The Ten Best Things about the Post-College Life

As promised, ten things I enjoy about not being a college kid anymore.

10. Having cable and Center Ice. Of course, the novelty has worn off a bit. And if I were still in college, I wouldn't want those things because of the distraction. But still.
9. Living in the Cities: having more choices for food, and being closer to stuff (like the X for hockey games), and knowing my way around (like whoa).
8. Being a lot closer to hockey rinks. Can't believe I used to drive a half hour just for some ice time. (own number because it's key!)
7. I have to say, I don't miss living with my friends. I didn't like having people around all the time, so it's kinda nice now--when someone wants to do something, I'm always up for it. In college I used to say no a lot because I was burned out on socializing.
6. Along with that: having my own space (and I LOVE my apartment) and not having loud neighbors.
5. That I don't have to pack up and move/visit home all the time, though I did it this summer--but won't again for awhile. Not that I hate home, but I got really tired of having my life in two places.
4. Easy access to the local library and having time to read fiction and what I want to.
3. Being able to bike and walk places.
2. Rarely having to do things I don't really want to do.
1. Above all, my cat. She is the most fantastic thing ever.

This is actually a neat comparison. If you look over the two lists, what I like about life now is about my living situation more than what I'm doing with my life--ie, I love everything about my apartment, but not my job. The things I miss most about school are mostly intellectual rather than social/physical needs (other than walking around campus). I mean, I don't miss the dorms, I miss the classes.

So....grad school?

Ten Things I Really Miss about College

My friend Kirstine and I visited our alma mater today. It was difficult. I wanted to be back there so badly! Campus was gorgeous, it was a prefect fall day, the campus was lively and bustling. We saw our favorite professor and the newest building on campus, and neither of us wanted to leave. It was a weird ache, though. Like nostalgia, more than wanting it to exist right now. The place was perfectly familiar, but still not quite mine. And I know I can't go back--it's so fruitless to want to.

Kirstine and I tried to come up with things that are better about not being in college, and barely came up with anything at all. Here are the things I miss most about college, but tomorrow I promise I'll come up with as many things that are better about being out.

In no particular order....
10. Writing papers. Starting papers when they are due in 12 hours.
9. Having stimulating class discussions.
8. Reading great nonfiction, books and articles--and procrastinating/skimming/ignoring the crappy stuff.
7. Speaking Spanish almost daily, same for reading, writing, listening on a regular basis.
6. Having meals ready for me. Do I miss the food itself? Not really but you have to admit it was convenient.
5. Connecting with professors. I always really enjoyed talking to profs (about life or school or whatever) and I miss that, their wisdom and perspective and knowing they cared about me.
4. My job at the writing place. By my senior year, I was GOOD at editing other people's papers, and I loved it.
3. Not having chores. I HATE washing dishes the most.
2. No bills or paying for groceries, fewer tanks of gas.
1. Walking around campus. It was one of those things I liked complaining about at the time, but in truth, it felt good to be outside in the fresh air and get that exercise on a regular basis. Plus, campus is gorgeous. Yes, even when it was negative 10 or super windy--hint: ALWAYS windy!!



picture not from today, but accurately beautiful.

My Team Came to me Last Night!!!

(some of these pictures look kinda grainy, idk...click for high quality)
I got downtown early so I could walk around a bit and take photos of my adopted city. It was an overcast day, which is rare for here--welcoming the Penguins to town by acting Pittsburgh'y.


A view up Kellogg towards St Paul Cathedral.


The famous Mickey's Diner.


Looking up the Mississippi towards Minneapolis.


Love these banners. And love that they say "hockey fans" not "Wild fans"


Landmark Center, the most beautiful building in St Paul.


F. Scott Fitzgerald.


Landmark Center close up.


Triumphant Herbie. Maybe my favorite part of St Paul. Tucked in a little corner, the backdoor entrance to the convention center, the opposite end from the arena. Just perfect.


We got these ridiculous hats for a giveaway. I was praying someone (on either team!) would get a hat trick so I could get rid of it (and because I've never seen a hatty!), but it was not to be.


I have been DREAMING about mini corn dogs since I was a child and they used to have them at the Monroeville Mall. I have no clue if they've always had them at Wild games--to be honest, I usually don't eat at arenas because it's expensive and not usually good, but I figured I'd treat myself this night. Plus I'm usually on the upper level where there are less food choices. ANYWAY I love this stuff! They weren't perfect, but they were pretty good. I also had some decent hot chocolate.


Then the warmups finally started. I almost started crying when the Penguins came out, I was just so happy to see them! Even though we were missing Sid and Geno and Tanger and Orpik and Jeffrey, and Fleury wasn't starting....it didn't matter. I'd love anyone in a Penguins jersey.

