if you watch game of thrones, let us have a moment of excitement about the season 3 premiere tonight! let us have an additional moment of excitement that for the first time in my life i have HBO (for free - thank you, teachers college!) and can watch it live. yesssss.
if you DON'T watch game of thrones i hope you might still appreciate the show's GORGEOUS intro. the time and energy that went into it are totally appreciated by me.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
a photo a day
Doughnuts at 1:45am! I love Charleston! I had one with real raspberry glaze (in the middle of the picture). Amazing.
Best quote from a drunk girl who was in the doughnut shop while we were there: "doughnuts make me doughnut!" No, this doesn't make any sense. And yes, I proceeded to repeat this 100 times in a row.
Best quote from a drunk girl who was in the doughnut shop while we were there: "doughnuts make me doughnut!" No, this doesn't make any sense. And yes, I proceeded to repeat this 100 times in a row.
Friday, March 29, 2013
i'm heading to charleston for the weekend to visit two friends who i worked with in oxford this summer. our plan:
eat
drink
watch basketball
get pedicures
go to the beach, if only to dip our toes in the water
repeat
it's going to be in the 60s there, and i can't wait to get away from this dumb 40s-and-grey weather and relax with friends! bring it on, spring. happy easter weekend, everyone!
eat
drink
watch basketball
get pedicures
go to the beach, if only to dip our toes in the water
repeat
it's going to be in the 60s there, and i can't wait to get away from this dumb 40s-and-grey weather and relax with friends! bring it on, spring. happy easter weekend, everyone!
Thursday, March 28, 2013
a photo a day
This afternoon I went on a Brooklyn Brewery tour and beer tasting with friends from my grad school program. So fun!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
what i'm listening to right now
"hold on to what you believe," by mumford & sons:
my favorite irish bar in atlanta played (plays?) mumford & sons albums on repeat. i love that.
my favorite irish bar in atlanta played (plays?) mumford & sons albums on repeat. i love that.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
a photo a day
after hours upon hours of basketball watching yesterday, i needed to get out of my building and get some exercise today. it is hard for me to get motivated to go outside when it's so cold, but i managed to take a chilly (39 degrees) walk through riverside park this afternoon. it's still stark and winter-like...
...but with tiny patches of spring emerging!
i feel much better after some exercise. now, back to basketball!
...but with tiny patches of spring emerging!
i feel much better after some exercise. now, back to basketball!
“The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas. Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion, reason and courage in a personal commitment to [their] ideals.”
--Robert F. Kennedy
--Robert F. Kennedy
Thursday, March 21, 2013
a duke legend, chemistry teacher dr. bonk, died this week. he was my chemistry teacher my freshman year at duke in 2001 (the last year he taught the course)...and he was my dad's chemistry teacher at duke in 1974. yes, we really did refer to it as "bonkistry," and i heard people tell both the "pie in the face" and the "which tire?" story.
the picture in the article is exactly as i remember him, and he impressed me every day (especially now that i am a teacher!) because he taught entirely from memory - no notes. i guess when you've been doing it for 40 years that is possible, but no less amazing.
it makes me sad when people die without a spouse or children, but i also know how special duke must have been to him and that makes me happy. and he was, certainly, very special to duke.
the picture in the article is exactly as i remember him, and he impressed me every day (especially now that i am a teacher!) because he taught entirely from memory - no notes. i guess when you've been doing it for 40 years that is possible, but no less amazing.
it makes me sad when people die without a spouse or children, but i also know how special duke must have been to him and that makes me happy. and he was, certainly, very special to duke.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
great article: living with less. it speaks to my experience traveling to england the past couple summers with just a small suitcase, and to this year of living in 109 square feet. can you live with very little? YES. is it fun to live with more? also yes. i can't wait to have a real apartment again...
