All right all you real cool kats out there...until I come back to the states, you can catch up on all my goings on here.
Ciao for now, and remember to stay happy...it only lasts for now...
Peace and Love,
JCM
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Last "Official"
So Monday was my 21st birthday. This, in my mother's family, is known as "the last official birthday." At this point, aunts and uncles are no longer required to send money in cards, or buy gifts; parties are unnecessary; you are fully an adult.
I had a great birthday, really. Despite having to work the day of, and the day after (which made partying rather unwise), I still had fun. I had a beer with pizza with my parents (at a restaurant I had wanted to return to before I left the country). Tuesday I had a nice--far more formal dinner--with several of my mother's colleagues/friends...had a nice martini and some champagne. And I had a nice drink at my father's club last night (on the house, of course, since it was my birthday).
But I did not come to rant about the drinking I've been doing.
This brthday came at the worst possible time. It seems I am having a lot of "last official" things right now...and, while I realize how lucky I am with my upcoming studies, I can't help but feel a little nervous, a little anxious, a little scared, and just a little bit sad.
BUT! I know I will succeed and have fun...and will come back with vigor to live in Philly for my senior year of college (can you believe it has gone that quickly?)!
OH! And check out my newest attempt at blogging:
http://romanexcursion.blogspot.com
This is my on-line version of my travel journal.
Cheers!
JCM
I had a great birthday, really. Despite having to work the day of, and the day after (which made partying rather unwise), I still had fun. I had a beer with pizza with my parents (at a restaurant I had wanted to return to before I left the country). Tuesday I had a nice--far more formal dinner--with several of my mother's colleagues/friends...had a nice martini and some champagne. And I had a nice drink at my father's club last night (on the house, of course, since it was my birthday).
But I did not come to rant about the drinking I've been doing.
This brthday came at the worst possible time. It seems I am having a lot of "last official" things right now...and, while I realize how lucky I am with my upcoming studies, I can't help but feel a little nervous, a little anxious, a little scared, and just a little bit sad.
BUT! I know I will succeed and have fun...and will come back with vigor to live in Philly for my senior year of college (can you believe it has gone that quickly?)!
OH! And check out my newest attempt at blogging:
http://romanexcursion.blogspot.com
This is my on-line version of my travel journal.
Cheers!
JCM
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
An Interestng Feeling...or...The End of an Era...
So I normally get "Harry Withdrawal" as I call it. That is, at the end of every HP book I have read, there has been a sinking feeling of "there's no more to read" and a dreadful pain that kept me wanting to know what happened after book. Luckily, there was always another book to satiate my appetite. Now, however, there is not.
I bought the book at 1215 on Friday night...no I did not wait in line or anything, I went to the local grocery store (which stayed open an extra hours just for the occasion), picked up a book (one of the first by the looks of it) and went home. I read a couple of chapters and went to bed. I didn't get a chance (a first on the day after HP comes out) to read ANY of the book. So on Sunday I started reading in earnest. I, however, did not get a chance to finish. Ah well, I set myself the goal to make it last as long as I could...it would be the last, after all.
Now today I hit the point of no return, the moment that I hit in every book I read where you cannot stop from turning pages and reading to the end. But, unlike the previous episodes in the HP epic, I was hit my such an odd feeling. At the same time I felt an exhiliration to finish the story, get to the end of the book, keep reading as fast as I could (while still paying close attention), and also to stop in my tracks and read only a few words and wait for the end.
It is the end of an era for me. The first series in a very long time that I have finished. Not since I read the Chronicles of Narnia almost 10 years ago have I read a series quite like this and finished it. I started the Earth's Children series...but since Jean Auel has yet to write the sixth and final chapter of that series, I still have Ayla by my side. But now the HP epic is over. I was pleased with the book...I will not spoil any of it for you...but I was pleased overall with the quality of the writing, the plot, and the way everything was finished up. But I am undeniably sad and there is a void in my life now. Oddly enough, less than a month before my 21st birthday, I feel like I have said goodbye to my childhood. This was the last little bit fo whimsy and fancy that was my guilty pleasure. Now, don't get me wrong, I still believe in things unseen, but it seems a little more foolish now, and little more childish than it did just yesterday.
