I am The Clam Hero!

Although I was unable to attend the pre-Thanksgiving get together in Boston, I was available to get into work to save the clams. You see my boss had family over so he couldnt make it in and wasnt able to get a hold of any of my coworkers when he got word that the pump that sucks water into the hatchery from the bay had gone down. The hatchery has grown 100s of 1000s of clams and over a million oysters which were seeded in the local bays. If we lose pump we can lose our clams very quickly. Of course I ran in and saved the day, priming and restarting the pump. It is a lot of lifting/maintenance going on as well as preparation for the winter but I am having a great time!

Then theres my second job at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT (exit 15 on 95). I work as a PT Educator, teaching kids of any and all ages about areas of marine science and Long Island Sound. It is a great experience (and will definitely look good on the resume). Just last tuesday I was teaching 3rd graders how to dissect a squid. That was a lot of fun, especially when i sat down at a table of 4 but only 2 of them new english. Why did i take french all those years??? Anywho, the teacher heard and switched one of the english speaking kids with a bilingual who helped translate (I of course through in a couple donde's and bueno's). Travel two and fro is a bit difficult at times. So far i have yet to take a single route to the aquarium twice due to traffic. Coming home sometimes can be just as bad, 2+ hours. I'm hoping to start profitting from the job and only work full days which can go as long as 10 or 12 hours. The real dream is to get this job that opened at Mystic Aquarium as Food Prep/Asst Trainer working 5-10am 5 days a week. The perfect opportunity to work afternoons for maritime and get a place in like new haven with a lot less travel. Thats the dream right now.

As for Thanksgiving, "mmmmmmmmmmmmmm," is all I have to say. Heres how it all began:


My fam and i went to my aunt and uncles and got to see my cousins, Gavin and Colin, who are 18 and 2 months respectively. Check out these two CHICK MAGNETS!!!















Of course dinner was delicious (I was assigned to make the sweet carrots: sauteed baby carrots in a honey, butter, nutmeg, and OJ). This year was our first year frying our turkey and it came out great! And here is how Thanksgiving Dinner ended:


Cant forget Mollie's Survey:
1. I am in my room at home on Long Island with Austin Powers 3 on behind me.
2. All of my friends from home have yet to expand to other areas of the US so I've got people in the area to hang out with still. Last night we headed to one of the bars where Ants Marching, a DMB coverband was playing. Sounded good but the singer just didnt know how to move on stage so kind of boring to watch.
3. I have a job in CT which is quite far and right now a bitch to drive. Hopefully that will change in a couple months if not sooner. As it turns out we have family friends in the area so if traffic is real bad or I just want to, I can go see them and get dinner one night.
4. This is the first thing off the top of my head, our third graders dissecting the squid were given a work sheet (they are only 3rd graders) and the first question is "what does the squid remind you of?" and one of boys in a group said it looked like and i quote "Grandma's Meatloaf"
5. Last but not least what I miss about conn would have to be "harris dining" ........OK thats a lie, Id have to say the exciting themed parties of the APT! For example, who cant forget the Inside-Out Party or HANDCUFFS! Good times! (Sasha and I so won Handcuffs!!!) I wish I continue conn culture with my house friends but I they just dont get it and I dont think they ever will....We are and always will be CAMELS!!!

Signing Out...

Muchas grassy-ass and other thanks

There are too many things to be thankful for, but I'll name a few recent ones.

The kitten named Luna who bounces all about the house but comes back to cuddle.
Laughing at work.
The way fall leaves smell and the ridiculously beautiful weather.
Matty, who for a month shared his dreams with me before leaving for snowier slopes.
The sound of the water rushing against the ferry on my way home.
Hikes and bikes and artichokes and books.
Good food shared with family and friends.

Perhaps I'll update later, but for now I'll just leave you with a few photographs.





Love you all.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I want to know what everyone's thankful for! So if people have time in between eating good food and celebrating in old or new ways, then post your thoughts.

I am thankful for:

+Cranberry sauce that comes out of the can with ridges
+A roommate who is more tone-deaf than I am
+New friends that make me laugh (especially when I'm on the verge of tears)
+Drinking before grad school classes
+Nice cab drivers
+ALEX TREBEK (need I say more?)
+A job that keeps me working (and learning)
+Students that keep me guessing
+Family and friends that anchor me

Ok, I'm done because exhaustion has set in.