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
a photo a day
11:45pm, waiting for a train. This dude is commuting home with broccoli in hand - in the middle of the night? The things one sees...
what i'm listening to right now
"soldier," by ingrid michaelson:
she's got such a beautiful voice, and the beat of this one makes me want to dance around my little dorm room.
she's got such a beautiful voice, and the beat of this one makes me want to dance around my little dorm room.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
another photo today
Life is good when you can tell your TiVo to record something from your phone so it's waiting for you when you get home. Technology, I enjoy you!
a photo a day
It's spring in DC, even if it isn't yet spring in New York. I love the daffodils, announcing the change of the season! Fingers crossed that this comes to New York soon!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
i was in a funk, but red wine and the trains game with dominique and justin totally pulled me out of it! in other positive news, i only have one class standing between me and spring break, a spring break that will include a weekend trip to DC to visit fabulous friends, other claire coming into town, the first official day of spring, and an attempt to get $30 tickets to book of mormon (fingers crossed that no one wants to see it on wednesday). and sleeping in as much as i want. yippee!
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
a photo a day
Aww yeah: me + 2 empty seats on my flight back from Seattle = lying down and sleeping the whole way. Probably less than 4 hours of sleep (since it was only a 5 hour flight), but it was something! Thank you, US Air, for not having a popular enough flight to attract more customers.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Something I literally said out loud this afternoon while driving around gorgeous Washington: "this town has a Trader Joe's? Okay, I could totally move here!"
Red eye flight back to the east coast? That might dull the shine, but not by much...
(You know you love my tantalizing posts where I don't quite provide enough information to tell you anything. When there is news, I will share it, don't you worry! Until then, I can't say too much for fear of jinxing it...)
Red eye flight back to the east coast? That might dull the shine, but not by much...
(You know you love my tantalizing posts where I don't quite provide enough information to tell you anything. When there is news, I will share it, don't you worry! Until then, I can't say too much for fear of jinxing it...)
Sunday, March 10, 2013
a photo from yesterday
jacob's pickles is where i had brunch yesterday: literally the best pickle i've ever had (salty, a little sweet, so crunchy), with pickled green beans and half a pickled egg in a yummy bloody mary. (meat eaters: your version of the bloody mary has bacon on it. get excited.) awesome biscuits. great veggie omelet. the background music was jackson five and al green and johnny cash; suffice it to say i was dancing a little in my seat. i have a new favorite brunch place, people, and i can't WAIT to go back!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
a photo a day
It feels like all of New York is out in the streets today because - what's that?! - it's the sun!
I'm soaking up some vitamin D while I wait for friends to meet me for brunch. The rest of the day might be spent in the library, but this part should be really fantastic! And then Duke-Carolina tonight and a chance to share the regular season title. Go Devils!
I'm soaking up some vitamin D while I wait for friends to meet me for brunch. The rest of the day might be spent in the library, but this part should be really fantastic! And then Duke-Carolina tonight and a chance to share the regular season title. Go Devils!
Friday, March 8, 2013
how to get ready for an on campus interview, by miss claire
job-hunting has moved into phase 2: a couple schools liked me enough after our phone or skype interview to invite me to campus!
(i did not walk you through how to survive a skype interview, but it involves skyping with your sister so she can make sure the connection works, moving around furniture to make it look like you don't live in a 109 square foot dorm room, turning on some lamps and turning others off to get the correct lighting, putting on a nice shirt and sweater but wearing yoga pants on the bottom, and remembering to smile a lot. about half the schools i interviewed with did skype interviews instead of phone interviews.)
as soon as they invite you to campus: be really excited and text your sister and willis in all caps to let them know. feel awkward about who you can tell and not make it sound like you are bragging. you aren't bragging - you are being excited. fine line, though.
soon thereafter: back and forth emailing with the school about timing - what day you will interview, when you will arrive and leave, etc. buy plane ticket and reserve rental car. private school code says that schools pay for your plane ticket, rental car, and hotel room, but sometimes you have to pay in advance and get reimbursed.
5 days before: spend far too much time looking at this document that details average salaries for different administrative positions in independent schools. since this would be your first administrative role, you want to get a sense of what you could be offered.
