PHEW... Grant came and brought his can of WD-40 and we doused the beds' springs. HARK the Herald angels sing -- THEY NO LONGER SQUEAK! Thank God -- I'll be able to sleep. Phew.....

SHIT! ... DOUBLE SHIT! WE bunked the beds in our room, thinking it'd be great and we'd have more room and wouldn't everything be lovely. HOWEVER, even the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go ary... Turns out, the top bed creaks waayyyy more than any Olaf bed I've ever seen. Thus, every time Erica moves (and she's ALWAYS moving) it creaks a ton, right over my head, and I wake up. So yeah, here's me, the lovely insomniac, who's finally figured out how to be able to get to sleep, and I get woken up about 20 times during the night by loud creaking. AHHHH! I can even hear it now... DAMN DAMN DAMN!

And Erica's just like "well, that happens with metal beds! Ummm... the beds in Ellingson NEVER made that much noise. I'm doomed! :(

You don't want to sell me death sticks. The room is getting close to set up and Erica is here in the FLESH! :) She and her parents came down this morning. At first things were a bit awkward (as is to be expected), but I think it's gonna be ok. The infamous TV is also here in all of its 20'' flatscreen glory. Between that, a new stereo, the Gamecube Nic lent me, and the DVD/VCR combo I got for my birthday, the room is bitchin'. However, my first whole day back here has been boring! I purposefully didn't work this afternoon, thinking I would of course be busy being social... yeah, so scratch that one! I practiced a bit and fell asleep watching Episode II. What a life I do lead! So, we ordered pizza (her treat, which was rather generous) and sought to make sense of the infinite tangle of cords around our desks. Verdict: Larson rocks! But, campus will feel much better when everyone is back, esp. m' mates. Love you guys!

Well, we made it here! Larson is sooo different. The room is a bit cheerier, having a window that looks out onto campus and people walking in different directions. The closet is also WONDERFUL! I can't believe how big they are. But, I miss all of you that haven't moved in yet... I'll post my work schedule tomorrow to let you know when to make me help you move in! That was confusing, but I think ya know what I mean. Much thanks to Nic, who helped me carry things, set up fridges and bunk beds today. I am sooo tired, so I better turn in, but more on life in Larson 612 soon!

I HATE PACKING! Why is it that with careful planning, something nearly always goes ary? Take now, for example. The fucking stuff won't fit in the fucking car! FUCK FUCK FUCK! And honestly, I was trying to pack as lightly as I could, but of course, when you're bringing EVERYTHING, it's not like that works, eh? AHHHHHHHHHHH! It's tomorrow, TOMORROW!? What am I going to do!?

Well, as it turns out, my dad did have a blocked artery and needed to have a little mesh tube inserted to hold it open. He's gonna stay overnight at Abbot Northwestern and will be home tomorrow morning just before I leave to go move in... Thank God!

It's a crazy time today. I keep wondering "where did such and such go?" or "I have to be forgetting something, like underwear." Still, hopefully, I can go teach my last swimming lesson and then have time to kick back with the Johns before tomorrow. Maybe even get some ice cream... ooh!

We came home tonight and weren't greeted by my dog, Lolly, who passed away while we were in NY. It felt strange to not see her, and it's terrible that we weren't home for her to say goodbye... My dad has his angiogram and possible other heart surgery procedures tomorrow morning... I am really, really nervous and scared. I wish we had been home this last week to be there for him, but as it worked out, it was better to give him time to alone to relax. Still, I wish this wasn't happening at all... More tomorrow, 'night ya'll.

Tuesday Night:

Die Amtrak!

So, we get onto the first train in Syracuse, walk on, claim seats only to realize that they’re twice as close as usual with no footrests or anything to make a bed of sorts that’s actually bearable to stay in. I ask the conductor what the hell happened, and he says that they just gave the train this car and tough luck. Now honestly! Why the fuck do we have to get onto a coach car that is made of tiny, squished-in, commuter seats!? One PAYS quite a bit of money for the large seats, footrests, and space between rows obviously because why else would you voluntarily ride something OVERNIGHT without these amenities!? But, to just put the wrong fucking CAR onto the train then force people who’ve paid for the advertised conditions to just get squished on an overnight trip is absolute madness!!!! ARGH!


Wednesday Afternoon:

Minor Concessions

Eventually, (and after making it readily known the failures of Amtrak) our family was ushered to seats in the coveted, “normal” car, though the four seats faced each other and thus had little to no leg room, either. Still, by putting our feet up on the seats across, we managed to squeeze like sardines into the space and claim a few hours’ sleep on the Lakeshore Limited to Chicago. But, before calm had covered the train car, we were interrupted by ragged and painfully loud, hacking coughing from across the aisle. Walrus-cougher continued throughout the night and well into the morning at seemingly random intervals. What joy was mine... This morning we docked into Chicago’s vast Union Station and set off toward Navy Pier to blow some of our five hour layover. I highly recommend the free trolly that runs throughout the city, for it affords a peaceful trip through the bustle. Navy Pier was dead at 11am, so Noah was in full-quoting swing. He bored us silly with inaccurate representations of Monty Python, Farscape, Futurama, and more Monty Python. I mean, if you’re gonna do it, DO IT RIGHT! After several minutes of calling him “Santos,” he subsided long enough for us to eat lunch. We took the trolly back and here we are, waiting and waiting for the Empire Builder to take us back to St. Paul. It seems like ages since we were home, but I can’t believe the summer is over. Tomorrow is, of course, Dad’s surgery. I’m really worried, but I don’t think I’ll let that one come out to romp.

