i stole from jay paterno

I totally stole this twitpic from jay paterno, yeah, that JayPaterno: QB coach for the Penn State Nittany Lion football team, Son of JoePa...JayPa. Yes I follow him on twitter.

this is besides the point really. The point is I saw this picture and almost cried. Tears sprung to my eyes and I wished that instead of waiting for Nick to come home from BCK I was waiting for him to come over after a long day in the larch studio. We would walk downtown from my apartment or his to go play darts at Zeno's. Or maybe I'm homesick for Arrelaine and our long chats at the Dark Horse over a tasty Tonto's Demise. (which only became deeper on half priced nights)

I just get homesick, sometimes, for that town. My friend, Lee, referred to it once as "oz" and I truly believe it (as in wizard of...not the prison show). There were 60,000 of us college students there but somehow you found your "people" and made your world.

Thanks, Jay Paterno, for taking this picture. I wish I was walking downtown for a beer at the Sports Cafe to watch the Yankees game today.

my summer vacation

A fun six weeks. Here are some things I learned about myself and accomplished this summer::

1) I love watching the nuns recite the Holy Rosary on the Catholic channel. The sound is slightly haunting. Having grown up in a Protestant church I didn't have much exposure to nuns so I think that's what interests me so much. If you ever get a chance you should check this out. The nuns are in full garb and SO SOLEMN. There's one nun who is in a crazy trance looking state. It's AMAZING. Its also interesting that Mother Angelica looks like she is reading it each time even though they say their Hail Mary's over and over. I'm not making fun, I seriously love this show. The nuns, though all in habits, are all so different looking and how they pray is different. Is there a difference between nuns with white head covers and black head covers??

2) I accidentally taught my cat to drink from the faucet in the 1st floor bathroom. I was hanging laundry on the line with the window wide open. I didn't want him to jump out so I distracted him with running water to sip on. oops.

3) Kevin Kinsella continues to rock my world with his music.

4) Turns out I'm an expert taper/painter. All I need is a ZenCast and cool weather.

5) Walking in the morning is fun. I truly wish I could get my "sunshine booty" (as Kami says) up before school everyday and traipse around our neighborhood...

6) Canning is fun! and tasty! and good for the soul! (Kristina documented our last gathering - to make blueberry jam and peach salsa - here)

7) If left to not work for the rest of my life I would have the cleanest house ever. It turns out I have a very hard time sitting idle for long.

8) If I don't make a detailed list of things to do for my day when I'm off I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I feel guilty and depressed.

9) The list has to be detailed. Did I mention that? On my list of things to do this summer I included "write" -- what counts? I edited my thesis. I wrote some here. I think I intended to work on a major writing project. *sigh*

10) I have a patron! An anonymous donor gave me a laptop on which to write my first children's novel. I'm still brain storming ...

11) Becoming more aware of how I am really feeling is the key to being comfortable. Not just being aware of it, but acting on it, staying true to it. Those who actually love me for who I am will continue to love and support me.

12) I'm not much of a gardener but am thankful that my inlaws are! (yummy fresh food!!)

13) I heart Keb'Mo' !!

14) Sandwiches taste way better with 2 layers of romaine.

15) I can wear a real bikini (and did! for the first time in my life!)

16) Fruit-tea (caffeine free, all natural) iced with some flavored seltzer is DELICIOUS.

17) A house full of color makes me feel happy and comfortable

18) My life is full of blessings -- everywhere I turn I'm witness to the beauty in my world.

t-minus 10 days

I have ten days left of my summer vacation. I spent Monday of this week at the center putting up the name tags of my new loves. I can hardly wait to meet them. Summer has been a blast but I am missing the regularity of a schedule, the giggles and happiness of the children, rocking them, reading to them, singing with them... This year we are getting 18 new babes. The first few weeks are a challenge. We have to get to know the children, they are getting to know us, the room and the routine. It's still a blast, though. At least I can say it is right now from the comfort of my couch.

decade

A decade ago tonight I went to a guard party that turned into me going to a Yolk show with this guy I barely knew (accompanied by my friend, Lauren, riding in her '84 AMC Eagle woodie - i loved that car). The Yolk show turned into a walk around the West Side of Binghamton, during which Nick got lost and I got us found. (seems to remain true) That walk turned into sitting up all night talking until 5am when Nick drove me all the way back to East Windsor Rd. Dropping me off without even a smooch but a promise to call me.

