Waiting...

Dinner was fun. Cafe K is always an adventure. I am sitting on the floor in my room since I attempted to start cleaning my room. I still need to pack since I am leaving in about 5 hours. Jaz is coming with me on the bus! I am so excited! I'm waiting for Devora to send me some help for my paper. Yeah. Fun.

Good night.

Aw MAN!

I slept through yoga this morning...AGAIN! I need to get my normal alarm clock back from Devora's. Grrrrrrr.

I have a meeting about a group final project in Teaching Social Studies class. We have to make lesson plans and presentations about a national holiday and my group is doing Martin Luther King Day. It should be fun. The meeting will hopefully not be that long. Tonight I get to get hot chocolate cake! WOOHOO! I am going home on a 7am bus tomorrow morning. I hope I wake up on time! I figure that since I don't have to get up for a class, then I will get up. Hehe.

Have a great day!

AAAAH

I need help with my paper! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! DJ, WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!?!

Can anyone write about the connection between marriage and money in Pride and Prejudice? Great.

Uch. I so need yoga right now. Oh, would you look at that? It's almost time for yoga! Oh, whoopdeedoo.

Good Morning!

Last night was fun. I was supposed to go over to Devora's so she could help me with my lit paper which is due on Friday, but she never called (it's okay!), so I ended up leaving the Heights at about 10. I did some research on the topic and I plan to BS it tonight.

I am going home for Shabbos. Literally. I am arriving in Boston on Friday morning and leaving on Saturday night. Why? Because I am going to the circus on Sunday morning! I am so excited! I haven't been to the circus since...well, I am not sure exactly when, but a LONG TIME AGO! My nephews will be in NJ for Shabbos, but my sister said that maybe they can meet up with me in NY somewhere on Sunday. I spoke to my older nephew on the phone yesterday. I was talking to my sister and she said, "Daniel, do you want to say hi on the phone?" So, he got on the phone and said some form of hi, and I said, "It's Hinda!" Then he put his mouth away from the phone and said, "Hinda." It was so cute. Yes, I teared up. SO WHAT? I really hope I get to see them.

I didn't fail any midterms! I know! NONE! I did well on my MATH midterm! For those of you who don't know, I am taking a crazy math course with a crazy brilliant teacher. Her class last semester was really hard, so I am very happy now. I also got my bio lab grade back and I did well on that too. (I got the same grade on both). I got A's on both of my author studies for my Language and Literacy for Education class (the projects I did when I was home for Purim) and I am getting my social studies project back today. We'll see how that goes. Overall, I am pretty happy gradewise. I do not think that I will do well on my bio lecture test on Tuesday, but why dwell?

That's all for now. Have a great day.

Still REALLY Happy

Shabbos was so much fun. Marc and Carla were at Devora's for Shabbos which made it AWESOME! The meals were great and the Shabbos walks were, too. One good line from the weekend (aka the only one I can remember right now):

Me: *blushing*

DG: Hinda, your hair is leaking.

If anyone can think of other lines, please post them in a comment!

Sarah never ended up coming into the city last night. I had other plans, so it was all good. Today, I have work I could do. Could being the key word. I will do it eventually. DAC is coming into New York today, and I can't wait to see her! So much to tell her. Hehe.

I don't really have anything of substance to write. I just wanted to update so I can stay in the top of "You-Update-Your-Blog-More-Than-Anyone-I-Know" list.

Have a great day!

Shabbos

Yeah, so I am spending Shabbos at Devora's. I was going to go to Sarah's place, but I'm not. Duh. I am going to hang with Sarah on Saturday night in the city. I love that girl. She better not go back home. Uch. Aw man. I hate goodbyes. Okay, going to stop thinking about it.

I was going to go home next Shabbos to play with my nephoos, but it ends up that my sister and brother-in-law are taking them to some TJ (yeshiva that my BIL went to in Israel) alumni Shabbaton. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!? Now I might actually go to my friend's Shabbos kallah in Brooklyn. I am not a big fan of Brooklyn or of Shabbos kallahs, but we'll see what happens.

Oh, and PS

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Mmmmm

Why am I up? Hmmmmmm...

