En Route...
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Day 321 | Saturday, November 14 | 2009
Golden Machine...Caitlin took me out for a great breakfast at The Village Bakery (I got the wakeup call) and then I ironically fell asleep for about two hours after that. I stirred up a little bit, got a tiny bit of school work done, and then met up with Ben and Tiana for watching a documentary about Ardipithecus ramidas (our farthest back human ancestor in which we have fossil data for) and then we all went out to dinner with Caitlin at Casa. It was so nice to meet up with Ben and Tiana because they are great people! Hanging out with them / being around them makes me feel good and I am wishing I can hang out with them more and more in the future. I am especially excited to maybe go on our Athens Pinball Shuffle that we were talking about -- Ben is an avid pinball player and can locate all of the pinball machines in Athens (he says there are ten). One day, we will go to all ten of them, play a couple of games, maybe have a picnic, and do other fun things. I don't know exactly but what I do know is that it'll be a great time!
Wonderful day!
Day 293 | Saturday, October 17 | 2009
My Best Friend's Wedding...Here is a picture of the two newlyweds (picture uploaded later).
I am so tired (from getting up early and running, driving to Lexington, and just from the recent lack of sleep).
It was really surreal to see Eric (my best friend growing up as a kid) get married. It has been a long time since we have really kept in good touch but I feel lucky to be here today at the wedding.
Day 292 | Friday, October 16 | 2009
Caitlin Hiding...Tonight was really great too. Boaz, Garrison, and I made some really good pizza crusts and sauce and we had a bunch of friends over for a pizza party. Even Jonah came over and it was hilarious to see him run around and try to knock people over (Jonah is three). It turned out to be a great day after all.
Here is my baby hiding 'neath the covers before bed!
Day 287 | Sunday, October 11 | 2009
Good Friends...Today was nice to take a small break and have lunch with Leslie and Evan. I really like Leslie and Evan because they make me feel relaxed and that nothing is as bad as it really seems. They just want to listen to me and cradle me like the baby that I am. They are really unassuming people and I am lucky to have them as friends.
I am also so lucky to have Caitlin. Today she helped me so much with my presentations and helped me when I felt discouraged and I do not know what I would do without her.
Day 263 | Thursday, September 17 | 2009
Deus ex machina...I didn't sleep through the sunrise today but I just didn't get a chance to take the picture. I was too busy working on homework for my 19th century Spanish Plays class.
Today wasn't too bad of a day. Although it wasn't horribly great either. A middle day.
What made today really good later though was that I got to have dinner with Larry, Jesse, and Caitlin. We made stir-fry in the wok. It was pretty good. Onions, peppers, tofu (I have been vegan for a month now!), minced garlic, broccoli, and white rice.
Day 262 | Wednesday, September 16 | 2009
Cloudy Morning...Not a lot of sun today in the morning. Later though it was a different story. Today was well spent for sure -- I got to talk to Jim at Casa, later saw Rob on the sidewalk outside of Casa, got to talk to Rob inside of Casa, and did a lot of other things that made me feel good. Things are looking up.
I even got a recipe of vegan lentil and potato stew that Susan sent me. Whoohoo! It looks tasty and I'm looking forward to making it as it gets colder out. Also, my mom recently gave me a cookbook and I am additionally thrilled about that. I am a lucky guy. What did I ever do to deserve such boundless love?? (smile on my face).
It was nice to see Caitlin too this morning (it was great that she spent the night last night) because I felt like with her SRA orientation, there wasn't really a time that she had been by where I am living. I know that there will always be things for each of us to do but it was nice for her to be here with me last night.
Day 244 | Monday, August 31 | 2009
Leo and Jordan...Today has been a really good day. Woke up this morning to go check on my car (I ended up taking it to Athens Auto Center), ate breakfast, did some things around the house, and then went uptown to help Julia on her project and meet up with Evan.
At Donkey, I happened to see Leo and we then made plans to go to China Fortune later with Jordan. It was so nice to spend time with Leo and Jordan. Sometimes, I feel so bad about not hanging out with friends or staying out of touch. Spending some time -- just for a minute at the record store, at the coffee shop, at a restaurant, or at each other's place is a much needed chance to catch up. I loved hanging out with Leo and Jordan and they are good friends.
Tomorrow I am going to get a lot of work done. Mainly on my Ecuador sound project and cleaning/organizing the apartment. It's looking good as of late but there are a lot of things that need straightening out in the bookshelves and crawl space areas.
