A lovely lunch.

After my last post, I’ve received a lot of encouragement, and I appreciate it probably more than most people know. I’m trying to go into this summer with big plans. I want to enjoy it. I want to accomplish things, and I want to be happy.

This weekend, my older brother came up to visit me, and we spent Saturday in New York City. It was fantastic – just the refresher I needed. I even got to try one of the places I’ve been wanting to hunt down.

A while ago, I wrote a post about my undying love for tea, and I received a lovely comment from Tea and Sympathy. They told me to come check out their spot in the city, and on Saturday, I finally did. It was lovely. My brother and I ate a delicious lunch, and the tea was to die for. So good. I also decided I want my kitchen to look just like the inside of their shop one day – teapots and teacups galore.

If you’re ever in Greenwich Village, I absolutely suggest you stop by. You will not regret it.

Absence is the new presence?

During my latest absence, I enjoyed a lovely vacation with my family. I was able to road trip to Chicago (with a pit stop in Michigan) with my parents and two younger brothers. While in Chicago, I spent Easter with my grandma, my cousin, all three of my brothers, and my parents. It was delightful.

After our road trip back to New Jersey, my parents and youngest brother hung around for a few days and explored my tiny university town with me.

One day we went to the zoo, and I thought it’d be fun to share some of my favorite shots from the day. It should be pretty clear which attraction was my favorite.

April Fools

It’s been so long since I posted that this post showing up probably seems like an April Fools joke to my regular readers. I apologize for the absence, but sometimes life just gets in the way. After making it back from my trip, I started to prepare for next week when I will once again be road-tripping across several states. Wednesday night, my parents and youngest arrive from south Florida, and on Thursday, we’re all  headed to Michigan to see my other little brother. Then, we’re packing up and heading to Chicago where we’ll pick up my older brother (who’s flying in from Orlando) and head over to see my grandma, aunt, and cousins for Easter. It’s been so long since I’ve seen them that I can’t even remember exactly how old I was the last time. Then, my parents and younger brother are heading back with me to spend a few days exploring my little university town and its surrounding areas. It’ll be so nice to show them around.

However, in the midst of trying to get all my work done so I will have time to enjoy my parents’ visit, I came down with a second bout of the plague. I’m usually never sick, but the crazy, temperamental weather we’ve been having has been wreaking havoc on my immune system.

Anyway, I’ve also been busy busy busy with some exciting developments. My two conference presentations are coming closer and closer, and I recently interviewed for a teaching position for next year. It would be a delight to get the job, and I can’t wait until I hear back (which should be sometime in the next week). Lastly, I have an interview on Wednesday for an exciting tutoring position with student athletes. It would be great to add both of these experiences to my work with Disability Support Services, and I am anxiously awaiting the day when I know if they will be mine. Keep your fingers crossed for me, ok?

So, it seems I’ve finally returned to simply say I’ll be gone for a while again. I’m not sure how much access I’ll have to my computer during my travels, so by the end of the week, I may disappear for a few days again. Please stick with me. I’ll try to make my posts until then especially fantastic. No promises, though.

The most delightful day.

I spent today visiting Cambridge and the Harvard campus. I spent a lot of time in bookstores and enjoyed every last minute of it.

I never wanted to leave. It was, indeed, the most delightful day.

If I ever live in a city…

It will be Boston. I just arrived in Massachusetts yesterday, and today was my first day visiting the city. I have decided it is one of the best cities that exists. An old and great friend of mine and I walked the Freedom Trail today, and I think it was one of the best days I’ve had in a while. Here are some highlights:

I can’t pack everything.

I started packing my apartment today.  I’m not moving for another six days, but I know the next week is going to be crazy at work.  Lots of early mornings and long shifts aren’t exactly conducive to speedy packing, so any head start I can get now is going to be a big help.  I’ve been a little bit on edge the last few days – about pretty much everything.  I’ve got a lot going on, some big changes coming, and a bit of resistance starting to well up.  I’ve been so ready for this whole change, my move, starting grad school, everything, but as it draws nearer and nearer, I’m starting to realize that I may not be as ready as I thought I was.  I have so many attachments here in Orlando.  Some of them I’m not ready to let go of, and as I realize that time is ticking faster and faster, I seem to be clutching on stronger.  I guess I never considered just how deep my Orlando roots are.  It’s surprising after only four years, but I have a lot in this city – a lot that I want to pack and take with me but I can’t.

I guess I just have to come to terms with the fact that some of my attachments are stronger than I thought they were, stronger than I intended them to be, stronger than I think I’m ready to admit.

This is going to be a long week.