That's chow-da. I'll bash you good!

For the first time since I arrived in New Jersey, I cooked yesterday. This has been a part of my life that I have missed sorely since becoming a drifter in September. When will I realize (after five years away from home) that I no longer live as the third of six children in an eight-person household and therefore no longer need to cook as such? I now have eighteen cups of soup that I prepared yesterday in my freezer. Each of my loved ones is now welcome to as much crab & corn chowder as he prefers.

I was attempting to eat biscotti while preparing this post. Now I am left hoping that I fall under that esteemed category of persons who would not be kicked out of bed for eating crackers.

New library card + new friend

I christened my new card at the Newark Public Library today, where I made a new friend named Nilda. This is particularly exciting because she is the first friend I have made since moving to Newark. Today was a good day for three other reasons: I checked out a Melissa Etheridge CD from the library and I have the next two days off of work, and my down comforter came in the mail today. There is obviously never any replacing of my loved ones in Texas, but knowing people here makes me feel more like I am starting something new and real (instead of being away at summer camp, waiting to come back home and see my friends).

I bought a new laptop with a built-in camera; a horrible device for someone struggling with Romy and Michelle-esque vanity issues (I can't believe how cute I look. Don't you love how we can say that to each other and we know we're not being conceited? No, we're just being honest.)

One-act play

When my little sister tells you something, I recommend that you do some fact-checking because she is a great actress. In fact, she is the Best Actress. Kelly won this award this weekend for her role (which brought the audience to tears) at a high school competition. Congratulations, Kelly Belly.

Patrick's Birthday

For those of you who did not have a chance to celebrate St. Patrick's Day (like me, holed up in a hotel in Cleveland), you had another opportunity today. All those who love him (and that is everyone since Noor bestowed upon him the title of Coolest Guy Ever) wish him a happy birthday.

Unbridled hostility

I observed yet another difference between the North and the South (extending beyond the obvious historical rift over slavery). At one of the stops my bus made last night, approximately ten people got off. Instantaneously, passengers got up and moved so that they could sit by themselves rather than with the people they originally were near. It seems to me that you can easily choose an unoccupied seat when you board the bus. However, moving mid-trip across the aisle sends a clear cut message that you feel repulsed by your seatmate. Also, men don't offer their seats as regularly to women, children, and the elderly here.

Continental prepped us for this in Houston by explaining that it doesn't mean that people are mean in Newark but these behaviors are simply an element of their culture. This is no consolation- I would greatly prefer a rude individual to a rude community.

Fun website

Check out www.jacksonpollock.org. It makes for an enjoyable minute. The site evoked sentimental memories of the Spin Art that we Bales children used to create with the exception of Patrick. As with Saved by the Bell, Spin Art, my knitting machine, and Perler beads, he arrived on the scene a beat too late. I almost forgot the Bedazzler. If I had one today I believe that I would be every bit as dangerous as I was the first time around the block.

Favorite Snob Adjectives

puerile
childishly foolish; immature or trivial.

ribald
vulgar or indecent in speech, language, etc.; coarsely mocking, abusive, or irreverent; scurrilous.

pedestrian
lacking in vitality, imagination, distinction, etc.; commonplace; prosaic or dull.

blue
indecent; somewhat obscene; risqué.

My experience is that these words generally work best when you say them with your nose in the air. Try it: "I found that author's writing to be rather pedestrian." Add a sniff after the close for added impact.

Morning commute

When I returned this morning to Newark Penn Station I decided to walk home. Reaching a destination (like my apartment) is my best motivation to exercise. Ordinarily a brilliant idea, less so when there is nearly a foot of snow on the sidewalk and one is attempting to pull a rolling suitcase through it. Inevitably, my high heel sank into a puddle, drenching my foot. I walked the rest of the way home with a wet foot in 20-something weather. Hold a good thought for me, friends, that I might not go the way of fellow Texan Baby Jessica in that I will be able to retain all of my toes.

Tonight I will rest my head in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On an unrelated note, Yahoo is messing with my head. Thus, my new e-mail address is bales.sk@gmail.com