Tony - First week at Cornell

Hey Everyone,

I'm about to start my second week at Cornell and things are going pretty smoothly. When I showed up here last week I was pretty lonely. I had pretty much nothing to do and knew no one in town. In those dark times I turned to food for consolation and gained a solid 30 pounds. However, things started turning around on Monday when I received a $11000.00 stipend check to last me until January... its a strange feeling to have your bank account double in a day. On Tuesday I got to meet people in my department and started getting to know the 17 other students in my year. Once I got to know these people, things started getting a lot better. Seven of them are from upstate NY so we've got a lot in common and most everyone seems pretty cool. A group of us even went out to dinner and to a bar on Friday and I had a lot of fun. So all in all, I'm pretty optimistic about Cornell at this point.

I had a few interesting things happen to me over this week that are worth noting. For one, I learned that my 4 person apartment has 2 empty rooms for the time being. Apart from being fucking awesome, I manged to open up the empty rooms with a credit card and now have spare guest bedrooms for any visitors. My only other house-mate is from India and has only been in America for a few weeks. Hes nice enough but we don't have a lot in common so its unlikely that we'll become best buds anytime soon.
Also, I run into Leah Elliot all the time. She's a lot cooler now (she taught me the credit card trick for opening apartment locks) and even gave me some tomatoes from her garden which is incidentally right outside my apartment.
By the way, the bathing suit chain was successfully completed yesterday.

Thats about all for now. Its a bit difficult adjusting to Cornell. Everything computer-associated is unnecessarily complicated and it feels like the university tries to squeeze a lot of money out of you for nothing (for example, printing costs $0.09 a sheet). Every other student has a difficult-to-understand accent and I never catch the faint aroma of weed. Most of these instances make me sigh and say "I miss Skidmore." This of course makes the international studient I am talking to look at my quizzically. Nevertheless, I think I'll get use to it all and am now looking at this year with cautious optimism instead of impending doom.

Tony out.

Lizzie

So I talked to the Peace Corps yesterday and they told me that I won't be able to go until next spring. I would be going to an African country still but this time it won't be a country where they speak a romance language, I'll be learning a local language. I'm kind of intrigued.

I'm actually not as frustrated as I thought I would be. I'll be going sometime between April-June and I am officially placed in a program so I don't have to worry about being bumped out again. So, the plan right now is to move to Boston on October 1st and find a job. I also sent an email to that friend of my mom's friend who is building a resort in Patagonia in Chile, so maybe I'll spend a couple of months in Chile this winter too...

So, hopefully Obama wins in November and the Peace Corps will still exist next spring because who knows what McCain will do to it.

Last weekend was fun! I'll come visit sometime again. After you all left Erin, Diddy, and I saw Mr. Big from Sex and the City walking around 10th Ave. We walked about 50 blocks, I bought beads at an amazing bead store, and then little Shakespeare accompanied us to a Japanese restaurant in the village and we walked over the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset.

Caitlin - This Weekend

Hello Guys,

Much to sort out before Friday.

Erin called me a few days ago and said she would be coming down to join us. She's driving down with her parents on Saturday but doesn't know when she'll be getting in. I thought about saying we'd just stay in the city that day so she could find us, but she's still going to have a years worth of suitcases with her, so that's not really going to be a solution. We haven't quite figured this out.

Erin also needs a place to stay. She leaves for China at 6 AM on Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, I really can't leave work on Monday, wait for Andy to get in to Grand Central Station at 8, to take her back to my home to pick up her stuff and then drive back to the Queens to the airport. Is there space at your house Em? It might make more sense because she could walk across to the subway and take the E to Jamaica. If it's too cramped, someone at your house can stay at mine.

Any ideas?

Can't wait to see you all!

Phred

Hi Everyone!!! :-)

I finally decided to log onto the blog and read everything and actually make a post. It seems like my life has been recapped by other people so I don't have much to add! Kathy Griffin live in Canandaigua New York was one of the funniest moments of my life. Lets see... what else happened? I hung out with Erin and played Risk most of the summer. I also became friends with this guy Nick -- not posting the details of that on the internet ;-) Mmmmmm.... I got home yesterday from Skidmore. Go to China in 6 days. I miss all of you a lot :-( It sounds like you're all having a fun time in NYC!!!