I am at Devora's. She had asked me to come up here tonight to wait for her food delivery. It didn't come until after she came home anyway. I watched Pride and Prejudice by myself while I was waiting for her. I kept spacing out during the movie so I had to keep rewinding it, but I got the idea. Hmmm...speaking of Pride and Prejudice, I have to write a paper for next week. Thank G-d for my Devoraleh!

Okay, back to not sleeping. Night night.

So happy....

I am so happy. Really happy.

Midterms are going by. I don't know if they're going well or not. Lots of last minute studying, but it's okay. I don't know if it's okay for my transcript, but whatever. I had a sleepover with Sarah on Tuesday night. I love that girl. I am spending Shabbos with her before she ditches the US. Uch. I'm trying to come up with a plan to get her to stay. Hmmmm....

I'm tired, but I am awake. I have Yoga soon. I have to study for math sometime. This semester the math deals with NUMBERS and not theories. Imagine that! Wow. Haha.

Just wanted to let you all know that I am still here.

OH, and...

MY NEPHOOS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO AMERICA! Miriam and Meir are coming too. WOOHOO! I am going home next Shabbos. I can't wait to see them!

Pumped

It was a VERY GOOD night. Even though some of it involved studying. I still have to do that. I am pulling a most-of-if-not-all nighter. Should be fun. I hope I wake up in time for my midterm. No, that wasn't supposed to be funny.

Until next time...

Yeah

My friend Yael left this morning. It's so weird not having her here. I miss her. Sigh...

I have been pushing off going to the gym for a few days now. Today, I am spending the day there. I need to lose some poundage for my friend's wedding in two weeks. I found out last night that I have a Hebrew midterm tomorrow. I missed a few classes, so the best I can do it pray. Maybe I'll study a little bit too. I don't want to overdo it. Hehe.

Shabbos was fun. I love Devora and Chaia. A LOT. They are such great people. I am going back there for Shabbos this week. My sister will be at home, but I'll give my parents time with the kiddies before I come. I am going home the weekend after that. I can't believe Pesach is so soon. It's insane. I can't even help my mother like I usually do because I'll be in school until Erev Pesach. ARGH! I can't believe they don't give off more. Of course, I can't miss school. No. Of course not. Whatever. I am getting so frustrated. And I have a LOT of work to do.

I was talking about school a lot over the past couple of days and people are telling me to transfer. I say that I don't want to lose my transfer credits. Then I am asked, "Well would you rather be miserable in school and be done early, or enjoy school and have to stay a little bit longer?" My comeback is that I am not so miserable here, and any school will have its issues. Whatever, just venting. I will talk about transferring, but it won't happen. I really hope to get an apartment with a bunch of friends next semester. I think I am officially included in their housing plan! YAY! They'll keep me motivated. 4 out of 5 of the girls that are in the "plan" are education majors, three of them being in the elementary track (Perica, please tell me you're coming). They will help me a lot and I need good friends!

Okay, I am going to stop now. I am going back to thinking about going to the gym.

Great Night

Dinner was really nice. Lots of laughing. Just the way I like it.

After dinner, I met back up with Yael and we went for a walk through Times Square. Went to Walgreen's and got whipped cream and some other junk. We came back here and saw our friend in the lobby, so after we made our hot chocolate with whipped cream, we went to chill with her for a few minutes.

Tomorrow, I am really going to work out in the gym. I've been pushing it off all week. Racheli's wedding is in about 2 weeks and I need to lose weight to fit into the clothes I haven't found yet. I am hoping that Deborah has stuff. I have a fallback of my own, just in case.

I am so excited for Shabbos. Sigh...I love resting.

Yummy

Dinner was really good. Really good. I forgot my camera which is always a disappointment, but Sarah and I took some pictures when we got back. Yael is on her way back to my dorm, so I am going to leave Windsor palace now. I really hope I can live here next year. Please, please!

Yael and I are hopefully going to find something to do. We shall see.

Night night.

I LOVE YOU!

This is a shout out post to RebJay.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I hope you are doing well and I can't wait to hear from you! I appreciate your posts and I miss you like CRAZY!

