Wednesday Letters: First Week of School

Dear New School Semester,

I was so excited for you to arrive. I ordered my books and marked due dates on my Google calendar much earlier than anticipated. I didn't want to miss a thing.

And then you arrived.

I miss my free time. I miss being able to read fun books. I'm already tired of you. I'm sick of reading about research methods and copyright laws. I'm seriously contemplating my desire to get a masters degree. But I will persevere. I will finish my degree.

Then I will try and figure out what I'm going to do since library funding is being cut and there's just not that many jobs out there. *sigh*

Regards,

Emery

Don't You Love New York in the fall?

Okay. I'm not in New York.

I've never been there in the fall.

But I watched You've Got Mail the other day and all I can think about are:

 [source]

Yes, all I can think about is a bouquet of sharpened pencils. 

School has begun again. I may be crazy by taking two classes while working a full-time job. But it's time to keep myself busy. As Grandma always used to tell me: keeping busy keeps me out of trouble.

Last week was gathering the necessary supplies:
1. Binders
2. Pens (clicky colorful pens)
3. Post-it notes in various sizes and colors
4. Highlighters

Here's to hoping I'm prepared. Unfortunately, I don't get to buy a back-to-school wardrobe anymore. Nor do I get a cool new backpack. Sad, really. Those things were wasted on my younger self who didn't know how to dress.

Happy back-to-school Monday!

Saturday Stories: In the Awkwardness of It All...

If I'm honest, I feel like I'm running out of stories. 

I've had a couple of droughts in my life when I go on no dates and no prospects. These have lasted anywhere between two years to three and a half years. Yep. Three and a half years with no one to crush on. Sad. 

The two year drought was about eight years ago. And it was over after I started college back up for my last year. That two year break made me feel more confident in a lot of ways, but definitely unsure of navigating the dating scene. 

In one of my classes, there was a very cute young man. Mark. I usually arrived early to this class, and sat outside in the hallway and read or studied. I seemed to be more successful at doing those things when I was not at home. Mark started to come to class around the same time I did and we'd sit next to each other and talk. Talk about our day and other stuff. We'd sit next to each other in class and sometimes be in the same group. We even discovered that he knew my cousin. I thought—FATE! This is FATE!

Since it was a consistent thing, I discussed with my roommates and they convinced me that maybe he did like me. I waited until we didn't have class anymore. I emailed him during the Christmas break and then invited him to a party my roommates were having. He came. 

Let me re-emphasize that: HE CAME!

I was shocked. And excited. And super nervous. Definitely not how I planned things.

And then, a couple of weeks later, I used our school directory and called him and asked him to do something on Friday. He already had plans. I suggested we could do something in the future. He said he'd call.

Mark never called.

I didn't have any other classes with him.

I never saw Mark again.

Back in the saddle? Nope. It took a little while longer. 

And maybe that's why I'm sometimes so hesitant about "making the first move". I have a hard time distinguishing between when a guy wants to just be friends/be nice and when a guy is interested. 

I've scoured the internet and let me tell you... the answers are ridiculous. The only good answer I get is from my SIL: "You just need more data. Keep gathering information."

So I gather... and gather... but then I have a bad habit of analyzing the gathering. Darn advanced degree that doesn't allow me to just gather. 

So, if you have any conclusions as to how to tell whether or not a guy is interested or just being friendly—please hit me up in the comments. It's going to save me another round of embarrassment. (And one day, I'll compile my own list and share it here.)

Tech Thursday: Digital Media and Teens/Kids

Sometimes, as a 20-something year old (I can still say that for another 6 months), I believe that my generation rules the world. We are the ones developing the cool social media tools. But I really think that social media explodes when the next generation gets involved. 

I have a niece who is on Instagram and she explodes my feed when she's with her friends. I love it but let's be honest, she's going to keep Instagram going, not me who uploads every few days (and if we're honest, it's mostly of food).