Day 241 | Friday, August 28 | 2009
Caitlin...Today I am twenty four years young. Feels exactly the same as it did when I was twenty three yesterday. Twenty four. On to bigger and better things, right?
I had a lovely lunch with an even lovelier lady. My sweetheart took me out to arguably my favorite restaurant Casa Nueva and I am so thankful that she had a gap in her busy schedule to be with me. I am really proud of how hard she is working -- I cannot remember which one of my friends said it but they (along with me) thought that college would not be so bad if someone like Caitlin (or especially Caitlin herself!) were their R.A.
The rest of the day was also really pleasant. Met with Mike and Shannon of whom I feel bad about being so out of touch, I met up briefly with Julia at Donkey to talk about her film project and my sound project, and then ended the day nicely by being treated to dinner by Rem and Amanda. Mike and Shannon lent me The Fool's Progress: An Honest Novel by Edward Abbey and we also got to talking about various things like how Gram Parsons' cadaver was partly burned by his friends in the desert. As we were talking about Gram Parsons, one of his songs eerily made its way onto the randomized playlist of Mike and Shannon's iPod.
Day 225 | Wednesday, August 12 | 2009
Franklin Wall..I am feeling good. I have been talking with my brother, Gretchen, mom and dad, the Kraus family, and Caitlin and everyone believes in me so much. I am nervous but I think I'll do well. It's just a matter of focus and concentration (and not freaking out).
Today was my last day of studying. Tomorrow, I will not allow myself to study -- just pure relaxation. I think I will go see a movie tomorrow and have dinner with Larry.
I feel like I have been living in a vacuum with all of this studying. I am, in some ways, a bad friend. I am sure people will understand. Once this is over, we'll all have a grand time.
Day 171 | Friday, June 19 | 2009
At the Ball Game...My dad had tickets he got from his work to go see the Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago White Sox today at the Great American Ballpark. It was such an enjoyable experience. The Reds ended up winning 3-2 as well. I went to Columbus today to pick up Caitlin so that it was me, Caitlin, my dad, and aunt Patty that went to the game. We all had a great time at the game but it was very humid.
After the game, Caitlin and I hung out with Nick Bascom and Ryan O'Grady -- two old friends that I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice to spend time with them and nice to introduce them to Caitlin. They took us to Arnold's bar, located in downtown Cincinnati. Arnold's is the oldest bar in Cincinnati -- if I remember right it was built in 1867. I could be wrong though.
Day 63 | Tuesday, March 3 | 2009
Pierogi...Alas, I am caught up on my sleep and I am back at it. I did not get some of my papers in on time to my professors on Monday so I am trying to finish the rest right now. I probably should have turned them in already today but by this point I am just trying to aim for quality completion.
I realized today that I leave in three weeks for Ecuador. This seems really unreal. What's going to seem even more unreal with be the actual day -- March 24 -- that I actually do leave to Ecuador. I still have a various list of items that I need to realize still but it's getting closer. I still need to find out about malaria pills, complete some formalized membership canceling (cancel my cable service, clean out my locker at the gym, etc.), get my belongings together, read a book and write a report for my field study, read two books (or at least get started) and plan my independent study, purchase an external hard drive, and get well acquainted with my portable digital recorder.
Because I have been so busy, I have forgotten to mention that my Nagra ARES-MII came in the mail this past Friday! I am really excited about it all. It came well equipped with a USB 2.0 input cord, a shock-resistant stereo (cardioid) condenser microphone, a mono (omni) condenser cap, two wind guards, a XLR adaptable input cord, a protective case, and a cool wrist sling. I have used it already just minimally but it sounds great. Also, my 10' mono hydrophone came in the mail on Friday too. This is basically a microphone that can record SPL movements underwater. This will be especially useful when I am collecting data from some of the Ecuadorian water sheds -- rivers, streams, waterfalls, etc. I am so excited!
Today has been a pretty good day, all in all. Caitlin and I went to vegan cooking and it was delicious. It was great to hang out with Larry and Annie too. I feel like the setup for vegan cooking is not fair sometimes, because I feel like sitting down and talking with a lot of people. I really wanted to hang out and talk to Leslie, Jamie, Ellen, and Clare but the seating was all cramped and space is just limited in that room. The food, though, was great. It was all Ukrainian style food -- pierogi (mashed potatoes inside a noodle-like shell), salad, rice-stuffed cabbage wraps, this really great beet-based soup, a delicious dessert (I don't remember what it was), and a neat lavender-tasting drink. I got a picture of the cooks making the pierogies in the kitchen (above) before they were done.
