Summer bummer

Well... Hello, July! You're here with a vengeance.

I am sitting outside, thankfully in a patch of shade, enjoying some afternoon procrastination with Daisy. She is sniffing Ben's tomatoes. I am wiping the sweat from my brow and hoping this caffeine headache goes away.

Summertime is nice and I am enjoying the weather and the sunshine and socializing with all my favorite people. What I am not enjoying so much are my classes and the indecision surrounding the next several months of my life.

Class at OSU and Ashland is tiring and generally annoying. I'm ready to be done with this.

Ben's applying for jobs. With any luck, in a couple of very short months, he won't live here anymore. Not that I want him to leave. Quite the opposite. Him leaving however, means that he has a job.

It's strange to think about the fact that I won't live here all that much longer either. Columbus has been my home pretty much all of my life, and at this point I'll only be here for another year or so, max. It's very exciting to think about living in a new place. I think I'll be happier about it when I know where that place is. Right now there are lots of candidates - New York, Chicago, Boston, Kanasas City, Houston, Toronto...the list goes on and on. Only time will tell, I suppose.

Big Brother has started up again, which is awesome. I know it's complete crap, but I love the drama.

I am planning a surprise outing for Ben this weekend. We'll see if it all works out.

Holy shnikes...

It's been forever and a day...yet this blog will not be forgotten!

I'm writing from OSU campus. Yes, I did manage to graduate, but now I am continuing my schooling with more OSU classes towards the Bachelors Plus program at Ashland U. I'm going to get certified to teach 7-12 language arts and theatre. Woot woot woot.

Right now I feel so tired...there's no way possible that I could update completely right now seeing as how it's been 10 months since I last wrote in this blog. I'm sure I'll get caught up with things eventually.

Hopefully I'll be bringing my other blog to life as well - The Glitter Ninja Gazette where I will chronicle my crafting endeavors. I was the very happy recipient of a sewing machine at Christmas time, so now I am on a mission to learn how to use it. Thursday night my friend Leslie will be teaching me to make a pillow or two.

More to come...stay tuned.

So yes, I've been rather negligent in my blogging lately. I honestly can't believe it's mid-march. February was a tough month, I was seriously struggling to get through school work and my obligations with the play and work and other obligation type things.

Today was my last day of classes. I have two exams next week and then...the big show. Graduation! It hasn't really set in yet...but I'm definitely starting to get excited.

Also exciting is the return of the physicist - less than a week away! We had a wonderful Valentine's Day adventure in San Francisco, which deserves its own entry, and will be headed off for a cross country tour on the 26th. Hooray! I've always wanted to experience driving across the country, and now I will have the awesome opportunity to do so.

One more performance of Issac tomorrow, lots of work and a couple exams. Then it's time for some fun!

it's almost february

It is Saturday. I have so much work to do. Midterms... For the last time. (Undergrad at least)

Steve Mason had another shut out last night.

In two weeks, I will be in California. It can't come quickly enough.

Snow day!

It's always nice to find out the night before that you don't have classes the next day. Columbus was under a level 2 snow emergency today, which meant quite a few people were staying put. It's days like today that leave me wishing I had a fireplace to snuggle up in front of (and maybe a physicist to snuggle up with) but either way, there's something very nice about being able to look out the window at pretty snow and know you really don't have to go anywhere. I've got good food to cook for dinner tonight (thanks to some exotic spices) and a new episode of Lost to look forward to. All and all, a nice day.

Here's a peek at the winter wonderland that is Columbus. With that crazy cold snap and now a good storm, I think it's safe to say I am ready for spring.





It wasn't all snow...we got a decent amount of ice as well. It makes the trees all pretty.



It also makes my car icy...I'm pretty sure I just put off the inevitable frustration of cleaning it off by not doing it today...Oh well. I'll worry about it tomorrow.






Here's hoping driving is better tomorrow, but for tonight, I'm ready for an evening in.

Carry the Flag!

Epic Blue Jackets victory tonight. Sadly I wasn't there, but I watched excitedly from home. We conquered the evil Dead Things (also known as the Red Wings) in a 3-2 overtime victory. All three goals courtesy of Rick Nash. I so wish I could have been there to scream my head off and watch the hats rain from the sky as the cannon sounded to signify the overtime victory. These are two huge points to kick off the second half of the season. I was hoping Chimera might get a goal in his first game back after injury, but it's all good. Captain Nash took care of business. My boys need to keep playing like this. It's pretty exciting to be a Jackets fan right now.