The following is an infographic I found about how "youth" (or teens/kids as I like to call them) are using social media:

 [source]

I love infographics. Really, if I could be a graphic designer, I would love my life. But I just don't think that way. 

The most interesting finding to me is that information skills are acquired through personal and social activities can benefit learning in the academic context. It's really important that with all of the social media teens and kids are exposed to, that they have an opportunity to interact in real life and learn important skills that are necessary for their further success.

So, while we let the kids and teens on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram, let's make sure that they're also hanging out with their friends IRL (in real life).

Wednesday Letters: Ode to My Bicycle

Dear Shirli (aka my bicycle),

I have been in love with you since my parents gave you to me for Christmas. We only rode together once, down to Lucy Q's house and I knew that we were going to be the best of friends.

February brought more sunshine and warmer weather (unusually warm) and a Saturday ride with some other friends. But then I put you away thinking that when it got warmer we'd take rides everywhere.

I failed in that regard.

Until a week ago this past Saturday. I pulled you out and we rode for maybe three miles. That was all I had time for. But since then, I've fallen back in love with you. We've already gone eight miles and seven miles another day. 

You really are my best friend and I hope for new rides. (Maybe I'm also hoping that you make my butt look tighter. Just sayin' it'd be nice.)

Love,

Emery

Currently, Volume I

I love lists.

I have to-do lists at work, and to-do lists for home. And to-do lists for school.

Since my classes begin again this week, I'm going to give you a sneak peek into my currently lists:

Music:

1. She's So Mean by Matchbox Twenty

2. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson

3. Waiting by Matt Wertz

4. Use Somebody by Tyrone Wells

TV Shows

1. Bunheads (ABC Family)

2. Perception (TNT)

3. Suits (USA Network)

4. White Collar (USA Network)

(I might be more in love with summer television than I am when it's the normal season)

All other quirky things:

Green or purple click pens

fabric shopping

sewing

new books

writing (duh)

pool time

8 mile bike rides (I really need to get a water bottle holder though...)

What are some of your current favorites? Do you have a favorite tune that you want to play in the car? Favorite TV show? Perhaps favorite book? I'd love to hear about it!

Saturday Stories: Drummers always win

I was in love with a drummer once.

He was in a band in high school. I didn't meet him until my senior year. I still remember seeing his band play and thing he was so cute. I knew the lead singer from junior high and the bassist was in my physics class. So I got some cash and I bought a CD. 

When the drummer walked by, I asked him to sign my cd. He agreed. And when he looked down at me with those blue eyes and asked if I was THE Emery Scott, my heart fluttered. 

We had been childhood friends. Went to preschool together. He used to play with me and my twin. He knew who I was. He could describe the outfits I used to wear. 

For four months, I dreamed and crushed on this boy. This cut boy who knew who I was. I went to every show. I befriended the band and became their groupie, hoping that he would notice me.

That was 11 years ago. We became friends on Facebook, but then I decided that it's probably best not to try and continue to live in the past. So I unfriended him. (I'm particular about my friends on Facebook). 

But I still love to sometimes think of those blue eyes and that kind drummer. 

Wednesday Letters: Late Night Chats

Dear Sister-in-Law,

Thanks for staying up later than normal to chat with me and alleviate my stress about this Friday. I sure have missed these talks since you've been off in Europe for awhile. 

And I'm guessing we're probably going to have more of these chats. At least, that's what I'm hoping for. 

Love,

Emery

Fresh Start

I'm actually always grateful when Monday comes around. 

I have more energy on Monday than I do on Friday.

Plus, I get to put the past week behind me. Wednesday was my death day last week.

I had to be somewhere by 3:45 AM. I had to drive myself. So that meant I had to be awake and take a shower before leaving on said adventure. 

From there, I returned home to nap, shower, and prepare myself for a wedding. Then I went into work again for another hour before trekking north. 

The wedding was lovely. The drive home at 9:30 PM was not. 

