Laundry

Laundry has defied me. I've today realized how clueless I am. I'm lost without my own washer/dryer. Paying for laundry feels absolutely alien to me because I've been doing it for free forever! And these machines don't have designated, distinct holes in which I may pour the detergent and subsequently the fabric softnener, I actually have to wait by my machine until it reaches spin cycle...how primitive!
Moreover, I naturally assumed that detergent & fabric softener would be available for purchase right in the very vicinity. It's not. I have to go outside and walk up to town to buy it. Something so simple and routine as doing laundry, I took for granted.

BRB spin cycle.

The dryers are out to get me. My laundry has finished, done completely, clean and wet. I unload the washer and place all my laundry in the dryer. I am now searching for the coin button. Searching high, searching low, searching left, searching right. No damn coin button. I am now scrutinizing the machine, meticulously running my eyes from left to right, leaving no square centimeter overlooked. There is no slot for coins, and no sign saying that it doesnt accept coins. At that very moment, when I noticed a slit for a card, one of my fellow laundry doing counterparts informs me that this machine only takes pre-paid cards. I swipe a stupid smile across my face and begin to unload, again.

Second machine, way to down on the other end is empty. I check to see a coin slot, and bingo, I have found my match. I load my wet clothes into the machine, insert 75 cents and press start. Nothing happens. I press colors, nothing; permanent press, nada. At this point I start banging the machine. Piece of shit stole my money.

...Until, I see, the button to the right is for the dryer below and the button to the left is for the dryer above. I had pressed the button to the right, my dryer however, was the one above. I conveniently added an extra 45 minutes to the dryer beneath my own. hmph!

Yes, indeed, laundry has defied me.

Movie Thyme

Saw the movie Sideways last night.
Thought it was sensational. SO much so that I'd like to read the book. Their always better than the movies, hands down.
Would become an avid movie goer if more movies like that were produced.
Currently watching one of my favorites...Forrest Gump.

That's all I have to say about that.

Friendship..part II

How does one know when a friendship goes sour? Sometimes the signs are right in front of your face, and you can either choose to ignore them, or choose to be blind. When do people really start acting 'different' and when are they 'growing'? Do we ever really grow anyway, or are we just evolving. And what do 'different interests' really entail anyway and since when is that a justifiable reason to end what once was a very good relationship. We all have different interests, otherwise, we'd be like the Stepford wives... and we are not Stepford. We learn to cope with our differences, work around them, and at best, understand and incorporate a piece of them into our very lives. But when people stop doing this, is it because they don't want to anymore, or they simply just can't.
So much time put into something so rare, and such a shame when it goes to waste, via no fault of your own nonetheless. A true friendship is so rare indeed. I never thought so, I believed this to be a cynical perspective on camaraderie. I thought friends came easily and were let go hard. I once believed I could trust people simply because they could trust me. I believed it to be as simple and tautological as that.
Boy has life proved me wrong.
And the loss of friendship hurts. It hurts more than a breakup with a boyfriend or a ripped in half nail. Perhaps because the latter two are replaceable and will heal eventually, but the former, as least the good ones, are so hard to find.

My friend...or foe?

SO, my period has decided to skip the month of February altogether. Perhaps her logic being that February is the shortest month, and she does not want to waste her precious time on it's mere 28 days. She has become so selfishly demanding that now even days of the month piss her off. Sooner or later the 30 day months too, will be kicked to the curb and I'd be left with an erratic menstruating cycle that came to visit only on January,March,May,July,August,October & December. Seven out of twelve ain't bad! Maybe the selective nature she's picking up can do me some good after-all. If only she could be consistent, or at least call to tell me she'll be late.
What an inconsiderate bitch !

Testing

Second week at my new job and things are looking peachy. Apparently, four girls were hired and subsequently fired for the position just a week prior to my starting there. One can assume therefore that the Doctor is rather fond of me, thus he kept me : )

I learned how to take a cardiogram today. Unlike anything I ever had to do in any of my other jobs. Considering how varied and disparate they all are, I can call myself a renaissance woman, but that's a whole other blog entirely.

Anywho, was taught to take the cardiogram today and then was thrown into doing one 60 minutes later. I think the receptionist there is testing me. I know there'd be no way for me to learn unless I actually do something myself, but I was kind of thrown in the pool with no life jacket, so to speak. There I was by myself, with the patient just staring at me. I was a little nervous, and felt my heart palpatate, but could not ask for help. I knew this was a test. A test not only on how quickly I'm able to pick up on 1st-time instruction but on how confident enough I was to perform the exam... by myself... with no supervision.

I took a long, deep breath in. Let a slow, smooth breath out and I dove right in. I had doubts left and right but I didn't dare let it show. I was kept for a reason.

I set the patient up exactly as told, careful not to hurt him while I applied the mini-cardio readers. It didn't help that his wife was in the room either, burning a whole through my back with her eyes. I meticulously hooked the patient up to the machine, line by line, connecting each reader with a systematic form I didn't know existed an hour beforehand. I then typed in the proper codes, pushed a button for a reading and after a loud beep, a paper was produced. My very first cardiogram.

That little piece of paper, with all those swiggly lines, meant more to me than just any typical reading. That was my certificate of completion... I had passed the test.

God and my four-year old cousin

At my cousins house today, except, she's not here. My little cousin, Carloyn, however is, and she currently interrogating me on the existence of God. She just asked me if God is smart, to which I replied, yes. She then said, does he know we are here? To which I responded, yes. Then she asked me for the inexplicable...How does God know we are here? I was stumped. How does God know we are here. I could simply say, because he does, but I know that that answer would not suffice for a 4 year old. I said it anyway... it didn't suffice. She kept on... how is he so smart? How does he know all that he does? on and on and on. Then she said the cutest thing, is there a God in Nicaragua? I answered yes, and immediately started to blog about our little dialogue. She is now so mesmerized by the sound of my typing on the computer...and all her questions have stopped.
:-)

damn starbucks and their damn coffee

Grrrrrr.....

