New Thing 11-19-11 Inner Harbor Light Show

So I am friends with "Baltimore" on facebook and "Baltimore" informed me the Inner Harbor was having a light show 4 times a night from 11-19-11 until 12-31-11. After sharing this with my other facebook friends, Melissa (my wonderful co-worker) and her fiance Allan decided to join in my "new thing" fun!

We decided to go to Lenny's in the Harbor before checking out the show. Awesome corned beef sandwhich! I feel I cheated myself with this "new thing" though because I have been wanting to go to the Lombard location (more authenticly b-more I would guess). Melissa had the great idea to go next door get a piece of pumpkin cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory for us all to share.

http://www.lennysdeli.com/harborplace

We make it just in time for the light show and it was so much fun! It was like Disney in Baltimore. I love cheesy stuff like this. Even with my hatred of Christmas before Thanksgiving, I totally dug it! Everyone in Baltimore should check it out just for fun! It only last 5 to 10 minutes.

We ended the night wandering Barnes and Nobles. I heart bookstores and my Kindle has but a damper on that!

New Thing 11-12-11 Bartenders

Hello All! life has gotten in the way of my adventures so I haven't been posting lately. I am excited to get back in to "one new thing" adventures. This weekend I meet my friends Jamie and James at Bartenders on Boston Street. I really dug the atmosphere. Kind of a mix between a pub and sports bar feel. It wasn't crowded, but there were enough people there to make it feel lively. Most of all it was nice to be off The Square. We didn't eat, but the food looked pretty good. I plan to go back for some pizza. You should definitely give this place a try.

http://bartendersbaltimore.com/

Out of Sorts

In the last few weeks, there have been some interesting adventures. I wish I had been better at reporting them here. The thing that is really on my mind right now is that I have been feeling jumbled and out of sorts. I can't put my finger on it. The last few years have brought many changes. I've moved to a new city, started a new job, made new friends, moved to a new house, gotten my masters, lost a lot of weight, started dating more. I like beginnings and ends. I think the reason I am feeling out of sorts and restless is because it's gotten to the point where I'm settling in. Have you ever heard the song "Is That All There Is?" I'm feeling that way. What is the point of it all (working, going out, dating)? I'm feeling a bit bored with life. I know all the cliches I would use to help a friend who feels like I am feeling now, "It's not the destination, it's the journey" , "Carpe Diem" (or as Katie would say "Carpe World"). I'm just not feeling it right now. Anyone have any ideas (other than meds) to bring me out of this funk?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VscVP_Gt_s&feature=related

New Thing 6-22-11 Being an Aunt

If you haven't heard or seen the pictures on my facebook account, I am a new Aunt. My brother Brian is the father to a precious baby girl named Madison. She is such a dear baby girl. When I arrived in Greenville last week I promptly announced that was taking over the night shift. Good times. I was lucky because she sleeps pretty well. Goes to bed around 8, wakes up at around 2:30, stays up for an hour, and wakes up again around 5. A few nights she slept from 8pm to 4 am. I am so excited to continue spoiling her for years to come. Singing to Madison at 4:00 am was the highlight of my trip.

While taking care of Madison, I started thinking about my future and how I feel about one day having kids. When I was young, I was sure I would be married and have kids by age 30. I also envisioned myself as being very domestic. At age 31, I'm not so sure that lifestyle is for me. I've told this to people and they say, "Oh, you just have to meet the right person". I think this response is condescending. I'm not saying this in a whining (when will I find the right guy) tone. I am just stating how I see my life unfolding. The only people that haven't given me this response are my parents. My mom said she could see not following that marriage/ kids model. Not to say she isn't all for in vitro. That being said, I don't think I could do the single mom thing either. I felt bad leaving a dog at home while I worked. It would break my heart to leave my child while I worked. Family life has it's rewards. It's the model for human existence, but the single life has it's rewards too. Right now, I am going to focus on doing some of the great things you can do when you are footloose and fancy free. I am going to start exploring some ideas for travel and possibly furthering my education.

So my new thing this week wasn't very wild and crazy, but it was a fun way to relax after a long school year. Some co-workers and I went to the Tiki Bar outside of Bo Brooks. Now, I have no idea how I have never been here before (It is just steps away from my place). Here is a horrible write up I found online http://http://www.examiner.com/bars-in-baltimore/canton-s-tiki-bar-proving-that-you-can-put-a-bar-anywhere . The thing is, everything she wrote is what I love about this place. So random! I love it.