Great day!
Day 62 | Monday, March 2 | 2009
Jamie...Last night was really hard. I was up until about 6:00 AM. I was not able to finish two of my papers and I asked for an extension so that I turn them in tomorrow. So, I'll have to get back to work.
Here's one of my best pals Jamie. He's such a great guy.
Day 45 | Saturday, February 14 | 2009
My buddy Rob...It is Valentines day! Woo hoo! Going to go out to dinner tonight with Caitlin. We just had lunch with Rob and Laura at Casa which was really nice. It's been too long since we've spent time with Rob. He is such a great guy.
Day 31 | Saturday, January 31 | 2009
Many Rivers to Cross...Today was a mix of good feelings and bad. The good feelings came mainly from getting together with friends for a potluck dinner at our house. The bad feelings came from the stresses incurred by being in heart of the quarter. School work is getting heavier and the weather is also beginning to get a little colder. Today was sunny but the cold just sucks out any enthusiasm one would have toward life. It slows the body down and puts everything into submission.
Last night was a truly enthralling night -- we went out with Leo, Jordan, Amanda, and Rem to see Gus Van Zandt's Milk starring Sean Penn. It was an all-around great movie -- the cinematography, the casting, and the sequencing was all so perfect. After the movie we went to see Justin Gordon and Zeb Dewar play acoustic performances at the Donkey Coffee Shop. That, too, was completely mesmerizing.
I am really tired now but I am probably going to stay up a while working on a spanish midterm that is due Monday. Tomorrow should be really busy -- midterm, readings, group study meeting, meeting for Cuenca, and a lot more planning for the week. The highlight of my day tomorrow will be in the morning when I will spend time with Caitlin and her mom and dad. It is Susan's birthday on Monday so I am gonna try to make a card for her tonight.
Day 27 | Tuesday, January 27 | 2009
Treads....I talked to Amanda today on the phone considering our housing situation. It was not a very pleasant conversation for either one of us. At one point she had told me that she thought it would be best if I moved out of the house as early as this week. I don't think that she really meant that, though, and I think she said that on account of being upset at me for suggesting the idea of having a sub-leaser live at the house for April and May (and a little bit of March and June). This was my mistake, though, because I had forgotten a part of me and Amanda's conversation on Thursday when she said she'd be against the idea of having a sub-leaser.
This whole situation is pretty disconcerting -- either way, there is going to be tensions between us. If either of us truly wants to work toward fairness, it is certain that we'll all need to not let our emotions get in the way of what's going on. Most likely, I concede to pay some sort of amount in the Spring to honor the understanding that we had all reached that I would represent myself financially until June.
Also, both parties need to stop distorting the other's position. Amanda has taken the fact -- that I had a question about whether or not I was actually signed on a lease -- a little far in insinuating that I am trying to find some loophole to screw Rem and her over. This is not the case at all. At the time it was only a small consideration; an afterthought -- as in me thinking to myself... am I technically signed on the lease? I think Amanda blew that idea a little out of proportion in thinking that I have motivations only related to money. Some of these ideas are starting look a lot like people labeling me and misrepresenting what I am saying.
What I am saying, however, is that we do achieve financial fairness. There was a slightly embarrassing moment in me and Amanda's conversation this morning. I had previously thought that the monthly payment was $650.00 but, in fact, I was corrected on account that it is actually $750.00 per month. When I was talking to Amanda, I felt pretty bad because I couldn't do the math in my head as to how much that would change the previous situation. So here is the breakdown:
August $337.50 / 250.00
September $337.50 / 250.00
October $337.50 / 250.00
November $337.50 / 250.00
December $337.50 / 250.00
January $337.50 / 250.00
February $337.50 / 250.00
March $337.50 / 250.00
Totals $3,037.50 / $2,250.00
Regardless, I'm still paying about $800.00 more than what I would have paid if the deal had been originally structured around the rent being divided by three, as opposed to the division of two. Even that, technically, is not what happened because I am paying slightly less (about $40.00 per month to be exact) that what half of the monthly payment is now.