I'm Hungry

I am supposed to be going out to dinner with three friends and I have been in their apartment for a while now. I am so hungry! So, I thought, why not blog?

Last night I went out to Cafe K with Yael and three other people. That was fun. I am going again tonight. You can never have enough hot chocolate cake! Haha. Yael and I are going to Devora's for Shabbos. It's going to be great. I love Devora! I went to visit her at her office today to bring her her favorite roses and an iced coffee. I know the way to her heart! No, I was NOT bribing her to let me come for Shabbos!

I think I have a lot of work to do. I wonder if I have a Hebrew midterm on Monday. I should probably figure that out sometime soon.

Alright, time to nudge the girlies.

Purim 06!

Still Purim 06!

I Could and Should Be Napping Right Now

Purim was great! I will post pictures as soon as my father e-mails me the pictures from yesterday. The seuda was fun. I took at 10:30pm bus back last night with 4 other girls. We arrived in NY at 2:40am. I couldn't fall asleep until 4. I woke up for my first 2 classes, and now I have a break until 3:35 since one of my teachers isn't coming. I will probably take a little nap. Eh.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Purim (but not too much). I have to find Shabbos plans. Hmmmm...any ideas? Yael is coming to NY today and I want to include her in my plans. I love that girl.

Okay. That's that. Until next time.

Here it is!

EXPLANATION:

The first label says DAG (fish) Purim Sameach. My sister is doing that this year. My mother wanted to do it, too, so I added my little commentary underneath. The second label is pretty self-explanatory. We added the POPping part because my mother wanted to add something to the bottom of the bag that could go with the theme. Popcorn doesn't go with the theme but we punned it anyway. The third pic is the masterpiece. It came out really cute. My mother made orange fish cookies and patchkied. I love her. She's so cute. :)

Author's note: No one blew air into the bag. It was twisted and the air got trapped inside.

So that's that.

I FINISHED!!! Bli Ayin Hara *poo poo poo*

I FINISHED MY AUTHOR STUDIES! YAY!

I went to the library with Dena today to work and I actually did work. Okay, so what if it wasn't the whole time? :)

I made the labels for our mishloach manos today. I did a pretty darn good job if I must say so myself. I can't wait to post a picture of them mishloach manot. My mom is so cute!

Okay, so for those of you who really want to know what my costumes are...

So, I had gone to a costume store in NY before I came home to get streimels for my dad and brother for their shtetl themed Purim party. In the store I was looking at all the overpriced costumes and I saw Lucille Ball ones. I LOVE Lucille Ball. She is my inspiration. So, I decided that I wanted to dress up like her. I started planning. Then, when my father picked me up from the bus station, I told him about my plan. Then I said that I would love to be a chayelet (female Israeli soldier) one year. Then my father told me that we have my cousin's old uniforms! So, my plan was to be an Israeli soldier tomorrow night, then Lucy on Tuesday.

On Shabbos, Shifra and Abby came over to visit. I asked Abby what she was going to be this year and she said, "Well, I'm not exactly sure how I am going to do it, but I am going to be Lucille Ball." I couldn't believe it! Even if I do dress like Lucy, Abby and I don't live in the same town, so it would be okay. I am going to the party store with my mother tomorrow. I will make a final decision then.

Wow, I am so relieved right now. I am not so worried about tests that I have. Hebrew should be okay, even though I have missed a few classes. I have a lit paper that Devora said she can help me with. I have a few other things, but it should be okay. I am not even that nervous about math. It's more numbers this semester and I can do those. It's the theories and the proofs that I have trouble with. Eh, whatever.

Okay, I am going to go print out my stuff so I can really be done! WOOHOO!

I hope everyone has an easy fast.

Quick Catch-Up

I got home at around 10pm

I did really well on my educational psychology midterm

I know exactly what I am going to be for Purim. One thing on Monday night and another on Tuesday. If you want to know what they are, you'll have to wait until I post pictures...

I have to work on my author studies (midterm project for language and literacy class) this weekend.

I am so happy to be home.

My mom rearranged my room. It's pretty cool!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR PURIM!

Time to go chill with the 'rents. Night night!

BIG Sense of Relief!

