, and you have muffins. Anything that is a cake can be made into a cupcake.

My love affair with cupcakes began when I picked up this book:

500 Cupcakes: The only cupcake compendium you'll ever need by Fergal Connolly. And this book is amazing. I've baked quite a few out of here, and I don't show any signs of letting up any time soon. B goes through phases on his favorites. When I first made the Pineapple Upside Down cupcakes, he loved them. Then came Cheesecake cupcakes, and he was in love. It seems like this book can do no wrong, and I'm okay with that.

I think that my favorite part about this books is that it's not just about cupcakes. There are a ton of muffin recipes, from the savory to the sweet. The most intriguing chapter is the one about cupcakes for special diets. Whether you're vegan, lactose intolerant, or can't process wheat, there are at least 2 recipes in this section that accommodate you. When I made some Gluten-Free Golden Raisin and Almond muffins for my boss, who can't eat gluten, she was floored. She said something to the extent of "These muffins are actually like muffins. Out of all of the gluten-free things I've tried over the years, this is the first thing to have taste and texture like it's supposed to."

Of course, there are many more recipes that I've labeled "want to make" instead of "already made." This week I'm going to be experimenting with a Key Lime cupcake (that has the key lime custard inside and meringue on top). After that, who knows? I still want to make some rosewater cupcakes, carnation cupcakes, caramel cupcakes, chocolate ice cream cupcakes... There's just too many! I've had to invest in a few cupcake carriers, so that way I can transport my confections without squashing them. I'm planning on getting some silicon cupcake pans, so that way I don't have to deal with rust.

Out of all of the cupcakes I've made so far, my new favorite (and yes, this also changes with every batch I make) is a lemon poppyseed cupcake, with a poppyseed drizzle. They were incredible. Before that I was in love with chai cupcakes. And a plain vanilla cupcake is very refreshing.

If I ever decide to own my own business, it will probably be a bakery that specializes in cupcakes, called The Cupcakery. I think it would be adorable.

My Trip to the Big City

2008-07-15T09:44:00.000-04:00

B and I went to NYC this weekend to visit some friends. It was pretty much awesome.

We took the Chinatown bus from Baltimore to New York. I hadn't realized it before, but the subject of the Chinatown bus is extremely polarizing. You either love it or hate it. I've never met anyone whose indifferent on the subject. I know people who are scared of buses (I tried to find out if there was a specific phobia for buses, but all I could come up with was Hodophobia- Fear of road travel). I know people who are "too good" for the bus. Or who have a whole lot of money to burn (I wish that was my problem... but that's a rant for another day).

So they drive. Now, I don't mind driving. In fact, I love the act of driving. But to drive from Baltimore to New York City, it's just a pain. There's the gas- the ridiculously expensive gas. And when your trapped on the New Jersey Turnpike, they can just about charge you whatever they want. But wait- why are you trapped on the Jersey Turnpike? Because of tolls. You don't want to have to pay to get off and onto a turnpike. Then there are the tunnel/ bridge tolls to get into the city. If you're driving directly into Brooklyn, your especially effed, because of the Staten Island toll. $10?! That's just obscene.

Those who decide not to drive can take the train. Oh, Amtrak, why are you so expensive? A one way ticket from Penn Station Baltimore to Penn Station New York City can run anywhere between $120 to $130. And yes- I said one way. So two round trip tickets run over $300. I'd personally rather spend my money in New York, not getting there.

So we took the Chinatown bus. It's $15 each way. Granted, it's not the most comfortable way to travel, but if I wanted comfort, I'd take the train. It's fast, easy, cheap- and that's all I'm looking for.

I think that the idea of bus vs. train can be summed up in a pretty fun little story. A friend of mine has two sisters. One lives in New York, the other lives here in Baltimore. My friend was going to visit her sister in NY, and found out that her other sister was planning on going up at the same time, for the same reasons. She told her sister that they can take the bus together, and it would be great for the two of them, since no one would have to travel alone. The response she got was, "I don't take the bus." So her sister took the train, and my friend took the bus. They left at the same exact time. They got there at the same exact time. Yet one spent $15, and the other $120.

Just as a little side note, I was messing around on www.phobialist.com and found some pretty fun phobias (not fun to have... just the words are fun):
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words.
- Hellenologophobia- Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology.
- Homophobia- Fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming homosexual. (I didn't know that this also meant fear of sameness... I suppose I could be considered homophobic in that sense?)
And those are just the H's!

Why do anything half-assed?

2008-07-08T17:29:00.000-04:00

The signs were there when I was a kid. I wanted to be an actor when I grew up. I had multiple video game systems (and beat quite a few of the games that I owned). I read- all of the time. I liked fantasy movies. I listened to classic rock. There was no denying it.

I'm a dork. 100%.

As an "adult" I read comics (print and web). I love Joss Whedon. I watch Doctor Who (well... watch is a loose term. Closer to obsessed with). I read Douglas Adams and Philip Pullman. There's Battlestar Galactica. And then the video games. Guitar Hero, anything Mario related (on any platform), and yes, even WOW. You can throw me almost any line from Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother, or Torchwood- and I will (most likely) respond with the next line.

