Faking It

I got my haircut! First one since I moved here. Luckily, I have a really relaxed attitude about my hair; I believe that it will grow back. And as such, am not freaked out by cutting, or trimming, or whatever because it will eventually grow back. I use the word luckily though, because this haircut turned into an adventure. I'm considering this my first real El Paso encounter. In a city that is about 95% Hispanic, and almost everyone speaks Spanish, almost everyone also speaks English. Except Cecilia my stylist. She knew enough English to say, "Hold on, little English." and then grab someone who knows big English. So I explained what I wanted and basically just told them to stick with the haircut as is just shorter and I basically got that. Which I'm viewing as a small miracle because even though I said it, I have no idea what they're talking about in Spanish, and I can't talk to her during and she can't ask me questions...I was a little nervous. But after a...

I am enjoying a school free Friday night. It's lovely. For some reason I was on a real education high this afternoon; I get that way because I'm a nerd. But I had a great day! It's actually been a really great week in general. But there was really nothing more I could do tonight school wise, so I decided to put this energy into housework and baking. I cleaned my living room and kitchen area, vacuumed the carpet, cleared all the stuff that's been piling up around my couch, put together a care package for Baby Barnes, and made up a batch of Molasses Cookies. I'm currently waiting for them to harden up in the fridge before I bake them. A lot of new stuff was introduced to my schedule; I went to my first colloquium which sounds cooler than when I say I went to a meeting on how to handle academic dishonesty. I thought they were mandatory and I was one of 15 people that showed up in a department of at least 45 so yeah...but I'll go to all of them anyway. It's in m...

And wouldn't you know it, I forgot to take pictures of the food. Oh well. I thought they turned out pretty well and I had a good time at the party. I met some new people and it was just nice to not spend another Saturday by myself. Not that I mind, it was just nice. I ordered an Iron Scroll Bakers Rack from Pier 1 a few weeks ago and it finally got here! I was so excited because until now I've had a ton of stuff just sitting on my counter tops because there's no room for them in the cupboards. My Starbucks coffee cup collection, spare coffee cups from my permanent collection, my cook books, all manner of random items that I do not have space for in my clown car sized apartment. So needless to say, this purchase is special and I couldn't wait for it to get here. And it finally did! I went to pick it up from the store and it was too big to fit into my tiny clown car sized car. When I was in the store signing for it, prior to them wheeling it out from the back room, a coup...

I got that in the mail yesterday...NEVER! In other news Juarez had an absolute massacre yesterday. 25 people killed in one day! It is absolute insanity! One thing I'm glad of is that I haven't heard gunfire--I do live on the border of New Mexico, but I work 5 minutes from there. My Dad and I have agreed to take the phrase, "it's not like you've moved to a third world country" out of our repertoire because while that is true, I'm not entirely sure it is. El Paso is nowhere near as violent or dangerous but it is right next door. It's a trip. I got my key (somebody screwed up and while I have a key to my office I do not have a key to the building that my office is in??) and decided to buy a UTEP key chain for it and I'm a little embarrassed to say that that purchase made me feel like I belong to the school. I am pathetic! I've been using the copier for 2 weeks, calling people by their first names, I HAVE AN OFFICE, but it was the key chain ...

Phoenix feels like a favorite pair of jeans. The fit is great, they're so comfortable, they make my butt look great. I've never understood people who say they hate Arizona because I've always really loved it. The whole family came to pick me up at the airport. Apparently before I got there they witnessed blatant child abuse by a lady who was waiting with her children, and I started to sob. This is why I don't work with children because I would get so burned out and so jaded from seeing such horrible things. But the weekend continued, and I've had a great time. I had to sleep on a twin bed which I haven't done since elementary school aside from the times I go stay at the Campbell's cabin in Prescott. It was interesting to be sure. I kept waking up because I was teetering on the edge. And on Sunday I saw my friend get married. She absolutely glowed. I've been to a lot of weddings and all brides are beautiful on that day but she was radiant. Truly. I had a ...

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Officially. Pumpkin Spice Latte's are back at Starbucks and only good things can follow. Including the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Fragrance Oil that's burning in my diffuser as I type. It smells like Fall even if it doesn't feel like it. Things are starting to take shape. It is amazing to me how one thing can go so perfectly well and everything else is riding in on horse and buggy. For example, I bought a parking pass almost 2 weeks ago and it still hasn't come in the mail. First, I don't understand why they can't just let me pick up the parking pass at the office that is down the street from mine. Second, WHY ON EARTH IS IT TAKING SOOSOSOSOSOSOOO LONG TO GET HERE! I LIVE DOWN THE STREET! I have always known and now have absolute confirmation that I am in no way shape or form a townie. I am big city, hustle and bustle, carbon emissions, a Starbucks within a Starbucks kind of girl. So no one can tell me ever again "o...