Ok I decided to go for it.
For those who still maybe check in on this blog from time to time, I'm now posting at the blog Denver Adventures (remember the hyphen!): http://denver-adventures.blogspot.com/
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Denver Life
Am debating starting a new blog for my Denver escapades... still have a bit of time before I move out here for good, so I have time to decide whether to make a new one or not. I'm kind of thinking a new one might be a good idea.
It's my second-to-last day of my trip to secure an apartment. The trip was successful.
I signed on for a place that is in a really pleasant neighborhood with shops and cafes and stuff. It's only a 10 min bike ride from campus and about 5 min from my friend C from high school. From everyone I've talked to, it seems like biking is definitely doable for most of the year. The day after it snows, the sun comes out and everything melts away. Seriously guys. The drainage infrastructure here is impressive (understatement). Anyway, on the handful of snowfall days, I can just walk to school (30 min) or possibly find someone to carpool with if they live in the area.
The room is in a two-bedroom house. I will have a roommate, who is very nice and mature Physician's Assistant, and also his super mellow golden retriever/yellow lab dog. Went by to sign the lease and hang out with the new roommate and the downstairs neighbors who also have a pet baby malamute (like a husky) that is the really the fluffiest thing I have ever seen. They said when he gets bigger they are going to get/build a cart and he can pull them, which apparently he will love to do, since that is what he is bred for. I think it is going to be a good situation. I had originally been looking at 1-br places, but those were extremely hard to come by, so then I came across this place and seemed to get along with the roommate and his dog. It is fully furnished except for the bedroom, so I don't have to worry about getting sofas and tables and chairs and stuff, so that's another plus. And if I decide I want to live by myself, I'm not stuck in the situation.
I'm excited to make the room my "own," my little haven. It's really all I need, a little slice of the universe to call my own.
Anyway, here's a panorama from a hike last week. Very breathtakingly beautiful.
It's my second-to-last day of my trip to secure an apartment. The trip was successful.
I signed on for a place that is in a really pleasant neighborhood with shops and cafes and stuff. It's only a 10 min bike ride from campus and about 5 min from my friend C from high school. From everyone I've talked to, it seems like biking is definitely doable for most of the year. The day after it snows, the sun comes out and everything melts away. Seriously guys. The drainage infrastructure here is impressive (understatement). Anyway, on the handful of snowfall days, I can just walk to school (30 min) or possibly find someone to carpool with if they live in the area.
The room is in a two-bedroom house. I will have a roommate, who is very nice and mature Physician's Assistant, and also his super mellow golden retriever/yellow lab dog. Went by to sign the lease and hang out with the new roommate and the downstairs neighbors who also have a pet baby malamute (like a husky) that is the really the fluffiest thing I have ever seen. They said when he gets bigger they are going to get/build a cart and he can pull them, which apparently he will love to do, since that is what he is bred for. I think it is going to be a good situation. I had originally been looking at 1-br places, but those were extremely hard to come by, so then I came across this place and seemed to get along with the roommate and his dog. It is fully furnished except for the bedroom, so I don't have to worry about getting sofas and tables and chairs and stuff, so that's another plus. And if I decide I want to live by myself, I'm not stuck in the situation.
I'm excited to make the room my "own," my little haven. It's really all I need, a little slice of the universe to call my own.
Anyway, here's a panorama from a hike last week. Very breathtakingly beautiful.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Big news (which I already shared on FB): I'm moving to Colorado at the end of the summer! Excited, nervous, feeling a bit unreal about it.
I ended up interviewing at four schools. One was kind enough to offer an alternate interview day. I was accepted at all the places where I interviewed:
A part of me was secretly hoping I would be accepted to exactly ONE program so I could avoid making a difficult choice, easy way out, but I would be lying if I didn't say that another part of me enjoys the validation.
What surprised me was that when I visited Denver, I really liked the city, the landscape, and especially program and core philosophy a lot. I hadn't ever been to Denver, so I knew much less going into my interview/campus visit, ended up coming away quite impressed. There were a few concrete aspects that stood out as unique in a good way (service learning and research involvement), as well as the overall "vibes" from the faculty and students that seemed to resonate with my own values and goals.
The program in Boston is probably more "prestigious" - particularly around here, but also nationally. So a part of me struggled with turning down opportunities, that sort of thing. But I turned down a more "prestigious" undergrad and things ended up turning out fine. Not the end of the world. So that line of reasoning was easily resolved.
As for where my heart lies, I was feeling pulled in two directions. One, by a program that I really have a crush on, the other direction by all the people I care about who live here in Boston and the Northeast. This past year, with all that has happened with my cousin's husband, my aunt on my mom's side, I've been coming to realize more poignantly that people aren't going to be around forever, or I guess that things you take for granted can change in an instant. That every interaction is with those you love is precious. Especially with older family members. I don't want to live my life based on potentialities, but that was a huge part of preventing me from fearlessly jumping into the unknown.
