Two Years on Long Beach Island

Two weeks ago, Heather and I celebrated our two year anniversary. Two years! Two years of traveling on the rails from Albany to Philadelphia, reading books, playing portable gaming systems, and trying to sleep next to obese people. We are living proof that long distance, with a little love and a lot of Amtrak, can certainly work.

This past weekend, as a surprise, I took Heather to Long Beach Island for a couples’ weekend with my good friends Jon and Jackie. I picked up a cute bag from H&M and packed it full of beach supplies. Sandals, hair disentangler, Goldfish crackers, a book, a pink towel… all the stuff girls require for a day on the sand, and gave it to her the day before we were set to leave. Surprise!

The weather was gorgeous, despite the downpours in Philadelphia and other parts of New Jersey.

And I swear, I had the best view on the beach.

I know I’m slacking on updating this blog, but it’s the summer and I’m busy writing, working, and being in love. Currently, I’m busy pitching my novel out to agents, working on a new story, and getting my act together for the Fall semester. World Literature I and Freshman Comp at two different colleges? Can’t wait.

Education: The Quest for Knowledge Continues

What the ****!? Thanks Google.

Go ahead, hop over to Google and start typing in “liberal arts doctorate…” and see what happens. Jerks.

Now that I’ve almost been out of school for a year, and teaching just as long, I think I’m finally ready to start applying for PhD programs. Specifically, doctorate programs in Liberal Arts. English, literature, liberal arts in general, etc.

It’s an exciting time, and lots of schools here in Philadelphia have the sort of programs I’m looking for.

2010 should be a great year.

Collecting Vintage Cameras

I don’t know what it is, but there’s something about beaten up, worn out, vintage film cameras that weighs heavy on my heart. I can’t help but purchase one whenever I see one up for grabs. I’ve been seeing a lot of them lately, now that the weather is warm and flea market season is in. I’ve got over a dozen in my collection these days.

While I’m not really into music photography anymore, I still have my old Canon Rebel Digital SLR. It boasts a mighty 6.1 mega pixels and is incredibly broken. Yet, there’s no way I could ever get rid of it. It took me on my first tour and introduced me to my girlfriend. There’s history here.

Maybe that’s why these old cameras make me so sad. I’m sure the owner was, at one point, so thrilled to own this little wonder. Photographed his family, video taped his friends. These cameras probably captured so many memories, so much joy, and now they’re left to sit on flea market fold out tables, thrift store rummage bins, and the like.

They just sort of feel like… like discarded people to me. Maybe that’s weird, but I don’t care. They’ve got a home now.

Sometimes I Try To Make Art: Framing Pixels

Here’s the deal. I am artistically challenged. I can’t draw, paint, etch… nothing.

However, I can take sprites from classic NES games, blow them up in Photoshop, print them as 5×7’s at the local camera shop, and put them in Ikea frames.

My choice party while playing Final Fantasy 1, and my favorite boss in Mega Man 2.

I’m kinda proud of myself!

Teaching Heart of Darkness: Necessary Supplies

1. Heart of Darkness Mango Juice from Trader Joe’s? Check.

2. Dark Chocolate Cookies? Check.

3. Actual Heart of Darkness text? Check.

4. A Classroom of college students who feel like they’re in sixth grade again? Check.

Seriously, I love teaching. And yes, they actually do make Heart of Darkness juice at Trader Joe’s. Check out the label. Besides serving as a beverage for Heart of Darkness themed snack-time, it’s also my new favorite juice. Yum!

Sigh, only five more classes left in the semester. I really enjoyed teaching World Lit II over at Holy Family, as well as my wonderful students. This was my first time teaching a literature course, and they were patient with me as I learned to teach through teaching.

Looking forward to teaching World Lit I there in the Fall. Hopefully by then I’ll have my Beowulf tattoo. Woo!

A Bun Named Rory

Not much going on over here lately. Just busy with teaching, writing, working, and playing with Rory, the new bun. Look how cute he is, exploring everything.

Rory is, of course, short for Rorschach.

