2012

January 1st - Potato and I were horribly hungover at the cottage in Michigan City.  We drove through a  horrible blizzard and arrived home after about 5 hrs. It was honestly the worst weather I've ever driven in.  I don't want to go through all the details of the drive but I had white knuckles from start to finish.
January as a whole - I worked a lot at Macy's.  It was an okay time.  Potato and I started running together.  It was really painful at first but after a while I was able to keep a moderate pace so I wasn't so embarrassed.
Also, it was around this time that MSU finally told me that I wasn't admitted because I didn't have a math class that was the equivalent of what they offer.  So I signed up for another math class at Triton. It was expensive and annoying.  But sometimes you gotta play the game.

February -  My lovely birthday month. February is always a really hard month for me but this year was made much easier with a visit from Poop, KDog, MoJo and M&S.  My birthday/wine party was really fun.  I really felt the love especially because so many people had to put some serious effort into coming to my party.  It meant a lot to me.
Beer fest was later on in Feb.  It was certainly memorable, but not for totally good reasons.  Some major drama went down with a friend and his wife.  And even more drama happened when we went out (unknowingly) with a raging alcoholic that wanted to pick fights with large groups of people.  But even with all that ugly, Beer Fest remains as a bright and lovely focal in a gloomy month.   

I got to enjoy these for most of the winter

March -  Very stressful month.  I wanted so badly to do well in the math class and poor Potato got the blunt end of all my rage (sorry!).  One good thing that happened in March - Mom and Pops came to visit.  It was delightful.  We went to the museum, market, and some non-chain restaurants.
I also went to a cousin's wedding by myself in March.  Potato was out of town at a conference so a couple of the aunts and uncles decided that that would be a perfect opportunity to tell me how much they disprove of us living together... I don't think they knew they were about 4 years too late.
April - April belonged to Potato entirely.  This kid got 3 birthday parties.  One on his actual birthday.  We went out with some friends that were in town and they picked up the tab.  It was the type of generosity that we don't often feel in Michigan (though I do love my MI friends - we're all in the same boat and don't have the money to be generous). For second birthday we went to the Bulls/Pistons game.  It was awesome.  There was an amazing comeback in the last seconds of the game only to be further highlighted by the fact that we were in the same room as DRose and Noah (swoon).

 Lastly, Potato had a third party thrown for him when we were in town for Easter.  It was a surprise party and it went swimmingly.  I took extensive steps to make sure he stayed out of the loop but he helped by being a pretty oblivious partner.
May - Went to Detroit for the first time for a Tigers/Sox game.  Sox won and I got to see a really beautiful baseball stadium.  Potato and I went on a date to see Cirque du Soleil.  I didn't know what to expect from the show but I wasn't let down.

Sparty won my hearty

June - Got accepted into MSU. Went to a stunning wedding in Cali.  I would like to model my own wedding after this one.

Potato and a couple of friends walking around the walnut farm at the wedding.  

Sometime in June or July a spent a week or so at home.  During this visit I cleaned a good chunk of the basement.  It was a overwhelming task but I think for the amount of time I put into it I did a pretty good job.  I'd like to spend another week working on it this summer if I can find the time.  But we'll have to wait and see if the opportunity presents itself.

Train ride back to EL

July - Highlight of July was my hs friends coming to visit me.  It was about 102 degrees most of the time they were in town... and we don't have AC.   What a bunch of angels.  I tried to take them to as many places as possible.  On the 4th we went to Hawk Island and went paddle boating and for a quick swim with all the millions of children that were there.  Later that night we went to a Lugnuts game.  If I remember correctly the 'Nuts won the game by coming back in late innings.  But it was too hot to really pay much attention.
August - Wrapped up summer.  It was hot and sad.
September - Started school.  So nerve racking.  
October - I came home for the October birthdays and to have a Chicago art appreciation day for a class.  I created this (cliche and typo ridden) blog for a class to talk about my trip: https://mollygoeshome.wordpress.com/
November - meh?
December -  I finished up the semester strong.  I worked really hard but it paid off and I was happy with my results.  Went home for a long visit.  Overall I had a great time but by the end I really began to miss my MSU bubble.  I was able to hang out with just about everybody friends and family alike.  Potato and I celebrated our 6-year-anniversary.  Yikes.