I ultimately decided that this is what I need, for me, to live somewhere new, try something totally different. It just FELT like the right thing to do. I will have to make a special effort to stay in touch with those I care about, to make vacations count, and to have a very fabulous time with all of them this summer before I head out.
Also, I just found out the other day that I was awarded a merit scholarship for the program in CO, so that in a way weirdly sort of confirms to me that it is a good choice.
So. That's where things are heading for me!
A few photos from my interview trip across the country. I was very fortunate to have friends/family in all the cities I visited, who showed me kindness, hospitality, and a great time.
(not my photo)
I ended up interviewing at four schools. One was kind enough to offer an alternate interview day. I was accepted at all the places where I interviewed:
- Boston
- San Francisco
- Denver
- Washington DC
A part of me was secretly hoping I would be accepted to exactly ONE program so I could avoid making a difficult choice, easy way out, but I would be lying if I didn't say that another part of me enjoys the validation.
What surprised me was that when I visited Denver, I really liked the city, the landscape, and especially program and core philosophy a lot. I hadn't ever been to Denver, so I knew much less going into my interview/campus visit, ended up coming away quite impressed. There were a few concrete aspects that stood out as unique in a good way (service learning and research involvement), as well as the overall "vibes" from the faculty and students that seemed to resonate with my own values and goals.
The program in Boston is probably more "prestigious" - particularly around here, but also nationally. So a part of me struggled with turning down opportunities, that sort of thing. But I turned down a more "prestigious" undergrad and things ended up turning out fine. Not the end of the world. So that line of reasoning was easily resolved.
As for where my heart lies, I was feeling pulled in two directions. One, by a program that I really have a crush on, the other direction by all the people I care about who live here in Boston and the Northeast. This past year, with all that has happened with my cousin's husband, my aunt on my mom's side, I've been coming to realize more poignantly that people aren't going to be around forever, or I guess that things you take for granted can change in an instant. That every interaction is with those you love is precious. Especially with older family members. I don't want to live my life based on potentialities, but that was a huge part of preventing me from fearlessly jumping into the unknown.
I ultimately decided that this is what I need, for me, to live somewhere new, try something totally different. It just FELT like the right thing to do. I will have to make a special effort to stay in touch with those I care about, to make vacations count, and to have a very fabulous time with all of them this summer before I head out.
Also, I just found out the other day that I was awarded a merit scholarship for the program in CO, so that in a way weirdly sort of confirms to me that it is a good choice.
So. That's where things are heading for me!
A few photos from my interview trip across the country. I was very fortunate to have friends/family in all the cities I visited, who showed me kindness, hospitality, and a great time.
Me with a former Boston friend in her SF office
Bike ride across Golden Gate and through Marin Headlands
Hiking near Boulder
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
StoryCorps
StoryCorps records, preserves, and shares the stories of people from all walks of life, backgrounds and beliefs. Couples, individuals, friends, relatives... people telling stories about... people.
These simple stories from everyday folk reveal a poetry of words, a poignancy. It started in New York City, but now there are StoryBooths in San Francisco and Atlanta, as well as MobileBooths, which travel to various cities. StoryCorps has animated some of them and put them on a YouTube channel, and they are just so touching and often delightful. I spent like an hour watching so many of them.
Here's one of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome interviewing his mother. Such candor and tenderness between the two of them.
Two cousins describing their neighbor/Sunday School teacher with brilliantly colorful splashes of detail.
Haunting memories from WWII.
A really sweet mother-daughter one. I could just go on and on.
Makes me want to record some of my family's stories. We always tell them at birthdays, but we don't have any actually recorded.
These simple stories from everyday folk reveal a poetry of words, a poignancy. It started in New York City, but now there are StoryBooths in San Francisco and Atlanta, as well as MobileBooths, which travel to various cities. StoryCorps has animated some of them and put them on a YouTube channel, and they are just so touching and often delightful. I spent like an hour watching so many of them.
Here's one of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome interviewing his mother. Such candor and tenderness between the two of them.
Two cousins describing their neighbor/Sunday School teacher with brilliantly colorful splashes of detail.
Haunting memories from WWII.
A really sweet mother-daughter one. I could just go on and on.
Makes me want to record some of my family's stories. We always tell them at birthdays, but we don't have any actually recorded.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
High Five Me
Apparently I just post animated gifs on my blog now.
I have more to share, but not ready to be totally public about it yet! So you just get Tina Fey being awesome.
I have more to share, but not ready to be totally public about it yet! So you just get Tina Fey being awesome.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Well Doesn't This Just Make Your Day...
I cannot NOT feel happy looking at this gif of David Boreanaz. Bubs cannot either.
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