Why do I have to be broke? I barely have enough money for food everyday and I find myself in Starbucks time after time. And why the hell can't I stay away from Starbucks when I know DAMN-WELL that their coffee is SO over-rated and not worth the extra half hour spent in line or the money !
Damn Grande Caramel Machiatto's with Soy...... damn them to hell!

Meat or not? that is the question...

In Brooklyn for the weekend, visiting mom, and decided to do a bit of nutritional research.
The result:
Seriously contemplating a vegetarian diet.
Totally never knew of the inhumane & cruel slaughterhouses that killed 660,000 animals per hour for meat. Was completely ignorant to the detrimental side effects meat-eating diets consist of. Moreover, had no clue how much fat and cholesterol meat contained, aside from the fact that human beings are not even physiologically suited for a meat eating diet! Atkins--what? No thanks, I'll stick to my grains.

Why was I not taught this in health class? And why is Nutrition not a mandatory subject for high school graduation?

This system is so corrupt.

Adjusting to dorm life. i.e- food

Feeling more and more like Carrie Bradshaw with every new entry. Not only because I am now in the city, but also because I am now coming to you live, from my laptop. I am having dinner tonight for the first time since I moved in. I can tell already that I am becoming comfortable with my current living situation as I am starting to slowly regain my appetite. For some odd reason beyond any explicable revelation I can produce, I have not been able to eat a decent meal (or meal at all for that matter) since I moved in Monday afternoon. I've realized now that in unfamiliar situations my body reacts by shutting down... I have no appetite, no zest for rest, and cannot sit still really. I've always been a bit of a fidgeter anyhow, but situations like this only provoke my uneasiness. Thus, my eating tonight should be a good sign of some comfortability or familiarity taking place in my mind.

While in the communal kitchen, preparing my meal (or rather, boiling the water for my cup-o-noodle soup) I became acquainted with yet, two more of my neighbors. But of course, I forgot their names. Regardless, there is talk of a new girl in town. In case you were not paying attention...that would be me.

Another one of my neighbors smiled at me on the way to the kitchen. Amazing how much at ease a smile from a stranger can put you. It's like an unspoken covenant...I accept you as my friend.

Dorm Life - The new chapter

okay folks, i am experiencing a serious case of anomie here. second day at the dorms, tonight will be my second night. last night went well, considering there was a party at the dorm. probably emblematic of what dorm life represents in most people's minds, but not necessarily true per se. there was a b-day on my floor last night, thus, the birthday party. i heard a bunch of people outside my door, guys and girls, conversing, cracking jokes, laughing & blasting the television but i for some reason decided to be anti-social and not communicate with any of them. i kept my door shut and did not make a peep. last night would have essentially been the best time for me to get acquainted with my fellow counterparts, but i just was not in that type of mood. i did however need a scissor later on, so i asked my neighbor to spot me. nice gal, she invited me out for a drink, so, if i ever get lonely, i now have a drinking buddy.

last night was the first time in my life i had ever been by myself, theoretically speaking. empirically however, i am surrounded by college students to the left, right, up and down of me. i don't know anyone really, just some friends i made while in Argentina, and an old classmate of mine from last semester. wonderful people-- don't find many like them, i consider myself lucky in that respect. again, if i get lonely, they are merely footsteps from my door.

ahhh. have not written in a while. just wanted to babble. i see some people have been checking my page frequently for new posts. or am i being presumptuous? i have not had much time to write, given my hectic schedule, but as soon as i slip into a routine, something normal, that will stabilize me and pull me out of this anomie, i will keep a regular schedule as i did pre-argentina.

feel free to comment, i always enjoy what the reader's perspective entails.

-Maya

Venting, cuz I can't sleep @ 2am

Grrrrrrr....
How can everything be going right and wrong at the same damn time!!
I'm back from Argentina, getting into the swing of things, and they were just looking peachy keen. I'm joining Senior Senate this year, something I've wanted to do for so long. Not senior senate per se, but just becoming involved in some sort of academic extra curricular activity ( I feel that what I lacked in high school, I am making up for in college). All of this, I might add, only because of the fortunate coincidence of having the Student Government Chair as one of my roommates while in Argentina. (Thanks Cathy : )

To only add to my fortunate acquaintances, a close friend I made while there (which will have to remain unbeknownst to all until I graduate) has set me up lovely at the Hunter College dorms. Walked in, got my room, walked out, no questions asked -- possibly the easiest transaction in my lifetime, as for a transition, well that's a whole other story!

Why! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY must parents be so selfish!!! My mother is making it damn near impossible for me to leave. Instead of support, she gives me DAMN GOOD reasons of why I should NOT move out. I'm already afraid enough as it is, and now I have her ringing in my ear just solidifying the part of me that's actually scared to leave.

But thank God for brothers (and I NEVER thought I'd say that). Because they are the only ones who are supporting me. And my dear and beloved cousin Aracelis, who was ecstatic when I revealed the news to her.

But my mommy : ( my best friend in this world, is not happy with my decision, and it kills me to upset her, but I feel like this is something I need to embark on.
It's not like I'm leaving the damn country!! Or the state for that matter!! It's practically the same zip code for crying out loud!! But, parents will be parents...I guess.

AHHHHHHHHHHH!
I just needed to vent.
Thanks for reading.