Wow, now that I'm even more depressed than before...I'm going to leave you to your reading and hope you have fun and enjoyment and many years of belief in the unseen.
JCM
p.s.--as with all HP fans, I proudly hope beyond hope that JKR will write again, and she has said that we can "never say never."
I bought the book at 1215 on Friday night...no I did not wait in line or anything, I went to the local grocery store (which stayed open an extra hours just for the occasion), picked up a book (one of the first by the looks of it) and went home. I read a couple of chapters and went to bed. I didn't get a chance (a first on the day after HP comes out) to read ANY of the book. So on Sunday I started reading in earnest. I, however, did not get a chance to finish. Ah well, I set myself the goal to make it last as long as I could...it would be the last, after all.
Now today I hit the point of no return, the moment that I hit in every book I read where you cannot stop from turning pages and reading to the end. But, unlike the previous episodes in the HP epic, I was hit my such an odd feeling. At the same time I felt an exhiliration to finish the story, get to the end of the book, keep reading as fast as I could (while still paying close attention), and also to stop in my tracks and read only a few words and wait for the end.
It is the end of an era for me. The first series in a very long time that I have finished. Not since I read the Chronicles of Narnia almost 10 years ago have I read a series quite like this and finished it. I started the Earth's Children series...but since Jean Auel has yet to write the sixth and final chapter of that series, I still have Ayla by my side. But now the HP epic is over. I was pleased with the book...I will not spoil any of it for you...but I was pleased overall with the quality of the writing, the plot, and the way everything was finished up. But I am undeniably sad and there is a void in my life now. Oddly enough, less than a month before my 21st birthday, I feel like I have said goodbye to my childhood. This was the last little bit fo whimsy and fancy that was my guilty pleasure. Now, don't get me wrong, I still believe in things unseen, but it seems a little more foolish now, and little more childish than it did just yesterday.
Wow, now that I'm even more depressed than before...I'm going to leave you to your reading and hope you have fun and enjoyment and many years of belief in the unseen.
JCM
p.s.--as with all HP fans, I proudly hope beyond hope that JKR will write again, and she has said that we can "never say never."
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Things are changing so fast and yet standing so still...
I'm not quite sure what is going on. There are so many parts of my life that I feel totally out of control, and others where--even though I am in control--I wish would speed up a little bit. I don't really know what I'm talking about. I couldn't give you the specifics even if I wanted to, since i'm not quite sure what I'm talking about. I just feel so confused sometimes. It's totally a "where do I go" kind of phenomenon.
But more on this later...
JCM
But more on this later...
JCM
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Feeling "Home" at Home.
...I have been compiling such a list this summer. More than last year, I know I'm going to miss so many things from Philadelphia this summer. Last year, though, was different, I rested assured that I would have the comfort of returning to Philadelphia and all those things on the list when the summer was over. This year, I rest a little less assured. I know for certain that I will not be returning to Philadelphia when the summer is over. Now, pity and don't at the same time. As you know, I will be in Rome next year instead of Philadelphia. This is a phenomenal experience, many of my friends and family are jealous, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. However, I might trade it if what was behind door number two was living in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is so much farther from home than I ever though I'd be. I'll admit, I am a bit of a momma's boy and do like being home. Well, until I moved to Philadelphia. Now, the only thing at home is the emptiness in my heart reserved for those things that only Philadelphia can give. I know at least one of you who reads this understands--things like the fresher food at Reading Terminal, tattoos and piercings and debauchery on South Street, history and art in Old(e) City.
I am sitting right now in the hospital waiting for my father's surgery to be done (rather routine, nothing to fear) and creating an even bigger list of things to add to the already long list. Ah, me...what to do. I think I have found home.
