DNT EEC

On the drive out of York, we stopped to look at the Early Ed Center that was named for my dad and was his last big project. I could tell it was his work because it had trademark floor plan with a multi-purpose room in the middle, classrooms around the outside of the building, and the main office as soon as you walk in. It was clean, well-excecuted and had nice tile floors. I approve.


Classroom.


That's what he said.


Midgy dining hall.


In-door playground.


Outdoor playground that looks like an indoor playground.


Yes, I am.


Teacher's room.


Gillymonster.


All the little children.

buffalo lockjaw

I think some houses shoud get funerals. Favorite bedrooms deserve obituariaries. Certain kitchens have earned memorials. Instead we just walk away from the wrecks like amnesiacs.

This is the last book I read from the York library.

A+

library card

I just read my first book from the York library. It seems a shame that I finally got a library card when the end of my York days is in sight. But whatever, I read:

It was on the New Books shelf and I didn't really feel like searching for a book. The description made it seem like Closer [movie/play, not TV show or something], but it was like the Jennifer Weiner version of Closer. I didn't dislike it while I was reading it, but, afterwards, it seemed to not be worth the time.
D

not a romance for the road

After 6 years of trying, I finally got to see Dar Williams. I went with Jenny to see her at the Strand in York a week or two ago. The songs I remember from her set list:

1. Are You Out There?: I used to have this song on a mix tape and I was used to hearing an RX Bandits song afterwards. This was one I have probably heard a thousand times, so I might have cried.
2. Calling the Moon: She played this early on and it gave me a good feeling for the rest of the set. This song reminds me of a weekend in Maine and it was great & pretty.
3. After All: Weird people sitting near us aggressively requested this, so she played it.
4. Road Buddy: The guy next to me requested it and that made me like it. This song reminds me of driving in New England with Gigl when she was a baby.
5. Fly Away: About becoming a parent. So pretty and sad and LONG. Jenny said it would be a pretty song for a baptism.
6. Mercy of the Fallen
7. The Babysitter's Here
8. Spring Street: I forgot how much I loved this song.
9. Beauty of the Rain
10. You're Aging Well: This is one of my all time and initial favorites, and I was excited for Jenny to hear it because it seems her flavor.
11. If I Wrote You: I cried.
12. What Do You Hear in These Sounds?: A song about therapy that isn't depressing or weird is a pretty baller feat

beginning of the end

Another season of Lost starts, another new job in York starts. Maybe this one will last longer than the training takes, unlike all the other excellent employment opportunities I have found in York. I am making coffee at Penn State York in a bistro next to the Pullo Center. I might be making coffee for the Dog Whisperer on Feb. 27. No lie, and I am sure Mr. Milan will be very interested in hearing about the Scariest Tiny Dog in York County.

opening squared

The Job


The Play

smells like snow

So today was the first snow of the season. The last time it snowed was the night my dad died. Now I hate snow.

mr. wally lamb

I have read a lot of books lately, most of them weren't worth mentioning. But every rule has an exception, and I have found mine. In high school, I read two books by Wally Lamb: I Know This Much Is True and She's Come Undone (the second I stole from a library, I'm sorry to say, but I had to). Both were books I wanted to read when I couldn't, like an addict. Oprah loved them too.
So, he became overwhelmed by the success of his books piggy-backing on each other and didn't publish one for awhile. I looked for a new book here and there, but figured it was a lost cause after a few years.
UNTIL I found The Hour I First Believed at my favorite York used-book store. I bought it, gobbled up all 735 pages, and reaffirmed my literary crush. I can safely say that Wally Lamb is the greatest fiction writer I have ever encountered, and I've been friendly with a lot of them. The man included an appendix with playlist to recount his inspiration. I can't say enough.

my, what an angry jury you have.

Tonight was the read-through for my second play in York. I was only planning to be here a month, but at least I have been given the opportunity to act in 2 plays. Before Anne of Avonlea, I hadn't auditioned in 5 years (thank you, Gordon College). This one is called 12 Angry Jurors and is at the York Little Theatre. I am Number 2 because first is the worst and second is the best. The theatre has good vibes, the show has a contemporary setting, the cast seems nice & talented, the space is in the round, and I am the closest thing to a child in the cast. All these things make me think it will be a good experience.

