Even though I was only gone for 4 days, it feels like I was gone for a week! The trip there was uneventful. I made it through the mass transit system fairly easily and checked into my really charming hotel that turned out to be just a few minutes walk from the Metro station and from the Hospital and classrooms I would be visiting. I was able to meet up with a few people from the group for "dinner and drinks" and get to know some of my new classmates. I met a woman from Long Beach, she teaches nursing at UCI. The following morning we met the entire group and the administrators of the program. Orientation was pretty much like every orientation, 2 parts boring, 1 part useful. The best part of the entire three days was meeting and beginning friendships with the other people in the cohort. There was another woman from this area, Diane, who lives in Canyon Country and is also a grad from the CSUN program! I really liked her and I'm glad I will have someone fairly nearby to commiserate with me. There were two young men from Utah in the group and while I didn't really get a chance to meet them, at least one of them I feel fairly certain is LDS. There were lots of really great people, a super fun gal from Austin, some great gals from NY, etc., and I am looking forward to getting to know them better. On Tuesday night I met up with Judy Witkin who is living in DC now. We got to have dinner together and it was nice catching up with her.
My trip home was lengthy (10 hours) but uneventful. When I first got to the airport, there was another woman from my cohort there and we were able to have lunch together which was very nice. Her name is Mary-Michael. I love that name! She used to live in La Jolla but she's now local to the DC area.
During this whole trip I managed to completely read the first two books of that vampire series Twilight. They are just so much fluff but kind of fun to read and amazingly speedy. So now I must finish the series very quickly before school starts next week.
And that brings me to the UGH factor, as in "Ugh, what have I gotten myself into?" Lots of work. We'll see!!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
A real "journal" entry - where is Mary Bartholomay?
There are lots of reasons I have for not being a journal writer. First, I’m not a good historian. I remember the overall impressions and emotions of events in my life, but rarely get all the facts right. Plus I’ve discovered over the years that memories are actually pretty plastic. The more often you retrieve them, the more altered they seem to become. Second, writing about myself seems so self-indulgent. My internal dialog is of course interesting, articulate and insightful – that is, until I put it down on paper. Then it’s just trite. And I’m hardly interested in reading about someone else’s daily laundry list of life so why would I bother to write my own down? I feel that way about therapy. I went to a therapist a couple of times. Talking about myself was incredibly boring and the more you talk about things, the more dangerously close to whining it becomes. Third and last I suppose is the time commitment. I’d rather be reading or sewing or SOMETHING!
So having said this, I thought I write a true journal entry. And remember what I said about memory and history and emotions. I can only write down the things as I remember them and the impressions or feelings I had at the time. I’m going to write about my friend Mary Bartholomay.
Right before I met Martin, I got hired as a legal secretary for a firm in Century City. There I met a young woman, probably just a year or two older than myself, who was working as a receptionist/office clerk. Her name was Mary Bartholomay. She was taller than me had big blue eyes and had a great mane of curly hair. I have often had good friends in my life with great masses of curly hair. I must be attracted to them for some reason. Or maybe people with hair like that are just more interesting. Anyway she wore cotton Indian dresses, walked at a fast lope everywhere and was incredibly well spoken and well educated. She was working on her masters in art history at UCLA. She lived in Venice, was originally from Northern California and seemed to be living a fairly bohemian lifestyle in that I mean she had few material goods and talked about things like chakras and literature. I think she came from old money (I remember something about her mother owning an island off of Yugoslavia? I swear I remember something like that) and like people who have had money in the past; she knew how to luxuriate in her impoverishment as a lifestyle statement. But heck, we were all impoverished and she was a starving student. I was in awe of her. She was funny, insightful and quick. I was impressed by her education and intelligence. She was my friend when I started dating Martin and I remember telling her about this “perfect man.” I asked her to be in the wedding and she declined due to the expense involved, but she came to the wedding and reception. I have pictures of her at the reception. She came to the little house in Calabasas and hung out with me on my birthday one year as a present to me. She worked at the Getty for awhile. A few years later when she was living in New York, she invited me out to spend some time with her for my birthday and so I went, taking a 4 month old Skyler with me. She had a cute little apartment in New Jersey and across the street was an Italian deli where I first tasted fresh buffalo mozzarella. She taught me about auras. While she worked, Skyler and I toured the city. It was a wonderful trip. Mary and I talked from time to time on the phone, she would call from New York. She was always working on her education and trying to decide on her next career move.
One day I got a letter in the mail from her. She was angry with me. She was breaking off our friendship. As I remember it, she said I had been insensitive of her aspirations and plans. I honestly did not remember the conversation she referred to. I still don’t. I was probably insensitive just as she says. I was up to my eyeballs in small children and fairly self-absorbed by nature. Not that I like to admit that self-absorption, but I suppose I’m not as bad as some and worse than others. I was oblivious. But I know I didn’t mean it and never intended to hurt her. I was just devastated. I tried to write her back. The letter had come from California so I knew she had gone back to live with her sister or something. I tried writing back but I don’t know that she ever received it.