I love you all and enjoy your respective Thanksgivings. It is too cheesy to say that i am thankful for you all, so just know that I am thinking it :)

Love,
A

Beware of This New Virus: Compliments of my friend, Sean

There is a dangerous virus being passed around electronically, orally, and by hand.

This virus is called Weary-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss, or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private
life completely.

If you should come into contact with WORK, put your jacket on and take two good friends to the nearest store. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolating-Neutralizer-Extract (WINE) or Bothersome-Employer-Elimination-Rebooter (BEER). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.

You should forward this warning to 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life.

Good Luck and be SAFE!

Survey Time!

Thanks for the format, Mollie! Here goes with my answers:

First, some pictures for reference throughout this post. They're all from Halloween, so please excuse the ridiculous costumes. 

Christina, me (obviously), Rachel, Mamito, Ashley:

Liz, Ryan, me again:

I won't talk about these people, but they're all my friends. Mostly I'm just putting this picture here because all three of these boys are just so damn attractive. Eddie, Mike, Basel:

1. Where are you at this very moment? 

I'm in my apartment in Orange, CA. More specifically, I'm sitting at my desk. Usually, I'd be in bed with my computer, but I'm on my new mac, and I'm still so nervous about hurting it that I won't take it away from my desk. Sort of defeats the purpose of having a laptop.

2. What is the best thing about where you are/ what you've been doing?

Well, I think there are a lot of best things. I am so happy that I am getting an M.F.A. in something that I love and that Im in a place that will help to propel me even further into making this my career. I love working in film sets, I love that all of my classes are about film, and I love that watching and making movies has become the focus of my life. 

I also really love some of the people here, as I've definitely said before. Most specifically, I love Rachel, Ashley, Mamito, and Ryan. Rachel and I just really click - we're really similar people, and it's really fun to be able to relate to her about certain things without even having to say much. Ashley is kind of comic relief - I wouldn't really go to her for anything personal, but she can always, always, always make me laugh... and half the time, she doesn't even mean to do it. Mamito is a new friend, and I absolutely love her - she is hilarious, and she's from London, which automatically makes me love her. Ryan is a lot more complicated - he is the person to whom I relate best, and the person with whom I always want to spend my time. He is definitely the person that I'm closest to here and the person that understands me best. The trouble is, I am so into him that I am sometimes blinded by it. 

3. What is the worst thing about where you are/ what you've been doing?

Well, in terms of where I am, the wildfires weren't awesome. They were also within a mile of where I live. Yes, seriously.

In terms of what I have been doing, I've definitely run into some trouble with this bitch that is the "producer" of the film that I've acted as the Line Producer for. It's a long and complicated story, but suffice it to say that I did her work for her and she's getting credit for it, she can't do her goddamn job and I saved her and the production from failing, she has blamed me for everything she has screwed up to the entire crew and administration behind my back, and she just fired me last night - the FIRST DAY of the shoot, before I even got the chance to see the set in action, and after all of my pre-production work/ HELL, citing completely fabricated "childish behavior." UGH.

I don't think I've hated anyone so much since Tricia. I might actually hate this bitch more.

4. Share the funniest/ happiest memory you have from your post-Conn life.

Hmm... I'm not sure that I have one specific happy memory to share, but I'd say the thing that generally makes me the happiest is going to Disneyland. I have an annual pass to Disneyland, and it has more than paid for itself already! I have gone over ten times since I've been here. I have a bunch of friends who go all the time, and Ryan is a hundred times more obsessed with it than even I am, so he and I go together alone often. I'm always in good company, which makes Disneyland even better. My favorite rides are Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Indiana Jones. Indiana Jones is actually my absolute favorite, because my friends and I have a bit of a schtick when we go on it. It's really entertaining for us, and hopefully it's entertaining for the people on the ride with us. Either that, or they hate us.

5. What do you miss most about Conn?

You guys, directing theater, and a cappella. 

I know everyone reads this but never gets around to posting...

So I have taken the liberty (I'm procrastinating hardcore) of creating a short little survey so that everyone can get a little bit of an idea about what's going on with everyone. Fill it out! You know you want to!

1. Where are you at this very moment?

2. What is the best thing about where you are/what you've been doing?

3. What is the worst thing about where you are/what you've been doing?

4. Share the funniest/happiest memory you have from your post-Conn life.

5. What do you miss most about Conn?

Post some pictures if you can!