4 days before: try on a million combinations of the clothing you own to find the perfect outfit for the interview and (in this case) dinner with the principal and a couple faculty members the night before your interview. text photos of potential outfits to your sister for her feedback. this is why you have a sister. thanks, mom and dad.
3 days before: force some of your friends who are teachers to help you brainstorm potential questions you could be asked when you interview.
2 days before: brainstorm good answers for these questions.
1 day before: start to freak out. travel to city where interview will take place. explore city, find hotel, enjoy sleeping in a bed almost as big as your dorm room.
the day of: be as awesome as possible. end up exhausted. force your sister and jenny to listen to extended analysis of every detail of the day. make it home. take cab back to your dorm because, man, you deserve it after that day.
every minute thereafter: wonder/worry about whether they will offer you the job. think about what you will say if they do.
(i did not walk you through how to survive a skype interview, but it involves skyping with your sister so she can make sure the connection works, moving around furniture to make it look like you don't live in a 109 square foot dorm room, turning on some lamps and turning others off to get the correct lighting, putting on a nice shirt and sweater but wearing yoga pants on the bottom, and remembering to smile a lot. about half the schools i interviewed with did skype interviews instead of phone interviews.)
as soon as they invite you to campus: be really excited and text your sister and willis in all caps to let them know. feel awkward about who you can tell and not make it sound like you are bragging. you aren't bragging - you are being excited. fine line, though.
soon thereafter: back and forth emailing with the school about timing - what day you will interview, when you will arrive and leave, etc. buy plane ticket and reserve rental car. private school code says that schools pay for your plane ticket, rental car, and hotel room, but sometimes you have to pay in advance and get reimbursed.
5 days before: spend far too much time looking at this document that details average salaries for different administrative positions in independent schools. since this would be your first administrative role, you want to get a sense of what you could be offered.
4 days before: try on a million combinations of the clothing you own to find the perfect outfit for the interview and (in this case) dinner with the principal and a couple faculty members the night before your interview. text photos of potential outfits to your sister for her feedback. this is why you have a sister. thanks, mom and dad.
3 days before: force some of your friends who are teachers to help you brainstorm potential questions you could be asked when you interview.
2 days before: brainstorm good answers for these questions.
1 day before: start to freak out. travel to city where interview will take place. explore city, find hotel, enjoy sleeping in a bed almost as big as your dorm room.
the day of: be as awesome as possible. end up exhausted. force your sister and jenny to listen to extended analysis of every detail of the day. make it home. take cab back to your dorm because, man, you deserve it after that day.
every minute thereafter: wonder/worry about whether they will offer you the job. think about what you will say if they do.
a photo a day
today new york let me know who's boss. "you went to texas and it was 70 degrees and you thought spring was coming? silly girl! here is some snow to punish you for your optimism."
Thursday, March 7, 2013
the high line
on monday my college friend rachel was in town and we went for a walk on the high line, which is a park in new york city that is on an old elevated railroad line. it was really cool! a new perspective on that part of the city, since you're not at street level but a couple stories up. in this photo you can see the old railroad line on your left with the rest of the walkway on your right. in some areas they've built the pathway right on the train lines, and in others (like here) you walk to the side of them...maybe to show you what it used to look like? you can also see, from this photo, how immersed you are in the city. in places you could reach out and almost touch an apartment building.
a particularly pretty graffiti-like mural off the high line:
at one point we could see the statue of liberty in the distance!
the website has a lot more (and better) photos...and i'm sure it's even prettier in the spring and summer, as they've planted lots of trees and flowers on the high line that were sad and barren this week. i will definitely be going back once the weather is nicer!
a particularly pretty graffiti-like mural off the high line:
at one point we could see the statue of liberty in the distance!
the website has a lot more (and better) photos...and i'm sure it's even prettier in the spring and summer, as they've planted lots of trees and flowers on the high line that were sad and barren this week. i will definitely be going back once the weather is nicer!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
People! I am having lunch on the patio of a restaurant in Houston, where it is 70 degrees and sunny. I am about to have a big diet coke and veggie enchiladas with guacamole. I am a new woman.