I figured it was a good night of chatting, maybe some summer dating (free dinner, yeah!) but nothing more. He was a frat boy from Penn State, after all. We hung out all summer, but at the end we decided "whatever happens, happens." He was going to Italy for the spring semester, after all. Then I applied to Penn State, because another year of long distance was not an option...and hey, if we broke up there were 60,000 people on main campus, after all. I probably would never run into him and there would definitely be a big pool of eligible boys...but I never had to find out. It just kept going... with no problems... it was the weirdest thing... it still is. After all, we are the Miller-Corcorans.

clarifications and celebrations

I was at my grandpa's 80th birthday party yesterday (at which I was surrounded by my family filling my heart with so much thanks)... and I got a lot of "what the hell was that bubble thing about"? So let me try to clarify...

In the Buddhist way of thinking humans are the universe. You let go of the clinging to your possessions, your attachments, you desires - you are not "Kate", you are a piece of the universe. When I saw all of these people standing there jamming and dancing in such a way that they were not individuals but an experience, I thought of this quote. They are GrassRoots. Even up in the stands, you can feel it. The energy radiates this sense of "we're all in it together" (for the most part). It's incredible.

I also want to celebrate that MY THESIS IS OFFICIALLY SIGNED OFF ON AND COMPLETE!!!!

thank. god.

I handed it in on my way up to the lake last Tuesday. Now I feel as though I can compose my list of gratitude.

Here I am finishing the dang thing (nick came in the room and took it without my knowing, nice posture, ey?)



a couple of views from the lake:

GrassRoots : 2009

A myriad bubbles were floating on the surface of a stream. 'What are you?' I cried to them as they drifted by. 'I am a bubble, of course' nearly a myriad bubbles answered, and there was surprise and indignation in their voices as they passed. But, here and there, a lonely bubble answered, 'We are this stream', and there was neither surprise nor indignation in their voices, but just a quiet certitude. - Ask the Awakened by Wei Wu Wei...

Thesis Saga Part 92836152368

My thesis, yes the never ending SAGA of my thesis. As I said, I finally turned it in to the department with the blessings and love of my thesis advisor.

Here was the verdict on Friday::

Kate,

I am almost finished reading your thesis, and will have it in the mail to you on Monday. There are not many things to work on, but there are surface errors and some wording problems that need to be revised. The MA thesis must be pristine, as you know, so I will send it to you Monday for your revisions.

Just so I have a record of who it is, let me know the name of your thesis advisor. Thanks.

It is a lovely topic, and, for the most part, well executed.

****************************************************************************

Verdict Yesterday:::
Kate,

I did not make the morning mail, so your paper will go out tomorrow instead of today.

The main thing I need to say is that the paper had more problems than I had thought it would when I began reading it, and when I wrote to you on Friday.

You will see what I mean when you receive your paper, but because you had a thesis advisor who apparently did not see the problems in his editing of your paper, I am asking you to make sure you understand what they are, and to work to get the paper in shape. I know you are aiming for an August graduation deadline, and I want you to be able to succeed in that, so any revisions that I ask you to make will be, I understand, minimal.

The problems are still largely surface ones, but I have pointed out some areas that would be up for rewriting, if I had the time to work with you. Do what you can, and get the paper back to me when you have made it acceptable for the MA degree. Feel free to talk to me if you don’t understand my comments.

Thanks Kate.



****************************************************************

Am I friggen crazy? Did that turn on a dime when I told her who my thesis advisor was? (he is leaving the college, if you remember...) and BTW, he is a professional rhetorician so what happened??? Does it sound more like she's pissed at my advisor for some reason?? OY! I mean, if he thought it was a piece of shit do you think that he would have said "hand it to the department"??

His final verdict was::
Thanks Kate,

Good work here. Congrats on completing your thesis.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank God for Nick, who, as I was bawling my head off last night, reminded me of the total schizophrenia of the situation. He reminded me how much respect I have for my thesis advisor and his views on writing/creating (not only because he enjoyed my labor of love). I'm just so mad that she said she was nearly finished on friday and then totally turned it around on me yesterday. And then I HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE MEANS UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE I LEAVE FOR GRASSROOTS!!

you know, just to add a cherry on top.


this is currently causing me to feel that I will NEVER leave early childhood education!! but as we know I'm super dramatic so who really knows... :)

*sigh*

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

on another note, without the thesis as a creative outlet I've been trying my hand at sewing and more painting. And also being an enabler for my cat's addiction to faucet water.


My awesome abilities to sew in a straight line:::





The latest paint color. yes, it too is green...but this time its called "MOTHER EARTH" and its in the bedroom::




Bug in action::

"ooh, the nectar of the shower gods"


"you have to wait for just the right temp and speed of flow...too hot and it burns, too fast and it goes all over my pretty face"


"ahhh...that's the good stuff"





yes i just put words into my cats mouth...and with that I am officially the cat lady...