I gladly go to conventions to meet the lesser faces of Harry Potter (and I have the pictures to prove it!). Heck, I've even did a shadowcast performance of "Once More With Feeling" and a Buffy convention. We're not even going to count that year in college I was part of a shadowcast troupe for Rocky Horror Picture Show.

And the great thing? I love it. No need to be ashamed. No need to feel guilty, or attempt to fit into the crowd.

If todays me, and the me from when I was 16 talked, I'm sure it would be an interesting conversation. Back then it was all about fitting in (not just for me- but for everyone in high school). Not necessarily fitting into the "in" crowd... but just fitting in somewhere. And if that meant hiding my Rocky Horror collectibles when a friend came over (it was a long obsession... don't ask me why), then so be it. Or only feeling like I could quote Buffy the Vampire Slayer to to those I trusted with my life... well that was the way it would be.

I like things now. I like that I'm not scared of showing someone who I am... because if they don't like me, it doesn't matter. There's always someone out there who will be my friend because of the very reasons others won't.

Fast Food Nation

2008-07-06T19:10:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching the movie Fast Food Nation. I've never read the book, and I'm sure the experience of both is very different. But I have to say that I was greatly disturbed by the movie.

I know- it was supposed to unsettle me. To make me think about the way I'm spending my money when I go into McDonald's, and order a Super Duper Value McGiagantor Buger, with Awesome Huge McFries and a Kiddie Pool size McShake. And if I went into those establishments and ordered those (approximate) things, it would make me think.

But being a Vegetarian (for a good chunk of time), I don't go into these establishments, mostly because they don't cater to me. The only thing I can eat at most of those places are the fries and beverages. So I try not to frequent them. Because, while a dinner of fries and a chocolate shake sounds appealing to the taste buds, it sounds like hell to the stomach.

But I'm off topic.

The movie was... well, it was first and foremost unsettling. It seemed like a regular Hollywood film, and a P.E.T.A. video smashed together. The Hollywood parts were moving- the story of illegal immigrants forced to work in a meat packing plant, the high school girl who is working at her McJob until she can go to college, and the V.P. of McMarketing who has no clue how things really are done in the company.

The P.E.T.A part? Well... let's just say I could never get through that P.E.T.A. video in Philosophy class in undergrad... and after 4 years, nothing was different. The few bits I was able to see through my fingers (yes, I covered my eyes with my hands and hoped it would be over soon) are giving me the heebie jeebies still. There's something haunting (not the beautiful music kind, but the bloody headed Civil War General is following me everywhere, and he's not see through) about seeing a cow with no legs. Because they've been chopped off. No, really.

I might even stay away from soy-meat for a while...

Federal Hill

2008-07-04T14:44:00.000-04:00

We went to Federal Hill last night. It might be my favorite part of this city so far. Granted, I've haven't been too many place in Baltimore. We've gone to the Inner Harbor, Mt. Vernon, Hampden, and Fells Point. I've drive through some pretty scary areas, and some some ritzy ones. But Federal Hill is the place I have my heart set on- pretty much because of the Park.

Oh man. Federal Hill Park is so great. The view of the Harbor is beautiful, and the park itself is gorgeous. You can see Raven's Stadium, The Aquarium, the best Barnes & Noble I've ever been to, and the Domino Sugar Plant.

Our foray into Fed Hill was Flicks on the Hill. During the summer, the American Visionary Art Museum shows movies on the side of one of its buildings. Last night the showed Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? which was enough to draw us out of our house for the evening.

Dinner was at The Stalking Horse, a place where I had eaten once before with a good friend. They have some pretty intense baked potatoes, and last night we shared quesadillas- which were really yummy. Spinach, tomato, and mushroom with some awesome dipping sauce. To go along with these quesadillas, I had a lovely pint of Sam Adams Summer Ale, while B enjoyed Clipper City Pale Ale.

Onto the movie! Everyone brought out blankets and lawn chairs, and it was a really great atmosphere. The movie was great (as I knew it would be), but there's always something added by watching a movie with a group of strangers. I'm sure that everyone has encountered this- you go to a movie you want to see on a night where it's particularly crowded. Everyone laughs at the right spots, groans at the right times, and for certain movies you can hear someone sniffling during a sad scene (that's usually me). Last night was no different. People clapped and sang- some even danced.

It was one of those nights that confirms in my mind, my choice to move to Baltimore.

cori.

This is the begining.

2008-07-03T15:09:00.000-04:00

"So it goes"

I'm not sure why the beginning of my career as a blogger needs to begin with a Kurt Vonnegut quote. Especially that quote. The most used quote. The one that everyone who was ever forced to read Slaughterhouse 5 (or picked it up for enjoyment) will always associate with the late Mr. Vonnegut. I'm sure I can find a better one.

Let's go with my favorite mantra from the Vonnegut book I just finished:
"You were sick, but now you're well again, and there's work to do."

I think that might feel more appropriate.

I suppose I don't have a specific goal for this blog. It's not about cooking, my love of cats, or how I'm beginning a grand adventure. I've already started this adventure- way back in August. This is just another continuation of my adventure, and a way to keep better track of it.

The adventure, you ask? Well, it all began when I graduated with a B.A. in English and moved to Charm City itself- Baltimore. Exploring a new city is always an adventure, and I've never felt more up to it in my life.

cori.