Ooooh and uuuh... my cat just puked (again).

<3
Phred

Tony - Skidmore Visit

Hey guys,

I just wanted to write and say that my visit to Skidmore was awesome. It was great seeing Andy, Matt, and other college friends. We found a pool in spa state part that had an awesome water slide and we also went out on saratoga late in Ryan's party boat (Ryan is Dave Steinberger's friend from home). I also had a few wonderful gin and tonics with erin and phred.

I know you guys are gonna have an awesome time next week in NYC. I wish I could come, but grad school orientation starts that week. Make sure that you all take lots of pictures and post them on facebook so I can look through them while I'm all alone in Ithaca. In a week or two, I'll tell you guys all about Cornell and the wild adventures I have there.


Tony


PS: I left my bathing suit in Saratoga springs by accident. Andy picked it up for me and decided to give it to Lizzie when he visits Martha's vineyard this weekend. Then Lizzie can give it to Leah next weekend who can give it back to me the weekend after next. I'm mainly writing this to ensure that the bathing suit delivery chain isn't broken, but I also though that it was a funny story.

Leah

I am so super excited to see a bunch of you next weekend! I left a comment under Lizzie's last post just so you all know whats up with me for that weekend. If you could all (well those of you who are going) could read that, that would be great.

Anyone have ideas on what to do on Friday afternoon? Where to eat? etc?
I assume Cait knows the low-down for Saturday?
Sunday?

Nothing else too new with me. I'm just looking forward to seeing you all. Tony has made me ansty because he's at Skidmore seeing Erin, Phred, Andy and Dave. I just really need some time with non-pet, non-coworker, non-family type people. :)

love,
Leah

the social events coordinator has a plan:

Dear Friends,

Here’s a possible itinerary:

Friday: I arrive at noon and Claire arrives at 1PM both at JFK. So, Diddy said she’d come to the airport to find me, then we can go find Claire and the three of us will take the AirTrain to the city and then find Cait somewhere at a subways stop of her choice. Then, Leah and Lauren will come from NJ and find us somewhere and Gretchen will find us in this mystery location whenever she gets in.

Saturday: This is the best day to go to Long Island (see Gretch’s comment on Cait’s post for why). Yay for wine and goats!

Sunday: we will probably meet back in the city (if everyone wants to), brunch with mimosas anyone???? We can wander about while Lauren has her interview and everybody can leave when they need to. I leave Monday morning at 8:40AM from JFK.

Do we like this plan? Everyone please reply with when and where she will be arriving on Friday and when and where she will be leaving from on Sunday.

Love,

Your social events coordinator

Reunion

Hey guys,

Lizzie came up with the bright idea (as I was also contemplating) of spending one of the days of our reunion exploring the Long Island vineyards, visiting a goat farm, and and just generally relaxing by the sea. Is anyone else up for a day away from the city and closer to the ocean?

Claire

OMG. Okay, I'll write a real post here in a couple days when I finish the projects I'm working on, but I was just told something I must share:

Sheldon Solomon's son is one of my London kids.

....... ?!?!?!!!?!??!?!? ...........

I can't wait for this, and yet I'm terrified of the possibilities.

Gretchen

So, I don't really remember when I last updated but I thought that I should say something.

Work is going well. I am drawing blood, giving shots, assisting with colposcopies, pap smears, vaginal infection tests, etc. etc. Work is fun and good, although sometimes stressful.

It was super awesome to see Leah and Lauren and Tony and Mark the other weekend. It felt like old times. lol

I can't really think of anything else to say. I got new glasses after spending 5 hours in the eye doctors. It turns out my optic nerves are two different sizes, which probably doesn't mean anything. I got to have pictures of my retinas taken though -- how exciting!

Last weekend, Ben and I went to a Jim Henson exhibit at one of the Smithsonian Galleries. I got to see the real Ernie and Bert, Kermit, Rowlf, and Fraggle Muppets. That was the highlight of my weekend. Next weekend, we will probably go out to dinner and go swimming at the neighboring apartment pool.

