one step forward, one back

I was feeling better about things after I volunteered at two events this week. One event was the show-off days for my grad school. I was asked to volunteer as the J.D./M.A. representative to answer any questions for accepted students. I considered it an honor and was more than happy to help. It's weird how my feelings toward the two graduate schools can be so disparate. Anyway, the new acceptees were amazing people: interesting, smart, nice, well-spoken, and well-traveled. It really lifted my spirits to talk to all these new people. I picked up some of their excitement about this school and the privilege of learning here. I also must admit it was a bit of a confidence boost to share all my experiences here in Denver. It was like a little review and reminder that I have worked hard, done some interesting things, and really gotten a lot out of my M.A. program. Also, um, it was nice to actually know the answers to the questions I was being asked. I almost felt like a competent expert in something again because, as my brother said, grad (law) school is very disempowering.

The second volunteer event was that I was a judge for a high school international development problem-solving competition. Much like Oddessy of the Mind, Future Problem Solvers or Gateway, these kids were given a problem related to the Millenium Development Goals and had to solve it. I judged three rounds. I must say, my teams weren't fabulous, but there were some stars who were very sharp and creative. It really made me proud of the kids and happy that 'international development' is permeating the secondary, public education system. These kids will be my peers one day! It also felt nice to give back and be connected with my community even if only for a few days. I miss that - donating my time and working in and with my multi-generational and -cultural community.

Otherwise, the weekend was mainly studying and job stuff, with some chores like laundry, cleaning, and grocery shopping. After a short afternoon trail run, I was feeling not too bad and starting to think I could handle this unknown/transition thing. Then, I cooked a really nice dinner, set the table for three and did some work until my guest showed up. Then I did more work. Still no guests. More work. No guests. Finally, over an hour later, I figured my guests weren't coming and put things away, just eating some of the salad by myself. I guess they forgot. I feel bummed about it. I feel like 'why bother.' Why bother with people, with Denver, with trying to stay engaged until I leave. I mean, I don't even think I ever even was able to engage in Denver. People here don't make it easy. I'm trying to shake it off and stay focused on exams and jobs. I just wish I hadn't spent all the money on food I now probably wont be able to eat fast enough before it either goes bad or I am sick of it.

Shaking it off.

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Snowy Monday

This weekend was great - had dinner at a professor's house on Friday night. Saturday I worked on my book review all day until I went to the Tiesto concert at night. So fun! I love love love Tiesto. The concert wasn't sold out or anything, but there were a ton of people there. For some reason, a bunch of girls befriended me (a girl, alone at a concert). Nice people, I felt like I had to have my guard up a little, though, what with the dark/crowded/drugs. But generally, I felt really relaxed and "ser" happy during the concert. That music really puts me in a weird trance (I swear, no drugs!). I can only compare it to cruising in "the zone" I get somewhere around mile 24 in the marathon. Pretty great concert!

Sunday I got up early, finished my book review, worked out, and then spent the rest of the afternoon working on a project for mining. I'm going to present tomorrow on Foreign Investment Climate/Risks in Colombia. It's super interesting, but I have much to do! I also have another presentation on CAFTA and the current trade dispute between Central American countries and the Dominican Republic. They're fighting over these nylon bags and plastic cord of string -- I'm going to argue there are deeper non-trade political reasons behind the dispute.

OH! And, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. A good day for Burma!

It's snowing this morning - I love it!

Happy Halloween

But. But. But.

But my favorite month ends in less than 4 hours. How could it go that quickly!? Couldn't March go that quickly. Couldn't driving through Connecticut go that quickly? Couldn't the rest of law school go that quickly?

I've been working on my paper and other studying all weekend. I went for two walk/jogs. I'm currently at Whole Foods for a quick stop before heading home to study more. It seems depressingly endless.

