manda's life

11:37pm: New House
We are finally moved in the house and everything is finally the way we want it. I wasn't too sure about painting the kitchen orange, but I must admit it looks pretty amazing right now with all the autumnal decorations.

The whole house buying process is absolutely draining! I searched the listings every day for 3 months and we went out with the real estate lady about twice a week. Speaking of the real estate lady... she emailed me today wanting to know if she can drop by and see what we've done to the place. We bought a forecloser and the place was dilapidated when we purchased it. We installed (with the help of my father of course) new wood floors through out the living room, kitchen, and dining room, all new carpet/fans/and closet doors (yes doors... they had holes in them!) We also had to fill in holes in the walls and paint every inch of the house (which was not easy considering the ceilings are 9 foot high and the master bedroom is 15.) I suppose our realtor is hoping to clear her conscious...


The only project left is the basement, which we are hoping to have finished once we receive that 8,000 dollar tax credit the government has promised us!

2:00am: Drinking coffee at midnight is a bad idea.
10 random thoughts/updates by Manda:

1) Today I watched a Bruce Campbell movie that I had not seen before called Alien Apocalypse. Bad acting, bad plot, bad dubbing, editing slip ups, bad camera work, etc... Everything you'd expect from an awesome sci fi movie!

2) I would very much like to be adopted by Kevin's family. They have a movie theater in their house with stadium recliner seating and they feed us terrible food that is no good for us, but oh so yummy... And they have dalmatians. Why do I still not have a dog?

3) I have been complaining about my weight a lot lately and so I have decided to get myself a personal trainer. I can't afford one that I meet with every week, so we only meet once a month. Here's to wishing for a more lovable body!

4) Michael and I went to visit our friends new house the other day and we think we're ready to officially start looking. We have an appointment with a real estate lady and a lender on Tuesday. We're thinking maybe the Pikesville area? Anywhere but Westminster...

5) I got to see Erin and Hayley tonight and we went to see Confessions of a Shopaholic. I'm a sucker for a boy with a cute British accent.

6) After school jazz band starts this week, which means I have to teach 2 extra lessons a week. Wah.

7) Peabody is not as bad as I thought it would be and I really enjoy being in class again. I recently dropped a class that would take an insane amount of time of studying and now I'm taking a pretty low key class with Michael. Its the first time we've had a class together and its special :P

8) I really want to find a theater to get involved in this summer. Maybe the Carroll County Arts Center?

9) Eunice is cooking us a full spread of Philippine food tomorrow night and I'm already salivating.

10) Michael and I broke out the guitar and mandolin last night and played/sang carbon leaf songs. We even busted out the tin whistle. We're special.

7:22pm: I'm feeling a tad melon collie at the moment and I'd like to inform the world; thus my reasoning for visiting LJ.

Holidays were good times I suppose, though it always makes me feel guilty for not visiting home more often. Its kind of hard sometimes being so far away from both of our families. I watch Michael's brothers children interact with Michael's mom through a jealous eye knowing full well that we will be nowhere near our families when we do decide to finally have children.

I start a new class next week on research. The class is basically on a bunch of random papers of our own choosing from what I have gathered. I think I'll start researching the music of Brahms and Beethoven, since I have to take a theory course on each in the future anyways.

Last weekend was good times. We went to a party on Saturday and met this really cool guy who has been teaching English in Japan for the past 3 years, who apparently is only 20 lbs lighter than their heaviest sumo wrestler. Kira took us to a bar in the city that night to watch a magician and then we watched x-files at Kevin's by his awesome fire place. Next weekend we're suppose to be making hats for a wedding :P

4:25pm: Michael is having CP rehearsal today and every Sunday from now on... I hate being left to myself every Sunday with nothing to do besides cleaning, grocery shopping, and stupid homework. I wonder if coming from such a large family has made me fearful of being alone? Originally I was suppose to hang out with a friend today, but they never showed up. Its not the first time I was blown off this weekend either.(This is actually the 3rd time in 3 days) Wah Wah and some more Wah.