In other icey news...the weather is horrible. Rehearsals for the play were canceled tonight, and it looks like OSU students will be the only people in the city who have classes tomorrow...unless there's some sort of miracle which would be a-maz-ing.

I was informed today I have a new manager at work...this came as a surprise. Hopefully all will still be ok.

Gotta get to bed soon...need to take a shower...but before I do...

GO BLUE JACKETS!!!


*edited to add: HOLY SHIT - OSU closed...no class tomorrow. Sweeeeeeet!

gotta get away

I'm not gonna lie...the winter weather of doom had been getting me down, and when the opportunity arose to plan a weekend getaway to Detroit, I was all about it. Perhaps not your most enticing weekend getaway destination, but my friends Matt and Sandro were there with the touring company of A Chorus Line, and the physicist was able to get a ticket from warm, sunny California (yes, I'm jealous) to meet me there. So it wasn't so much the destination, as the people I would get to spend time with once there. Great success.


I believe that this picture does not require any extra explanation...business as usual really.



We were able to catch Matt and Sandro for a drink at the Fisher Building before we saw the show. Matt is always happy to pose for candid photos.



The bar itself was really pretty - I felt it deserved it's own picture.


I was very excited for Ben to meet Matt and Sandro...mostly because they are fucking awesome.

Happy happy.


Aren't they cute?


Knob creek does a body good.


The Fisher Building in Detroit was so gorgeous. Covered in mosaics and awesome art deco style. I probably could have spent an hour just taking pictures of all the wonderful sights inside. Some of these are blurry, but they give you the idea of the awesomeness.








After the show, we went to this swanky swanky steakhouse for some delicious meat. Yum!


This would be an awesome picture, were it not for the stupid renegade curl obscuring my face.



The weekend was relaxing overall. We didn't do anything super exciting, but had lots of time to chat, which was nice. Before I had to drop Ben off at the airport, we made a trip to starbucks...cause after having gone over 24 hours without, I was seriously jonesing.


Now that Ben will taunt me forever for being "bohemian" I flash a peace sign.



Pondering the flight back to California. Or perhaps some physics...



The physicist makes me happy.


And he *loves* his cappuccino.





Since it is of course totally safe to take pictures while driving, I snapped this one of the setting sun on my way back to Ohio.



There's much work to be done, and I'm sure to be a busy bee, but this weekend away really gave my soul some much needed happiness. I'm so thankful for the wonderful people in my life. They make it possible to get through all these dreary winter days.

seriously?!?

It is 11:10 on Thursday evening in Columbus, Ohio. The temperature is -8 degrees...with windchill...wait for it...a delightfully face-melting -30. That's right. Negative-fucking-THIRTY. Let's just say I am not at all amused by the prospect of a full day traipsing around campus tomorrow. I have no idea if it can even reach the point where OSU closes because of cold temperatures...I am currently pondering how many layers of clothes I can wear and still be able to zip up my coat. I'm thinking at least two pairs of pants and three shirts...probably two pairs of socks. I wish I had goggles.

I also wish I had a physicist to keep me warm on a night like this. Nash and Noodle will be nice to cuddle with tonight.

Is it spring yet?

welcome to 2009

woah...happy new year!

I had a great time on my Texas adventure. As usual, it was fabulous seeing Ben, and I had a blast meeting the rest of the Dundee clan and some assorted friends and others. The only part of Texas I had seen before was a small part of the Dallas airport, so it was exciting to see a new state. It was very Texas-y. Highlights included walks on the beach for shell collecting, lots of dogs to pet and snuggle, an aquarium in a pyramid, and the warmth of a fire from a lovingly constructed fire pit.

Sadly the transition back to the real world and the beginning of winter quarter has happened all too quickly. Classes started today, and although I'm taking a fun dialect class taught by a friend from Otterbein, and I will try to enjoy the challenges of French, I'm not super thrilled about the coming weeks of this winter quarter. The weather is yucky, and my geology class seems like it may be trying. Due to my excellent skills for never planning ahead, I've been without a couple of my prescriptions for a couple of weeks now. Silly, Bryanne... Yeah, so needless to say I'm feeling the effects. I'm back on everything as of this afternoon, so hopefully the situation will begin to right itself in a couple of days.

