Dear MCPC,

You are a circle of wonderful people.

Sincerely,

Sarah Hawkins.

Post Script: This is coming from a person who has had her heart set on growing out her hair to reach her rib cage. I did what I never thought I’d have the guts to do, shave my head.

Without getting too much into detail, life has thrown me some pretty mean curve balls lately. I have felt tied to things far beyond my control, inevitably holding me back from living life as I know it. On Tuesday night I reached an awakening that was raw and real. God is ultimately in control and always has my best interest at heart, whether I want it at the time or not.

So I shaved it. I shaved all of it. Every last thing that has held me back from being a free, independent woman of the Lord is currently in the Philadelphia garbage system. Proverbs 31:30.

I cut the bulk of it to “Power” by Kanye West. Not exactly a family friendly song, but empowering nonetheless. Daniel Hoppes then shaved it to “Needle in the Hay” by Elliot Smith (cross reference: The Royal Tenebaums).

Jackie Burke and Victoria Kaufman were there for emotional support. Jenna Liew held back my ears for Dan. Yi Lui cleaned it up last night with a shape up, and I’ve got to tell you, I feel so incredibly liberated. Even my coffee lady, Marsha from the Lucky Cup inside Annenberg Hall, has noticed the difference on the inside. To quote her she said this morning, “Girl, that haircut gave you a whole new attitude. You are downright beaming.”

Anyway, thank you my MCPC-ites, my lovely friends. You have been more than supportive of my decision, and I am grateful for that.  Thank you for encouraging the fresh start and rubbing my now barren head. It truly feels awesome.

Yours,

Baldy McBalderton (Sarah Marie Hawkins.)

While my parents were here this weekend, we went to Geno’s to get a traditional Philly Cheesesteak. Pat’s (which I now know is the original cheesesteak) was right across the street. Sorry, Pat’s. I’ll try you next time.

The wait wasn’t as bad as it looked and it was definitely worth it.  The line wrapped around the building, but it only took about a half hour.

(Here I am, eating away. Attractive, I know.) It was absolutely perfect. I ate the whole thing, which is kind of a big deal considering I’ve been told that I eat like a bird. Provolone, thinly sliced steak, and heavenly soft bread. I’m salivating right now.

Happy Tuesday, ya’ll. Get some good eats in. You only live once. Might as well savor it.

Feelin’ phat and sassy,

Sarah Hawkins.

Post Script: Photo credit : by my Papazan.

The name sounds like a college, perhaps something one would chant at a pep rally, but it is really the first true penitentiary ever built, located in our very own Philadelphia. It housed some of the most famous criminals of our time, including Al Capone. I saw his cell, and it was nicer than my dorm room.
I kid.

So the kind folks in PSAB organized two trips to the Penitentiary: one night tour, where people in face paint and striped pajamas jump out at you through fog and flashing lights, and a daytime tour, where you learn about prison life, and get to see the beauty of the decrepit old monument to true penitence.
I attended both of course, because I have a fascination with old creepy buildings that house(d) the troubled and manic. My other interests include insane asylums, psych wards, and cemeteries. I’m also single. I think the two are unrelated.

The night tour was awesome and so much fun. A giant group of girls went, and we screamed our heads off. I pooped my pants a little. Not really. It was about half an hour; there was a part that utilized 3D technology, and a part where the only light provided was through a small handheld flashlight. A truly interactive experience. It was the best haunted house tour I have ever been on. Not even trying to build it up.
The daytime tour was soooo cool. The building is beautiful, and just to see what the years have done to the old structure is amazing. Truly a work of art, because one can see the passing of time on the walls, in the cells, everywhere. The peeling paint, the crumbling dry wall. I took about 200 pictures, until my camera battery died, and then I locked myself in a cell and cried. I didn’t do that, but I did go into one and sat on the toilet. I tried to put myself into the mind of an inmate. What it would be like to have to deal with the prospect of living in that tiny confined space for 5 years or more. To have to use that toilet everyday, to sleep on that bed every night… And then we left and went shopping.