This weekend however was not a total bust. Friday night we went in the city for Kira's birthday and as we stood in the middle of the street looking completely lost, I heard a familiar voice yelling at some guys in front of a bar. It's Harvey, the other band teacher at one of my schools. Apparently he is a bouncer at this night club called Mothers. Where in the world does he have time to do that, work, and exercise every day? Damn I wish I was more motivated...

Saturday was also quite special. We went to the pumpkin patch and got the most awesome apples ever, which I am eating right now. Deliciousness hidden inside a red wrapper...

So we carved our pumpkins last night. Eunice carved a Domo Kum, I made an octopus, a pumpkin eating another pumpkin, and Kira made Natalie Portman in Blackface.

All in all it was good times.

This was suppose to be an emo entry so... one more Wah for good measure.

6:25pm:

I am currently home for the summer and I have finally started studying for my GRE's in August.  Peabody requires that I pass a history, theory, dictation, and sight-singing exam before I am allowed to enroll in any theory courses.  Full-Time student who do not pass the exams are required to take a review course on whatever exam they fail.  I do not have that luxury since the review classes are offered during the day when I will be teaching.  No pressure or anything...

So far this summer has been about preparing for major transitions: Michael's new job, our move to Westminster, my new job position, preparing for exams, and starting grad school in the fall.

I am afraid of moving...I've lived in Towson for the past 7 years and there are so many good memories. The thought of being so far away from friends, the city, and "diversity" really makes me sad :(   On the trade we do get a washer and dryer in our apartment. (yay....)

On a more positive note, here are some happy spots from the past week:
-my new gps that fits in my pocket
-Michael's new car: Mazda 3
-Wall-E 
-The Office marathon
-Discovering Bedazzle in the city
-The awesome sunflowers I got from the farmer's market
-Starting classes at the gym
-Finding out that new Project Runway airs in two weeks!


So yeah, nothing new to report. Pretty much the same old thing.  I can deal with that. :)

9:50pm:

So I haven't called Peabody to see how I did on my exams yet because I'm afraid of what they're going to tell me.  I want to go to Peabody, but I'm afraid its going to be too hard.(heck, I don't even know if i've been accepted) How pathetic is that? 

And now I'm wondering if I even want my masters in music education...

Pros:
More money
Fulfill credits to keep MD certification
Receive awesome education in music
Become a better teacher
Have a boss resume

Cons:
Lots of work
Won't open up any other job opportunities
Lots of work
Parking in the city (YUCK)
Its not that much more money...
Lots of work

12:02pm: The ceiling noise is really starting to get to me...

My ears are sore from the ear plugs and my mental stability is questionable.   We have called and complained about the squeaking ceiling and each time they tell us they'll have someone come over and check it out.  It has been like this since August; that's when the Vampire lady moved in upstairs.  I call her that because she walks her apartment all throughout the day and night.  She never sleeps. Ever.  Its like she's walking a marathon with weighted boots. 

My nerves simply can't take anymore.

Thursday night I had horrible chest pains that made me faint and black out for a minute.  Michael called 911, but I didn't go to the hospital because I started feeling much better when I woke up.  It was over with so fast, that I questioned if it had actually happened.

When I told my friend about what happened she said it was probably my body freaking out over the lack of sleep due to the marathon apartment walker.  side note: (I never complained about the noise to her, she got that from personal experience)

Here's to wishing for a better apartment... 

8:52pm: I have thought on this for a while and I have come to a decision.  ( Its either a love or hate relationship)

I heart CocoRosie. 


CocoRosie-By Your Side

CocoRosie-BlackRainbow

10:59pm: Ok journal... I'm going to write in you. Its not going to be anything fancy, poetic or deep.  Its just an update on recent events.


