Saturday, December 31, 2011

continuity

My quick write for the day was for the word "bridge":
I’m nearing the edge of this bridge. I’ll call it “College.” The bridge was comfortably suspended between two solid realities. I feel like the one at the front. I squeeze my backpack straps until the person behind me gives me a little shove and my toe starts to brush the grass right before I feel this new adventure underfoot –

Biblegateway's verse of the day is: 
“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 NIV

I read the verse right after I write the prompt. There's a slight snap of satisfaction that slides down my spine, like the feeling you get when you fit one puzzle piece with another.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Time's flown

Today, Graham turned 17. I woke up to my dad's voice upstairs, "Graham! You know what today is? It's your birthday. ... Oh, all done? Okay." Graham doesn't like the birthday song and he has a bizarre love/hate for candles. We brought a cupcake to his room with a candle on it and he screamed, blew out the candle, and sucked the cupcake out of its wrapper like a push-pop. At first he was upset by his singing Alvin and the Chipmunks card from mom. But throughout the day, he kept opening it to see if it would continue to sing. ... It did.

I remember turning 17 in high school. My friends and I called it "The Year of the Dance" because of the plethora of songs that had the age 17 in them. Can you come up with one or two?

Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Game of Shadows, A Game of Nonsense, and A Game of Falling Down The Shadowy Stairs And Looking Like Nonsense

I accompanied my enthusiastic father and my parkour brother to sushi and the movies tonight. (Allow me to elaborate. Parkour is my adjective that refers to someone who enjoys being part of an athletic, dangerous, and pointless subculture. Ben is an actual parkour enthusiast, but I would include oddballs like spelunkers and shark-cage-divers in this category as well. I refer to him as "parkour" instead of "delightful" or "engaging" because he spent much of our walk to and from dinner jumping over and climbing things.) 
--My father, Scott Edward Mueller, would LIVE in a sushi buffet if he could. That's all I'm going to say about that.
--We saw Sherlock Holmes. It was entertaining, and so fulfilled its purpose. I put aside my book snobbery and my movie snobbery and just enjoyed the movie. Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer have an unnatural hold on me. I'm stoked for the last Dark Knight!!!

I then joined a very... burnt... and raw... attempt... at the annual truffle tradition. Matt took my place whilst Chrisper Drawer, Spinner, and Nick waited. We played Settlers and MATT WON. Then we played Spinopoly and MATT WON. It was so good to see Matty again. And to hear Spencer lie about his game cards. And to hear Nick read my mind. And to hear Christine ask ridiculous questions. And to see her give me a scarf she made with her eyelashes and love. (Not really eyelashes. But yes, love. What was I referencing? Spongebob.)

photo courtesy of spencer's cool instagram
In the tie breaker, Spencer decided to be a magical plant that was mentioned ONCE in Harry Potter, the mimulus mimletonia. It took Nick and me about 5 years to get to "Nimbusous Thimbletona." The game ended with Spencer waving his hand and saying, "Alright, close enough."

Everyone had a little wine except me, but it didn't matter. As I was leaving, I missed a step and fell down the brick stairs onto the concrete driveway. I then proceeded to stumble down the steep driveway like a drunkard to get to my car. There is... no hope... for the clumsy.


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Saturday, December 24, 2011

oh, brother

I tried out having Graham eat dinner at the table and he was in a really good mood. I decided to record him and see what habits he has that I could pick out. It's normal to me, but you might think it's interesting:

Graham has Fragile X and autism. He has a generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, and epilepsy. He's also non-verbal. 

Thursday, December 22, 2011

update anothah

After my thousand years sleep (Hence the print on the right. Honk if you love dreamin'!), I made a super cute Christmas card. Dad hovered over me while I made the super cute Christmas card... "Are you going to, like, color that in? Or... are you going to spray an adhesive on the back of that?" He's the only person I know who would give advice on the creation of a super cute Christmas card. ... besides me. :]

I went on an impromptu shoppin' trip with the Chavez/Spencer package. Spencer asked me life questions and Nick asked for fashion advice. AHHHH he got me this crazy amazing book at Barnes and Noble. So excited. I'm going to teach with it.

Ben and I watched Seinfeld tonight. He's a great brother. Confession: I've watched the first 7 episodes of "New Girl." It makes me look forward to being quirky-teacher-girl.

MikegotmeapresentandI'mtryingtoguesswhatitisbutIhavenoidea!!! I love surprises.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

PS- Thanks for an epic amount of response on "Multiple Choice from Jersey." It was a long post and your comments were SO funny. Everyone knows The Wizard of Oz better than I do!

update


It was an uneventful (and cold!) 9 hour commute to sunny California. I slept with my mouth open... the whole time. Not super cute, but I'll never see friendly Jersey man or quiet girl-maybe-my-age ever again. 

