circus de ole and where's bob?

this past week in class we were talking about "Blue oceans." blue oceans are untapped ideas that people make into money....one that was mentioned in our reading was the cirque du soleil...it was interesting to read about their beginnings and the creator...but what was most fun, was my professor...he kept saying in class, "circus de ole" and i thought for sure i was hearing things...there was no way he was saying that....so, i turned to my classmate and said, "do you hear that?" and she giggles and says, "yes" and then i giggle...and the professor keeps on saying, "let's think of ideas like the circus de ole" and no one corrected him....we all just giggled.

in my tuesday class we figured out who would win the ncaa tournament based on athlete graduation rates....the final would come down to dayton and duke...and duke would just edge out dayton....it'a very interesting to see how athlete graduation rates are figured out....and how they are broken down...in men's basketball it's between african americans and whites....and it's only those who actually stay....so, if you happen to have been on the basketball team in november and then all of a sudden you are off the team in february, you don't count toward graduation rates....it's just another way in which statistics prove nothing. (my stats teacher from the fall would be proud).

now, where is bob? this is a question i received today at barnes and noble...i have not been there in a while to study, but today i decided to give it a try....my table was in an interesting spot, it was a high table near low tables...and there was alot happening....first, there was a young woman who was approached by a young man...they knew each other but had not seen each other in a while....it started as an interesting conversation- "how old are you now?" this was him asking her....my ears perked right up-why not? obviously he was checking to make sure she was old enough to get into her pants....well, this is what i assumed...the conversation went on about where she has traveled to, where she wants to go to college, and what he has been up to (he goes to UAlbany)....she is a senior at Vestal...then the conversation turns to prop 8...my ears really perk up....she then explains to him that she is the president of the GSA...i am impressed...she continues about how prop 8 is wrong, etc...this all ends with her giving him her phone number....she will learn.

then two gay boys come sit at the low table near me....and i get hear their escapades from the night before...not anything i want to hear...i do my best to ignore, but i am like big brother over them....so, it's hard to ignore...but back to bob....so alex follows me into barnes and noble...you might remember alex from other blogs...he wanders around talking to himself...today was no different, except he came up to me and said, "where's bob? did you see where he went?" i looked at him, wide-eyed....i am stunned that he is talking directly to me...i am more stunned that he is looking for someone specific....then before i can say anything, bob comes up to him and walks him to a table...there was a bob...and bob seemed to be having a conversation with alex....i was impressed....later in the night alex's phone rang and he yelled, "MOM! I AM WITH MY FRIENDS. I AM NOT COMING HOME!" this is when i decided to leave....no one needs a mad alex...that might turn into a circus de ole...

hand dryer

this week when i was at school, i went into the bathroom before i left for home...always a good idea so i don't have to stop on scary 88 anywhere to pee....anyway, i do my business, wash my hands, and turn around for paper towels and i see this....





so, after my moment of confusion, i read the sign....you basically stick your hands in between the wall and this device...it turns on and drys them..quickly...it was awesome...and so environmentally friendly...it made my day

hmm...

this week in my life, things have been a bit better....on monday i received news that i won the presidency of the organization i am in....this was good news....my quiz in class that night, became open book, open notebook...this is very good news when you have not studied one bit....tuesday was also good, because there was no news....and now is wednesday....it was a quiet day at work, and we had a good safe zone training...

but let's go back a little...first, to monday night's class...so, i spent all day on sunday in bed...my young, active, social life caught up with me....i laid in my bed until 5pm...something i don't think i have done since college....one of the favorites was here too...she also stayed in bed that long....we got up, made dinner, played a few games and then went back to bed.....notice here- i did not study....i knew i had a quiz on monday night, but i did not study one bit...

i thought i would study at work- right, this has yet to work for me....so, i am not sure why i thought it would be different on this day....no studying at work...i get to class and read through my notes and figure, whatever....this is the same professor who decided on our papers to give us all full credit, no matter how we did on it...so, maybe the same luck would come to me on this night....he taught class first, quiz would be at the end...he handed out the quiz, explains it, and then announces, open book, open notebook....i breath, i think for the first time all night....

as for the win...as you know i had my thoughts about running for president...and i threw my name in the hat and amazingly my name was picked....i am still in shock about this...but first let me tell you about the phone call...

i am sitting in my office and my cell phone rings...one of my secretaries is in the office with me asking me some question about housing, that i probably don't need to answer, but i am answering anyway....i ignore the phone call...secretary leaves- i listen to the voicemail...it's the current past president saying she needs to talk to me about the election...she sounds very serious...i listen to her voicemail a few times (4 to be exact) to see if i can tell anything from her voice...i start to shake because i have decided it must be bad...after all, this past president is usually much more friendly with me...so, i have decided she has bad news and is nervous to talk to me too....

i call back...shaking like crazy....i mean, my whole body is nervous...it was crazy- i remember being this nervous when i started high school, but not really since....so, i call back...i have to tell the person (who i have decided was a student) three times my name before he got it right...then she gets on the phone...she starts by telling me she has unfortunate news for me....i feel the lump but remind myself that i will not cry until the call is done....then the words, "you will have to serve in the president cycle for the next three years." i was shocked...i am still shocked...

i have received a lot of emails since the announcement went out about my win...i appreciate all the warm, kind thoughts that have been sent to me...now, we will see how i do with all this...

woes of home ownership....

last night I decided to skip class....mostly because I had a pretty shitty day at work (but that's a different story)....i got home and heard rushing water in my house, but couldn't find it anywhere....so, I took jack out for his walk and noticed water coming out of the house under the tenant's kitchen window.