I officially finished my project at about 9pm tonight after having two other girls make a few corrections. I am pretty happy with it. I made a nice cover, too.

I am so relieved to have it out of the way. It was not a very hard project, but it was draining. A lot of people have told me that they see the relief on my face. Let's just say that I have not been to calm for the past while. I have one more project due next Wednesday, then the relief will really be apparent.

One of my friends passed out in bio lab today. It really freaked me out. I looked over and I saw her hit the floor. I gave her water and put a wet paper towel on her head. I was so scared. Thank G-d, I think she's okay. She didn't want security to call Hatzolah. Her lab partner took her to the nurse in my dorm. After she left, one of the security guards stayed in the room to write up a report. He had looked around when he came in and saw us all with our pigs (and today, it was not pretty). He asked what happened and the teacher and I and another girl were telling him. After he heard the story, I went over to him and said, "Do you see why she passed out?" Totally understandable, but scary as anything nonetheless.

In other news, I went to dinner with Dahlia (a girl from my education class) after we finished our projects. Man, it felt good to get out with a huge load off my shoulders.

I can't wait to go home. I have been very short on the phone to my family lately because of all the stress. I hate when my family calls me when I am in a bad mood. I always end up venting my frustration about everything on the phone. My mother wants to know why I have to go through this because every time (maybe 90% of the time) she talks to me on the phone, I end up crying about school. Sometimes she catches me at a good time though.

Oh! And PS...my CD player has died. I don't know what I am going to do. Music is my savior! HELP! :( Oh man, this means that I will have nothing on the bus ride home...shoooooot.

I still need a costume idea. I wanted to dress up as a JAP, but I don't think it will be funny. If I was here, and I dressed as a preppy frummie girl, it wouldn't be funny because most people here wouldn't realize that it's a costume! I hope to come up with something. Suggestions welcome!

Night night...

Ready

I just got my notebook...

Let the work begin.

Oops, I forgot it.

I came up to Devora's tonight to work on my social studies project and I forgot my notebook. Thank G-d, someone finally got back to me and is going to bring it up when she comes on the 9:30. This is my break time.

I hope to finish it fairly quickly even though I still didn't get my second book.

ARGH.

If I finish the project at a normal hour, I am going to go back tonight. If not, I am sleeping over.

Night night.

WHY?

Why can't I work like a normal person?

Why do I have to leave everything until the last minute?

Why do I have to end up crying about school to my mother on the phone whenever she calls when I am in "stress mode"?

Why can't I just learn the things I need to know for my major and then just go and TEACH?

WHY DO THINGS BOTHER ME SO MUCH?

Could these problems be the reasons that I AM BREAKING OUT IN HIVES?

I have a midterm tomorrow (it will be fine), my social studies midterm project due on Wednesday (not going to be so fine), two author studies due a week from Wednesday (status unknown) and a Hebrew midterm on the 20th (not worried about that).

I need a hug. I need my mommy. I need to go home.

I'm okay. I will be. Give me a week and a half.

Post Shabbos Post

Shabbos was really fun. I love staying in. It makes me feel like I have more time in my weekend so I can do my work. Stop laughing.

Tonight, Shayna and I took a walk to Times Square then went to J2 and ate with Z and her friend. It was lots of fun.

We just got back and I went into the student lounge to see if, by some odd miracle, the book I need came in. (If it doesn't come soon, I am hoping to go to B&N and look at it there) When I went in, I saw that there were a bunch of girls watching Empire Records. I LOVE that movie! I made some kind of excited squealy noise when I saw the screen and this one girl turns around and shushes me with this obnoxious look on her face. I mumbled some stuff as I was checking my mailbox. You might think this wasn't a big deal, but the girls who were with me agreed that it was obnoxious. I HATE GIRLS...a LOT!

Tomorrow, I hope to get work done. Really.

Who wants to know what my family's mishloach manos theme is this year? You do? Good.

So, last year, my mom put lettuce, grapes, an egg, a roll and a roll of candy coins and put a sticker on it that said: "LETTUCE wish you a GRAPE purim which ROLLS into an EGGcellent Shabbos from the Ka$hnow Family." Cute, right? Well this year...