I came home to Heidi (my little shadow) and a fresh little Christmas tree. Graham greeted me with a sideways smile and by slapping his elbow, indicating that "he was happy I was home, because now I could bring him some crackers." More or less.

I got to watch Graham eat at the table. Couldn't believe it. He does dinners there. Dad and Ben presented their juggling skills to me -- so randomly impressive. I got to talk to Anna on the phone. She's doing better, which is great. I watched Robin Hood: Men in Tights with Ben and dad.

I briefly surprised Nick and got to see Shelty and Spinner. They're all doing well. We do this thing where we don't really talk all semester and then BOOM: present everyone with our plans for the next six months. Everyone's always happy and floored and maybe a little bit sad. The plans get a little more big and a little more distanced every year: Argentina, San Diego, Massachusetts, Italy, Japan.

I miss the Conners a little bit already. Look what I snuggled with on the plane FROM said Conners. They're gifters. :]

Sunday, December 18, 2011

jersey day 3

This New York Times best seller is written from the perspective of a five year old... and IT-IS-GOOD. A really interesting concept and a charming little boy and a bizarre mother-son relationship... It's also heavy.

The chapters are large: I would label them sections. A bit of advice. If you decide to read this book (Give it a try), don't tell yourself "I'm going to stop after this chapter/section/thingy." It won't happen. There will be blood and almost-dying and rotten teeth. So gripping.
<--LOOKATUS



Saturday, December 17, 2011

  • SLEPT [IN]!
  • Sherlock Holmes triple date. Cater Conner treated the group. Sherlock Holmes was top notch. It was funny and the action was crazy, so Mike loved it. Even though the tone is different from the books, the movie still has a lot of parallels. Big Chris Nolan fan. Big Hans Zimmer fan.
  • Hung out with the Conners. Ate crazy good pot pie and brownies. Minor food comas.
  • Reading. Talking. Sleeping.

Good day. 

Multiple Choice from Jersey

I detach myself from people when they are far away. Maybe to avoid missing them. Maybe because I'm already distracted by the billiondy things already in front of my face. Maybe because I'm a heartless tin man that rubber trees like to throw apples at.

The answer might be D) All of the above. Nevertheless, Emilie drove down from Princeton today to the lovely Conner house to say hello. As soon as she arrived with her awesome hipster-esque glasses and her homemade crocheted scarf and her super-cool striped "frumpy shirt," it was back to old times. Well, first it was "You're a hipster!" and then it was back to old times.

Bee-tee-dubs, Emilie called her shirt frumpy. If that's true, every shirt I wear is frumpy. I think she thinks loose means frumpy. I'm a frump.

Essentially, Emilie, Mike, and I sat on the couch and talked for HOURS. I don't have a watch, so I don't know how much time it actually was, but I'm pretty sure it was light years. We discovered
a) that Mike and Logan are "the same person." We love to be hyperbolic. But really, they're the same.
b) that Princeton is challenging, intellectual and, as the Christian kids say, "worldly"
c) that the kids these days (not so much the Christian ones this time) are moving in together more and more and getting married less and less and that makes BETHANY sad (Bethany me)
d) that working night shifts at a psyche ward is NOT like a horror movie... unless you work in Trenton
e) that haircuts in north Jersey cost an arm and a leg and a rubber tree reference from the Wizard of Oz

Emilie's the business. She brought chocolately chocolate cookies and zoomed from topic to topic like a pro. I loved it. When it comes to conversations, I tend to be the younger kid at the museum: I read the plaque and look at the stuffed jaguar and move on. I don't stand and talk about the jaguar or ask more questions about the jaguar. I don't feel the need to establish a deeper understanding about the jaguar. It's just a jaguar. It's black and it doesn't really look like the jaguar from The Jungle Book. Even if it did, I didn't like The Jungle Book. I really wish she wasn't moving to New Zealand so SOON!

Greg, Alexis, Mike, and me made a ginger bread house. In the old days, our art class would make ginger bread haunted houses and tree houses. This was a good blast-to-the-past. One day, Mike and I will have to make homemade gingerbread houses. Like the one that looks like the Weasley house. But we won't burn it down. That was an extremely inaccurate occurance in the movie, according to Mike. ;)

Last order of business: I read Mike's short story for his prose class today and was floored. He's so talented. Make him show you his work. Ask for autographs now, while you still can.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Guys, I'm Frodo

Instead of a ring, I have essays. Instead of Sam, I have my laptop. I have four Great Eyes looking at me from the towers of Elder, Noggle, and Goodman.

