Sep 30, 2009

I had to babysit the same Math class today at Lakeside. No exciting bomb threats or math videos today, just worksheets while I edited photos on my laptop for my critique. It went fairly smoothly this time, maybe because they knew me a little bit.

I had to rush right up to class after work. I think there were five people that had their work critiqued.. I guess it's better but I feel like everyone should want their work shown. After I work on something and come up with a finished product I want to display it. I even enjoyed showing my work in the art classes where I didn't like a lot of my finished products so maybe I really want to show it now because I'm happy with what I have.

I had film class next where we watched The Battleship Potemkin, a Russian silent film from 1925. It was an entertaining film but I kept reading the Russian subtitles and missing the English translation.

I tried to watch some Glee with Shannon after class but ended up having a bowl of stuffing and then leaving. I went to Katie's to practice my Russian for my test tomorrow. I think I'm doing alright based on the study guide I have. Now, to bed so I can hike tomorrow.

Sep 29, 2009

I had a Math class at Lakeside this morning. The classes had to take a quiz which always makes them act like idiots. Speaking of idiots, in the middle of the day there was a bomb threat that someone wrote on the wall of one of the bathrooms. We had to file out into the soccer field and stand around for about an hour. It was nice and sunny outside so I didn't mind so much. At least when the kids are outside they seem less loud.

I met Ryan at the gym for a few photos rather than a workout after school. I needed a few more shots for my "paradox" project. I got a few of him running on the treadmill because he's running but not going anywhere. Also, it's a still photograph but it showing the illusion of motion. I wasn't thrilled with any of the shots anyway.

I had Russian, where I figured out how to set up Rowan's internet. It took so much. I had Philosophy after that. We talked at length about why we even talk about the ideas in philosophy because on girl asked. I had enough by the break so I left.

I got to Quizzo during round 2 with Chuck and Diebra. We all got veggie burgers with our first place certificate from last week. We were doing alright this week too, but we ended up getting second place just 20 point from first! Too bad, but not a bad finish anyway.

I came home to get some things together for class before another early night to bed.

Sep 28, 2009

I worked at Lakeside in the morning for an English teacher. Nothing notable happened, which is usually a good thing. I got to read.

Since it was a Jewish holiday, my photo class was canceled so I used that opportunity to play tennis with Ryan. We played three games, I lost of course. Still fun.

I had to go up to Rowan anyway for my Logic class but it wasn't so bad because our professor, Sean, is funny. We did some group work to learn the information he's going over, which really is just "logic." To me, anyway, this stuff is really common sense and easy so it gets a little redundant going over it so many times.

Ryan called me just as I got home and we went for a walk around Millville. To change it up, we went into center city and walked down High Street before cutting back down the river walk area and across the amazing footbridge that is never opened. Eventually they'll finish all the handicapped ramps and whatever else they've been doing for the past year or more.

After the walk I pretty much went right to sleep since I had to get up the next morning.

Sep 27, 2009

Got an early start on the day and picked up Nathan and met up with Ryan before going to Bagel University for a breakfast. We'd need it to keep us going.

We drove up to Hamburg, Pennsylvania and found the trailhead for The Pinnacle. It had been raining all morning and we tried to wait it out for a short time.

After donning some ponchos, we headed out on the trail. It followed a short service road before intersecting the Appalachian Trail, which we took.

The path wasn't bad. Muddy in some spots and rocky most of the way, but it was a solid, well-marked route.

We got to our first overlook, Pulpit Rock, where we couldn't see anything but the cloud we had been walking in. It was like looking into an abyss. It was pretty amazing actually.

We continued up over some large rock scrambles and boulder fields for a few more miles before reaching Hiker's Mound, a pile of rocks that each hiker adds to. We all threw our rock onto the pile, well Nathan placed his at the very top.

It was here that we left the AT for a short walk to the Pinnacle.

The view from the top was pretty great, even in the clouds. There was a defined opening where we could see the towns and farms below. While we sat there, the sun came through a little and parted the clouds as if we planned it.

We had our lunches sitting at the top before wandering around the rocks for a while. There were a few other people at the top also that we talked to.

It didn't seem to take that long to get up there but it was a nice spot to hang out for a while.

The path down was relatively boring. It was a nice path but it didn't have any obstructions or rocks to climb.

One of the nice things about the way down was that it ran along a stream most of the way so we had a nice view and the background noise of the flowing water for the walk.