Jordan. I got a ton of photos of him.


Chris Kunitz. I almost named my cat Kunitz after him. Sometimes I still think she's a Kunitz.


This is Cookie, being a troll.


Cookie went over and stood in front of Fleury, who promptly punched him in the head a couple times, playfully. It made me actually giggle.

I was so glad that even with all the crap going on--the awful loss in Winnipeg the night before, a ton of games in a couple nights, missing half the team ONCE AGAIN etc--the team was goofing off and loose and light-hearted. That is one of the things that amazes me again and again about this team. They refuse to see themselves as victims and they refuse to get down about anything, and their spirit goes a long, long way.


James Neal, Fleury, and Staal stayed on the ice longer than anyone.


After the buzzer went off, when everyone else had left, they weren't even really practicing, they were just goofing off, having fun. Fleury wasn't even starting.


They reminded me of kids who need to be called in to supper. Again, I just love their attitudes.

Got to my seat, and the game started.


I had great seats!


Here's the National Anthem.


A photo from the game.


The end, celebrating. They won 4-2 and it was just an amazing game. I was so proud of them for coming out hard and playing hard and pulling out a fantastic win.


I'll have to head back to the X sometime to actually enjoy the Wild, but for this night, I was more than happy to represent as a Pittsburgher away from home.

A great day with a great friend!

I really don't get out and enjoy Minnesota as much as I should/want to. There are so many pretty spots, and there are still tons of places I haven't been. Little hidden things that I wouldn't expect.

Today we went to Fort Snelling State Park.

View Fort Snelling State Park in a larger map

I would really like to visit Fort Snelling itself one day, but it's only open on Saturdays in Sept/Oct (and more in the summer) and I just haven't made it. The park, however, is open year round and would probably be excellent for skiing and stuff in winter. The park stretches to the south in the Minnesota river valley. There is an island called Pike Island which is where the blue marker is on the map and where we went today.


The Highway 5 bridge. I cross this thing all the time: airport, Mall of America, some ice rinks, etc etc. We walked right over it above a tunnel--you can't tell at all from the top that you're over a highway.


One of the buildings at Fort Snelling (where we started the day).


Totally need to go back when I can go in this stuff!


I believe this is the highway 55 bridge--from where you have an amazing view of both downtowns, St Paul and Minneapolis. I really want to walk across it someday but we went about four miles already today so it wasn't gonna be on this trip. Now I know how to get there!


Kara looking adorable, on the bridge to cross over to Pike Island.


~Historical marker~


We were walking through woods like these for a long time.


Then we came out along the Minnesota river, which we walked along for awhile.


Until we got to the spot where the Minnesota (right) and the mighty Mississippi (left) meet. Nice little confluence (zing!).


Looking back up the Minnesota.


And up the Mississippi.


We saw several deer on the island.

Then we went for dinner. We visited the Groveland Tap because they had....

Poutine!! Poutine is a Canadian food (Quebecois originally) which is fries with gravy and cheese curds. This poutine had beef and veggies on it--it was delicious even though I wasn't expecting the extra stuff. We also split a bacon cheeseburger which was amazing as well.

Then we traveled to this place called Shish on Grand--I will definitely go back someday for real food because they had a million delicious things listed.

We had this turtle cheesecake--the part with caramel was DELICIOUS but I wish the caramel had continued under the nuts :(

All in all, a great Minnesota Sunday. <3

I'm in love.

with Puck. Who is...

Smart.

I think this was just our second morning together--someone figured out quick that Blankie was the most important thing in this house before her. I'm really glad they get along. Of course, Blankie is agreeable to everything, and clearly Puck enjoys the way he feels, because he does feel excellent. But still, I'm glad.

Curious.

"are you taking my picture????"

Adorable.

"come back to bed"....luckily this was on an off day, or else I would've had the hardest time going to work!

Super silly.

I was trying to get her in a different cute position, then she did this. Well. I'll take it.

A hockey fan.

actually doing a good impression of paying attention right here...

Very cuddly and my best friend.

"put the phone down and PET me!"

I didn't realize I was lonely until this little furball meowled her way into my life. I am in love with her. She fascinates me and she amuses me and she is usually not too far away...so I'm fairly certain she feels the same. <3

Meet the Newest Member of my Family

I just brought this sweetie home with me:



Her name at the shelter was Sparky, horrific! I have a couple in mind, more about that in a moment... She was found in April 2010 "in a car" and they thought she was only 6-8 months at the time. They think that she stayed at the shelter so long because she didn't like the other cats and stuck to her own cage space, so no one really looked at her. I went on Friday and no other cats really called to me, then I met her and we seemed to click.