I really can't think of anything else to say, so I will post this and then if I think of anything, I will update!

MISS everyone! See you all in NYC!

Lizzie-nothing of huge importance has happened to me yet i still insist on writing a detailed account of my life thus far.....

Hello Friends,

First, to answer the question I’m sure you all have: No, I still have no news from the Peace Corps. I wrote a long, thorough email to the placement woman who had me rewrite my essay asking her what my next step is, if I’m still be considered for programs in September, or if I wouldn’t be leaving until later. I received a response that said “Your Placement Officer is reviewing your application and trying to locate a match between your skills and the needs of our host countries.” So, I learned nothing new, poo.

I just want to know if I’ll be leaving in the near future or not until next spring or something. Because, if I’m not leaving until later I’m gonna get off this rock. My best friend Katie is moving back into her apartment in Boston with Aaron (Leah, remember him?) and they asked me to live with them which I would love love love to do if I won’t be in some corner of the world. My friend who I studied with in Argentina got her invitation to the Peace Corps she’ll be going to Mozambique on September 29^th, it would be so amazing if I get invited to that program too!!

So, besides waiting and waiting, I’ve been reading books and blogs by Peace Corps volunteers, going to the beach (I’ve got some sweet tan lines haha), getting my butt kicked in some awesome yoga classes, working, and I started knotting pearl strands for a jeweler for some extra money on the side. Last weekend my parents were away so my brother and I wanted to have a little party with all our friends. He cooked his famous ribs with garlic mashed potatoes. We seriously called EVERYONE in our phones inviting people but everyone was either away, busy, not answering their phones, or vegetarians. So, just us two ate. Then, Kylie and Sean came over and we ate fondue out of the fondue holder my brother bought me for my birthday. We played a drinking game to Superbad, every time someone referenced a certain male organ we drank. And that was our rockin party.

I don’t know if I told you yet, but Sean and Kylie are moving to New Zealand in September, meaning I will have friends in all corners of the world: Argentina of course, New Zealand, China, England, Spain, Mozambique, Honduras, NYC, DC, etc… Andy’s coming the weekend before NYC weekend and I think he’s bringing Meredith with him too, so that’ll be fun. Sadly, I couldn’t get Erin and Phred to come visit. Erin didn’t want to take off another Friday to come because she’s going to her friend’s baby shower next weekend. Phred’s going to see Kathy Griffin next weekend, haha how great is that?

Yesterday, I got yelled at by the rudest woman ever at my bead store. She was angry that she found a bead kit we sell at another store for cheaper and wanted to return it. We only return for store credit and we have signs explaining this and it says it on the receipt. But, she gave me attitude and was just not nice. For some reason, August people here are mean, it happens every summer. After work though, I went to my godmother’s 50^th birthday party with my parents and all their buddies. It just made me think of how in a few years I am going to be/want to be just like them. All the ladies (who are all in a book club together and go away on girls weekends) were drinking champagne and playing musical chairs, while the guys were doing shots and talking about the Red Sox.

On a sadder note, my grandmother is in the hospital again and tells us she doesn't want to get better this time. She has congestive heart failure. My mom told her she has to stay alive long enough for my brother and I to go visit her. This is my nanny, the spunky irish lady who's been telling us she's gonna die for the past ten years. I was planning on visiting her once I knew when I would be going to the Peace Corps, but I may have to move up that trip.

Sorry, that was a long update, but you should know by now that I like to describe every detail of my life to others… I’m sure you’ve seen my pictures on Facebook.

I can’t wait until our reunion! Like I said earlier, I arrive Friday at noon will hang out in JFK until Claire arrives, at which point I guess we will try and find Dodd/Cait. A note to Diddy: I don’t think I’ll be able to bring a sleeping bag because I am flying on itty bitty planes (eek scary!) that won’t let me check luggage so will you have a blanket or something? I will, however, be able to fit my hypoallergenic travel pillow in Surrey Cruise. Let me know if that’s a problem.

LOVE,

Lizzie