So, since I last posted on the blog I have been doing new things left and right, but I have been slacking with the sharing. I have tried some new restaurants (Zen West and Blue Hill were favorites), drank some wine on my birthday at Boordy, started training for a sprint triathlon, enjoyed the Higlandtown Farmers Market, and went to my first Bikram Yoga Class. This week my new thing was Great Grapes at Oregon Ridge. Eileen and I went to Great Grapes to celebrate her birthday. The ride there was traffic filled but it was nice to have some time to gossip about work. Once we made it there, we drank a ton of fruity, sweet wine and sweated our butts off. What a great way to spend a Saturday. We settled on Cove Point Winery as our favorite and drank a bottle in the shade and took a few bottles home with us. The day was ended at RA for sushi were Patricia joined us (Thanks Mickey and Becca for pulling up chairs to let us wait for our table) and then saw The Hangover Part 2.

I need to get on the ball.

Sadly, I have been slacking since my trip to the ballet. I have boringly been focusing on dieting and working out. Any suggestions for new Baltimore things?

Today, I went to the ballet! Before today, the only live ballet I had seen was The Nutcracker. I went to the Hippodrome to see, The State Ballet Theatre of Russia’s http://www.hutchisonentertainmentgroup.com/state_ballet_of_russia.php performance of Swan Lake. Living in Baltimore, I have more access to arts than any other place I have lived. I am so glad that I took advantage of this and went to see this beautiful ballet. Many times, I only take advantage of experiences if I can find someone else is interested in experiencing it also. I need to go out there and do the things I love and am interested in even if I have to go it alone. I’m glad I did that this time! The thing that amazed me the most was the strength and athleticism of the dancers. The music was enchanting. I also enjoyed just taking in the stunning architecture of the Hippodrome.

Enjoy this clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_5WCZ-XvG4&feature=related

New Thing 9-24-10 Virgin Free Fest

New Thing 9-4-10 Maryland State Fair

Yesterday, I braved the Maryland State Fair at the Timonium Fairgrounds. http://www.marylandstatefair.com/ Sally, Mark, Tray, Jason, and the adorable Alex came along for the ride. I had never meet Alex and he is one of the cutest babies I have ever seen. Such huge cheeks (but I digress). We started the fair out with a sampling of fair food. Corn dogs and cheese fries. Mark found a fly in his and Sally's diet coke. She was super grossed out. I say it's all just part of the fair. We topped off our dinner by sharing two funnel cakes. Super yummy goodness. At this time, Tray, Jason, and Alex headed out because Alex had already had a late night. Sally had been continually talking about the zipper. Mark and I suggested looking at all the prize winning veggies to buy some time. What makes one popcorn cob better than the other? Who knows? Then there was no more stalling on the rides. We started with the zero gravity. It's the one where you stick to the wall and it tilts to the side. We meet this really cool fourth grader in the line and we all become BFFs forever. He informed us we would be fine on the ride as long as we hadn't eaten. Oh great! Mark was super scared it was funny. We finished the ride and everyone undid their buckles and started walking to the door. But unexpectedly, the ride started turning again so the door would be in front. Mark ran back so fast he knocked Sally's elbow and busted his knee. He was hurt kind of badly. It was a very George Costanza moment. Next, Sally and I won a sizable cow stuffed animal at the hit balloons with darts booth. She gave it to me for my prize chest at school. What a nice friend. Next, we waited in line for the Zipper. I had never gone on it. I was always too scared. It was awful in a good way. The first 30 seconds was super fun. The next 2 minutes was awful. I did it though. Then we went on two more back and forth spinning things. We should have stopped at the Zipper. We left the fair with headaches. It was like a hangover and totally worth it.

My new thing on August 22, 2010 started off with a ride on the water taxi that stops in Canton right outside of my house http://thewatertaxi.com/ . I love the water taxi. It's a wonderful way to get around the city and once I get a few paychecks under my belt, I think I might get a year round pass. I got off at the Fells Point stop and from there, I walked onto Little Italy. Each year, Little Italy holds two festivals (one to celebrate the start of the summer and one to celebrate the end of the summer).The Feast of St. Gabriel Italian Festival was a blast. I would have loved to be joined by some of my Italian family members. There was the smell of Italian food and raffles. Next time, I am bringing my folding chair to enjoy the music and bocce. I need to make my way back to the courts some night to play a game of my own. http://littleitalymd.com/ (Go to the website! The music is worth it!)