Sad News:
Our neighbor friends, Jessie and Ben, are moving about 2 hours away
Leah and Kevin, one of our favorite couples, broke up
Concrete Prophet has no singer


Good News:
I got Dance Dance Revolution for the Wii
Wireless router in the house!
I can draw wizards, warriors,orcs, and elves (their proportions are a little off sometimes) :P
Christmas Concert with my kids went well at both schools
Baltimore Flute Choir is over with for the season
Application for Peabody is out of the way
SNOW DAYS are expected (in my head anyways...)
Terri O Quinn, John Locke from Lost, lives in Timonium and Kevin's Dad is his dentist!
(quite possibly the coolest news ever)


There seems to be more good than sad.  This makes me happy.

 I'm going to go watch LOST now and fantasize about what I'm going to say when I meet Terri O Quinn...

7:12pm: I joined the biggest loser contest going on at work.  We're going to weigh ourselves every monday and if we do not lose at least one pound a week, we have to pay a dollar.  Whoever wins at the end of December gets the monies.  I like monies.

My weekend was funtabulous.  I absolutely love the month of October and all the cool things that go one during this month.  Michael and I have planned all of our weekends this month to take advantage of all the awesomeness that October has to offer.  We woke up Saturday and watched Its the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, which has become a tradition.  I can quote the entire movie with action; which I am more than willing to do for anyone interested in witnessing my awesome talent.  We then proceeded to take a hayride to a pumpkin patch where we got to pick out our own pumpkins!

Still not sure what we are going to do for Halloween...

11:41pm: Stress Stress Stresss Stresss and more stress.

So far I am hating this year.

Here's to praying my butt off for a better day tomorrow.

12:55am: update

Update

1. I bought a 2004 Honda Civic and it is bad ass.
2. Went to visit family in Salisbury and SUV broke down.  Thankfully it was not on 695 or Bay Bridge.  We owe lots of monies.
3. Sad that we missed our dance lesson for the second time in a row and poker at Pat's. (We are stuck here till the car is fixed)
4.  Made model rockets and it was awesome.
5.  School starts in a week and a half.
6.  I have a UTI and it is the suxor.

Random thoughts...

1.  I was just thinking about my old roommate Desiree and how lady-like she was/is.  I use her as my "lady" romodel from time to time.  The one thing I've been thinking a lot about lately is how she use to clean the apartment and say, "Brandon would leave me if I ever let our house get this dirty, and he'd have the right to do so!"

2.  I saw the coolest thing on shark week the other day.  If you gently hold a sharks nose, it will put them in this hypnotic state where their entire body goes limp.  After the diver did it to one shark, others were coming at him and waiting for him to do it to them.  A couple ran right into his hands. 

3.   Why did Rowling kill Harry Potter in the last book?

1:18pm: Two weeks of summer vacation left.

Before the summer began I was worried that I was going to get really depressed and lonely since Michael was going to be working and I was not.  I have however experienced just the opposite.  Because of all the time to myslef, this has been one of my favorite summers.  I haven't had to work and I haven't had to worry about money for the most part.  My typical day usually begins around 1:00 and ends around 3 in the morning.  If I wake up and want to sleep more, I do.  If I want to stay up and play a video game or read a book, well I can do that too.  Being a housewife/ trophy wife is starting to look much more appealing.

In other news, my muffler fell off my car the other day and it has prompted me into looking for a new vehicle.  The mechanics I called wanted $270-300 to fix it and Dad ended up fixing it for $3.50.  Even though Trogdor is up and running again, I can't shake the idea of  purchasing a new vehicle.  Trogdor has been a great car, but I think it is time to upgrade and allow its awesome to be past down to some other lucky teenager.  We're going to look at a 2004 Honda Civic this afternoon and if they give it to me for the price that was originally quoted on the website, then I think I will be getting a new car today!

2:16pm: The absence of sex.
Yes I found this funny in many ways.  I suppose I always thought polygyny benefitted the man, but now I realize how much it must suck to be a poor dude living in such a society.  At least an ugly woman can still get a wealthy stud.

Why is Islam the only religion that motivates its followers to commit suicide missions?

The surprising answer from the evolutionary psychological perspective is that Muslim suicide bombing may have nothing to do with Islam or the Koran (except for two lines in it). It may have nothing to do with the religion, politics, the culture, the race, the ethnicity, the language, or the region. As with everything else from this perspective, it may have a lot to do with sex, or, in this case, the absence of sex.