This will be a difficult next few weeks. I can't say I'm looking forward to it. Here's what's coming up:

Nov 2 - 25 page Ethics paper
Nov 6 - First part of the Bar Exam (Professional Ethics)
Nov 9 - Memo for Mining class due
Nov 11 - Trade paper (25? 30 pages?)
Nov 15 - Book review (15 pages)
Nov 16 - 5 page narrative paper
Petroleum Paper & Presentation
Mining Paper & Presentation
Trade Presentation

This is all on top of regular class and reading

the month we've been waiting for

October is my favorite month. It's not quite the same out here in Colorado where the highs are still upper 80s or even lower 90s, and the leaves are sort of a pale brown, tan color before they fall off the trees. I miss New England fall. We used to have such beautiful runs for cross country. I'm going to try to make the most of it out here. I went to Vail and western Colorado to see the yellow aspens change colors. I've been going for bike rides outside and walks at night. We're already 4 days in, so I'd better get going on making October great!

Last weekend:

went to symphony (heard Beethoven)
went to a "Progressive Potluck"
took naps
went for 2 bike rides
went for 3 walks

food, my real love

Friday:

After work I skipped on over to Baltimore for dinner with my friend to grab dinner after checking out her work's impressive farmer's market and farm, Real Food Farm. They try to bring healthy food options to Baltimore, where there are basically no grocery stores, and cheap food options are essentially limited to fast food and your pick of fried-Chinese-Pizza-Liquor "carry out."

Oh my goodness. I seriously cannot remember the last time I ate such a fine meal! We went to Brewer's Art. I ate the Peppadew Pepper Polenta. It was: Miss Cathy's Mozzarella (cheese made-in-house), Local Farm Ratatouille (fresh zukes, squashes and greens), Cherry Tomato Coulis, Parmesan Cream, sprinkled with some endive lettuce and fresh baguette on the side. To drink I got the made-in-house, Brewer's Art "Wit Trash" Belgian Ale. It was light wheat beer with hints of coriander and lemon peel. Really, on the train ride home I tried my hardest to remember my last comparable meal and couldn't think of one!

All this fine dining made me search around for new places to try back in Denver. I came up with two. Both are pricey, but I truly would rather give up all crappy $10 sandwiches and $2 coffees that I could make myself to save up for a delicious, real meal. One is Fruition and the other is Root Down. I have been by Fruition a million times, but the Root Down place looks amazing and I can't believe I've never heard of it before. Here's what their website says:

We want the food at Root Down to be sensational—that is, igniting all the senses to create a full dining experience. Following a “field to fork” mentality, we prefer to stay as organic, natural and local as possible. Root Down serves “globally influenced seasonal cuisine,” which basically means we go where inspiration leads us. We’re not tied to one style or genre—we’re hoping to create one of our own.

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Saturday:
101 degrees and 71% humidity today

I went to visit Grandma and was dripping wet for hours. I'm pretty sure I smelled, too. Fortunately for all involved, one can't smell oneself and Grandmas can't smell anything.

When I got home, I immediately stripped to my underwear and have not been able to force myself either to put more clothes on or to leave the A.C. I set it at about 79 or 80, which feels heavenly, these days.

An aside: I am feeling guilty for not carrying around my camera and posting snazzy photos for my bloggie. I know everyone loves looking at photos. The guilt is manifesting itself in this post with lots of links to other sites. You know, to make up for the lack of photos on my website, you can see photos on other people's websites. Pretty ingenious of me, no?

What's going on

Must sleep, but didn't want to leave the bloggie!

Here are some highlights from the weekend:

• bike 50 miles (round trip) to a u-pick blueberry farm (got 1 quart + whatever I ate while picking).
• saw the awesome Quaker private high school that my friend teaches at
• saw Golem at the Jewish Music Festival
• hung out with Grandma
  
• got some pretty flowers from the farmer's market
• hung out with college friends who made delicious dinner

I've also been listening to this one song by Sabina a lot. I can't find a great recording online, but the version I have is somehow more acoustic, harrowing, desperate and beautiful. It makes me want to learn how to sing. Maybe I'll practice it in the shower. Here's an okay version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPJlBxkWuj4&feature=related

Freeday!

Hurrah! It's Friday and I am off to have some fun. This week was a doozy. Don't get me wrong - I love it! The busy, crazy running around trying to get a million things done, catching up with lots of people and (admittedly) little sleep. Going to First Friday tonight, then dancing. Other adventures in store for the rest of the weekend. Lots of studying, going to climb at the REI wall, sushi girl dinner, running. Can't wait!

