And I thought of Erin...

Haha- I was just watching a rerun of the Gilmore Girls, and the following conversation occurred:

Rory: I didn't mean that you were my boyfriend.
Dean: OK.
Rory: I don't think you're my boyfriend.
Rory: Dean...
Dean: What?
Rory: Are you my boyfriend?
Dean: In the broadest sense of the word way?
Rory: No, in the real, 'Hi, this is Dean, my boyfriend' kind of way.
Dean: Well, I am if you want me to be.
...
Rory: I'm feeling pretty good about this decision.

I thought of Erin.

Bienvenidos a Miami!

It's official folks! We are moving to Miami in about 2 weeks...CRAZY EXCITED!

OK, here's the whole story: Mik heard from a friend, Tom, who used to work with him in Baltimore. Tom is an art director at an agency called Crispin. Crispin is a creative's wet dream, and Tom wanted Mik to send his portfolio because they had an opening.

So Mik sent his portfolio, and (fast forward to a couple weeks later) went for an interview. Long story short, Mik's interview went well, he loved what he saw at Crispin and when they offered him the job, he took it!

I'm excited, because it's the East Coast (albeit a humid, beachy East Coast), it'll be easier for you all to visit, and I think Miami sounds like fun!

So there ya go- Mik gets a fantastic job, and I get to live at the beach!

PS This photo is not from the other night, but Ryan sent it to me and I thought it was cute!

Hmmm...how far can away can we go?

Hello Ladies! It was soooo good to see you in Bethesda last Friday! (I had my camera in my purse, but totally forgot about it...booo!)

Mik's interview went really well, but we're still waiting to find out. Very exciting! I have an interview tomorrow, just in case we end up staying in Seattle. It's funny, I think that we've lived here just long enough that I'll miss it a little (the green, all the flowers) but not so long that it'll be wrenching to leave like it was at home.

We still haven't found out which hub the job would be at (Miami or Boulder) but I think I would be most excited to be back on the East Coast! We could go to Key Marathon whenever we wanted! Sweet.

Love you guys.

Random vacation days

So it was test week this week at my schools. This means I don't have any classes and have nothing to do really except stare out my window and wish I was outside. I decided to take 1 vacation day to go hiking and another 3 hours vacation the next day to go hiking some more. a 6am start would leave me with plenty of time to get back to school after hiking. Anyways, my friend Al and I went with a Japanese friend the first day and had a great time. As we slipped and slid down the snowy mountain top, we formulated plans and improvements for our next days hike that would similarly end in a snow slide. Heres what we did. [Video] To top it off, I never made it to school yesterday and then today, I went in a bit late (told them I wasn't feeling so well), corrected some tests and did some worksheets. They all thought I was feverish because I was sunburned, and I kept trying to correct them and tell them I had a sunburn, but then I aquiesced to the fever idea and they made me go home early!!! wohoo!!! So now I'm about to take a nap and go for a run (and I'm not being indecisive Erica, I'm actually going to do both of these things:))....yay Japan! Life is good.



I finally had to cut my jeans because the whole in them got too big....I'm wearing the bottoms of them in this picture and will be wearing the shirt and other stuff to the 80s party next weekend.


PS. Sorry guys, I probably should have put this post in my blog, but was really excited to tell all of you because I miss you all and want to tempt you to visit me by showing you how much fun it can be!

So...

Matt's new band is playing their very first gig July 17 at the red and the black on H St (across from the Rock and Roll hotel, Liz and Nicky we went there before the bird and the bee concert, drank Akita beer, and I photographed Nicky on le toilette... not the same night as the photos Liz posted (!) ), so can we leave from DC for (likely) Ithaca that night late night (channeling treacherous rainy trip of '06)? It would be awesome if you (Lizzie, MCS and Becca who will be comeing from DCish/MD/VA?) wanted to come to the concert first then we could break out and head north (unless they're playing super late or something, in which case I already told Matt that I might not make it)

When do we need to arrive for festival purposes?

Also thank you for Birthday cards and greetings! I love the candle that Abby sent and the wick's card was awesome (who are those people in the tiny picture?)

Yay, Ithaca!

Becca--the link to the grassroots website is where all the info is. I don't know what else you are wondering about?
All--Yes, camping on the festival grounds is sold out, but there are many other places nearby where we can definitely camp. This festival is like, the biggest thing that happens in Ithaca all year. They've been talking about it on the radio for weeks. So it's actually in Trumansburg, which is like 12 miles NW of Ithaca, and where my aunt and uncle live. They have a bunch of yard room/land where we could camp. Maybe they'll even be out of town and will offer us their house! Ha, probably not, but they live like, 2-3 miles from the festival grounds. Um... lemme figure out some linkages... okay, well there is no address that I can find for the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, but it's about 3 miles between the festival and the Penniman's land.
Also, if ya'll come up here, we can play "beach" by going to the lake and saying, "Yay! We're at the beach!"
Thanks for the stealth photo of Victor the Innkeeper! If not an innkeeper, what is non-Victor's profession?
Well, gotta get off the internet... Andrew needs to clean his room and gets too distracted when I'm here, it seems.
Nicky--where and when are you going to have the wedding?? Wow, that's so exciting. Becca--got your letter today! No, yesterday. Oops. Thanks!