What distinguishes Islam from other major religions is that it tolerates polygyny. By allowing some men to monopolize all women and altogether excluding many men from reproductive opportunities, polygyny creates shortages of available women. If 50 percent of men have two wives each, then the other 50 percent don't get any wives at all.

So polygyny increases competitive pressure on men, especially young men of low status. It therefore increases the likelihood that young men resort to violent means to gain access to mates. By doing so, they have little to lose and much to gain compared with men who already have wives. Across all societies, polygyny makes men violent, increasing crimes such as murder and rape, even after controlling for such obvious factors as economic development, economic inequality, population density, the level of democracy, and political factors in the region.

However, polygyny itself is not a sufficient cause of suicide bombing. Societies in sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean are much more polygynous than the Muslim nations in the Middle East and North Africa. And they do have very high levels of violence. Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from a long history of continuous civil wars—but not suicide bombings.

The other key ingredient is the promise of 72 virgins waiting in heaven for any martyr in Islam. The prospect of exclusive access to virgins may not be so appealing to anyone who has even one mate on earth, which strict monogamy virtually guarantees. However, the prospect is quite appealing to anyone who faces the bleak reality on earth of being a complete reproductive loser.

It is the combination of polygyny and the promise of a large harem of virgins in heaven that motivates many young Muslim men to commit suicide bombings. Consistent with this explanation, all studies of suicide bombers indicate that they are significantly younger than not only the Muslim population in general but other (nonsuicidal) members of their own extreme political organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. And nearly all suicide bombers are single.

1:57pm: Doot doo do do.
I am drinking the most delicious drink ever.  Its a little tin can I got from target called vanilla creme and it taste just like you'd think a vanilla scented candle would.

Harry Potter: I read Half Blood Prince yesterday and started Deathly Hallows this morning.  I've been busy with family and sleeping, so I never got around to reading it before the release of hallows.  Hayley and I saw ootp Friday night and when we went out Saturday for ritas she was almost done with hallows.  I really enjoyed Half Blood and plan on reading it at a much slower pace at a later date, but I want to finish hallows before everyone starts telling me what happens.  Greg is coming over later to discuss.  I must finish at least half before tonight.

I still do not know what general music classes I am teaching next year.  My schedule is a big mess and there is a new principal and vp that do not know what to do with me.  I am hoping this is all worked out before our meeting on Wednesday so that I can start planning for the beginning of the year.

Michael and I have started dance lessons called musicality that you can usicality.  Its hilarious listening to a woman who knows nothing about music theory teach a class about it.  "This is the part where the trombones play the high notes" =  muted trumpets playing the pickup to the first verse.  We have decided to remain positive by ignoring her butchery of music theory and focusing only on her concepts of dance.  This is becoming quite a difficult task since she insulted Michael's dancing in our last class.  I must remember to document the hilarity in more detail at a later date.


Back to reading.

4:52pm: I got an ant farm.   Pictures of my new pets will be coming soon.

1:54pm: List O Crazies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scientologist_celebrities

3:46pm: I want to see Harry Potter on the 11th.  Anyone reading this want to go with on opening night?

10:44pm: I did not  learn my lesson from last summer.  No sunblock on my legs and guess what happened?  Maybe there is some validity to all those blonde jokes. 


Tracy told me she is leaving for Korea at the end of August. 


I swear I am going on a trip around the world one of these days.

11:58am: Summer has officially began
Not quite sure what I want to do with myself at this moment.  I'm debating between cleaning, reading, and exercising... None of which sound like very much fun.  Get ready  for a randomly long post!

