Father's Day

A few days ago, Dad and I were lounging the the living room and he was doing his job. I was kind of bristling in response.

"Don't nag me, Dad."

"I'm not nagging you, I'm just informing you of the possible consequences of your inaction."

"You realize what's this weekend?" I saw him fight a smile. Dad always parents in situations like this like he's a few seconds away from laughing out loud. "Do you want a sappy Father's Day post or not?"

"I'm just saying..." and he went on to describe a plan of epic embarrassment he would launch should I not do what he thought I should.

"GAAHH NO! FINE."

We've had many conversations like this, where Dad imagines situations in which he would be entirely insane solely to create a ludicrous type of fear that somehow makes Claire and me shape up. Claire and I'd usually end up laughing with him despite our teenage indignance at being given advice of any sort.

That's what's different about my Dad. You'll read many memoirs that pair childhood images of paternal discipline with shouting matches and yelling. I don't think I've ever heard my Dad yell beyond cheering at the sidelines. I've been raised on snarky, observational one-liners and verbal kicks-in-the-butt to get me going.

It also turns out that he's passed a lot on to us.

I may not share Dad's fondness or aptitude for construction and yard work, but he did teach me that sometimes it's okay to stay in the car until the song's finished.

We always knew when Dad was in the car last because we'd start up the car only to jump three feet out of our seats with the explosion of music coming of the speakers.

Claire got Dad's stubbornness, but that came with a determination to master whatever she sets her mind to--something learned from example.

He put sports in our lives and pushed us not to become superstars burned out by pressure and overtraining, but the best teammates we could be. Be reliable, be loyal, shoulder the responsibility and never give up.

Dad does all those things and more every day.

I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day.

Oh Yeah, It's Been Awhile

You haven't really missed anything. I mean, I have been doing absolutely nothing of interest at all.

I've been to the lake twice since I've blogged. The first time, the weather was fantastic and I took advantage of it by rowing and running around in the reasonable levels of temperature and humidity. I love running up there. At least I did, until we were having happy hour on the deck and two huge BEARS happen to lumber through the yard. Now when I'm running up there I flinch at every rustle and clap randomly to make sure the bears know I am coming and will not think I'm aiming to come kidnap their young. This is not because it is extremely likely that the bears would pay any attention to me at all, but rather because I am a paranoid, city-bred crazy person.

The second time we went up to the lake was this weekend. The weather was cold and rainy, which I found to be the perfect excuse to stake claim to the gigantic, puffy chair we have on the porch and read forever and ever. I also got to see the sister, which is always kind of the best thing ever.

To make money I am doing absolutely everything. I run errands and babysit for one of my neighbors, which has led to many adventures. Twice now I've taken the little girl to ballet lessons which are absolutely the most entertaining things to watch. We trek all the way out to Bethesda, probably because these lessons involve fairy dust and multiple costume changes. It's adorable. Today, however, I didn't drive in the mommy mobile. The van's still in Massachusetts. Today, I drove a pick-up truck to Bethesda. For readers who aren't familiar with the area, this means I was wedging the Toyota Tundra between BMWs and Lexus SUVs (I still do not understand the point of these. Whatever). The little girl, however, was thrilled that we were taking the Princess Pick-Up Truck!

It's nice to know I am relatively capable at handling small children, because her younger brother, who's not one year old yet, has found his favorite activity to be screaming hysterically in my face. One time I strapped him into the stroller and we headed out on a walk around the block. He fell asleep within two minutes so I just kept walking. And walking. And walking. Mostly in circles. For an entire hour. I think the neighbors found it confusing, but I just told them as long as he wasn't crying, I was going to keep doing what I was doing. I've also found that having a sleeping baby with me makes me extremely hostile and in need of a taser. If those barking dogs had...or if that stupidly obnoxious car...or if your need to engage me in pointless conversation WAKES THIS BABY UP I SWEAR I WILL....

I've also spent some time with the girls, one of which was a night brunch. I feel kind of responsible to keep some normalcy in Claire's absence, and this meant I was going to make a quiche instead of just buying something like I'd normally do. AND I SUCCEEDED.

I am becoming oh-so-domestic thanks to my realization that I have to feed myself something that's not peanut butter on the off occasion and the fact that I'm paid to do things like vaccum and scrub down lawn chairs and pick up the dry cleaning, like I'm doing today. As if I've ever had anything dry cleaned before.

I'm also sitting this evening. Making some bank because even though Greece is helping me out with the Euro, I'm going to be spending some serious cash in Amsterdam (for which I HAVE A PLANE TICKET. I KNOW. CRAZY)

And that is my life.

Yes, I Realize This New Design is Awkward and Way Early

So I am kind of bored, okay? And I was thinking, hey, a big part of this summer is preparing to go abroad for a few months. Let's change the header and make it Amsterdam-y!

Well that was kind of a big fail and blogger won't let me fix it, for some reason.

So yes, the blog "es International"in August. Fun times. At least I now have plenty of free time to come up with some Dutch pun I can use in the title.

Being Home

I spent all of last week rowing, sleeping, rowing more, running, eating and napping. It was awesome. The weather got nice in Ithaca, and I took advantage by making my sock tan worse.

It was even harder to leave this time because I won't see campus--and a lot of my friends-- again until January 2011. For some, I won't see them until I am SENIOR because they're studying abroad in the spring. Insanity. 