First post!

Hey folks!

This'd be the first time I've posted here to talk to you guys.  I hadn't even checked the blog in about two weeks, largely due to a crippling forgetfulness.  Glad to hear you guys seem to be doing well, and I'm really excited about the imminent Becca-ness.  Where ever you guys decide on, I'll be totally in.  I have to be back down in Maryland on the 20th for the conference I'm going to (I leave in the morning on the 21st to go to Utah for two weeks) but I can be wherever we're at until then.

So... Life for me has been really weird.  I've been bouncing around Ithaca a lot, doing some work, reading some books, etc. - but mostly, hanging out with good friends and drinking has been the order of just about every day for a few weeks.  That's mostly 'cause a lot of them are leaving Ithaca for good in under a week though, I guess, so it's not so bad.

I was kinda seeing this guy for a few weeks, but Friday he broke it off with me in kind of a bizarre way ("I'm obviously attracted to you, but I'm looking for something a little more long term, and I just don't feel romantically about you.")  Tough but fair... And a little disappointing.  This puts me at 0 for 6 of the last guys I've liked...  It hasn't really been that bad, but since he's really close with my group of friends too, I had to hang out with him all night the next three nights in a row with everybody and keep it all chill.  Boo to boys.  Or I guess, yay to some boys. :)

Other than that, life is good.  I'm back in Maryland for a few days starting Wednesday (flying out either Friday night or Saturday morning, I don't know, down to Orlando for a week with my brother and sister and their friends!)  If you guys have any time, we should hang out.

Talk to y'all later!

~Gwyn

Good morning vietnam.

So the first song of the day on the pod is kind of a big deal for me. It sets the mood. Establishes a vibe. Some mornings, I give it a lot of thought. I consider the array of melodies and styles available to me, and mull them over my palate considering the bouquet that each might impart to my day. Yesterday was Tom Petty’s Wildflowers and I thought of you Abby.

Today I skipped the mulling decided to shoot from the hip. On a whim, I chose Prince’s Raspberry Beret.

It’s been good so far.

Have a great day ladies. I’m pumped to see Nicky on Friday. Cystic fibrosis doesn’t stand a chance.

Sr. Victorious Inkeeperkius

It is he.

Get this- dude shared with us last night that he LOVES Gilmore Girls.

No, in reality I think he's groovy. Nobody's good enough for the last remaining vestal virgin MCS, but this guy will do. ;-)

Yay for Erin learning how to post! (P.S. How did the Victor the Inkeeper thing start? Also, now that we officially know about him, can we see Erica's super-subtle phone picture of him?)

Here are my inspiration pics for the wedding so far, just some colors and stuff I'm trying to keep in mind. Basically a fun, relaxed celebration is what we're going for :) I bet it's gonna change between now and then, haha.



Oh, and Liz- I think you have missed your calling as a journalistic photographer.
Also, and completely unrelated-ly, how much do you want this:
TreePee

Where is Nicky's Wedding board? How can I see it?
And I'm sad his name is not Victor. But Im glad he is a proper geek for you Erin :). My votes pretty much correspond with Lizzie's and now i have to go because a Japanese teacher just brought in some really nice fresh herbs to make tea with. Yay tea!!!!

well.  thanks for making me feel missed.  i have thought of you all often - mainly, cuz erica keeps mocking and/or throwing things at me bc i couldn't figure out how to work a blog - but also cuz i'm really excited to see becca, cuz nicky's wedding board looks awesome, cuz abby and gwyn are coming to visit...well, the reasons are manyfold.  

re: festivals/camping/possible orgies for becca's imminent visit.  i'm cool with whatever, whenever, wherever... as long as it's with you guys (awww ;)).  although, camping/music festivals in the woods get my vote every time.  with a bonfire.  we can burn a couch.

re: victor the innkeeper.  none of those words have anything to do with the person i'm actually dating (and yes, that's weird, i know.  me.  dating.  the universe is slightly out of alignment).  his name is nick.  and he is in no way an innkeeper (although, admittedly, that would be pretty cool).  but he is really nice (and a huge nerd - gwyn, he plays go :)), and i like him.

and yes, i learned how to do this, so i'll try to post more often.  i miss you guys - and hope all is going well.

a note from becca z:

Is Oscar the Grouch Jewish? 

That is all. 