We read a short story by Hemingway, Soldier's Home, which is about a soldier several years after he has left the service and has returned home to his small-town rural American town and how he feels about it. And he just doesn't feel right, he just doesn't feel home. He's not sure why which makes him act wierd and his acting wierd makes those around him act wierd which turns into a whole Catch-22 issue (remind me, that's a book I want to read). My AP English teacher said to us, "Baby Boos, you may not get this now, but in just a few months you will. You may not feel it when you come home for Thanksgiving, but certainly once you come home for Christmas the first time, you will." And now, I do. I know exactly how he felt. I just don't feel home at home. But I feel home in Philadelphia. And I'm giving it up to go to Rome for a year...poor me, I know, but it is quite a big deal for me. But I'll be back--I hope. Of course, every tells me that once I'm there for a year, I'll end up giving everything up to live in Rome. Maybe I well, maybe I will live in Bella Roma. Of course, only if my friends come to live with me in Rome.
Happiness for y'all, if only for now....
JCM
Philadelphia is so much farther from home than I ever though I'd be. I'll admit, I am a bit of a momma's boy and do like being home. Well, until I moved to Philadelphia. Now, the only thing at home is the emptiness in my heart reserved for those things that only Philadelphia can give. I know at least one of you who reads this understands--things like the fresher food at Reading Terminal, tattoos and piercings and debauchery on South Street, history and art in Old(e) City.
I am sitting right now in the hospital waiting for my father's surgery to be done (rather routine, nothing to fear) and creating an even bigger list of things to add to the already long list. Ah, me...what to do. I think I have found home.
We read a short story by Hemingway, Soldier's Home, which is about a soldier several years after he has left the service and has returned home to his small-town rural American town and how he feels about it. And he just doesn't feel right, he just doesn't feel home. He's not sure why which makes him act wierd and his acting wierd makes those around him act wierd which turns into a whole Catch-22 issue (remind me, that's a book I want to read). My AP English teacher said to us, "Baby Boos, you may not get this now, but in just a few months you will. You may not feel it when you come home for Thanksgiving, but certainly once you come home for Christmas the first time, you will." And now, I do. I know exactly how he felt. I just don't feel home at home. But I feel home in Philadelphia. And I'm giving it up to go to Rome for a year...poor me, I know, but it is quite a big deal for me. But I'll be back--I hope. Of course, every tells me that once I'm there for a year, I'll end up giving everything up to live in Rome. Maybe I well, maybe I will live in Bella Roma. Of course, only if my friends come to live with me in Rome.
Happiness for y'all, if only for now....
JCM
Thursday, June 14, 2007
I Have the Hands of a Laborer...
So, for those of you who do not know, my non-school year job is housekeeping at a hospital. I really didn't need any experience, and the pay is quite good, and the hours are EXTREMELY flexible. I have fun being on the "inside" of things, my id badge works just about everywhere and I have always loved feeling like I'm special because I can get where others cannot without questions.
But there is a downside, my hands--mind you, never all that soft or lovely--have become the hands of a laborer. Where once I had a callous (sp?) from my pencil, and a few paper cuts from reading and proofing...I now have pruned fingers, dry skin (incurably dry), cuts, scrapes, and a bruise where I smashed my hand into the door of the trash chute.
That's not to mention the aches, pains, and general "grossness" I feel all over at the end of the day. But like I said, the pay is great and so is the schedule so for now I muddle through.
But I am incurably tired now, going to bed around 9 where once I went to bed around 1. Ah well, the sacrifices we make for growing up and living in the real-world. And my "Cappuccinos at the Cafe in Roma Fund" is quite low so I better just muddle through.
JCM
But there is a downside, my hands--mind you, never all that soft or lovely--have become the hands of a laborer. Where once I had a callous (sp?) from my pencil, and a few paper cuts from reading and proofing...I now have pruned fingers, dry skin (incurably dry), cuts, scrapes, and a bruise where I smashed my hand into the door of the trash chute.
That's not to mention the aches, pains, and general "grossness" I feel all over at the end of the day. But like I said, the pay is great and so is the schedule so for now I muddle through.
But I am incurably tired now, going to bed around 9 where once I went to bed around 1. Ah well, the sacrifices we make for growing up and living in the real-world. And my "Cappuccinos at the Cafe in Roma Fund" is quite low so I better just muddle through.
JCM
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