Midnight NYE - love you too Hannah

"I don't play fantasy football but he's on my team if you know what I mean"- KDog

4.0

Happy dance

P: The glasses my sister gave me are breaking
M: Yeah, I noticed.  They probably shouldn't put them in the dishwasher. Maybe we should hand wash them or only use them on special occasions
P: Special occasions?  Do you realize what you just said?  You said we should only use the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pint glasses on special occasions

finals week

monday morning i'll have my first final at msu.  i'm pretty sure i have straight a's going into finals so i'm not that worried.  and potato always tells me that i just need to get over the bar.  it's okay to trip over it.  but since i'm here i want to do this right.
last night we went out to celebrate with a friend just accepted teaching position at depaul.  a lot of people that were hanging were people i hadn't seen in months or in some cases, a year.  most of them are farther along in the program and will be moving on soon.  though i'm excited for them to be done and to start a new chapter i'll be really sad to see them go.  most of them are applying in chicago so my fingers are cross.

all i can say is that i've been busy.  it's not fun but it does feel good to be productive and creative again.   doing really well in my classes thus far but i don't want to get my hopes up because it's only midterms.
in other news i'm going to a beer fest in detroit on saturday and i haven't figured out a halloween costume.  panic.

Busy Bee

For class we had to observe a scene.  If you're interested in reading about how I think - here's what I observed (unedited):

8:14 (PM) – Gone Wired Café (did it change its name?)

I’m at gone wired with my boyfriend/partner.  We come in and order a Huma – his favorite beer and one that I enjoy as well.  They didn’t have it the last time we were here.  The bartender is a lady probably closer to 35-40 years old.  She’s friendly but there’s not a note of recognition in her voice as checks my ID or as we again pick the IPA off the beer list.  The way that she dresses suggests that she’s down to earth.  There’s something awkward about the way that she tells us what beers that they have.  It might have something to do with them only starting to sell beer within the month or so. 

8:20 – It smells here.  It’s a weird burnt/musty/somebody puked in here smell.  Maybe if they went back to just selling coffee it wouldn't smell so bad. 

There’s a lot of interesting art work.  Nothing that I can see I could purchase but I still enjoy that they have work that is clearly from local artists. 

The lighting is bad in here.  Why study here? 

8:30 – lady comes up the stairs looking for a spot to sit.  She seems very disappointed with the ones that are available to her and her girlfriend (?) – the one that’s right across from me.  I don’t care much about what they are saying but they both have pleasant voices which is interesting to me. 

8:38 – The XX are playing.  It’s a song I don’t know but the last time we were here they had them on too.

8:44 – There are three people sitting so that if I were to look up I’d be staring at them.  I can’t quite tell the dynamic but it might be a girlfriend, boyfriend, and a friend.  They’re having a serious conversation.  Hang on! The woman in the yellow pants knows the girl that’s unhappy to be sitting here.  Grad students- I knew it.  Environmental sociology.  Neither of them has defended yet but I can’t tell if they’re in the same program. 

8:47 – The unhappy sitter and her not girlfriend but friend are both using yellow highlighters and drinking coffee.  Better yet, they both seem to not like the girl with the yellow pants that has now left. 

8:48 – There are about 15 people on this top level here.  I think I know one of them.  He’s a funny kid.  He’s built like the perfect person but he’s so soft-spoken and mild mannered that I find him boring.

8:50 – “Potatoes for Maggie” is yelled and I flinch because Pat and I call each other “Potato” (it’s a long story).  I try to tell him this tidbit but he’s too distracted with his music and reading.  I suppose that’s for the best because I should be doing more observing. 