What can I say? I adore Watchmen. The graphic novel, the movie, everything. And Jackie Earle Hayle’s performance in the film was just utterly moving.

Expect more photos, and of course, more videos like this one.

Happiness is a New Bun

Meet the new bun. I adopted him from my pal Amanda. I’m still trying to think of a name. He is heart meltingly cute and I am all kinds of happy right now.

Couple more shots after the jump. Videos forthcoming.

(more…)

I’m Very Important: I Have Many Leather Bound Books

… and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

Lately, I’ve been asked to speak and attend a lot of fun, blogging-related events, and I’ve got to say, I’m enjoying it quite a bit.

This past Tuesday, Philadelphia’s Public Relations Association invited me to have a little chat with their members here in Philly. The turnout was outstanding, over 100 people showed. Lots of love to my wonderful coworkers who came along. You can spot them smack in the middle. Mary, I do believe you’re smiling at the camera.

Other Philly bloggers in attendance included Hughe of Philly Chit Chat, Dan Gross of Philly.com, D-Mac from the Philadelphia Weekly, and Alan Tu from WHYY. We had fun. Hughe has some additional pics on his post about the event.

Earlier in the month, I spoke at Saint Joseph’s University, and come June, I’ll be attending Blogging While Brown, a diversity summit in Chicago. Chicago!

All of these talks! My CV is looking better and better.

Geekiest Valentine Ever

I hope my girlfriend didn’t expect anything less.

Purchased this cute gem off of Etsy. It’s hand-stitched and in a lovely frame. There’s just something about handmade gifts that makes them extra special, considering only one of these exists.

Kudos to crafter Isilian, who in knits in her free time… when she isn’t busy studying aerospace engineering. Neat!

Choose Love

The other day I was flipping through my phone’s calendar, when I spotted “Ship Out!” written on a date in February. That’s when it hit me. Had I continued down a path I chose in the Spring of last year, I’d be shipping off to Europe in ten days, working as a college professor for the Peace Corps. I was accepted during the summer, for one of the highest positions available within the Peace Corps volunteer program. Needless to say, I was honored.

It was decision I was really excited about. So much so that I sold all my furniture and a majority of my belongings, and set up shop subletting my friend Katie’s apartment during the summer. I had it all planned out. Grab some teaching experience during the Fall, move back home at the end of the semester, and spend some time with family and friends before leaving for two years.

Whenever the Peace Corps came up, Heather and I would talk about it, discuss waiting for one another, how we’d make it work, etc. I planned out my 60 vacation days, where I’d spend them, how I’d try to see her each time I came home. Every time we spoke about such things, we’d get upset, and change the topic, usually talking about bunnies or whatever made us happy. I mean, I was sure we’d be okay. I made up my mind. This was it. I was going.

Then something changed.

When my grandfather passed away over the summer and the whole family got together, I was subject to the traditional gauntlet of questions. What was I doing with my life? How was my love life? How was school, so on and so forth. After my excited announcement about the Peace Corp, one my uncles sat me down, and spoke to me about his tour of duty in the Vietnam War.

He didn’t speak about the horrors of the battlefield, but instead, spoke to me about the pain he felt being so far away from the ones he loved. He talked about the unbearable distance between himself and my aunt, how they almost didn’t make it, and how he watched his friends march around with broken spirits caused by broken hearts.

He asked me about Heather.

“Is this one special?” He asked. “Do you think she could be the one?”

“Yes,” I answered. “She definitely is.”

“Then don’t go,” he said, looking at me from across the dining room table. “Stay here and make a different choice.”

“But…” I began.

“Trust me…” He said. “Choose love.”

So here I am. I’ve got a good life here in Philadelphia. I enjoy my job and the fantastic people I work with. My career in academia is beginning, I’m paying my dues teaching part-time and I’m sure something full time will eventually surface. I have a wonderful family, great friends, and a cute, semi-famous chinchilla. So many people that I love, including one very special girl.

My uncle was right. Choosing love? Yeah, definitely the best choice ever.

You will always be my first choice Heather. Always.

And maybe. Someday. I’ll help you shovel snow off your car.

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