I key into her place, and there it is...water spraying out of the cabinet under the sink and about 2-3 inches of water....i get one of the valves shut off, call a friend to see if her dad can come help me, and the tenant....the dad can't come over and the tenant didn't answer. I call the plumber and the gas company. The tenant's gas has been off since last week, for nonpayment- awesome. the electricity, longer....I pay $300 to the gas company for them to change the name on the bill to mine and to come out on thursday to turn everything back on. the plumber explains to me that the circulating pump on the furnace runs on electricity, so the heat has not been working since the power was shut off....a new fact for me to know....he then explains all the possible things that could be wrong-panic sets in.... I pay the plumber $135 to come shut off a valve I could have shut off myself, if I knew where the damn thing was and for the slight panic he has given me....he explains how to heat up the apartment, so there is no more damage.....

I call home owner's insurance- they don't cover damage when there is no heat. i sent the tenant's lease to my brother in law for help....what are my rights? he has a lawyer review it and tell me what to do next....write a letter, highlighting all the places in the lease that show she is liable for the damages and repairs.....put together the total of the repairs- 855 plus carpet replacement....i won't see the money i am sure unless i take her to court....which i am pretty sure i will do....

the best part-i had to clean up the dirty apartment (see pictures) in order to get the carpet dried out....it was gross and no one should have to do that....i put all her crap into plastic bags, placed the bags in the bathroom and left them there....

here is part of the broken sink

the plumber was able to turn my water back on and fix the broken parts today....it only cost 135 and the damage was minimal....as he said to me, "you got lucky this time."

i love my house and owning it...and i love that i have a way to supplement the mortgage payment....but i need to find a way to weed out the idiots....

gratitude

today i was sitting in a waiting room, waiting....i picked up a magazine that on the cover said, "how being grateful can improve your life." so i decided to check it out...

the article asked four women to keep a gratitude journal for two months...everyday they had to record what they were grateful for that day...the women talked about how doing this improved their outlooks and attitudes...and how it made them see the smaller things too....i thought that it is a great idea....

so, today i am grateful for five guys hamburgers and fries....they made me smile after a tough appointment...

a curse

so, a few years ago one of my rd's had said to me, "i think newing is cursed." and he was dead serious....he had said it must be true because of all the crazy things that had happened to the people there, since he had been there....let me give you a recap....

my first year in newing, one of my rd's lost her mother....unexpectedly and sudden.....my second year in newing, i lost my kristen and then my grandfather....and i had two other rd's lose grandparents (including the one that was convinced we were cursed).....also, that year another staff member had lost a very close family friend in a business transaction gone bad....in the third year, not too much happened- or if i did, i have put it out of my mind...

i would like to take this all one step further....i beleive that binghamton is cursed...maybe just for me and my friends...but i think it is....i feel like i live in this crazy, strange world, where lots of loss happens and i don't understand any of it....

i say this because yesterday (monday) one of my very good friends here lost her sister.....her 33 year old sister....they have no idea what happened or why she is gone....but she is...i remember this nightmare from almost 3 years ago....the phone call, the confusion....the not understanding why it's happening....what the hell did we do? it's not like this is the first thing that has happened in three years...

another friend is in the process of losing a relationship....i just listen to it and can't understand why this would happen to her.....it doesn't make sense....why something that seemed good, turns on it's head....and she isn't the only one...in the last six months there has just been break up after break up....i do wonder what the hell is in the water....

and i know the list goes on....but really, why does anyone, who is healthy, lose their life at 27 or 33....the same cursed RD once said to me, "jen, grandparents are supposed to die. not the others." so, i ask, why the others then...what is it about? why do the rest of us have to suffer through these things....why are any of us asked to find the strength to get through....and when does one stop finding the strength?

i have this incredible group of friends who for our young ages have experienced too much death...parents, partners, siblings, friends....friends who have experienced illnesses with family...taking care of a young parent, cancer.....i just don't get it....and maybe we found each other for a reason....maybe we are supposed to be each other's strengths....but really, i think we need a break....

be a mom

on thursday morning i was with some co-workers heading toward a conference in purchase, ny....well on thursday we had a board meeting, friday was the conference....there are four of us from binghamton on the executive board and it's not often that we car pool....but this time we were....

anyway, in the car, i announced that i was approved for a 19 day vacation....then i said, i was going to vietnam....but one of the people in the car with us says to me, "you're going to be a mom?" we all laughed...because as most of you know, kids is not my thing....it's also not something that would happen easily for me, if i did want them....so, me announcing i am going to be a mom, is very funny in a lot of ways....

once it was explained to him that i was not going to be a mom, that in fact i was going to vietnam....so, i am going to vietnam for 19 days in october...i am going to be travelling with my parents.....it should be very interesting....my dad is a vet of the vietnam war, so i think it will be great to be with him there again....i am a little worried about him going back, as is my stepmother, but we will be there with him....so, i am hoping that will help alot....

if you want to check out my trip, check here....http://www.oattravel.com/gcc/general/default.aspx?oid=226223&linklocation=search....the inside vietnam trip....

so, i am not going to be a mom....just visiting vietnam