To make up for the others

Ooh, so gmail doesn't send you an email every time someone posts... I was lazy/ thought I didn't have to check so I haven't read any of this since I last posted.

You are welcome for the classy photos. They were in the first folder I opened from my flash drive. If anyone does not want them up, you may use some of your electoral votes toward deleting this post.

I would like to place 3 votes in camping in Assategue because I love that place. Unfortunately, you cannot bring dogs. Therefore, 3 votes will also go to Ithaca and any fun that is available there. Two votes go to OBX, and the remaining 2 go to Smokey Mountains in NC. Both of those places would be great camping locations as well. I have spread my votes thinly. I am open to many destinations.

Festivals Galore!!!

Hey ladees! got your emails\posts...
So, I think that you are talking about the festival I was looking at yesterday Abby, it looks neat, but I think the camping may be sold out???? I would be up for going to that. Is it a well known festival around Ithaca? Also, Trevor mentioned that he would take me to Ithaca sometime when he went up to see his girlfriend so if we cant make it up to Ithaca and end up doing something else then there is a small possibility that I could come up for a day or 2 another time. As for the mountains in North Carolina...it sounds cool Erica! Personally, I would be more inclined to go to the beach simply because I live in mountain country and very rarely get to see beach. However, mountain country Japan is nothing like back country Appalachia and I have been jonesin for some good old foot-stompin blue grass tunes. And lord knows I:m especially craving some good delicious microbrew\homebrew\anything but japanese brewed beer. God Bless America and its beers and bluegrass! So, in conclusion: nothing has been decided except the dates and the people present. Thus accordingly, we will have a rockin, spank-tastic time and I:m happy with whatever we do. Abby, do you have more info on the festival and camping? that may help our decision....
Also, Erica, is Matt coming too? (I would definately like to see him, but its cool if its just a girls thing too). And, is Stone Harbor actually an option? So, Count my vote as undecided until we learn more about the festival and stuff. I think we should all go to a rainbow festival one year...too bad this year its in Wyoming! Did you know they have a pillow fighting championship somewhere in California? Erin--LEARN HOW TO POST WOMAN!!!! I want to hear about Victor the Innkeeper!!!!!!

Grassroots Music Festival?

Okay, so getting to spend time with you guys is number one. BUT, there is this awesome festival that happens here every year--sort of a small festival, with a lot of local performers, and lots and lots of dancing music. NOT a lot of cracked out drug dealers, which is really really nice. Check this out:

http://www.grassrootsfest.org/festival/

It just so happens to be the 17th-20th! They just announced the line up for this year's festival, so until this week I didn't realize it was going to be those exact dates. If we do this, it can be like A) Allgood, as it is a music festival, B) visiting Ithaca, as you will be in Ithaca, um, visiting, and C) camping, since that's what we can do during the festival! Let me know what you think. Again, my top priority is to be with you guys, so if other people don't like this idea I won't be too attached to it, but yeah, Grassroots with YOU (ladies and gents and especially becca) gets my vote. Actually, say we each get 10 electoral votes. Grassroots gets 9 of mine, and Stone Harbor gets 1. :)

Job Update 2

So...not so much with the last job interview. At least, that's what I'm assuming from the relative silence from the company. Booo. Oh well, on to the next one. Or two. Or three...

Haha.

On a side note, I had an interesting day at the park the other day. There I was, reading a book in the grass, quietly minding my own business. All of sudden I felt like a cloud of mosquitoes had descended upon my ass. I was sitting on an ant hill, and most of them had found their way into my pants. Classic! There is now a lovely perfect circle of ant anger tattooed on my butt. I am SO HOT!

MCS news!

Whats this I hear about McSpadden dating! Please post pictures soon! Victor the inkeeper...lol.
And Nicky, good luck on the job interview if you haven:t had it already?!
All the teachers left me in the teachers room alone and I have a sudden urge to do the finger dance around the room either while listening to my ipod or while silently listening to the soundtrack playing in my head. or maybe in sync with the copier that endlessly copies papers. my life is boring. more about McSpadden's boyfriend! haha.

YES

Erin is dating someone.  I sneakily took a picture of him that I was going to post on here, but it seemed a little invasive...

So ERIN dear lord woman will you please initiate this and tell these girls about Victor the Innkeeper!?!?

and Nicky have you heard about the job???  We're keeping your fingers crossed.

But, if you're still unemployed I need a favor.... I'll call you about this later but Matt is looking for a logo of a group of killer balloons for his band the Killer Balloons.  Do you have any ideas?  Like a balloon with fangs.  I told him that I'd ask you about it.  It can be really simple just like something for a poster.

I miss you!  And PS I am seriously am into the blue dredlocks.

I LOVE YOU!