8:52 – I realize that I’m very comfortable here.  So many coffee shops around here lack a sense of authenticity and local flare that I really appreciate. 

8:53 – Pat keeps rubbing his knuckles against his lip.  I do this too.  I wonder who did it first.  We’ve been dating for 6 years. We pick up each others habits - good and bad.  

8:54 – B&W stripped shirt and glasses girl steps up the bar with a guy that reminds me of Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons.  They stand next to two other people that are sitting at the bar.  Those two ordered a water and a beer.  The girl drank the beer (a stout) and the boy is sipping on the water.  Something about this I find amusing.  You don’t see the girl drinking and the boy obstaning often.  Those two odered food to go. 

8:57 the couple that just ordered came up and are now sitting where the group of there were sitting.  They could be loud talkers and this excites me. 

8:58 that is the guy that I know.  Somebody else just said hi to him and I saw his face. 

8:59 – bathroom break

9:03 – better

The newcomers to the upstairs ordered a light beer.  I’m judging them for not liking Huma.  Maybe they were going for the special to save a buck.  Still, not worth it. 

9:04 People are always moving.  Comic guy has a twitchy foot and taps his hand.  The girl keeps looking at her phone.  I wonder if he minds.  I can’t figure out their relationship. 

9:05 – Pat hardly moves when he’s doing work.  I can’t see his hands but I know he’s highlighting the screen as he reads his psych articles with the mouse.  It drives me crazy. 

9:06 – An XX song that I know comes on.  I notice that I’m nodding my head.  So does Pat. 

The girl that was working in the kitchen is tapping her head with the pen in time with the song.   She looks  crazy.  It’s a good song though so I get it. 

I’ve only had ¼ of my beer.  I should hurry.  Time is almost up

9:08 people don’t stop scratching and rubbing.   They look they have fleas. 

There’s a game room off to the side of the main room.  I keep hearing laughter.  I also heard somebody being introduced the group and somebody said “there’ll be a test in 5 minutes”.  It’s a bad joke.  Why do people say it all the time. 

9:10 The two that are sitting in the 3 people seat are quizzing each other.  I can’t tell at all what their subject might be.  They’re talking about sound waves.  Maybe something to do with ultrasounds. 

A man in a trench coat came in.  He looks dapper.  Nice hat.  Sorry Pat.

9:12 – There’s a women sitting behind me on the phone.  Today is the only day that I wish she would talk louder. 

9:13 – was that a burp or a slurp?

9:14 My friend is still here.  He’ll probably be the last to leave.  He’s a really hard worker. 

“Iso is equal” – what does that mean? 

9:15 – Pat is a champ.  Not once has he tried to talk to me.  He keeps pursing his lips.  He’s cute.  He’s also ¾ done with his beer. 

9:16 I can hear the bartender behind me moving around.  She switched CDs – I don’t know this band. 

There’s a girl in a really cute dress standing up/packing up across the room and down a level from me.  B&W stripped going down.  Belted.  Capped sleeves – I don’t like those on me.  Actually that dress would look horrible on me. 

9:19 There are two women here that are dressed “like a man.” They are both wearing the same shoes.  I say dressed like a man in quotes because they’re just dressed like themselves. 

9:20  a man from the game room came over and is pouring himself more water.  How to places like this pay rent?  This guy is taking up a huge table with two other water drinking friends and I just don’t get how they could be making money. 

9:22 the guys with the flash cards are talking about MRIs – nursing school?  I wouldn't have placed them in medical school based on their looks. 

9:23 the pretty dress left.  I like her shoes too.  We sell them where I work. 

Pat looks up as I get a text – “are you done?’’ looks back at his work before I can answer. 

9:30 – I reread and edit my notes.  Pat asks again if we are done and if we should go say hi to our peaceful friend. 

Hang on THEY ARE GFs!!! This makes me really happy.

She’s making coffee finally.  That smells a lot better.