a little worse for wear

I owe Suzer a couple of recipes so those are just a little lower. I am surviving I suppose. I had a quiz in linear today- I messed up half of the one question quiz. Great way to start off the weekend. Guess it's karma for me not really studying. Smooth, Theresa. Real smooth. I've seriously been reconsidering my whole ph.d notion. The masters track is looking really nice. I thought I was ambitious, but I suppose not. Maybe I'm just a minimalist. A masters could really almost let me do anything. How many people do you know have a masters in math? I guess I shouldn't rush into making up my mind so soon. It's only been a week and half really.

Oh I went out with Amanda, a bunch of her friends, and Ben from the grad program last night. We all got together to watch the USC vs Mississippi State game. We won if anyone cares 15-0. It was a lot of fun- had lots of yummy sort of food. Played a game of in the dark hide and seek. It's fun making new friends.

For Suz and cooking fiends everywhere I present my chicken and mushrooms recipe, and bbq pulled pork. I shall also rate difficulty...although I tend to only make things that are easy.

Chicken and Mushrooms - Simple: makes about 4-6 servings

What you need:
1/4 cup of flour
1 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper
package of skinless chicken breasts (about 6 pieces...or you can get chicken tenderloins)
1/4 cup of butter/margarine
1/4 cup of lemon juice from concentrate
8 ounces of sliced fresh mushrooms (about 2 cups)
Hot cooked rice

What to do:
Combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat chicken in mixture. In large skillet, brown the chicken in butter/margarine on both sides until golden brown. Add lemon juice and mushrooms. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Serve over rice. **I tend to add a little more lemon juice about half of the way through the simmering process, cause well I like the lemony taste.**

Barbeque Pulled Pork - A Marathon: makes a lot. I suggest you make it only if you have lots of people around, or else you will be eating it for longer than you thought possible. Here goes nothing...

What you need:
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, diced
2 tbs chili pepper
1 tbs cumin
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne
12 ounces of beer (lager)
3/4 cup of ketchup
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup whole grain mustard
2 tbs tomato paste
chipotle pepper and adobo
1 5lb bone-in Boston Butt pork

What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 300. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook until the onions are light brown.
2. Increase heat to high; add chili powder, cumin, paprika, cayenne and cook, stirring until fragrant. *It won't take long, trust me..it'll hit you...* Add beer, ketchup, vinegar, mustard, tomato paste, a dash of chipotle pepper and adobo; bringing it to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer uncovered until slightly thickened (10 mins). Meanwhile, trim the fat from the pork.
3. Remove pan from heat and add pork. Spoon the sauce over it. Cover pan, and place it in the oven and bake for 1.5 hours. Turn pork over, cover w/sauce, and bake for another 1.5 hours. Uncover and back until fork turns easily in the meat, 1 to 2 more hours.
4. Transfer pork to large bowl and cover w/foil. Pour sauce in measuring cup and refridgerate until fat and sauce separate, 15 min. Skim off fat. Return sauce to heat in pan (medium high until hot, 4 min).
5. Remove bone and remaining fat from meat. Bone should easily slip away from meat. Pull pork apart into shreds with 2 forks. Add hot sauce to meat; stir to combine. Serve hot.

I made it to the weekend!

I managed it. I've made it out alive. Breakdown:

PDE class - (i shortened it...I don't like the long name) seems like it will be a good class. prof is good outside of a little difficulty of my understanding him. I just think it will take me a bit of time to get used to him.

Linear Algebra- prof is romanian and has some really good explanations. Only she speaks really quickly. So I really need to work on getting everything down fast.

Analysis- well the prof is apparently a very important person in the math community and is giving a talk in Spain at a huge math conference so he won't be back for another week or so. I guess hurray no class

I went out on the town with a new friend in the math department last night. We hit up Five Points and went to several bars - Speakeasy's, Jake's, Sharky's, Group therapy, and Good Times. I had a lot of fun. There were a lot of students out and by a lot...I mean a lot. I think we could have fit the entire Dickinson senior class at one of these bars. Yeah, it was absurd.

I went to the apartment pool party this evening. Met some really nice people. Had some beer, a couple of jello shooters (yeah theresa...jello shooters, that is a new experience), pulled pork...yum. I got invited to the opening game at SC - don't know if I'll do that yet. I haven't decided.

I think tomorrow I will make some meatballs and sauce. Also get to work on my ...well work, cause that is what it is. Well I might go enjoy some tv or something like that...catch ya later.

