real life is for march

It’s 10:40pm on Leap Day as I write this, and I’m trying to tenaciously cling to the last few hours of February that I can. Did any of you happen to catch last week’s 30 Rock about Leap Day? I hope so, because it was a) hysterical, and b) weirdly inspiring. The premise was that Leap Day is a holiday in which real life rules are magically suspended, an attitude expressed best by Liz’s boyfriend: “It’s Leap Day! Real life is for March!” Ain’t that the truth, James Marsden, not because Leap Day is so magical, but because March will be the realest of real. What’s that saying people have about March? “In like a lion, out like a b***”? Yeah... it’s going to be like that.

Before I explain why March will be so busy, I should note that a lot has happened over the past two months in terms of work and school (remember my resolution to blog 10 times a month? Yeah... still working on that one). To sum up:

• In January I was offered a position as a research assistant with one of the professors in my department. The offer was for fifteen hours a week, which is kind of a lot, actually, but I still wanted to be able to keep my other two jobs. Consequently, I now work 15 hours a week for Alex, three hours a week at the Writing Center, and four hours a week for Kid Power. It’s a lot, but I value all three positions for different reasons and I’m grateful I was able to keep my foot in the door. Doors.  
• Also, my research position has given me an office! I share it with four other people, but that’s okay... that’s just how the GW English Department rolls. Almost nobody else ever uses it, which is good, since I’m in there all the time.
• I’m starting to hear back from graduate schools! I apologize for being a little cagey about this, but without knowing who reads this blog I don’t want to reveal too much. Suffice it to say that I’ve received one offer of admission and I’m wait-listed to TWO other schools, and all three options are really exciting. I only have one school left to hear from (unless you count the schools at which I am wait-listed, which I guess you probably should). I’ll keep you posted.  
• I’m taking two classes, an English class called “Screening Shakespeare” and an Art History class about medieval manuscripts, and I like them both.
• Over the past weekend I spent a LOT of time putting together a grammar workshop for my writing center coworkers, which I presented this week. It is, if I say so myself, kind of awesome, and you can find it here.

So that’s what’s been happening. Here’s what’s going to happen in March:

• Spring Break is in a little over a week! Woot! Of course, that sounds relaxing until I consider the rest of the list.
• In mid-March I’ll be flying with a bunch of other GW folks to the International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts in Orlando. It will be four full days of hanging out in conference rooms listening to interesting people talk about interesting things (and some pool time, obviously).
• The very next week I’ll be flying again to the school at which I’ve been accepted to tour the campus and see what they have to say.
• I’ll be working with two writing center folks to do another presentation, this time on disciplinary conventions. This will be as boring as it sounds, probably.
• Most importantly, I'll be trying to prepare for all my looming deadlines, such as my master's portfolio (April 1st); my final papers (May something something); two presentation (due to a scheduling glitch, both on April 11th); and the graduate school decision (April 15th). Yowza. 

Anyway, that’s what’s new with me. Fare thee well, February. March, bring it on.  

And I'll work on that blogging thing... I promise. 

happy valentine's day!

In spite of all the very good reasons to hate Valentine's Day, I love it. I've always loved it, even when I was single. Sorry.

This year, what with the V-day falling on a Tuesday and all, we're taking it really easy. I made chicken pot pie for dinner (see above, and marvel) and now we're going to watch Sunday night's Downton Abbey and eat this tart. I hope your day was similarly lovely and exactly what you wanted it to be. V-day for the win!!!

little thank yous

Dear iPhoto,
Thanks for allowing me to come across old photos I'd forgotten I'd taken, like this picture of a Scrabble game I played with Ross. Looks like we were really rocking the w's: Tweed. Trawl. Wink. Cowl.

Dear Mom and Dad,
Thanks for spelling my name so weird. Even though people misspell it all the time, it comes in handy when I want a simple email (haylie@gwetc., for instance).

Dear Deweys,
I know it was a while ago now, but I had a really good time with all of you at Christmas. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of the family.

Dear Illuminated Manuscripts class,
Thanks for making The Secret of Kells even more interesting and awesome than it was before (among other things). For instance, I totally know what the Chi-Rho page is now.

Dear gossip,
If indulging in you is wrong, I don't want to be right. Thanks.

Dear Lorin and Asenath,
Thanks for the angry birds catnip pig you brought Creature the other night. She cuddled up with it today and it was killer adorable.

Dear Teecino,
Thank you for existing (and intertextual thanks to Charlotte for introducing me to you). I don't know what I'd do without my daily dose of fake coffee.

Dear self, 
Thanks for forgetting the iPod today. It really made me realize how addicted to it I am, and how much better... 

Dear iPod,
Thanks for always being there for me, loaded up with "This American Life" and "Fresh Air." I'm sorry I left you behind. I miss you.

Love,

Haylie

laurel

Now that we've lived in our town for well over a year, I think it's time that you (my readers) and it were introduced. We live in Laurel, MD. Our town straddles Howard (good schools), Anne Arundel (okay schools), and Prince George's (bad schools) counties. We live in the Prince George's section. Fact: Several of the hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77 (Pentagon) stayed in Laurel prior to 9/11, so, you know. That happened. Thanks Wikipedia.

My point is that Laurel is definitely a mixed bag, but we actually live in a great area with a lot to recommend it. Exhibit A is the Patuxent River, which run directly behind our house. During the winter, when the leaves are down, I can see it from my desk. The river has a trail which runs along it and which is probably my very favorite thing ever.

Aaaaand the river in winter:

Besides geese (and goslings!), we've seen woodpeckers, cardinals, kingfishers, turtles, deer, and fawns near the river. Also, this big-a**, terrifying spider web.

Yikes. 

We live on "Laurel's Historic Main Street," which sounds charming and mostly is, although it's seen better days. Every year Laurel stages a huge festival with food and music and a parade, and it's literally outside our door. Which is pretty cool. 

My other favorite thing about where we live, without question, is the library.

You know that silly book and blog, Stuff White People Like? Well, as it turns out, I really like books that white people like. Because of that, and because our library is just generally underused, books I would have to wait weeks for in Portland I can get immediately here. It's pretty cool.

Anyway, that's Laurel! We like it.