The downside: there is a performance on the night of the Lost Season 6 premiere.

Theatre v. Lost = the greatest battle for my heart ever.

UNDEFEATED

York had a Small Dogs Expo with a costume contest. There were four awards: Most Original, Scariest, Prettiest, and Funniest.

Gigl was dressed as the Hamburglar/Hamgiggler and won Scariest, and Holly recycled the turkey costume and won Funniest.

Moral of the story: I am the pug pagaent mom queen of Halloween.

all these things

that I've found in cleaning out Grey Gardens or in grosso York.


Softballs that my dad kept from some of his best games. He didn't realize at the time that he was saving one for Jeff, Jenny, and me to hold onto.


baby Beatle!


this is what people eat for dinner in York


This is one of the three thousand boxes of my dad's writings that I have organized (and will later turn into the most awesome book(s) ever), on computer paper that is folded in half. I think I know now where I got my hypergraphic tendencies. The irony is that he pulled out his horoscope for something regarding a sermon and he was the sign of Cancer.


From the envelope from the last Valentine card my dad gave me. It's actually from the second to last Valentine's he was alive, but the last one in his real handwriting. I love.

my thoughts

1. I wish I could play the violin.

2. It annoys me that people are saying Bruno won't be funny because I think the general public is jealous of Sasha's crazy great humor skills, which are impeccable in my not humble opinion.

3. Today was our first open house and 9 couples went through, one of whom was supposedly very interested. 2 other couples went through last week. I don't think I have ever wanted anything as much as I want this house sold and to be done with York. The day this house sells will most likely trump my wedding day.

4. The Office is my favorite show ever besides Lost.

5. Today I went to the dog park and there was 1 other fugly pug, 3 jugs (jack russell/pug), 5 bugs (beagle/pugs, which I thought were called puggles but whatever), and a bulldog. I don't know why people get these imitation pugs when obviously all they want is a Gigl of their own.

where the sidewalk ends

BUY MY HOUSE NOW

memorial day night

the shape of things to come

I am trying to figure out where I am supposed to live now. York seemed like the best option, but the island seems to be saying not so much anymore. It would be too hard to return to New York right now (let's blame the economy for all our problems). So it's looking like I'll be going to Colorado.

On an afternoon in the spring of 2004, my dad and I asked a fortune cookie if I should go to Massachusetts. The cookie said:

You have been offered the opportunity of a lifetime.
Say yes.

On an afternoon in the spring of 2009, my mom and I asked a fortune cookie if we should go to Colorado. The cookie said:

Idleness is the holiday of fools.

window's shadow

"The prayer flags are always the last to go."
Mama Bear

2 weeks

My dad passed away two weeks ago today and things are getting harder. Now everyone has gone back home, the service is over, and its just me & my mom back to the way things were before, except so surreal and sad. It feels like the ice is beginning to thaw.

saturday in york

rachel gets married
huge disappointment. i have no idea why anyone thought anne hathaway's acting was anything but obvious and the script was anything a notch higher than a lifetime movie. and i was really expecting this movie to be the one that makes me question my opinion on her. i stopped paying attention towards the end and didn't even notice when the credits began to roll.

F

nick & nora's infinite playlist

I have a love/hate relationship with main girl but this created more love than hate. With michael cera, its been a consistent level of decent appreciation, and that has been maintained. The script was well-written; I feel like writing the almost-post high-school version of 200 cigarettes meets Adventures in Babysitting couldn't have been easy to do and completely avoid WB-style humor. I found certain jokes both funny and personally relavent, which means whoever the screenwriter was, he was at least somewhat in touch with the reality of his setting. Overall, I'm more inclined to say that my relationship with the playlist is more love than hate.

A-

newspaper

this doesn't feel real yet
front page

carrots

Tonight was opening night of Anne of Avonlea. I was more nervous than I expected. My mom came, and it was sad for everyone that she had to come alone. Some of the storylines hit home because there are such creepy parallels to my real life situation, but I'm a tough little cookie. There is no happier feeling in this world than taking off a wig at the end of a night. Or receiving flowers in my favorite color scheme all the way from Colorado.


care of my sweet little Dora

ANNE @ dreamwrights