hello, good friend

My dad reminded me at the beginning of the semester, “It’s a blessing to work hard.”

I think he jinxed me.

I’m gonna be candid: a few months ago, when I still felt energized and not like I had been hit by a Mac truck, I had lots to say. Now, at the end of this ridiculously arduous semester, I just enjoy sitting. And occasionally breathing. (That was sufficiently melodramatic, eh?)

So here I am, reading the temporary filler text on some of the office publication proofs. Susan delivered a sample aloud – a delightful, impromptu “filler text slam,” if you will – and it made me wonder. If I were to arrange these words in blank verse, could I attribute the genius to myself and publish it as poetry? Brilliant.

Progressive tickets easily bought the subway even though
two sheep laughed uncomfortably.
Umpteen chrysanthemums sold
two tickets while Kling-ons tickled the warthogs.
Pawnbrokers auction off Mercury.
And Paul marries the mostly angst-ridden kisses
silly lampstands.
Sheep towed Paul.
Purple aardvarks, the dog gossips, all fight
the progressive cats. The botulism tastes
like a Macintosh.

Besides the utter absence of meaning, that totally belongs in a literary anthology.

Saturday mornings are my favorite times. There’s so much potential in a Saturday, ya know? You have two solid days of weekend with which to do absolutely anything. This Saturday was one of my favorites of all favorites, a real testimony to the “make your own fun” principle. True, sometimes Carlisle-Mechanicsburg-Harrisburg-Grantham gets a tad slow, but you learn quickly to create your own experiences. Anyway, here’s what went down:

After waking up early to mail my first application (triumphant fist pump) my boyfriend and I celebrated with a lovely cup o’ coffee at Cornerstone Coffeehouse on Market Street. I’d heard people rave about it, but this was our first trip. I highly recommend it. In fact, we’re already planning to visit next Saturday morning. I’m psyching myself up for the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.

My roomie’s parents delivered the tree, and we (meaning my roomies, primarily) decorated the apartment for Christmas. It looks quite home-y. My contribution took the form of a chocolate-caramel-fudge cake. We also initiated the German Advent calendar – the label reads “Kinder Uberraschung: Alle 8 fleiβigen Weihnachtswichtel Garantiert!” (so you know it’s authentic) – a tradition my friends started sophomore year. Every day we get sweet toys. Yesterday, however, we got a flip book. That was the worst one ever.

Later in the eve – after watching the LSU game (Go Tigers! You got lucky.) – we ate at Nino’s Bistro, also on Market Street. Friends of ours recommended the restaurant to us, and we’ve visited several times since. Oh! Which reminds me, another excellent recommendation: Pakha’s Thai restaurant = delicious.

This Saturday’s agenda: bake Christmas cookies.