This summer I'm doing something different. I'm so used to structure and scheduling with swim team, coaching, and interning. This time, I'm putting together a hodge podge of babysitting, giving swim lessons, training, reading, and volunteering. I may not be resume building, but its almost refreshing in its freedom. 

I am partially spending my freedom relaxing with my parents, and my Dad is subjecting me to one of his ridiculous history channel shows. Most of these shows involve things like antique bicycles or car parts. But let me tell you, for all the weird television shows they choose, it's way nice to be parented again.

I'm also trying to get a jump on training this summer, and I've been really good about it so far. However, I've quickly realized that all this lush green shrubbery comes at a price: DEATH BY RUNNING. I also failed to wake up at a decent hour today, and so I can't get my workout in in the morning. I'll wait until it's NOT 85 degrees going on 90 before noon and won't pass out on the side of the road mid-jog. I also try to erg every day, in my nice and cool basement, but I'm not sure I could bring myself to do the entire day's workout on that thing. We're still working out our complex relationship.

One of the best parts of being home is reconnecting with old friends. Yes, cliche, but totally true. Last night we all got together for the first time for Cam's birthday. We went to Mi Rancho, which has the best enchiladas anywhere, and sat under their big tent outside laughing and talking and feeling like we never left. There's still the part of me deep down in my stomach that physically aches for Ithaca, but I guess that won't be going away any time soon.

But, coming up this weekend, the LAKE!

Start to Summer

Let me tell you, Ithaca rocks way more when classes aren't getting in the way.

I mean, seriously. Everyone leaves. The sun comes out and it gets warm.

Yesterday, I literally woke up with the sun at 7, rolled out of bed and chilled in my dorm kitchen, drinking green tea and eating cereal--totally relaxed and pleased with myself. Then I ran down to practice for my first practice with the varsity.

Things are different with them. They have WAY nicer boats, and their oar handles are plastic instead of wooden. That means my butt hurts less, my seat doesn't squeak, and I have all new blisters. But it is SO cool rowing with them and getting corrected every few seconds. It's only been three practices and I've learned so much already.

I got back to campus and fell asleep until the next practice. That's right. I NAPPED. Summer, I am a fan of you.

The next practice, we had a few too many people for the third eight, so I was put in a single scull. It took a few minutes to remember exactly how it worked, especially after rowing sweep for so long. But then, it was just me, out on lake Cayuga with the sun warming my back, rowing. What a perfect start to the summer, right?

But then there was the reality that I had 7 a.m. practice this morning, and I was getting up at 6 on my third day of summer. Still worth it.

And now I'm going to nap before my next practice. Let's pretend it's normal to nap at 10 a.m.

I'm Finished

I actually completed everything.

I know, mind-blowing, right?

I have a whole extra week in Ithaca to wonder what the heck is up with the weather and enjoy this city...and this lake...without the pressure of classes. It's great. It's fantastic!

The only thing is, there's no more dining halls. Meaning I actually have to feed myself. Upon preparing for this, I realized I do not know how to do this. Which is why I am eating mini wheats, hummus wraps and microwaveable dinners and soups plus whatever I can put peanut butter on for the next week. This was my grocery list:

-Milk
-Wheat wraps
- Hummus
-Bagged salad
- Things for dinner??

Luckily, there are many things you can put peanut butter on. Oreos are one of them. My roommate showed me this yesterday, and she shouldn't have. Because that's officially all I'm eating for the rest of my life. It is horrifying and yet actually delicious. I am also probably going to die at a young age.

All this free time also gives me ample time to stretch out my waxing-nostalgic about the past year. I love this stuff and I hate this stuff at the same time. Goodbyes are no fun at all. Particularly after a year this transformative and this amazing.

So prepare yourself.

Okay, Here Goes

It is that time of year.

Finals week. Or, the week in which I write all the papers I should have started ages ago.

Or, the week in which my brain sputters out on me way too early.

Seriously, unless you are my parents, you seriously won't want to read this. You won't really care at all. Because basically it's like a whiny to-do list I'm writing to procrastinate.

Okay. You're reading this? You must really, really love me or really, really want to procrastinate too.

Today's my USSR environment class final. That class is seriously on notice forever. I don't even want to talk about it. It is so close to being finished.

I'll also finish News II today. Which feels incredibly anti-climactic, despite the craziness that went into getting the footage for it.

Then, by friday I will write:
- 6 more pages about the efforts toward a common asylum policy in the European Union (hint, it's not pretty. Lots of racism, lot's of bureaucracy, lots of nationalism. Oooohhh, my FAVORITE!)
-4 more pages on the elements of anarchism in Green Day's punk rock opera American Idiot. Yes, I came up with that topic myself, and no, my professor is not going to know who Green Day is.
- 3 more pages on elements of fascism in the Bush administration. This one is fun. Also depressing. Can you tell which class I procrastinated on? "Ideas and Ideologies"
-Aaaannnddd 2 more pages on the representation of socialist principles in public education. This is not so fun. Actually, it is extremely dull.

That's not bad. It's manageable. Or, it would be if I could concentrate. And think of everything I'll have produced by the end of this week! I calculated, and my final page count for final papers is 38. I'll also have finished one exam and put together one three minute video.

And on Friday, I'll be one of the happiest people on the planet. Because I WILL BE DONE!