Guys, Kayla is funny

Me: "I think a piece of earphone rubber fell in my ear."
Kayla: "It'll come out in the wash. Do your homework."
Me: "I have to go to the ER!"
Kayla: "EFF NO!!! I don't care if you're throwin' up, we're not going to THE R!!"

"I just want Hagrid to bust down the door and say, 'YOU'RE A WIZARD, BETHANY!'"

Guys, I'm going to finish so strong,

you're going to call me Dave Wottle.

I hope I don't eat my words like soggy oatmeal.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Last fall's finals scream

I was a zombie. There was a ton of snow on the ground. My goal was to release as much pent up stress as I could from my 24 girls. I lost my voice a little bit. Danielle shoved a clump of snow in my ear. I didn't sleep that night.

I like watching them go -- North and South hall. It's nostalgic. They are in such a crazy place. Half of them are going to drop nursing, drop a boyfriend, or drop half a dozen classes. They've got years of college in front of them -- how fun! :)

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Rainbow goldfish

I don't like rainbow goldfish
because we used to give them to Graham
until he discovered
that they became rainbow
mush in his mouth. He'd
spit them
into his hands and rub them
everywhere.
Green and yellow and purple and red
mushy spitty sticky
marks all over
the walls and floors and any surface
his pudgy hands could reach.
Kyla: Rachel, I NEED my time!
Rachel: I need your time!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

"Book Hospital"

The library becomes less claustrophobic when I'm wearing my favorite socks. :D

1 am

My birthday is officially (read in the "DENNIS QUAID IS HERE!" accent) one month from today.

I'll be alone on campus, having just been part of my first week of student teaching. Hopefully, the res life staffs will be back and maybe (if they're not in meetings) I'll have dinner with a couple friends.

I will be 22. My first alliterative birthday since 11. How exciting.

Monday, December 5, 2011

"I'm a little mixed up, but I'm feelin' fine"

A little stumbling never disqualified anybody. Unless they were a gymnast. Luckily, I'm far too tall to be a gymnast. I'm also not a big fan of the sparkly leotards. 

So I'm a-stum-a-stum-a-stumblin' a little bit to get everything done. But the end is close. And I am close to ending. 

I had the privilege of hearing tidbits of creative projects from some writing majors tonight. Inspiration! Emotion! Realistic dialogue. Abstract images. I've been inspired to run free. But I've still got this bit in my mouth that's leading me down a path of scholarly rhetoric. It takes like copper. People in stories always taste copper when they're internally bleeding. But I think I'm just unmotivated. ;)

Did I just equate myself to a horse? Oh my lanta, I've got to buckle down and finish up. I'll breathe easy on Friday. What about y'all??

I'm listening to "All Shook Up" by Elvis on the Big Fish soundtrack. It makes me want to do the twist.

psalm 104

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; 
   I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, 
   as I rejoice in the LORD. 

An early morning paper break

It's like reading the newspaper before breakfast. It made me giggle.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Once upon a time,

I was feelin' a little

 ,  and.

But if I finish this











,

then I'll be











.
"Everyone understood that Latin was inseparable from whipping. One educational theorist at the time speculated that the buttocks were created in order to facilitate the learning of Latin." -Stephen Greenblatt, Will in the World

Friday, December 2, 2011

So, my friends auditioned for Amazing Race... and all I want is to be able to watch them on TV.

Do pandas eat bamboo knitting needles? Because it's causing tension between Rachel and I.

This weekend is a 15 page capstone project, a 15 page lit crit project, a 5 page new historicism paper.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Bethany: So, you use a comb?
Kayla: Yaya. Cuz Imma black gir'

Bethany: AH, my effing, effing, fr--
Kayla: Frizzle. Miss Frizzle. Yes, that's her name.

  • Gracious Professor Manwell

  • A literacy class that inspires me

  • A brand new extra warm navy blue peacoat

  • A classroom strategies assignment that I like

  • Bundled babies in mittens and animal-ear hoods

  • Kayla's koala hugs (not on me) and Katelyn's koala hat

  • Warm sky and cold ground

  • Winter socks

  • Carrie giggling at me in class

  • "Happy Thursday!" Baldwin greetings

  • Bursting into laughter when trying to tell a funny story

  • Zachary blocking the mallway because we're friends

  • New advent knowledge and feelings

  • Mary's smile through Teter's windows

  • Warm, dark coffee and the hands that made it

  • A funny story from dad on the phone

  • Sleeping correctly and being hungry and eating :)

  • Answered prayers that make me realize I may be having a bad DAY sometimes, but I'm not doing badly

  • Feeling confident

  • Feeling loved

  • Feeling valuable

  • Remeniscing about the "dark days" of last fall with everyone who remembers it better than I

  • Watching Emily pretend to do sign language

  • Having the ability to push back the CLEP test. Phew.