Additionally, I drove on the scary Houston highway and survived. I haven't lost my Atlanta driving skills!
I did have to wake up at 4:45am for the pleasure of doing this, so don't get too jealous...
Additionally, I drove on the scary Houston highway and survived. I haven't lost my Atlanta driving skills!
I did have to wake up at 4:45am for the pleasure of doing this, so don't get too jealous...
Monday, March 4, 2013
a lot of this feels so so true, and i've only lived in new york for 6 months: here is everything i learned in new york city (a little bit not safe for work).
one of my favorite parts:
Summarizing What I Learned in New York Is Impossible
I learned how to live in 200 square feet of space. I learned not to blink at loud noises. I learned what pierogies were, what chicken biryana is, what an egg cream and tagliatelle and knishes and rice balls and fish cakes should taste like....I did not learn how to walk and text at the same time, because if I had, maybe I wouldn’t have dropped and cracked my iPhone (twice). I learned that cats can have supernatural powers of comfort, and that to give someone your full and undivided attention is one of the greatest gifts you can offer. I learned to avoid the subway at rush hour. I learned to tip cabbies and servers well. If you see something, say something. Buckle up. Stand clear of the closing doors.
one of my favorite parts:
Summarizing What I Learned in New York Is Impossible
I learned how to live in 200 square feet of space. I learned not to blink at loud noises. I learned what pierogies were, what chicken biryana is, what an egg cream and tagliatelle and knishes and rice balls and fish cakes should taste like....I did not learn how to walk and text at the same time, because if I had, maybe I wouldn’t have dropped and cracked my iPhone (twice). I learned that cats can have supernatural powers of comfort, and that to give someone your full and undivided attention is one of the greatest gifts you can offer. I learned to avoid the subway at rush hour. I learned to tip cabbies and servers well. If you see something, say something. Buckle up. Stand clear of the closing doors.
a photo a day
Lunch at Chelsea Market and walking on the High Line with Rachie today! And the sun is out - yippee!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
february: 4 & 5
the age of miracles, by karen thompson walker (i loved this book! i read it because it was my book club assignment for the month, and i'm so glad we picked it. the premise: the earth's rotation starts slowing down, making each day a little longer than the last. people cope differently to these changes. it's told through the point of view of a 7th grade girl, which adds an interesting element - she's growing up as the world is becoming more and more uncertain, and being a middle schooler is already pretty uncertain. i would recommend this one. it would be a perfect spring break read - it moves very quickly.)
to kill a mockingbird, by harper lee (i re-read this for one of my classes - the class is called "words matter," and it's about writing and speaking as a school leader. our professor wanted us to look at atticus as an example of an important leader, and use his words to reflect on our own practice of leadership. [we say things like this in grad school: "practice of leadership." it doesn't even sound weird to me any more. nerd alert.] what a wonderful book, and i loved the opportunity to read it again. aaaaand i got a little teary when atticus leaves the courtroom after the trial, and scout is urged to stand while her father passes by. ugh. so good.)
to kill a mockingbird, by harper lee (i re-read this for one of my classes - the class is called "words matter," and it's about writing and speaking as a school leader. our professor wanted us to look at atticus as an example of an important leader, and use his words to reflect on our own practice of leadership. [we say things like this in grad school: "practice of leadership." it doesn't even sound weird to me any more. nerd alert.] what a wonderful book, and i loved the opportunity to read it again. aaaaand i got a little teary when atticus leaves the courtroom after the trial, and scout is urged to stand while her father passes by. ugh. so good.)
a screenshot a day
i filed my taxes today (with the help of turbotax - how do people do this on their own?!).
thank you, congress, for my $2,000 for being a full time student! yippee!
Friday, March 1, 2013
a photo a day
i'm in philadelphia for a hiring conference and have discovered the reading terminal market, an indoor collection of little restaurants, bakeries, markets...anything you want to eat is probably sold there. it's incredible. i had a fresh mozzarella sandwich for lunch yesterday, a grilled veggie burrito for lunch today, and chocolate truffles for dessert both days. yum!
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