Severe Lack of Gossip from DC

Ahem- so Erin, date...SPILL!

i finally rock

yay! i figured it out. it only took, like, a week and a half. unfortunately, i don't really have time to write a lot, but i will later.

love you guys
peace,
~mcs

Job interview...UPDATE

OK girls, I have an interview for a pretty good position on Wednesday this week. It is in advertising, but it's freelance, which for an account executive is really rare and means you actually get paid for your overtime. I'm gonna go to the mall later and I'll post outfits later today. (Mik is no help in the outfit-choosing arena!) Help!!

OK- went to the store, tried things on, no luck. :( Tomorrow, the mall. (PS Why do pants suck???)

Success! Here's what I ended up with: turquoise, 3/4 length wrap-sleeve shirt; black pants, black pointy shoes, silver jewelry...
here's hoping! Cross your fingers for me tomorrow!

So Erin told me...

She can't figure out how to post.  HA!

More Pictures

Love you guys :) These pictures are so cute.

This is so cool! I'm the last one on the blog boat... Its making me late for work! I love seeing all of our pictures up there together. Much cuter than our 17 email long conversations on gmail:) Thanks Nick! (and Erica for putting my email up here while I was clueless)

OOOH This is so exciting, I just figured out how to do this! Sorry for the email Nicky!! And this is the only cool picture I have on my flashdrive, more pictures from my home computer to come. Im excited to see Gwyn's new hair and Abby's new hair too. Abby always has new hair :). Everytime I think of seeing you guys my heart starts to beat faster and I get so excited. The cherry blossoms have all blown away now and the green is sprouting up from the trees. Its a good reminder that summer is coming and with it, ridiculous amounts of heat and big nasty spiders. And, more importantly, with summer comes home sweet home.
Its friday and I have a 4 day weekend, woot!! Camping and Samurai battles here I come! Ill put in a pic for Erin too. (A pic of sunrise from her house in Ukraine)

Spring in Seattle

I wish I was a better photographer, but hopefully these give you an idea of how completely ridiculous it is here right now!

And then Liz said...

Elizabeth Allen to me, Abigail, Erin, Gwyn show details 12:58 PM Reply
Hey all,That sounds great. I can probably do both blocks of time, but I will put in my vote for the 17-20.Can't wait!

Also, I want to see Gwyn's new hair.

Nicky this is adorable/ Becca W. Returns

Nicky this is so cute! And a good idea! I scoff at blogs, but I like you all so I will do this.

OK so I'm going to paste some emails back and forth from this morning (ok mostly from me) about making plans in July for when Becca W. is in town.

Nicky- I didn't send this to you initally because I figured that you'd be in Seattle, but I'd like you to communicate in case you're in town and can be a part of this. The emails look confusing as pasted, so I tried to simplify. I figured that we could move this conversation to this aesthetically pleasing new forum that is directed towards exactly these people.


OK, emails so far- - there are 3:
1.
Tokar Erica L to Elizabeth, Abigail, Erin, Gwyn show details 9:18 AM (3 hours ago) Reply
So while Becca's home from Japan over the summer we were talking about going on some sort of trip thing. The dates that Becca has available are as follows: JULY17th, 18th, 19th, 20th (as a block)or the 14th, 15th, 16th (as a block) Are you guys available during that time? We were thinking either Ithaca or a Beach trip (maybe camping). I really hope that we can plan a big adventure. I'm so excited to see Becca!
Love you, Erica Reply Reply to all Forward

2.
Abigail Rotholz to me, Elizabeth, Erin, Gwyn show details 12:39 PM (2 minutes ago) Reply
schweet. what about all good?


3.
Reply Reply to all Forward
Tokar Erica L to Abigail, Elizabeth, Erin, Gwyn, bcc: Rebecca show details 12:43 PM Reply
Matt and I are going, you should come! I think Erin will too. Sadly, Becca has a wedding that weekend. The dates listed below are dates that Becca is proposing we do stuff because those are the only ones she's free :-( That's why I thought we should coordinate now so hopefully we can all arrange to take off work/accomdate other plans so that we can go somewhere. No parents!

So here's the deal...

I miss you guys! I miss being in college and seeing you everyday, going to get coffee or go to the gym or pretending to study. I miss being able to call you and go out somewhere random. Most of all though, I miss the stupid little things you tell your friends when you see them all the time: the gossip, the new restaurant you discovered, the ridiculous thing that girl said...you get the idea.

So, I thought, "Why stop?" I can tell you guys about a website a find, or post a picture of something weird/funny/strange/sexual/whatever. If we all update the blog, we A) get to hear all the things we would if we were still living next door/in the same house, B) it makes you all feel closer than 3000 or more miles away.

I don't know about you guys, but for me that would be amazing! I'm figuring on posting once a week, but since I have not yet found proper employment, it may be more. So post back, comment, add pictures...whatever you want, I just want to revel in nostalgia and hear all about what you're doing, who you're meeting and all the craziness :)

Miss you, love you, hope this works for us!!