Over the years I have thought of her and wondered how she was and where she was. With the advent of the internet, I’ve periodically typed in her name. It’s unusual enough that I don’t get a lot of hits. Until just a few weeks ago. And suddenly, in the strangest of places, I pull up her name on FACEBOOK!! Mary isn’t really a “Facebook” kind of gal, but yep, even without a photo, I just KNOW it is her. So with heart pounding, I send the friend request. And . . . she accepts it! I get excited. I wait a day or two and then write on her wall something like “I’d love to catch up with you” and then I wait. But she doesn’t write back. And sure enough in about a week or so, she drops off of Facebook altogether.
To this day I miss her. I feel terrible that our friendship ended badly and feel sad for whatever I did. I sometimes think that growing up as a military brat and moving constantly, always having these truncated relationships, that maybe I don’t really know how to maintain a long friendship. I have long friendships, but sometimes I think I should maintain them better and pay more attention to them. I have good friends but I don’t know that I AM a good friend. But I’d sure like a chance to be friends with Mary again.
That's the end of my journal entry. Maybe I'll try it again another time :)
So having said this, I thought I write a true journal entry. And remember what I said about memory and history and emotions. I can only write down the things as I remember them and the impressions or feelings I had at the time. I’m going to write about my friend Mary Bartholomay.
Right before I met Martin, I got hired as a legal secretary for a firm in Century City. There I met a young woman, probably just a year or two older than myself, who was working as a receptionist/office clerk. Her name was Mary Bartholomay. She was taller than me had big blue eyes and had a great mane of curly hair. I have often had good friends in my life with great masses of curly hair. I must be attracted to them for some reason. Or maybe people with hair like that are just more interesting. Anyway she wore cotton Indian dresses, walked at a fast lope everywhere and was incredibly well spoken and well educated. She was working on her masters in art history at UCLA. She lived in Venice, was originally from Northern California and seemed to be living a fairly bohemian lifestyle in that I mean she had few material goods and talked about things like chakras and literature. I think she came from old money (I remember something about her mother owning an island off of Yugoslavia? I swear I remember something like that) and like people who have had money in the past; she knew how to luxuriate in her impoverishment as a lifestyle statement. But heck, we were all impoverished and she was a starving student. I was in awe of her. She was funny, insightful and quick. I was impressed by her education and intelligence. She was my friend when I started dating Martin and I remember telling her about this “perfect man.” I asked her to be in the wedding and she declined due to the expense involved, but she came to the wedding and reception. I have pictures of her at the reception. She came to the little house in Calabasas and hung out with me on my birthday one year as a present to me. She worked at the Getty for awhile. A few years later when she was living in New York, she invited me out to spend some time with her for my birthday and so I went, taking a 4 month old Skyler with me. She had a cute little apartment in New Jersey and across the street was an Italian deli where I first tasted fresh buffalo mozzarella. She taught me about auras. While she worked, Skyler and I toured the city. It was a wonderful trip. Mary and I talked from time to time on the phone, she would call from New York. She was always working on her education and trying to decide on her next career move.
One day I got a letter in the mail from her. She was angry with me. She was breaking off our friendship. As I remember it, she said I had been insensitive of her aspirations and plans. I honestly did not remember the conversation she referred to. I still don’t. I was probably insensitive just as she says. I was up to my eyeballs in small children and fairly self-absorbed by nature. Not that I like to admit that self-absorption, but I suppose I’m not as bad as some and worse than others. I was oblivious. But I know I didn’t mean it and never intended to hurt her. I was just devastated. I tried to write her back. The letter had come from California so I knew she had gone back to live with her sister or something. I tried writing back but I don’t know that she ever received it.
Over the years I have thought of her and wondered how she was and where she was. With the advent of the internet, I’ve periodically typed in her name. It’s unusual enough that I don’t get a lot of hits. Until just a few weeks ago. And suddenly, in the strangest of places, I pull up her name on FACEBOOK!! Mary isn’t really a “Facebook” kind of gal, but yep, even without a photo, I just KNOW it is her. So with heart pounding, I send the friend request. And . . . she accepts it! I get excited. I wait a day or two and then write on her wall something like “I’d love to catch up with you” and then I wait. But she doesn’t write back. And sure enough in about a week or so, she drops off of Facebook altogether.
To this day I miss her. I feel terrible that our friendship ended badly and feel sad for whatever I did. I sometimes think that growing up as a military brat and moving constantly, always having these truncated relationships, that maybe I don’t really know how to maintain a long friendship. I have long friendships, but sometimes I think I should maintain them better and pay more attention to them. I have good friends but I don’t know that I AM a good friend. But I’d sure like a chance to be friends with Mary again.