My sister gave my mom the idea to do something fish-themed because the constellation for Adar is fish. After my mom told me her idea, and I gave her mine, we came up with this:

"We are oFISHally wishing you a happy purim. From the Katchnow Family."

My mother is making fish cookies, putting in fish candy and a little bottle of water and putting it in a bowl lined with blue cellophane. Then she is going to wrap it in a net material. I have to look around for some kind of fish crackers. We'll see.

I can't wait to go home! I need to figure out a costume first. I was thinking of using highlight spray and going crazy as a punk. Yes, a punk. Again.

Ix-nay on the abysitting-Bay

Devora called me this morning and said that I didn't need to babysit. I am very okay with that. Fifty blocks is a long walk.

Shayna and I went to the caf for breakfast then went to get manicures. She paid for mine because she wanted to pay me back to Shabbos! Now, we are just chilling in my room. Boring, but hey.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Shabbos!

Haha

Erica just texted me as I was getting ready to go back to class telling me that we get 2 more points on our test. I don't know what else to say other than "haha".

Frustrated and Disappointed

Why can't I motivate myself? It is getting very frustrating. I want to be a good student, but I feel too inadequate. Yeah, so I just got my biology test back. I had to leave the class for a few minutes to chill out. I didn't fail, but I was still really disappointed. Truthfully, I got 8 points less than my final grade, but he took out some questions that were a bit unfair (i.e. almost everyone got them wrong). It could have been worse. I could have studied really hard and then not have done well, but I don't care about the positive side right now. Maybe later I will.

I went to yoga this morning. It was good. The teacher came over to me while we were doing a pose and relaxed my shoulders for me. I thought they were relaxed already, but I guess I don't really know what "relaxed" means. She put her hands on my shoulder and said, "Tight back?" Yes, I have a tight back. I need to de-stress myself somehow. I need to take a trip. Who's in?

And on top of all of this, I need to do two projects. That book better come in the mail today or tomorrow, or else I am in troooouble.

I am going to head back to class in a few. Have a good day.

Crazy? I KNOW!

So I went uptown tonight and Devora called me to ask me a favor. She is in her office, oh, for around 24/7 and she needed people to watch a bunch of kids run around in a room while Shabbat Across America is going on downstairs. I called Shayna to see if she would do it. So, Shayna and I are taking a train/bus to KJ on Friday afternoon, then walking back to Stern after it's over. Yes, it's crazy. Shayna called me not too long ago to ask if that means we are going to miss Friday night dinner at Stern. I told her she could stay if she wants to, but I think that walking 50+ blocks will be a great bonding experience. It should be interesting.

I got to see Devora tonight! YAY! We had dinner together, then I went to her apartment for about 10 minutes before I had to catch a shuttle back. Now I am ready to crash. I was going to skip yoga again tomorrow, but I did that last week, so I think I am going to go. I am getting my biology test back tomorrow. I really hope I did well. AAAAAH.

I have to do a lot of work this week. I am hoping that I will do some of it on Thursday night/Friday. I need to finish a midterm project by Wednesday. It is on 2 books, and one of them is still in the mail somewhere. I hope it comes soon.

Good night!

MAZEL TOV!

I got out of my Ed Psych class a bit early and my phone was ringing in my pocket. I saw that Rochel was calling. Rochel and I have known forever...and I mean forever. She said, "Guess what?" I said, "What?" THEN SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE JUST GOT ENGAGED! Being me I freaked out of course! MY LITTLE ROCHELE IS GETTING MARRIED! She is so unbelievable happy, B"H. I had seen her in my shul on Shabbos and she told me she wanted to say something to me, but her chosson didn't want her talking about it until it was official! I HAD NO WARNING! I AM STILL FREAKING OUT! Now, I don't feel too bad about not going to my high school classmate's wedding next Sunday because I will have another chance at a wedding/high school reunion soon after, IY"H!

MAZEL TOV ROCHEL AND ZALMEN! WOOHOO!!!!!!

Okay. Now I am going to try to get myself collected. THIS IS INSANE! ROCHELE! I am so happy for you and your chosson! Thank you for the bracha. I can't wait to see you! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!