Not Nervous, not nervous...not nervous

Yeah, little tiny bit nervous about classes tomorrow. I know I shouldn't be. For some reason this is like a huge mountain. I can't quite figure out why. Like I don't trust my own thought processes anymore. That for some reason everyone else is on surer footing then I am.

I just need to make it through the first classes. I can handle that - I think. Then lots of alcohol. Lots of it. Friday Night.

I like this group- The Fray... song She Is
Do not get me wrong I cannot wait for you to come home
For now you're not here and I'm not there, it's like we're on our own
To figure it out, consider how to find a place to stand
Instead of walking away and instead of nowhere to land

This is going to break me clean in two
This is going to bring me close to you

She is everything I need that I never knew I wanted
She is everything I want that I never knew I needed
(2x)

It's all up in the air and we stand still to see what comes down
I don't know where it is, I don't know when, but I want you around
When it falls into place with you and I, we go from if to when
Your side and mine are both behind it's indication

This is going to bring me clarity
This'll take the heart right out of me

She is everything I need that I never knew I wanted
She is everything I want that I never knew I needed
(2x)

This is going to bring me to my knees
I just want to hold you close to me

She is everything I need that I never knew I wanted
She is everything I want that I never knew I needed
(2x)

She is everything I needed
She is everything

Last Weekend of Freedom

Yes. It is my last weekend of freedom. Thursday is the start of classes. I always enjoy my first day of classes. Except this time I'm quite nervous. I guess this will show if I really know much of anything at all. At least I only have to prove myself in 3 classes. Just 3. What a relief!!

Classes:

Linear Algebra
Analysis 1
Difference Methods in Numerical Partial Differental Equations with Time-Dependence (say that title 10 times fast)

Oh yes, the long named class- that is the one I picked! The first two are part of the program. Have to take them. On top of these three classes- I have two Calc 2 sections. Reprieve is that I don't have to teach the class. I just have to do the recitation and their Maple lab. oh both sections are completely full. So that brings my student count to a grand total of 56. I don't mind the two sections. I even don't mind the 56 students. I used to know 100+ students a fall semester at Brookdale. It is the pure simple fact that I have Calc 2. The whole last portion of Calc 2 is the bane of my existence. I despise doing just straight sequences and series. I hate finding the error. I loath it. But I really don't have any say in my class assignment. At least my name wasn't so far alphabetically that I would have to teach a class. Then I might just shoot myself in the foot.

Anyways, I am going to try to enjoy my weekend. Meet up the with parents tomorrow. Pick up some extra calc books so I don't feel so bad about the ta-ing. Plus get out of the way of all the little freshies who are moving in this weekend. Want to avoid that at all costs.

Oh I made cookies last night. That was fun. I'm still trying to get used to my kitchen. I'm not used to the electric stove unit that I have. But I have yet to make any food that I needed to throw out and try again with. I guess that is a good sign. :o)

Random Encounters

So I've tried to make nice nice with the people who work my apartment building. Just so happens, the maintenance guy is from Jersey. New Brunswick, no less. So that is really nice. He's taken to calling me "Jersey" and chatting whenever we meet in the lobby area.

It was officially my 5th day in the city of Columbia when I was approached to convert to my own family of religion (christianity)...at the ZOO. Yes, it occured while I was standing listening to the diving demonstration in the aquarium portion of the zoo. Maybe it was the fact I was alone. Possibly the fact I was wearing shorts (it's 90 degrees...don't give me a funny look when I wear shorts and you wear long pants). Maybe it was just the fact that I had my COCKS hat on - obviously I needed saving. A young girl maybe 13 years old- sticks a pamphet in my hand saying will you read this when you have time. I was kinda dumbfounded, not to mention trying to pay attention to the demonstration. What did the pamphlet say you ask... HELL: Suppose it's true after all? Ms. Robin Sheffield and the Good News Publishers wanted me to seriously consider if Hell really did exist. And if I have received Jesus Christ as my Savior. If I was more lucid I probably should have said I'm Christian don't try to sell me on my own religion. But probably worked out for the best, I would not have wanted to make a scene at the zoo. No, I like the zoo.