That's the end of my journal entry. Maybe I'll try it again another time :)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
August 14th
Okay, so I haven't posted anything in awhile. What's news? Not a lot. Jamie's shower was fun and well attended, and she raked in the bootie. My grandson will be well equipped. I can't wait to go clothes shopping for him, but I'm going to wait until he's here. Work has been busy, busy and I am not complaining. I am getting home later than usual and I'm tired at the end of the day, BUT I love feeling busy and useful and like I'm making a difference. I love feeling better and better about my ability to perform in my role.
Tonight I went to dinner with Lisa Hanson and I always love spending time with her. She really is my best friend and I forget sometimes that I need to spend time just hanging out with her and talking. It's so easy to let busy life get in the way of friendship. And then Lisa had the wonderful idea of going to visit Del Pike (she is so thoughtful that way) - we went and spent an hour just chatting with Del. Another fabulous woman who is very dear to me. Del is doing well so far, staying busy. But I know she will have plenty of adjusting to do over this next year or so.
I am getting closer and closer to my DC trip and I'm both excited and nervous. Nervous that I've bitten off more than I WANT to chew, but excited to go back to school.
One of the things Lisa and I talked about is the iPhone. She wants one and I encouraged her. I want one but have plenty of reasons NOT to get one. But I know I want one. Lynda loves hers and soon Lisa will have one and then I'll have gadget envy! LOL!!!
Nick, we got to talk about your great art work tonight. Del was commenting on the butterflies from Buena Vista and I got to brag to her than YOU designed the logo!! She was so pleased to hear that and so was Lisa.
Tonight I went to dinner with Lisa Hanson and I always love spending time with her. She really is my best friend and I forget sometimes that I need to spend time just hanging out with her and talking. It's so easy to let busy life get in the way of friendship. And then Lisa had the wonderful idea of going to visit Del Pike (she is so thoughtful that way) - we went and spent an hour just chatting with Del. Another fabulous woman who is very dear to me. Del is doing well so far, staying busy. But I know she will have plenty of adjusting to do over this next year or so.
I am getting closer and closer to my DC trip and I'm both excited and nervous. Nervous that I've bitten off more than I WANT to chew, but excited to go back to school.
One of the things Lisa and I talked about is the iPhone. She wants one and I encouraged her. I want one but have plenty of reasons NOT to get one. But I know I want one. Lynda loves hers and soon Lisa will have one and then I'll have gadget envy! LOL!!!
Nick, we got to talk about your great art work tonight. Del was commenting on the butterflies from Buena Vista and I got to brag to her than YOU designed the logo!! She was so pleased to hear that and so was Lisa.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Prego pictures
I took these pictures last night and already have gotten them back! They turned out really cute.
Go to her website http://www.bluelilyphotography.com/index2.php and the password under clients is Jamie
Go to her website http://www.bluelilyphotography.com/index2.php and the password under clients is Jamie
Monday, August 04, 2008
August
Well, I still haven't persuaded anyone else to post here, but thought I'd post again anyway. Skyler is in Las Vegas at his Black Hat convention and I'm glad he arrived safely. I'll be looking forward to his return and the full report. I'm sure he's having a ball! Sunday was a lot of fun having the Dubrows over and meeting Alicia. I thought Alicia was delightful! Good job Skyler.
I'm working on my "short story" quilt, and I'm so excited about it that I've put aside finishing Puppy Love. But I'm sure I'll be finished with Puppy Love before you know it. I might just get the short story all set up and then take it with me as a project to DC when I go in a few weeks. Although I have been thinking about taking the Twilight series of books with me as a light read.
Lots of fun stuff coming up this month: Jamie's shower, then her birthday, then Chelsea's birthday! Chels and Trent speaking in sacrament meeting, unfortunately the Sunday I'll be flying to DC :( I'm going to make them rehearse it in front of me on Saturday. And don't we have something already going on that Saturday? There's also a ward campout that Friday (the 22d). And I'm not entirely sure when Skyler has to head back up to Idaho but I know it'll be here before I blink.
We all must keep Natalie in our prayers that she finds a way to get her rent paid and that she can find a better job.
I'm working on my "short story" quilt, and I'm so excited about it that I've put aside finishing Puppy Love. But I'm sure I'll be finished with Puppy Love before you know it. I might just get the short story all set up and then take it with me as a project to DC when I go in a few weeks. Although I have been thinking about taking the Twilight series of books with me as a light read.
Lots of fun stuff coming up this month: Jamie's shower, then her birthday, then Chelsea's birthday! Chels and Trent speaking in sacrament meeting, unfortunately the Sunday I'll be flying to DC :( I'm going to make them rehearse it in front of me on Saturday. And don't we have something already going on that Saturday? There's also a ward campout that Friday (the 22d). And I'm not entirely sure when Skyler has to head back up to Idaho but I know it'll be here before I blink.
We all must keep Natalie in our prayers that she finds a way to get her rent paid and that she can find a better job.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