Andy Warhol Museum

On Friday the 13th of August, I decided my new thing would be The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, PA. I brought along my two wonderful cousins, Kelsey and Vincent. It contained 7 floors of art and I loved it! My favorite painting was Sunset www.warholstars.org/warhol/warhol1/warhol1f/sunset.html . I recommend that you stop by this interesting museum if you roll through Pittsburgh and you stop by The Strip and go to Primanti Brothers for lunch like we did. How can you pass up a sandwhich with slaw and fries loaded on top? http://www.primantibrothers.com/ My favorite quotes of the day came from Kelsey. "Is that a real penis?" and "He was one wierd guy." Those quotes really summed up the trip! http://www.warhol.org/

"New Thing" 8-8-10 Duckpin Bowling

So, I have decided to dedicate this blog to my quest to try at least one “New Thing” a week. The “New Thing” does not have to be wild and crazy, just different (something I have never done). I’ve done this in the past, but I am truly giving it my all and plan to record it on this blog. Most of my adventures will take place in the weird and wacky city of Baltimore! This week I went duckpin bowling at Stoneleigh lanes on York Road. Jenna asked me to tag along with her, Andy, CiCi, and her mom Karen. I have wanted to go for a long time now. It is a very Baltimore thing to do and I love Baltimore. Duckpin bowling is bowling with a tiny bowling ball. It’s almost like bowling/skee-ball. Also, you get three tries instead of two when duckpin bowling. Like real bowling, I proved to be miserable! Very inconsistent, I would have a strike, then 5 gutter balls, then a spare. If you are in Baltimore give it a try! I am totally going back for bowling and karaoke on Fridays!
http://www.stoneleighlanes.com/default.asp

Summer Here We Come!

Well, summer is almost here. Grad school is done (Yippee)! Only a few more weeks of school (It won't come soon enough)! I'm interviewing for a new job. If I get it great, but if not, I have a good job now. I love change though so it's exciting. Cross your fingers for the interview. I am counting down to see all my wonderful friends in Florida. Also, I hit the 50 lb mark this weekend!

Things are going well! 27.4 lbs in 6 weeks at Fit Camp. Now, I just have to keep this motivation going. Biggest Loser will help and thinking about trying Diet to Go (this thing were all your meals are prepared for you!) Also, motivated to look good for El's wedding and to see all my FL friends who I miss so much!

I can't imagine what it must be like to be sick with a life threatening disease and have your health care give you the run around. I was on the phone for hours about this MRI and there wasn't a solution given. What if it was something that was super important? I really feel for people faced with that problem.

Finally, Spring Break is here!

What a rough few weeks! So I can see the end in sight for graduation. This week will be the push to finish my research and case studies.

Stanford 10 (the big standardized test) is the week before my birthday and I am not worried a bit! The kids did very well on the benchmark test and I think those are a bit harder than Stanford 10. Although the kids drove me totally crazry this week. They are super smart this year!

So, I haven't smoked since the start of lent and weirdly it hasn't been that bad. I also joined a biggest loser type thing at my gym. The problem is I hurt my knee and now I have to get an MRI to see what is wrong with it. Hopefully it is just a sprain. I think I might have over done it a bit. Running a 5K without training and everything else might have been to much.

I'm already looking foward to summer already! Just a few months away!

What a pretty first day of Spring! I wore shorts and a t-shirt and flip-flops. I missed you flip-flops. Spring and fall have always been my favorite seasons. I love living somewhere that has a change of seasons. Just when you are sick of snow, a warm wind starts to blow and Rita's has free italian ice. I love it.

Life seems a bit wild. Things have been so hectic, the only time I could schedule Roxy to go to the vet was 8 pm on a Friday. Lots of grad work and a formal observation next week. Thursday is the last day of my seminar class and I only have two Practicum classes left! I am only one week away from Spring Break! Yippee. I'll be off to NYC with my mom, aunt, and cousin. Culture (no) shopping (yes).

One week after Spring Break, my students take Stanford 10. I hate standardized testing. I think they will do very well this year (although they drive me crazy, they are very smart). We finish testing April 16 and the next day is my last grad class and my 30th birthday.

My parents bought a vacation home in FL and I am looking forward to running away down south to see old friends and relax as soon as I can!

What's up...

So, finished with my first attempt at the Praxis. Hopefully it will be my last. Now, I need to focus on this research I need to be doing. I'm doing so much work and school stuff I feel like I have no time for myself. Then I realized this stuff is for me. It's to further my career. The thing is... When I was young, I never thought I would be the kind of person who put so much energy into the kind of work I was doing. I really struggle with whether I should be putting so much energy into my job or if I should have a normal 9 to 5 that would allow me to experiance life more. Man, when I started this gig, I thought teaching was a 8 to 3 o'clock, summers off type job. Boy was I wrong. Wish me luck figuring my life out!

I am so proud of my students parents! Parent conferences were this Friday and 16 parents attended! In the past, I have never had more than 6 parents. Because I never get parents, I planned to grade papers, clean, and catch up on some things I have been meaning to get done. I didn't get a thing done and will have to go in early Monday to get things ready for the day. Well worth it to talk to the parents. Friday night, Jenna, Sally, Mark, Spaz, and I, drove to Lancaster to go to Field of Screams. It's a Haunted Hay Ride and a few Haunted Houses. Much scarier than Eastern State Penitentiary. It was so funny to watch Jenna. She was almost in tears. Today: lesson plans, house cleaning, napping, and a bit of football!