I was shopping at my new favorite grocery store: Publix, just in case you were wondering. I was picking up some yummies- chicken, steak, lamb, ground beef, celery, onions...normal stuff. Strolling through the frozen food isle, when I see a guy late 20s early 30s, who starts opening every door and pulling out lots of frozen dinners. Maybe I gave him a funny look. If I did, I don't remember it. After his quick throwing boxes into shopping cart action, he walks past me. Apparently, I need an explanation for this weird behavior. He informs, "My girlfriend is away for the week. What am I supposed to do?" Shrugs his shoulders. I say, "Aww poor thing. Good luck with that." Shoot him off a little smile. Saw him at the check out line and he smiled back and laughed.

Random, I know totally.

I'm going to say it here only once because I think I can handle it. I don't want to become a whiny crazy person, who just talks about missing certain people. Just think whenever you read my posts...this is in the back of my head. All the time. But I will only say it once. I miss Andrew.

Eggshell Walls

Indeed, that would be the color of all of the walls inside of my apartment- Outside of the kitchen which has some super cool blue-ish gray striped wallpaper and the bathroom wwith yellow tiles. I intend on putting a couple of posters up soon. I keep putting it off actually. I was going to today...but I got so busy- me busy already???- that i just didn't feel like doing it.

Thanks Dana, Jen, and Jinx. Helped me out a lot. I'll admit it- it has taken me about a week to get over it- as well as several tissues and the inability to see out of my contacts, but I think I have things worked out. I tend to be a prefectionist...okay yes all the time. Lately, I have been holding myself to this expectation that when I get here *instantaneously* I will have my apartment all made up, I will know my way around the city, and I will be able to meet some super cool people. I was holding myself to an impossible timetable. Totally absurd. Today was a good day. I didn't really miss anyone. Okay-scratch that...I missed my mom cause she would have loved to go to the zoo with me, or a couple of my coworkers from Brookdale cause they would have loved the Garden portion. But it wasn't overwhelming sad. It was a good thing. By the way- I put some pictures up from my trek to the zoo on facebook if you care to see. The zoo was awesome. The garden will be a great place to go once it gets a bit cooler- may be a nice retreat when I need to not think about math, or maybe to think about math - get a little inspiration. I think what is also helping me is that fact that I am trying to give myself something to explore everyday- it may not take me all day - like the zoo, but at least it gives me the lay of the land. Like I walked to the post office and then took a drive out to find the nearby Kohl's. Yes, sue me. I am from Jersey and it's a little disconcerting not having 15 malls to choose from and only have to drive 15 minutes to get to them. I think tomorrow I may take a stab at the State Museum. There also seems to be a cool little theater group nearby my now new favorite grocery store that I may try to catch a show at sometime soon. I'm sure once classes start I'll find things to do on campus. But I feel better about everything here - - I guess that is pretty much the short of it. If anyone desires to suffer through the heat, you are more than welcome to come hang at my place. I do have a wonderfully personally assembled by moi futon.

Ugh I got totally waylayed here. Talking to my mom I've totally lost my train of thought. I'll write another entry later sometime.

Layover

Well, the big trip has thus commenced. I am stopped here in Christiansburg, VA for the evening. Tomorrow we attack the last 4 hours of the trip to Columbia and then unpack like crazy people. I was amazed that we could fit all the random crap I decided I needed into both the suv and my own Happy car. Added bonus you can actually see out the rear window as well. Feel kinda nervous about everything. I am starting to miss everyone terribly. What will I do without Becks- rough going bar hopping by yourself, or talk about boys and such. What about Suzer- who can i share my love of beer, Soco, Harry, and whatever seems to cross my mind? I already have limited contact with Andrew...and this next month just makes talking and sharing experiences just that much tougher being on either coast of the US with little cell ability. Yes, yes, and several others...I am just very tired from my 8 hours of driving today.

Guess the long and the short of it is...I'm starting to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of this really being my beginning- I'm not sure I am ready for this.

Brew at a Zoo?!?!?!

I was googling for fun stuff to do in Columbia, seeing as I might have a couple of days before the insanity begins there and I came across the famed Riverbanks Zoo. It just so happens that they are anticipating my arrival to South Carolina on August 5th with this wonderful event.

BREW AT THE ZOO:
Introducing an extraordinary tasting event…
Brew at the Zoo - Where the Long Necks Are

Saturday, August 5 - 7:00-9:30pm (Rain or Shine)

* Discover a new brew or sip an old favorite.
* Sample a variety of domestic, microbrew and specialty beers.
* Learn the cold facts from an Anheuser-Busch Brew Master.

Music by The South.