We completed the hike in about four hours. Not bad at all for an 8.5 mile loop. This is right in the center of the Appalachian Trail, we are planning to do more of it soon hopefully.

We stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home and while the service wasn't very good, the food was. This is the only place I've ever eaten okra.

We dropped Nathan off at the train station on our way home and then I came home and relaxed. I watched Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bored to Death before getting to bed early.

Sep 26, 2009

After I went to Rowan to try to get tickets at a box office that seems to be perpetually closed, I went to Parvins for a run. It was a nice enough day out and I stuck around for a bit after my run to take some photos that might end up working for my project.

After I got a shower, I picked up Crystal and we went to see The Informant! It was a good movie for the type of movie it was. Very dry and awkward, but I like that kind of flick.

I didn't do much after the movie until Chuck and Diebra picked me up and we went to Rowan to stand in line to get them Demetri Martin tickets. We got the tickets, went to Nick's for some food and then waited a short time in the rain before being let in to the Rec Center for the show. Demetri came out to a lot of applause talking about being from New Jersey and joking with people who came in late and/or turned out to be security.

After some of his usual type of jokes, he moved on to the Large Pad and then to the piano where he played a song listing ways to propose to your girlfriend. "Break your girlfriend's finger and get the doctor to hide the ring in cast... then when she gets it off be like 'we've been engaged for three week--surprise, bitch!'"

He ended the night with guitar and jokes. He did a few requests at the end... ladies. He was great, as always. I'm glad Rowan was able to get him to come to our school.

I came home after the show and read a few things about the hike I'm taking tomorrow and it's early bedtime.

Sep 25, 2009

I had another job at Lakeside this morning with the Child Study Team. It was an even slower day than yesterday, I only covered a few classes and spent most of my time roaming the halls looking for teachers.

I had a two hour lunch break so I had something to eat and then met Ryan at Parvins to walk around the lake. It was a beautiful day for it. It was sunny with a cool breeze. Perfect weather.

I went back to work for two quick meetings and was done pretty early. Nice, easy day. I changed and went to the court to play a few games of tennis with Ryan. We played some really good points and overall the games were good. He still won but it was a lot of fun.

I went up to Rowan after I showered to take some photos in the darkroom for my Digital Photo project. I had Joanna model for me in there. I have really never worked with a model, I always take photos of stationary things or my friends so it was a new experience.

The idea we're working with this week is paradox. It's more of a conceptual paradox I suppose (and barely that.) My idea was that a darkroom is supposed to be void of light (or most light, save for that red one..) and since photography is based completely on light... get it? You need light to take a picture so I wanted to take one somewhere where there isn't supposed to be light.. this is a hard concept to work with. It was fun though.

After I was done we went to Gino's for a couple of stuffed veggie slices for dinner. This is pizza you eat with a fork.

I wanted to do something but there really wasn't anything going on so I came home and watched some things before going to bed pretty early.

Sep 24, 2009

I took a job in the morning covering at Lakeside for Child Study Team meetings. It was a very easy day, I only cover a few classes for short lengths of time. I read a decent bit of Diary of an Oxygen Thief and I got my Russian homework done while I had nothing else to do. I had an hour and a half lunch break on top of it.

After work I went over to the college to play a game of tennis with Ryan. The game went fairly well. We played two, I lost both because Ryan is much better than me. Then I had to run off to school.

I got to class right on time, wearing a polo with my gym shorts. She always starts class early so it seemed like I was late anyway. We learned some more prepositional things and then gave our presentations.. but only to her. I thought we'd be doing it for the class. No.

I went to the High Street Gallery after class to see the opening where Kim had some pieces up. I browsed the paintings, many of which were really well done. I talked to Kim a bit and had dinner, which consisted of mostly just hummus and pita.

This is one of Kim's landscape paintings. Her stuff is always really nice. I headed out after a short time because I didn't really know what else to do after looking at the work a few times and eating some food.

I went to Jimmy's later and watched The Office before Chuck and Ryan came over to play Beatles Rock Band. We switched up instrumental duties of course, but I think I sang most of the time.

Chuck took over Ringo duties at the end. It's a fun game since it's all Beatles songs, of course. No face melting guitar solos but it's cool to play along with some good music. With controllers.

I came home and watched the new episode of It's Always Sunny before getting to bed. It was hilarious; much better than the premiere last week.