Thursday (a.k.a. the day of hell) To Do:
Wash and dry comforter
Dry bed and toss pillows with pair of shoes to make them fluffy
Do dirty laundry from vacation (Meg, I’m thinking of you here!)
Pack up computer speakers
Pack up last essentials: makeup, lotion, shampoo, shoes, underwear, razors, etc.
Double check list and already-packed boxes
Move bags and boxes downstairs
Roll up rug and figure out where to put it
Start loading everything into Subaru
-get creative and use trucking skills from band
Bring Noah to middle school to pick up schedule @1:30
Sell G Con books to Nathan @3-4pm
Teach final private swimming lesson @6:15
If time:
Go out to coffee
See few friends
Try not to go insane

Now, ought that not to be FUN!? Mwa hahahaahahaha

I am at my mother's best friend's house in Liverpool, NY awaiting the time to bring the rental car back and take the train from Syracuse. And speaking of that car... It is a beaut! We got a white Ford Focus hatchback... and while I know that it IS a Ford, this is the most bitchin' car! I would get it in silver, though. I'm not cheating on My Antonia, but J&R Radiator informs me that she might not be with us for much longer. Her head gasket it starting to go and that's an expensive repair... my poor baby. Woe is me! Still, at some point I might need another car, and if I did, I would look at the Focii... As it is, I will give this one a big hug before we go... well, more later!

Haha, short one I said? Whatev'!

This'll be a short one, 'cause I gotta pack everything up to leave NY today... It's really quite sad. I love it here. The countryside is so different... leave it to an ecologist to notice the different species of by-the-highway shrubberies. Still, having rolling hills and a very peaked horizon is a nice change. It reminds me of how Jane Austen describes the north of England.

On NY socialisms: If you have a problem with anything, you speak what's on your mind matter-of-factly. There's none of this "I really hate you, but I'll just be nice to your face and vicious behind you back"ness that one often encounters in the nice, ol' Midwest. People are more talkative in random situations, like in a store or at the state fair. And no one is afraid to show a little enthusiasm or digust. Brand-new bathroom? "Ohhh, thayat's soooo CE-UTE!!!" Cat acting out of sorts? "Oh, she'as a li'le BITCH!" (Like the accent spelling?) I think I'll bring home a bit of this refreshing directness... It ought to coordinate with the Italian temper quite well. ;)

Still, it's exciting to think how soon we'll all be back at school. I think I appreciate St. Olaf more for having been away from it. I know Grant will still love it if he camps out on the Hill as nomad for the rest of his life, but for the rest of us, it's good to get away. And, it's also good to find some good friends to make the madness bearable. We should smuggle some food out of the caf and go watch the sunset behind Hill-Kitt sometime soon. I can't wait to see y'all again, esp. Meg. Can't believe you're still coming! So thrilled to have my best sick bitch back on campus. And so, this is me, signing out for now. Wish me a happy (and hopefully restful) trip back. Also, my dad is going into surgery (the only day I'm home between vacation and move-in) -- keep him in your thoughts and prayers! Much love from my rather letter-ish blog!

I am the most unconventional looking Italian in my family. Instead of being short with dark hair, eyes and skin, I have blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin and am 5'7'', a Valkyrie by New Yorker standards. My cousins say I look like a movie star... I'm like WHAT!? It's too bad the leaps one makes intellectually aren't as easily observed from visit to visit. Despite sticking out, I sometimes wish my mother had moved back home once she had us. New York is absolutely unique; how could she have left it in the first place? There's something elusive as to what makes family so important. Is it the commonality of location and upbringing? I think not. For me, it's the notion that you're all the same in some way. It's the warmest feeling of being connected, of being home. Italian families must be the best at this, what with all the pasta and affectionate hugs and kisses. I see little bits of myself in my cousins: the quick temper, the big heart, and a propensity toward large dinners with much talking and laughing. I think I'll bring home a bit of accent and pretend I'm still there!

And now, a rant on my brother Noah: if I vent a bit here, it couldn't hurt, right? Right? He's been playing video games all freaking morning! How he can sit at a screen and kill things for that long is positively beyond reason. Now, I do enjoy an occasional match, but my escapades never go on for hours and hours. One week out of the year, we're on vacation and he chooses not to spend time with his family members, but to devote his attention to the prized activity: staring off into a box while manically punching buttons! Does he do this at home in addition? YES! I wonder that his fingers haven't seized up yet!!!!

Grant says "lol"... my first adventure in digital message posting and he laughs! unsupportive wench... I suppose that something like this ought to be for myself, not for anyone else (though they may indeed appreciate it). I'm here in NY state with my unbelievably warm, close and Italian family; what a perfect place to begin!

Welcome to the inaugural blog on my site! I never seem to have enough time to keep a journal, but I hope that the niftiness of blogspot will induce me to faithfully record all the happenings and goings-on of my existence. With parents who like to keep up on their children, as well as technologically adept friends, I hope that Mansfield Park will grace many visitors within its "walls." Mwahahaha, I love Jane Austen... Enjoy!