2003-12-30 - 2:43 p.m.
Isn't it nice to have good news?
I’m writing this on my NEW COMPUTER (insert flashing lights and huge “hurrah!”s here). This will be the first document I save on my hard drive. Nice, huh? Well, the old one was dead. The last straw actually came after I begged and pleaded for a new laptop for Chanukah/my birthday/graduation/next Chanukah/my 27th birthday. That was when I set up the old machine on my stepfather’s desk, spent two days trying to get my modem to work, and realized that my modem had somehow decided to move itself to a port that the computer didn’t recognize. It sucked. I had to use Ed’s computer for a few days. Coulda been worse, but I was dealing with the whole plagiarism issue, and I couldn’t download chat or AIM on Ed’s computer, so I was, of course, going nuts. And please, let us keep in mind that in this house, we use free dial-up, so we have a slow-ass connection for 10 hours a month. Bah.
I am spoiled.
So I have a new laptop. I have named it Jetson, because it is a space cadet. Judy for short. It is lovely and has lots of integrated things and a big screen and a CD burner and 2 USB ports and a blue cover, tra-la, tra-la.
So. I am home. It’s strange living at home after three years on my own. I mean, I’ve been here before, but never for more than a couple of days. But now? It’s been 2 weeks. Two weeks is a looooong time. I just need my alone time, which is hard to get, except now that Mom is back at work, it’s OK. And I have a bedroom, but the bedroom is really Ed’s office, so it’s not mine. And there’s very little room for my stuff, which bugs Mom more than it bugs me. She doesn’t like the suitcases on the floor. But it’s OK. I’ve been resting, and knitting. I’m almost finished with my first sweater! It’s a lovely pale blue, a mix of lambswool and angora. I have to finish the second sleeve, then block everything and sew it up. Awwwww, yeah.
In other news, a huge, MAJOR thing has happened! In the best way! There’s this tv critic, and I emailed him because I liked his book, and he knows my prof, and he and his wife are writing a book and their subject’s papers are at Syracuse, so… they hired me! I’m a research assistant! I might get paid! But even if I don’t, I’m going to help write a book! An important one, too. And I will get a big, fat credit in said book, and I’m sure I have earned serious points with my professors. I had a meeting with the critic and his wife on Saturday, and I felt AMAZING. It’s nice to feel smart and appreciated by smart people in your chosen field, you know? So there’s that. It was so thrilling, in fact, that I came home, glowed for a few hours, then came down with a fever and spent all day Sunday in bed. Heh.
There’s the news for now. New Year’s Eve is, of course, tomorrow; I think I’ll do a retrospective entry tomorrow before Mom and I go to the Jewish Museum for a mother-daughter educational outing. Then I’m going to a par-tay. Woooo! Food, booze, and Trivial Pursuit! My kinda evening. Then we leave for Florida on Friday, which should be nice—I need some walking and some sun.
Happy New Year’s Eve Eve, everyone!