Hope y'all are doing well...
~Mollie

Sorry No Pictures, the camera went back to NY

10/31

8:15 AM: Left Bcliff....Spirits High!!! Break on Through

8:55 AM: New Jersey! Spirits Peaking...Morgan Complaining

9:56 AM: Penn...Foggy/"Charming" -Beebe

11:15 AM: Shell/Subway...Drew off hook...Beef jerky

11:30: Morgan peers heroically westward from behind the wheel. Brian eats. Plenty of Pennsylvania left.

1:06: Brian tosses gum wrapper at Drew. Miss. Morgan strips off layer #2. Heat begins to take hold.

1:40: Pulling off at Srtattenville for gas and maxin' and relaxin'

2:30: Back on the road. Eat at huge gas station restaurant "Iron Kettle". Morgan was not happy with the orange juice. Spirits Stable.

3:37: Skunkus takes command of the ship. The travelers realize that all states look exactly the same.Spirits boosted w/ completion of "Show us the Nanners" sign.

6:22: Remembered about log book, decided to make entry, got new pen, old pen MIA. Closing in on Ann Arbor...ETA=1hr...5,473,000=Morgan Pinball...118=Brian Bowling

Insert crazy night summary

DAY 2

10:09: Pancakes left 1001. Never to return.

12:28: Skunkus reliquenshes control after bitter alcohol laced tirade about his misery. Spirits remain cautiously optimistic. Car starting to smell.

3:30: Got gas and NBA cards. MVA starts 2 drive. Impaled lady photo. Weird small town.

8:05: After what could be called a mild "freak out" and pleads to spend the night at the diner Brian takes the helm(for the second time today) inspiring little confidence in his passengers.

10ish Hotel Ben Franklin too shady...Days Inn(?)

DAY 3

10:24: DBeebe takes starting roster spot. Bizzare but congenial host of the suburban inn regaled the company with tales of Mortfergusan and the duck off. Brian angrily gives his toothpaste to Morgan.

1:44: Zombietown USA and abandoned cars. Dead Birds and cheetoes. Creepy place but made it out w/o bites.

2:00ish: Gas and Food at trucker stop.

3:00ish: Military museum/charge comp for Diablo

4:02-4:10: Diablo lasts for 8 min. Level up.

5:30: Preparing to Leave Nebraska and end our journey through middle america. Here it how it looks:

' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '

7:08: Stop at "the outpost" where Brian throws out 12 cents and drives off with the gas spout(?) still attached. The council is in disagreement as to where to place the blame.

2 DAYS LATER

12:48(ADJUSTED FOR DAYLIGHT): Departed house of Dave after 2 nights of crashing. Smelly

Day 1: Bars, Labyrinth(Catacombs?), Burrito, Tequila, handjob debate, pub, Mark Hase, games, Bourbon, return home, grumpus, sloppy, sandwich, Karate move, Yukon Jack, blackout, rape scare, oven relocation, Tom in Car.

Day 2: Fallout from attempted rape, breakfast, Tom's departure, Major League, Park, Boomers, trippin, hike, cave, aimless wandering, staggering downhill, military base, drive home, Troy, relocate at bar, poor directions from hippie chick, home, munchkin, undead gazeebo, Boyz in the hood, sleep

Day 3: Left dave smelling awful. Found Denver and parking spot. Prancing round statues video. Loud football lunch. Tearful goodbye with the Dreuf.


That was the log book (also to be found of facebook) Of the trip I took out to Vail. Since that last entry things have been consiterably less exciting, unless you consider it fun to unpack safeway brand groceries in a pitch black kitchen because the only working lightbulb is out in the hallway. Well, I guess it was kinda fun.

I'm excited about the idea of my big move, yet less excited about the reality of my level of unprepardness due to the indulgent ConnColl lifestyle of the last 4 years. I am SO bad at cooking, oh man am I bad. If anyone has an easy, healthy recipie, please, toss it my way.

Other than all that crap, Vail is certainly a beautiful place, and Plum tv is, as always busy and nutty. We're trying for a 7 day a week 3 hour live show airing at 7 AM, a descision to which probably only Amanda can truly grasp the magnitude of this stupid feat. Actually, I think Amanda has had to work harder than I, so don't listen to me.

OK, now I'm really just putting off going back to my crack den of a house. You all sound like you're doing terrific, which is a wonderfull testiment to our dynamic group of friends. Keep at it, and it's great to know that we have a strong support structure. To infinifty...and beyond!

yeah fuck you I know I can't spell