I Didn't Want This to End

Homemade Spacecraft from Luke Geissbuhler on Vimeo.

Half-way through, I realized my hands were clenched in anticipation, and then, I almost cried.

How amazing.

As My Brother Would Say, Gimme Job!

What I'm finding, in drastic contrast to my job hunting experience after graduating from undergrad, which seriously gave me PTSD, is that...sometimes interviews are fun.

I keep surprising myself with all the experiences from which I draw evocative anecdotes and thoughtful answers.

I just get to sit in a room with someone in my field, who understands the importance of arts in education, and talk about why I'm so passionate about it and why I think it's so essential.

It's not really any less nerve-racking but it's certainly more satisfying.

And, if I sit back and think about how much experience I really have in this field, it adds up to almost ten years.

Crazy.

Also, sometimes what I'm asked to do is play games with eight-year-olds and run around dance studios, pretending to be popcorn and trash cans.

So, you know, that's pretty cool too, I guess.

I Just Googled "How to Wear a Poncho"

I love fall fashion.

It makes me think of Back to School.

I've needed a few wardrobe essentials for months.

My fall jackets are all getting ratty, which makes sense since some of them are just hand-me-downs from S.

And the only pair of brown boots I own have, like, a 3-inch heel and threads up the back. (They're not as slutty as they sound, but they're definitely not appropriate to wear with students.)

So I spent some time doing some "back-to-school" shopping, and found these and a SUPER cute khaki jacket that I'm already obsessed with.

I told my friend Jennifer about my successful haul, and this is what happened:

Jennifer: ugh love fall clothes
love
you should get a nice russet colored something
just anything russet

me: oooooh
good one
i have a russet cape thing
that i've never worn
poncho
that's what it's called
i LOVE fall clothes too

Jennifer: and then say it a lot "this is russet colored"

me: favorite
LOL!
yes.

Jennifer: Me: can i borrow your poncho?
you: you mean the russet colored one?
even tho you just have one

me: i like it
let's recreate this
the thing about the poncho is
i need a cute HAND bag to carry with it
not a back pack or shoulder bag
and i can't figure out what to wear under it

Jennifer: nothing
oh my god, i'm cracking up
some chick wears a poncho thinking it's a shirt

me: HAHAHAHA!
i could probably wear a tank top of some sort
i dunno
it confuses me

Jennifer: i can't stop laughing

me: HAHAH! love it
are you at work?
making a fool of yourself

Jennifer: yes

According to the aforementioned Google search, I can wear virtually anything under it.

Don't think I'll go the nothing route.

Or the bikini top route either, which is one of the suggestions.

"Good morning, students...Yes, I am wearing a black bikini under my poncho. But, please note, the poncho is russet-colored!"

This is How I've Been Spending My Time Lately

1. Crying while soothing a 4-day old baby girl. Out of joy, not fear. Babies are intense.
2. Keeping my cousin company as she recovers from aforementioned birth.
3. Doing 20-minutes of yoga a day.
4. Cleaning my house.
5. Preparing for a second interview for the super perfect job!
6. Reading blogs that make me cry. Like this one.
7. Fantasizing about when I am married and have my own kid. Whoa.

Also, I will be guest-blogging HERE during the first week of October!

So stay tuned.

To My Cousin's Baby, on His/Her Impending Arrival

Dear Littlepants,

Your mommy and daddy have left for the hospital.

Your birthday might be today, and it might be tomorrow.

I am writing you to welcome you to the world. I am so excited to meet you.

I'm Annie, your mom's cousin. You'll be seeing a lot of me because I live just down the street, and I spend several evenings a week with your parents and your furry brother, Huck. Currently, he is lounging on his big chair in the living room, watching the window, as if he knows that something exciting is about to arrive.

It is. You!

We just took a long walk around our neighborhood. I'm excited to do that with you when I babysit and give your folks a chance to be together and US a chance to be together! There is a great dog park and playground up the street. I imagine you'll be spending a lot of time there. I know your mom is very excited to go there with you.

Your parents are pretty great. I stayed with them for almost two weeks when I first moved here, and they have taken amazing care of me for these two years. They feed me great food, distract me with amazing television, and your mom and I spend a lot of time watching movies, shopping, and talking about our family. She is an incredibly supportive, caring, and generous lady, and your dad is one of the hardest working and easiest people to be around I've ever met.

They have been planning and anticipating your arrival for...years. You are coming into an incredible home.

I was one of the first people who knew you were on your way, and I am very grateful for that. Your parents worked very hard to make sure you will come into this world as healthy and comfortable as possible.