But while I was in the land northward, I stopped by one set of grandparents' grave. Grandma passed away in March and I haven't been to visit since. I don't do death or aging really well. But I went and had a long talk with Grandma and Grandpa. 

In all honesty, they probably thought I was silly to be sitting there talking with them. But I just needed to express some things out loud, without my friends listening. 

And I believe they heard and laughed with me and maybe shed a tear. 

But the best part of Monday? It's putting away all my worries from last week, and starting fresh again. No mistakes. Not a big to-do list. 

TGIM... Thank God It's Monday.

Saturday Stories: Flirting At It's Best

I have never been a good flirt.

I feel like flirting requires some serious confidence. Confidence that I sorely lack when it comes to dealing with boys. I have plenty of confidence as we sit and watch football or another sporting match and I rattle of the lingo based on years of observing my father watch my brothers and asking him questions. But having confidence to flip my hair and not feel like I'm losing IQ points—this is a problem.

So, after taking a year and a half break, I found myself surrounded by some guys. I was still unsure of the whole flirting business. I didn't know how to do it. One of the guys asked me if I was free sometime that week.

This is it, I thought. A guy is finally asking me on a date.

He smiled and said, "I need you to babysit."

My face fell. I was confused. "Babysit? Who?"

"Me."

No one laughed. He didn't even laugh. I'm still unsure whether he was joking or was serious. We didn't make any plans at that time. We never went out. 

And since then, I've tried not to be too harsh.

Although, a couple of weeks ago I was forced to sit through looking at comics while the artist looked on. I'm still not sure what he thought he'd accomplish, except to discover that I don't have his type of humor.

Also, remember nerdy boy from work? Perhaps we've been sharing an office for a month. And maybe I had to move offices on Friday. And maybe we are going out next Friday? (YAY!)

Wednesday Letters: Numbers on the Clock

Dear 2:40 AM,

I didn't even know you existed (except for the rare case of the flu).  And this morning, I greeted you so that I could get down to work on a film set.

I hope we don't meet again any time soon.

Regards,

Emery

Makes Me Laugh

There are some times when you need a good laugh.

This one got me on Sunday:

Happy Tuesday!

Prankster

I'm not sure when it happened. 

At my last job, I became known as the prankster. The one who would instigate any and all pranks. I don't know if that's true. But I do have a bit of a mischievous side.

When I started work at my new job, I had transferred from one department in my company to another. I was working with people who were closer in my age. I assumed that pranks were encouraged.

My boss (who was only a few months older than me) had a habit of leaving his computer unlocked. So while walking by, I would check to see if he was there. If he wasn't, I would stop in and send some random email to an unsuspecting member of our team. A rather harmless email... that would cause some confusion. He never learned. This happened three or four times.

My favorite prank though came on April Fools' Day. He and I had my annual review with my salary raise (and it was a generous raise). There had been talk that another department was looking for someone and they had begun to ask me to apply for the new position. I went up to my boss' office and said we need to chat. I told him that the new department had offered me a job and I was going to take it. 

We sat for a good 15 seconds. His face turned pale. He was speechless (which was unheard of for him).

I couldn't take the feeling of discomfort.

"April Fool's!" I laughed.

It took him another 10 seconds to register what had just happened.

That story made it around our group as the best payback the boss ever had (considering that he was a major prankster, it only seems appropriate that he was taken down by a better one). 

But I'm still waiting for the day that I can play this prank on someone:

You better watch out if you're my co-worker....

Wednesday Letters: New Apartment

Dear New Apartment:

I know you're out there, somewhere.
I'm having trouble finding you.
I'm flexible in my rent (though not terribly flexible... I'm still looking for a good deal) 
and I'm good with certain areas. (I just don't want to live below gypsies with the laundry room being the cement hut under the back porch.
Could you throw up the signal when I'm getting close? I'd rather play the hot/cold game when I know where to look.

Looking for you desperately,

Emery