-Victoria

I’m really looking forward to showing them the city. It is kind of a running joke that I have terrible sense of direction. I’m notorious for always having to stop to ask for directions. It should be embarrassing, but I’ve truly come to embrace all of my quirks, even the ones that will take me 8 hours to get back from Ocean City, Maryland when it should only 3 tops. (Yes, that actually happened.) Don’t worry Mom & Dad; I know where I’m going this time.

So my plans? I’ll save some room for spontaneity sake, but here is what I can let you in on:

*I absolutely need to take my mom into LUSH on Walnut Street. Laura and I went about a month ago, and we literally spent an hour and a half there being pampered.

*My parents want to go to Pat’s or Geno’s to get the official Philly Cheesesteak, so I will be taking them there. PSAB is taking us MCPC students there on Friday night, so if my parents get into Philly before PSAB leaves, we can just go with them. Jackie’s parents are also visiting this weekend and I believe they are going to get cheese steaks with us too. It will be a family affair!

*Rittenhouse Square Park is a must.

*I practically want to live inside of Anthropologie, so I’ll have to take them to show them my dream house.

* We’ll have to go to Mugshots.

* Old City is super cute so perhaps we can discover some of that area together.

All along the way, we will be taking SEPTA, which is the subway system here in Philly. It’s fairly easy to use, but we’ll have to see just how good I am about teaching others how to use it, considering I’m very directionally challenged. Both of my parents are teachers, so I have to have some genes in there somewhere, right?…Maybe? Only time will tell.

With that said, see you soon Mom & Dad! I’ll try not to get us lost.

Yours,
Sarah

Tuesday is easily the craziest day out of my week.

My day starts with an 8 am “Art of Acting” class. It is a good way to wake up, being that active so early in the morning. Pun intended. Next I have “Broadcast Advertising” which a great class to simply admire my professor’s sense of style. He often comes to class in pastel and plaid button up shirts. It may not be kosher (considering he’s my elder by oh 40 some years), but I definitely have a crush on him.

Now I’m at work till 1pm. I’m blogging away, listening to M. Ward, and taking care of business. After that I’ll grab some sushi at the SAC (the Student Activity Center) and then make my way to “Pop Culture.” Once that is finished, I’ll have an hour break before my MCPC class, “World Views” which runs till 7:30. Late tonight, I have a study date for two midterms that I have tomorrow.

Throughout today and tomorrow I will be chipping away at a to-do list that is literally 3 pages long. Although I would love to let myself complain about it and the inevitable stress that will ensue, I sincerely like being that busy. I work best when I have to juggle. It forces me to be decisive, efficient, and instinctively thoughtful.

In addition to my hot mess that is every Tuesday, last night I was offered a job at American Apparel. Of course I said yes. Today I find myself, adding to my plate yet again by looking into internships for next semester, specifically at Style Magazine.

I feel most like myself while being thrown into various passions, be it my aspirations, the people around  me, experiences, or simply living by the mantra “come what may.” Bring it on. God has been opening doors for me left and right throughout my entire life, but especially now, here  in Philly. It would be a shame to waste them.

After all, we are all just acrobats leaping faithfully from swing to swing, prayerful we won’t slip and fall. Still we climb up higher.

Yours,

Sarah Hawkins

Post Script: Music Time! “The Acrobat” by Johnathan Rice.

Happy Friday! I could not be more happy for this day to come. Folks, it is confession time for me.

So there is this crepe truck on Temple campus. I have resisted, resisted all semester, the tantalizing aromas wafting from that truck. I pass it going to and from my Tyler classes 4 times a week. I try to ignore the crowds of people ordering their lunches. I turn the other way when I see someone biting down into a strawberry nutella treat. I thought I was being so good, I had heard only the best things about it, but I resisted because I have a meal plan! I can’t spend my money on crepes when I could get a wrap at the SAC for free! I’m Jewish, it is in my nature to be stingy about things like this. When Laura described her peach-strawberry-caramel experience to me, I ached inside. Not my heart, my belly.

Sure, I always talked about getting one. Jackie and I even found out the similarity between the words “crepe” and “crap,” and that of course led to an immature, if not hilarious, back and forth of using the words interchangeably in sentences. This conversation did have one redeeming outcome, we figured out that if we ever started our own creperie it would be called, “What the crepe?”