I don't have very much experience with tiny babies, so I hope you'll be patient with me as I try to figure out which end of the diaper should go up and how to properly feed and burp you. I'll get the hang of it; I'm a quick learner.

And, watch out, when you're a toddler, we'll have lengthy conversations and play sessions. I'm good at those. Just ask your cousin, Chasden, and your aunties.

And when you start school, I can help you with your homework! And make the difficult parts of that SUPER fun. I studied to be a teacher, so if your folks can't help you, I hope you'll call me to get through what you don't understand.

And that goes beyond your studies and homework. I have tears in my eyes as I write this because I know how important my family has become to me and how important it is to have people in your family who are also your friends. Especially when it comes to getting through the parts of life that are difficult to understand.

We are part of a silly, loud, willful, incredibly intelligent family, and sometimes they are...overwhelming. But, what I've learned is that when the going gets tough, our family is fiercely loyal and supportive. We will scoop you up and help you get through the tough times.

I want you to know, before you even arrive, how much I already love you. How much I am so excited to see what kind of person you become. To see the world new through your eyes.

I think you have already changed me, so thank you for that.

See you soon.

Love,
Annie

The Soundtrack of the Unemployed

I went on an interview for an AMAZINGLY perfect job for me yesterday and, since then, this is the song that has been stuck in my head:



Minus the synth-heavy orchestrations and all the spandey wear.

The lyrics start at about 5:00, but watch the whole thing because it's pretty amazing.

Sidenote: S and I decided once we were going to rewrite A Chorus Line so it occurred in Communist Russia. It would be called...wait for it!...Bread Line.

God, I hope I get it.
I hope I get it!
How many pieces do they haaaaaave?

And, of course,
One....
Single piece of brea-ead...
Every little step we take...

That's as far as we got.

Genius, right?

Happy Birthday, Mom-Mom

Today is my grandmother Shirley's 90th birthday.

Here she is in Honolulu, 50 years ago.



And with her amazing husband, Charles, whom she was married to for almost 60 years. They had five children together.



I have recently made the decision to travel back to my mother's hometown for a weekend of celebration for Shirley in October. This was a decision that took a few months for me to make, but, ultimately, I know it's the right thing to do, for her and for my family.

I will be very excited to see her, even though what I've heard is that she might not remember who I am, which is scary because she has always been one of the most razor-sharp people I've ever known...

It's OK, though.

I can remember for the both of us.

A Day of Remembrance...and a Story of Impending Puberty

It is a grand holiday for those of us born in the time of the original Beverly Hills, 90210. That day that happens just once in our lifetime, 9/02/10.

I know I've already posted once today, but then I discovered the worldwide holiday, and realized I had to post another embarrassing story, like Sassy's.

I think my favorite episode of 90210, inexplicably, is the one in which Brenda has a breast cancer scare. And during the SATs, no less!

What shitty luck.



The thing is, this episode aired during the thrilling period of time in my life when my...buds were developing.

You remember that time, when a breeze blowing in the right direction caused such searing pain that you'd get tears in your eyes?

I remember, once, I bashed them against the desktop in my 5th grade classroom and almost passed out.

But, of course, initially, I didn't know what these little hard nubs were, and so, I figured, OF COURSE, they're CANCER!

Of course, my pediatrician assured me they weren't. And that I was well on my way to blossoming into a young woman.

Great.

And, thanks for fostering my catastrophic thinking, Aaron Spelling...(may you rest.)

Consider It Your Duty...

Hello, loyal and trusted readers.

Please take a moment to notice the new badge on the left.

I have been chosen to be a contributing blogger on The Printed Blog, a new publication which prints the best blogs of the week.

As far as I understand it, celebrity contributing editors will read through the contributing blogs each week and pick the best posts to be published and distributed to paying subscribers. This means that I (GASP!) can get PAID for my posts IF you give me enough votes to make them notice!

Check out a New York Times article on The Printed Blog here.

This is a new and exciting idea, and I hope you will continue to support me as things here may begin to expand!

Thank you for all your support, thus far. I think it's fitting that I'm making this announcement as my 500th post!

PLEASE VOTE!!!! And, while you're at it, become a fan and/or a follower!

(I already voted for myself. Is that cheating?)

I Think This is Important

I think it's because HOME has always been a...sensitive subject.

But, as soon as it asked for my childhood home address, I knew it was going to make me cry.

In fact, I watched it once with my childhood home address and another time with the address I had the last two years I was in college.

Those are the only two homes I've had.

Aside from this one, which is finally beginning to feel real...