Atlanta Panda!

In accordance with my promise, I shall be updating TWICE in this merry month of November, or should I say...MOVEMBER! Obviously, I have decided to once again participate in the hair growth festivities, and without obvious facial hair, have been exercising the right of my underarm, leg and other (ahem) areas to FOLLICLE HEAVEN! Needless to say, The Boyf is not pleased. In fact, I suspect the reason why he isn't coming home for Thanksgiving is less that he "has to work," but more that he is disgusted by the feathery delight that is emerging on my legs. But hey, at least I don't have to pay for those tights that prevent rape - I can just grow my own pair!

In other news, The Boyf has been working so hard lately...to the point of pulling all nighters and even taking intermittent naps on the office couch (that was especially brought in for the purpose of resting his weary head) between 23 hour days. This means that I am...STRESSED OUT! Even the promised annual Christmas card collage photo session did not happen this trip...which lead to a series of pathetic shots of just myself in travel mode...without a partner.


Like a blowfish, I have been simmering my stress internally until the day my unshaven body parts decide to blow up into a large inflatable ball! While this may seem entertaining to the average bystander, it is EXTREMELY entertaining to even myself, although typically I enjoy the blowfish effect on The Boyf and not myself. Nevertheless, I have learned to freak out less about these things and am instead pursuing other ways of getting involved and being productive while in the city.

A particular venture with which I am very excited is the starting of volunteer consulting services! I have started assembling a spreadsheet of student groups that offer pro bono consulting for local businesses and nonprofits, in hopes that we may be able to produce our own group to help biotech startups around the city. This also provides me a platform for networking, which is always fun because I still have a million business cards that have outdated information on them that I need to finish handing out, so I can buy more because I still can't part with my Atlanta roots.

I am also in the process of applying for scholarships since the NSF grant runs out next year. Not only does this entail writing applications/grants/essays for the money, but also "drafting" (writing everything except the header and signature) recommendation letters for my selected references. Gone are the days when your advisor sings your praises; instead, you sing your own praises in this new era. Although it's a little weird writing about yourself, it's actually a great idea for references that are too busy or haven't been able to interact with you thoroughly. Plus, they'll verify the letter is true before placing their John Hancock on the document. And if you're slightly schizophrenic, it can be a fantastic experience writing from the perspective of different people. See how mental illness can actually be a contribution in the academic workplace!

Last week I had a chance to go to Atlanta for a conference. The conference was pretty good, and REALLY GOOD if you take into account that some sort of delicious food was served almost at every break. Who could not love a conference that serves apple pie and ice cream at a poster session? Plus, it was a pretty productive trip. I got to see The Boyf, some friends from school, a bunch of people from school at the actual conference, some faculty members, AND eat at the best brunch spot in town! And, you'll never (no, you will) believe this, but...

I USED SHAMPOO!

Four dreadful months of baking soda and vinegar are over! I haven't been happier. And of all shampoos, I ended up using Head and Shoulders (apparently the worst kind according to the sulfate-free enthusiasts) to break the fast, since it was the only one available in The Boyf's bathroom. But with amazing results! No blow dry, no brush, air dried quickly, no tangles, shone beautifully, and did not get oily for 2 days! I've used shampoo twice again since then...and I'm totally converted back to traditional hair products. Although I may try out castile soap, since it's more natural. But what I really need is a trim and some country fried lovin' from my hairdresser. GOD IS GOOD!

Posting soon....

Pirate Panda

 I tried to go for a run at Huffnagle Park this morning, but there were PEOPLE there (what do they think it is, a park?!) and I had to run around Quarryville instead. Which is worse, because then 100x more people can see me. Although I did find out that there are a lot of mini creeks and bridges in town, which is something I should have already known earlier. Quarryville is so quaint…I wish I had time to just walk around and see the…quarries?

Last night a customer (young, male, attractive? – who are you? Please come back!) deposited SIX DOLLARS in the Peking tip jar! That’s only a dollar less than the tip Hair and I gave to our waiter at Applebees the night before! It is also two dollars more than the black, leather, pointed-toe Nine West pumps I purchased at the consignment shop next door that are a size too small (it was just such a good deal; I’ll fit into them somehow!) I don’t think anyone has ever given six dollars as a one-time tip at Peking, so I am assuming he was drunk or extremely wealthy (young, male, attractive AND single?  The Boyf better get his game on). Padre says he kept raving about our chicken lo mein and dropping the Washingtons into the jar. So the moral of the story here is: ORDER THE CHICKEN LO MEIN! I’ve had the lo mein, too, and it’s good! 

Today was also egg roll frying and roast pork day! My favorite day of the week! Every Tuesday, Peking makes roast pork in the oven, and it is so delicious. I always cut myself a slice when it comes out of the oven. I wish more people knew that we make everything from scratch…I mean EVERYTHING! There is so much prep work that goes into the food, even/especially the fried foods. I kept telling Hair that we needed to advertise more, since business is terribly slow during the summer. I wanted to make t-shirts for us to wear and perhaps to sell (it works at Penn State, but then again the median age of Quarryville is probably 72, so t-shirts might not sell so well). Hair had an ingenious idea of putting himself on the tshirt, riding a horse, and marketing it as the Polo Ralph Lauren brand. He said that we would make so much money because people would love the great deal of buying a Polo shirt for only $10 that we could retire from the restaurant industry and live off tshirt profits alone! 

Our idea for a promotional Peking tshirt – you can’t even spot the difference! What are your thoughts? Maybe I’ll get some done for the holidays!

I came home in the afternoon in order to start reading chapter 9 (the last chapter!) for BLOCK 0, but instead got caught up with packing and making a cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” I repositioned the camera so it is further away from my face (so you don’t have to see me scrunching when I try and fail to hit the high notes) and I think it sounds better this way, although The Boyf thinks it still sounds the same. In my head when I’m singing, I think I sound great, but when I listen myself recorded, my voice is always so whiny and high-pitched. Sad panda. =(

Packing is almost done! I fit the clothes that I wanted to bring into two large suitcases, and a bunch of shoes into a carry-on roller. I’ll need another suitcase or large roller to fit my binders and books/laptop/other miscellaneous items. I’ve also been siphoning off some old clothing and stuff in my room to donate to the consignment shop. I ran across a bunch of old cards and letters from many years ago while I was cleaning out my room. Among them were a graduation card from the pastor of my old church, a thank-you card from my high school hall monitor, a 19^th birthday card from The Boyf’s little siblings, and tons of letters from my penpals B-dog and Mona Lewis. I’m also starting correspondence with a new penpal, Weather Ballin’, so I’ll be keeping busy!

I did read about 6 pages into chapter 9, so I’m not THAT far behind. I might read a little bit more tonight before I go to bed…I should at least make it to page 10. That leaves about 24 pages tomorrow, which will take 2 hours if I’m lucky (the text is so small! 10 pages per hour is so excruciating), and then I can start typing up the answers to the end-of-chapter problems. Also, I need to pop into the library to print out the (NOT coupons this time!) flight confirmations for Padre’s and my flight to Hotlanta on Saturday. 

Tonight I was also invited to my first party at graduate school! I am really looking forward to starting school now – it seems like a very social bunch of students. It is a PIRATE PARTY! I wonder if showing up as a pirate panda would be too overwhelming – I wouldn’t want anyone to call animal control on me the first week of grad school. Then how would I update this blog!?