And, because this actually is my personal space to rant, consider the following:

What the f. is up with the streets of Denver!? I have fallen 5 times this winter (don't tell mom!). Every time I fall, I scrape up my knees, go through a bunch of bandaids and get some pretty nice bruises. Grrrr. The latest, yesterday morning, some dude just happened to be there and says, "Woa, that sucks!" Pretty solid way to start a Thursday morning.

Dear Denver:

Please fix your sidewalks and have street lights that actually illuminate the sidewalks. Also, if you could arrange for the sun to rise a bit earlier that would be fine by me.

Cheers,

capecodchica.

I'm out, going to look for some mischief, you coming? ;)

Weekend recap

I let the bloggie slip for a week. Opa! Here are a few highlights from this past weekend:

1. The perfect bite? I met a friend for lunch at the Hornet, a restaurant just a few blocks away that I had never been to before. I pass it every time I take the bus, so I've been curious about it for awhile. I got an Ahi tuna wrap sandwich with some mango salsa and avocado all mushed in there. It came with sweet potato fries, too. Pretty delicious.

2. I went out Saturday night for a friend's surprise party organized by her husband. It made me so happy to see her so thrilled. She really was surprised and kept saying, "I can't believe you all came here just for me. Thank you so much for coming!" Adorable.

3. Face it or not (ahem, anyone remember Birthright trip 2008?), I actually got a little tipsy on Saturday night! Perhaps it was the fact that I started off by getting a FREE cocktail? Or the fact that I got myself second one, or maybe it was the next two drinks? Ha! I was just having a good time, totally in control, but relaxing a bit more than usual. I ended the night perfectly by taking a cab home and having a really nice conversation in Spanish with my Cuban driver. Seriously, I always get the coolest cab drivers!

4. Driving home from the grocery store I saw my friend walking her dog! I honked, waved and pulled over. With groceries still in the car, I parked and went for a walk with her and her dog, Max. Moments and happen-upons like that make me feel like I'm starting to have a community here, learn Denver, and connect with good people.

Weekend recap

Well! A boring old weekend. I'm not complaining, sometimes it's nice to lounge around and pick my way through the massive amount of work.

Friday night I decided to make macaroni and cheese from scratch. We never had this growing up because Dad couldn't have milk. At best, we begged for the Kraft box of toxic orange, fake cheesiness. Sigh. We didn't even know what we were missing. Anyway, I got a recipe off NYTimes and this Mac & Cheese was not kidding around. Tons of Gruyere and Cheddar, homemade croutons on top. Etc. I had to freeze a ton and give some away to my friend so I won't drop dead of a heart attack in two days. After that, I finished the home-body's night by going on a cleaning rampage. I feel much better. It's nice to have a clean place when you go away. It's even nicer to have a clean place when you come back. It also seems to help me with studying.

Saturday I slept in because I felt a little sickie. I ran mid-morning (City Park Loop), did some work, and got my haircut. I confirmed that I love this place, Allure. It was time: I could see the split ends and I wasn't even trying! Anyway, no one will notice, but I'm happy it's not so raggedy after the whole summer and fall of running in the sun. This place is just a few blocks away so I can walk. They also have lemon water and cookies while you're waiting (didn't try) and Michelle is super friendly. None of that awkward silence or painful chit chat that makes me hate going usually. And, it's cheap! I skyped Dinta Bint and then (hurrah!) finished my urban planning law paper. I'll write about that in another post, but I wrote about a housing policy in Santiago, Chile. I thought it was pretty interesting. I walked to Cafe Europa in the early evening with some Federal Indian Law reading. I didn't stay too long, though, because soon after I got there, the new art show had its reception and people were staring at me because I was sitting next to the wall with the art. I was there first, people! No fair! They have pretty good lemon mango tea with real chunks of mango in it. Then I had a long phone chat with my high school friend. Walked home in the beginnings of snow.

Sunday - Ha! Woke up to a good 6 inches of snow and still coming. Went running with JB for 45 min, slogging through the snow. It was pretty, though! Didn't see many (any?) other runners. We also ran pretty much down the middle of the road, even Speer Blvd! Spent the day doing work and bumming around my apartment. Lame.

Here goes - 1 week until classes are over, Philly marathon, going back East to see everyone!

Keeping calm and carry on...