So yesterday, I caved. Jackie and I were walking back from Jewelry making, there was no line, I was hungry. So we split one. Sirloin steak, fresh spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, feta cheese, all on an herb crepe. For a total of $4.50, I swear I had an out of body experience. It was amazing. Possibly the best thing I’ve ever had. I am now a believer in the Temple Creperie. Is it possible to refund my meal plan this late in the semester? I was talking to Laura about it and she said, through a text of course, that “i think i’m going to apply to work there just so i can recycle mY paycheck there.” I’m not sure why the “Y” was capitalized. I didn’t ask.

I was talking to my mom on the phone about it and for the first two minutes of the conversation she thought I was saying “crate” instead of “crepe.” Apparently if I don’t pronounce it the way the French do I am unintelligible. Not that anyone needs to know this side point.

You guys stay phresh, I’m off to dream of steaming piles of crepe.

-Victoria

This weekend was an extra special time in MCPC history. PSAB organized an 80’s themed dance party in our backyard on Friday, and it was fantastic. Jackie and I auditioned to student DJ the centennial ball last year under the names, “DJ Business” and “DJ Pleasure,” so our duo was invited to work this party as well. A Messiah dance party favorite, Dan Hoppes, was also a DJ at this party; although that night he was known only as, “DJ Kane.” Mysterious.

Evan Scott really hooked us up with a sweet sound setup; two huge speakers, a complicated soundboard that I didn’t go near, and a podium to place our laptops on. While the decorations were a bit cliche: strings of twinkle lights, and hanging paper lanterns; the effect they created was undeniable. I mean I sure wasn’t going to deny them. The backyard was transformed, looked beautiful, and sounded amazing. Just inside the sliding glass doors was an array of snacks including 78958028905 different kinds of cheesecake, cookies, caramel corn, and so much moreeee! Let me tell you, PSAB really outdid themselves with this suare. Of course, we all invited many of our Grantham campus Messiah friends, and had a decent turn out.

The beat was pumping, heads were bobbing, bodies were moving, even Meg got in on the fun. Actually, my favorite part of the night was Meg’s shirt, which read, “Little Miss Party Starter.” While funny, it was politically incorrect, since Meg is a married woman, but I decided to overlook that mistake for the night. I can only imagine what Ashley Cole’s would have read had she been at the party. My guess is, “Little Miss Life of the Party,” or something like that.

To conclude this post, the frat boys who live next to our building were maddd jealous that night.

To really conclude this post,
-Victoria (DJ Business)

On Friday, MCPC had its’ first dance party of the semester.

The party began at 8pm but progressed until midnight. Jackie, Victoria, and Dan were the DJs, everyone dressed up in 80s attire, and people took full advantage of the goodies provided by PSAB. Many students from Grantham attended, as well as new friends from Temple. All of our worlds had collided, and the result? “Heart of Glass” by Blondie.

To me, the night was just what I had needed. It’s silly really. Who actually needs an 80s dance party? (No one, if you sincerely can’t answer that yourself.) The outfits. The music. The HAIR. It was absolutely ridiculous, and absolutely refreshing.

Busyness is personified on North Broad, in Philly, and in general… the world at large. It’s so easy to get lost in the shuffle that sometimes, you’ve just got to shake it all off.

As I write this in the MCPC office, it’s often difficult to ignore the activity outside my window. Currently, there is a lady in pink sweats, dancing away to something on her iPod. Strangers pass her. Some stare. Some smile at the scene. Most move quickly right on by without taking notice of the one woman dance party.

Getting out onto the dance floor is the hardest part.

Sure, the easiest thing is to simply retreat, to ignore the opportunity, and to become the wallflower of your own life dance, but what fun is that? Yes, you will risk potentially being embarrassed, or getting hurt in some freak accident due to your vulnerability, but you took a risk and gave yourself the opportunity to unlock and lift away, if only for a moment (or in our case a few hours). Perfection.

Sometimes you’ve just got to crack open a glow stick and go to town.

Sincerely,
Sarah Hawkins.

Post Script:

“Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.”
—Anais Nin

Oh, and a little bit of music education time… “Dance, Dance, Dance” by Lykke Li. CheckCheck it out.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=modXbqbsAvs