I think I might just have to take a break from the unpacking to visit the zoo.

Where did July go?

So I’ve been a little neglectful. July has been absolutely crazy- yet soo amazing! I do feel a bit run down though with all of my running here and going there business. I suppose a recap is in order.

Andrew had block leave- Hurray!! So we spent most of it together:
Hung out at a barbeque, chilled at Rusty’s for the 4th (It was great seeing everyone, cause I know I don’t have much more time here in Jersey.), spent 3 days at Ocean City (Andrew schooled me in skee-ball much to my dismay…although I didn’t do to bad once we found the games with the 100 point holes), went to the Baltimore Aquarium, Gettysburg, and Hershey Park (yummy Chocolate World!!!). It was a whirlwind 2 weeks- but wonderful at that.

Last week I saw the Big Mouse in Disney World. Major memories- more bug bites than I ever imagined, half-yard Guinness at the Rose and Crown, Big Thunder Mountain “Hang on to your hats partners, cause this here train is the wildest ride in the WILDERNESS!!!”, yummy food at the California Grille, crazy Star Wars pictures (which reminds me, I need to scan so you all can see them, hurray facebook!), oh my brain isn’t thinking anymore, it was all just so much fun.

And now, I have 3 days of work left. It has been a little sad cleaning out my desk. After two years I have accumulated a massive amount of just...for lack of a better word- stuff. I keep asking myself why the heck I had this stuff in the first place. I have rid my desk of most of that stuff now. All I really have left are some text books, and a bunch of office supplies. Within the next week I have the really big task of getting everything squared away for the move. I want to say I have everything- somewhere in my house. So maybe I’ll make it like a scavenger hunt- search for all the basic things I need. I am getting antsy about it- and I feel that in my shoulders and such. My normal calming activities help a bit but not really. Knitting only really lasts about an hour for me, and my brain wanders too much to read my books for any long amount of time. I feel like I should be doing something, but there really isn’t much to do. I guess I’m also getting nervous about school again. I love school...I love learning, but I have a tendency in the first week or so to be a basketcase about deadlines- even end of semester ones. Totally overwhelmed by the handing out of the syllabi. I am going to try to see if I can keep that to a minimum...but the tension in my shoulders grows every day as we get closer to August 4th and move time.

I guess between packing...if I have anything else to write I’ll try to…and hopefully by August 24th (first day of classes) I’ll definitely have internet access again. In the mean time- maybe I’ll meet up with Lynnea S., my fellow inferno alto Sarah. Suzer is coming to visit on Saturday and if it isn’t raining we should be able to catch Seussical at Plays-in-the-Park. If anyone wants my South Carolina info, if I missed you in my mass email (I never can manage to keep tabs on who gets them or didn’t), shoot me off an email and I’ll get that to you. Maybe I’ll see Clerks 2- Brookdale reference- yeah I worked there. I suppose that is it then. Catch ya on the flip side.

Weird Dream

I must share this little dream here since I normally do not remember any dreams when I sleep. I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, so I went home early. I had a bit of ramen noodle, which is the epitome of lazy seeing as I had perfectly good chicken broth to use in the refrigerator. After having the ramen, I was so tired and just wanted to sleep.

Hence the dream: I remember chewing something- not gum…but had the substance/texture of gum. I was at home. All of a sudden I bit down on the substance, and one hears a loud crack! Broken tooth. I run up the stairs to the bathroom with the intention of spitting everything out and cleansing it with some salt water. For some reason, *this part I don’t understand* there were jail bars around the countertop area of my bathroom. At this point, for some reason I was still chewing on this gum-like substance when I remember breaking my back left molar. There was a door in the jail bars, which I opened up to get access to one of the sinks. I decided to do what any normal person would do- spit everything out. Something was wrong about it – I spit out all of the teeth from my lower jaw, and was spurting blood like *like I don’t know what spurts blood* and it just didn’t stop. I, being the mathematician I am, was counting the teeth as I spit them out...and there were definitely more that 16 that came out of my mouth. Odd thing was I don’t remember losing my upper teeth at all. Then I woke up with a slightly painful jaw.

I guess that the teeth mean I’m anxious about a big change…or that I need a new way of thinking about a problem to get past it. I’m a little confused on what the jail bars mean though.

Anyway, I only have one more day of work this week, which is very exciting. I think I need to give Happy car a wash, and a clean on the inside...it is starting to collect a lot of dirt.

Catch ya on the flip side.