Life after school...
Friday: Dr. Limb (close professor of ours) came to visit Towson and so a bunch of us went out with her to dinner.  I got to sit next to the doctor and we talked about Lost theories and her new job.  I got to see a bunch of people from college, which was awesome because everyone lives so far away and its rare to see everyone together.  I was mostly excited to see Melody and Liz, who I always feel extremely comfortable in being myself with.  They're both lesbians and very opinionated liberals. (You'd think we'd have nothing in common, but I'm always overly excited to talk with them)

Saturday: Concrete Prophet played at a new place called Orion and it was absolutely awesome.  There were a ton of people there that we didn't know who came out to see the show. (finally real fans!) They have a show coming up on July 16th playing on some late night radio prog rock show.

Sunday and Monday: Home for Fathers Day

Tuesday: Eunice and Brian came over for dinner and I made stuffed mushrooms and chicken marsala.  I'm starting to impressive myself with the cooking!

And yesterday I hung out with Kira for the majority of the day.  She's lending me a dress to wear on Sunday for a wedding show in Columbia.  The men our wearing tuxedos, and I don't own anything that fancy.  So...Kira to the rescue!  We hung out at the mall and I tried on a gorgeous short red dress, but it was too expensive... so I took a picture!  Kevin and Leah then came over and we played this game called Tripod, which I'm terrible at... I never made it off square one and so I ended up quiting and having a mini pity fest, but hopefully noone noticed.

Summer Books

Read:

Scream
Twilight
New Moon
Matriarch
Brave New World

Currently reading: Order of the Phoenix

To Read...?

3:33pm: Maybe not so homeless...

There's a young blonde "homeless" woman that I see every day who carries a sign that simply reads:  Homeless, Need Money.  She's been here since we moved in about a year ago; so she's at least been homeless for a year.  She looks like she's about 24 and in good health.  She walks up and down the same roads every day and every now and then you will catch her inside a store.

Recently Michael heard a radio DJ talking about the young blonde homeless woman who he witnessed getting into a red Jaguar behind the Exxon on Goucher road.  Since then I've been noticing how well dressed this young blonde homeless woman is.  Her shoes are bright white and she wears fashionable tops.  Since we live across the street from this particular Exxon, we decided to walk down to see if a Jaguar was parked there during the day when she is collecting money.  We have yet to see a red Jaguar, so I can't confirm the DJ's story.

I saw her yesterday coming out of Old Navy in Timonium, which would be a pretty long walk from her normal Goucher street walk.  She was carrying a bag and so I decided to follow her to see if she got into a Jaguar, or any car for that matter.  She end up going into the Kohls and at that point I was just being creepy, so I left.  Today I saw her with a new short hair cut and a cute outfit collecting money on her usual corner.

I'm not sure how to feel about said homeless woman.  I would like to think she is really homeless and is finally getting on her feet.  I will try to not pass judgement until I see a red Jaguar. 

9:26pm: Bored.

7:20pm: Work was the suxsore...   I got to the school around 6:45, about an hour early, to help the janitor get the chairs, stands, and instruments set up for the full band rehearsals.  Upon arriving I'm greeted by the janitor who explains that Rick "the old director" would always arrive at 6 in the morning.  He then proceeds, like a fanboy, to tell me all about Rick... "Rick never had chairs for the percussionist, Rick liked the jazz band to play behind the band, You sure you want that there, Rick would set the microphone up over here, blah blah blah..."  I'm then bombarded by about 7 teachers telling me that I messed up the schedule for the day and that the kids would not be there at <insert obvious wrong time>. 

1.  Yes I messed up the big schedule.  Don't have a cow, I'll type a new one.
2.  I'm not Rick.
3.  Shut up.

8:58am: I had my final teacher evaluation meeting this week.  My principal and supervisor are pleased with what I've been doing and have always been super supportive.  I heart my job. 

Here's a list of what we're playing at our next concert:  Louie Louie, Peter Gunn, Farandole, Another bites the dust, and We will rock you.  There is more, but these are the fun ones!


Btw... the new Ninja Turtles movie has got nothing on the old live action films.

1:35pm:

My mini snow vacation ends tomorrow.  sad face.

Weekend was super: Scategories, Idiocracy, mario double dash, Lost, Poker, MST3K, and horse porn. *shudders*