While a good portion of the population of Columbus is now enraptured by a football game, I am watching the Bachelor and eating some yogurt. Oh yes...the fascinating life I lead!

In exciting news, I've been cast in Raconteur Theatre Company's next production - Isaac, I am. It's been about a million years since I acted, and my good friend Lorelei is also a part of the cast. I'm so looking forward to this experience, and hope that it proves to be as much fun as I think it will be.

I've got big goals for 2009, and lots of changes and growth on the horizon. I really want to get back in the swing of things to be healthier, in better shape, more organzied and productive and generally happier. It's a tall order, but I want it...badly. So step by step, one day at a time will be my plan. Two easily summarized goals include figuring out the next step in my educational career, and being able to run a 5k by this summer.

A full Texas trip update will come soon...but for now...back to the Bachelor! *bwa ha ha!!!*

x-mas

Above, Melissa and I react to the completely abysmal play of the Blue Jackets last night. Epic hockey fail. :-(


Christmas eve...it's raining in Columbus. Last night everything was covered in a nice slippery sheet of ice.

The end of the quarter was not quite what I wanted it to be. I should have worked harder, and will resolve to do so next quarter. I think the senioritis has set in. I just want to be done. I am starting to map out my next steps, and plan where I will go next in my career. It's exciting and scary and there are lots of questions running through my head, but I'm trying to take it one step at a time.

Not going to lie...I've been a little down the past couple of weeks. Kinda sucks. Work has been fine, haven't been doing a whole lot of socializing, and I've been *really* tired. The cats seem to be getting into slightly less trouble which is nice.

Hanukkah started on Sunday night, and we did a little family celebrating. There was a lot going on since Melissa had just gotten home and then was leaving for Missouri early the next morning, so it wasn't very elaborate...which is ok. :-) Family time is always nice.

Lighting the candles and saying the blessings


Fun with camera timer


Latke time!


Yum, yum, yum





Latkes and sour cream...not healthy in any way, but SO DELICIOUS!!!




Now I'm headed over to Mom and Dad's to have some dinner, then back home, hopefully to see Melissa and Matt.

Just wanting to feel a little holiday spirit, instead of so down and blue.

thanksgiving recap...finally...

Wowza...it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I can't believe it's Christmas eve. I'm excited to go to Texas on Sunday. I am way behind on updating this thing!!

First up, I feel compelled to share some pictures from Thanksgiving, even though it's almost a month in the past. I had such a great time...


While shopping for squash casserole supplies...Dundees are everywhere!


We got to see two hockey games during the week It's the favorite way for the Bornstein family to celebrate any occasion.



Cooking for Thanksgiving is always lots of fun - Ben and Mom were joking about something here. I swear, I did more than just take pictures, I helped prepare as well!


Dad needed a break to check up with his crackberry.


My sister Melissa, Caleb her boyfriend, my best friend Melissa and her boyfriend Matt were also on hand for activities of thankfulness.


Here's a view of the table, post nom.



Two goobers at a hockey game.

ugh...

So the good news is it's not so cold today...in fact not really cold at all. Granted, it has rained all day, but I will gladly take that over snow. It's been gray and gloomy overall, which doesn't do a lot for fostering a good mood.

I shouldn't be writing this blog right now. I should be studying for my exams tomorrow. I think my brain needed a little break though. I have my french exam at 9:30, and then physical anthropology at 1:30. Everything is under control. I have good grade thus far in both classes, and should be in good shape for the exams, but it stresses me out none the less. I seem to not feel comfortable going into exams unless I overprepare, so thats where I am right now. Most previous quarters have worked out nicely so I only have one exam each day, and having two tomorrow is stressing me out a bit. Just have to breathe and try to focus...which is hard. When I have a lot to do, I have a hard time just working on things bit by bit. Instead, I tend to worry about getting everything done and am less productive overall.

The blue jackets suck. It is so depressing I can't even describe it. I just don't get it.

My cats are fairly calm today...and better stay away from the new laptop charger. I have to figure out a way to get them to stop chewing on stuff.

Three weeks from today I will be in Galveston - There's something to look forward to! Two days from now I will be done with exams and beginning to enjoy a couple weeks of freedom - from school anyways.

I like the holidays. I like vacation. I like traveling and exploring new places.

I've had straight A's for 7 quarters straight...I really hope I don't jeopardize this tomorrow. I am trying to tell myself that a "B" every so often wouldn't be the end of the world...I *almost* believe it.

Ok...back to the books.