She'd let me pet her for a bit, then she'd get overwhelmed with feels and do this silly little dance against the bars of her cage, turning around and rubbing a couple times then settling back in for me to pet her more. Silliest thing.

Went to pick her up today after work.

She MEOWLED the whole way home in the car, poor dear--it was only like two miles. I let her out in my bedroom, she quickly vacated the carrier because she had hated it so much. She kinda wandered around the kitchen and kept going in and out of the bathroom for a bit--smaller space, safer. I was sitting near the doorway to the bathroom, afraid she'd ignore me or be freaked out by me, but she didn't mind me petting her and scritching her a little bit. She was doing her little dancing, rubbing up against everything. Including an open door which started to move, so silly.

Finally, though, she figured out how to get behind the tub (which is a claw foot).



She's been there for about three and a half hours now, content I think...and not wanting to be bothered. I'm being really good at leaving her alone (lord I am like a five year old, I just want to "love" her), but I may have to go see if she'll take a treat (or dinner?) from me after the Pens game....

Names. I'm stuck between two thoughts, naming her after a hockey player and naming her after a woman I admire. The sound of the name is more important to me than who she is being named for.

A. Julie "the Cat" Gaffney, after the girl goalie in the Ducks movies. This is the exception to the "sound" rule: not that great of a name, but it's kinda perfect.
B. Plath, for Sylvia Plath
C. Simone, for both Simone de Beauvoir (my fav feminist) and Seimone Augustus (one of my favorite Lynx players)
D. McIntire/Mac or Mc, for Molly McIntire

E. Kunitz
F. Setoguchi

And my dad may have thrown a wrench in the whole thing by suggesting "Puck". He was probably being silly, but I love it.

When my cat comes out from behind the tub, I'm gonna run these by her, but any suggestions?

Telling my story

I've been having a hard time lately: I haven't been sure how to smoothly interject the "I grew up in Pittsburgh" into a conversation.

It wasn't too hard in college because you usually started every course each semester with a basic introduction of your name, where you're from, and your favorite pizza topping or whatever. Plus, it's college--you except people to be from elsewhere--even if like 60% of the school was from Minnesota and Wisconsin, it's still a conversation to ask where. So everyone kind of knew, without it being a big deal.

Last year, I tried to not blurt it out at work except when it was actually relevant--maybe I was trying to assimilate into Minnesota a little bit and act like a transplant, but a transplant so long ago it doesn't matter now. My mom wasn't born in Pittsburgh, but she's lived there so long I tend to forget--though I think I'm starting to understand her a heck of a lot more. It always seemed to me that she was basically Pittsburgh, because she lived in Pittsburgh MY whole life, but I really get it now, how long it took her to feel more "at home".

I DIGRESS.

Lately, though, it's been harder. I work in a hockey store which is like quintessential Minnesota, and, I mean, people don't have any reason to think I'm NOT from the area, you know? It's usually not too bad until I start chatting about my own hockey playing, and I get a lot of "how long have you been playing?" and asking if I played in high school, or "who" I play for now. Oh, uh, actually, you've never heard of my high school because it's 800 miles away SO WELL.

I struggled. I would awkwardly be like "Well, actually, I'm not from here? I'm from Pittsburgh? So like....? Go Penguins? I live here now and Minnesota rocks?" and just kinda stumble over what I was saying.

But I answer this question at least once a work shift, and it's getting a lot smoother: I'm originally from Pittsburgh, I moved out here about five years ago for college, and I started playing hockey out here because I got swept up in the hockey culture.

It's the short version, and it certainly doesn't tell the complete story. But it's a good summary and it leads to an open conversation going forward. And, more importantly, I'm comfortable and confident telling it. I'm comfortable explaining how I got to today and why I'm still here.

And I think it accurately portrays me as my Pittsburgh-Minnesota self. I had been having trouble because those questions felt like a jolt from wanting to fit in. But finding smoother ways to interject "I'm from Pittsburgh" and easily tell my story has erased that discomfort, that I felt even a week ago. I'm so proud to be from Pittsburgh and I love talking about it! I'm just glad I found a way to make it easy on myself, to make it natural. To present myself faithfully.

Though, back to that high school question, I'm still tempted to be like "have you heard of Mario Lemieux by any chance? I went to high school down the street from his house."

I mean, why not, right?

Some photos of my bedroom, how scandalous

This is mostly to show off the new vinyl decals on my wall, I think they turned out pretty good for me just slapping them up there.


This is my room at its cleanest. It's a constant struggle with me to put clothes away--problem is I hardly have any room for even half of my clothes, and I don't even feel like I have that many clothes so....yeah, I need a new dresser.



You can admire this dresser though, it was the first furniture re-do I ever did and turned out awesome.