I had lunch with Larry today and it was good to talk with him. It is always good to talk with Larry because he sees things through a clear lens, unobstructed by many of the biases that I have. What he told me was that he thought Rem and Amanda's perspective was fair -- that I should honor the fact that I had promised to pay the amount for the year. At the same time, he pointed out, that both parties should concede a little bit in order to make the situation work. He said that in the end no one would be happy if each of us would have it completely their way. And he is right. Not because of what Larry said made me see it this way but also because I think that paying some sort of an intermediate rate would be the fair thing to do. Sure, it might be more money that would be against the fiscal fairness in the numbers I had been keeping track of...but I think that is the only way for people to be happy in this situation.
I hope that this all ends well. I hope that Rem and Amanda will not show any needless hostility towards me and that I will not (or my father) be needlessly hostile towards them either. It would be a waste of everyone's time and energy to make this into that kind of a situation.
Later: I have been reflecting on this day for a while and I hope that there is no tension. I hope that there is no stigma applied to me, Rem, or Amanda. What a waste of time it would be to apply some value judgment such as `right´ ´wrong´ ´good´or ´bad´to this situation. I am aware that a lot of this situation was my fault -- when Jesse moved out of the house I agreed to pay more money for the room. It might appear that I am asking for two things at the same time. The truth is that I am in no way trying to manipulate nor have I tried to manipulate the situation. Perhaps I feel slight regret on my past decisions. What I should have done would have been to either find a place to live after Jesse moved out or find a new place for the summer of 2008. The reason why I didn´t do either of these was because I felt obligated to help Rem and Amanda out. Besides, I consider Rem and Amanda good friends and I like living with them. Things might have been easier in the long run in terms of avoiding interpersonal conflict if I would have left then but a large part of why I chose to stay was so that Rem and Amanda wouldn´t have had to work hard to adjust to their rent payments.
Later: I have been reflecting on this day for a while and I hope that there is no tension. I hope that there is no stigma applied to me, Rem, or Amanda. What a waste of time it would be to apply some value judgment such as `right´ ´wrong´ ´good´or ´bad´to this situation. I am aware that a lot of this situation was my fault -- when Jesse moved out of the house I agreed to pay more money for the room. It might appear that I am asking for two things at the same time. The truth is that I am in no way trying to manipulate nor have I tried to manipulate the situation. Perhaps I feel slight regret on my past decisions. What I should have done would have been to either find a place to live after Jesse moved out or find a new place for the summer of 2008. The reason why I didn´t do either of these was because I felt obligated to help Rem and Amanda out. Besides, I consider Rem and Amanda good friends and I like living with them. Things might have been easier in the long run in terms of avoiding interpersonal conflict if I would have left then but a large part of why I chose to stay was so that Rem and Amanda wouldn´t have had to work hard to adjust to their rent payments.
Day 25 | Sunday, January 25 | 2009
Friends...
I think that the other day I was a little out of line. Or, at least everything that I said concerning my living situation neglected to mention the significance of my truly good friendship with Rem and Amanda. Perhaps this dichotomy -- being friends and being house mates are mutually exclusive. Being friends with someone is one thing entirely different than living with them. When you live with them, you get to know them on a deeper and more personal level. You are directly involved with their living cycle and they are conversely directly involved with yours.
The truth is that I can be a little quick to feel hurt and I have the potential to take it out on others (especially the ones closest to me). Does that mean that I do not still have a point in my argument concerning the fairness of our living situation? Not at all. I think that that situation will be figured out soon and that I deserve to be listened to by Rem and Amanda.
Either way, tonight was good on a lot of levels. Any interpersonal drama that has accumulated in the recent past has been put to rest just by confronting the tried and true reality that we are all in this together. Surely it has not or will never be easy. The process of knowing someone (and having that person get to know you) can be a treacherous and risky path. The important thing in learning to love someone is that you love them for all of the good times and for all of the bad times.
"Do good and show kindness, for you only pass this way but once."
That was written on my grandmother's grave. I truly believe in this.
Day 9 | Friday, January 9 | 2009
Moku Coffee...There is a new coffee shop on West Union street -- all the way down towards where the Habitat for Humanity House is located. The coffee shop is nice. It has a comfortable ambience and a wonderful view of the Hocking River and White's Mill.
Caitlin and I met today with Leslie who is such a wonderful person through and through. We spent some time talking about her recent trip to India and then also Caitlin and I talked about our recent trip to Switzerland. I am amazed at some of the implications of Leslie's stories. It makes me feel lucky to be so privileged in comparison to many of the people that live in abject poverty.
Most of all, though, it was just nice to spend time with a friend.
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