I'm in Dallas. :) It's pretty. Things are nice. And I'm tired, so that's all I'm writing tonight. Maybe tomorrow, I'll sneak back into the Honors Dorm and use the computers again. ... 'Night Y'all.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 9:16 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Tonight, New Jersey. Saturday... the WORLD!

Ok... maybe not the world... but Dallas, at least. I've never been to Texas, or really anywhere nearby. I'm hoping it will be a good experience. As I've mentioned before, the people at Southern Methodist have been really great to me in helping me plan this trip, so I'm expecting to have some fun and meet some good people. The forecast for Saturday in Dallas? Breezy and Cool, 70 degrees.
... I can't believe I'm about to go someplace where 70 degrees in considered "cool". :)

posted by Rebecca Cooper 8:35 AM - 0 comments

. . .

I am stubborn. I am high-maintainance. I make no apologies for the fact that I demand attention. I try to think of others, although I find that the others I'm thinking of are often strangers. I like ice cream. I love sushi. I wish it were summer all year long, but I fear that I would lose the feeling of the first time each spring, when I feel the warm sun on my shoulders. I think cats make the best friends. I believe friends make the best lovers. I have very little experience. I pride myself on not taking the easy way out, although I sometimes do. I want to be creative. I find it difficult to create. I think Ella Fitzgerald is the greatest voice of the century, and that Grace Kelly is the most beautiful woman ever to have walked the earth. I dream of perfection, but I am imperfect. I spend money faster than I make it. I was a gymnast. I wear makeup, but I don't consider myself made-up. The smell of cedar reminds me of romance in the autumn. I listen to country, but I feel like jazz. I nearly went to college in New Orleans so I could learn the art of glass-blowing. I tried hang gliding. I quit playing the cello when I had to walk to school. I hugged Toad the Wet Sprocket. I failed my first test in 4th grade. I speak nearly fluent french. I rarely know how to express myself in english. I am jealous, and I am hypocritical. My favorite channels are the Food Network and American Movie Classics. I don't like toast, and I don't like red peppers. I love to nap, but sometimes I use it as an escape. I survived my childhood. I often forget that others survived theirs, as well. I don't feel like I'm as old as I should be. I have dreams that can never be, and dreams that are close to being. I can't sleep with the closet door open. I'm just getting to know my parents, and I like them. Sometimes I'm a tomboy, and sometimes I'm girl-y. I work hard. I laugh even harder. I question my own motivation. I change my mind a million times. I think I'm entitled to things. I remind myself to be friends with the person, and not the idea. I look ahead, but am often drawn back. I try. And still... despite all this... I have no idea who I am becoming.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 10:02 PM - 0 comments

. . .

It's supposed to be spring now, but when I was driving around Newark, it was snowing. I don't think that's proper.

Now, I'm back in Pennsylvania. And as I crossed the border, I recognized that this is not a place I like being. But at the same time, I smiled, knowing that I wouldn't be here forever.

So... I'm going back to my apartment to paint. Because *that* seems like the proper thing to do.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 4:35 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Were you ever caught between wishing you could take something back, and fearing that things would just be worse if you did? Not to mention the fact that you're not even sure if you could possibly take it back to begin with?
Did you ever miss someone even though they're not really *gone*?

posted by Rebecca Cooper 9:49 PM - 0 comments

. . .

In the past two days, in a total of 7.5 hours, I have called over 170 students. This is something I hope NEVER to have to do again.
Please be nice to people when they call you. It's not fun.
This has been a public service announcement of the Society for the Appreciation of Tele-ringing Calling People.

The End.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 3:49 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Ok, now I'm back in PA. I've done some thinking during my travels in the past week. I've realized how important the people in my life are to me. Which got me thinking about where to go to grad school. So now I'm thinking probably GW. Actually, I'm mostly just scared by the whole thing. There's been so much upheaval in the past year, I'm sortof afraid to go through the whole thing again. Although hopefully I've learned from what I've been through. And while I'm certainly not sure that I've been making the right decisions along the way, I've figured out some stuff....I think.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 8:12 PM - 0 comments

. . .

I'm in New Jersey. Went to my high school for a college fair today. My guidance counselor hugged me. And the kids thought I was interesting, since I'm an alum. How special. Really, I just wanted to go home and crawl back into bed. It was a perfect day to nap under a million covers with the window open and the almost-spring breeze blowing through.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 5:55 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Scary scary thing happened today. As I told Harlan, "I was kneeling on the floor, sorting my laundry, when I saw what I thought was a sock. And I thought "that's an odd looking sock", so I leaned closer. And it wasn't a sock. It was a bird. A fairly large bird. A fairly large dead bird. With it's feet all sticking out, and a big long beak. And just the other night, I thought I was lucky for finally getting to see The Birds all the way through." Took a lot of strength to pick that thing up and get it out of my apartment. ....poor bird.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 9:43 PM - 0 comments

. . .

I'm feeling better. Which is good. Getting ready to go on a little trip. First to Gettysburg, then to NJ for some college fairs. I'm happy to be getting out of the office for a while, though I'll have piles and piles of work to do when I get back.

In other news, I have entered the office NCAA betting pool. Not doing so well so far. Probably since I don't know anything about any of the teams, and most of the games so far have been upsets. Still, it's kindof fun. And I like fun.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 8:04 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Well, I've spent the past three days feeling really sick. I've had a horrible cold. And even though I don't feel particularly healthy today, I'm in much better spirits. I think that with a little more sleep and a bit more orange juice, I'll be good to go. Which is especially happy because I'll be in Gettysburg this weekend, with lots of good friends.
I say it a lot (or at least I hope I do), but my friends are really cool. All of them have been great over the past few days. Barb has been sympathetic, and sent be-happy wishes over her weblog. Steve cheered me up with fun plans for a future adventure. Andrew sent me books from my Wishlist (and it was especially nice of him to order them two weeks ago so they'd arrive just when I was sick to cheer me up!). Harlan sent me a silly virtual card that involved what I think was a duck. And Bryan complimented my hugs, which is always nice. So thanks to all of you, and to all my other friends, who are always supportive, too. You guys are so great...(how great are you?) ....so great that the mice were hunchbacks.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 12:41 PM - 0 comments

. . .

This weekend was sad and exhausting. I'm hoping this week will be somewhat better, but I'm not sure I honestly expect it to be.

Did you ever play the "What if I had just..." game so long it made your heart hurt?

posted by Rebecca Cooper 7:24 AM - 0 comments

. . .

BULLETIN: Rebecca will return to New Jersey for a one-week engagement in the Princeton area during the week of March 10th. Make your plans in advance. Tickets going fast.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 8:33 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Denied from Bryn Mawr. Well, I was going to blow them off anyway, so no big deal. But, I got happy mail today too. A lovely card that reminded me that I like my friends a whole lot.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 7:18 PM - 0 comments

. . .

I'm going to Dallas! Want to come? Are you free from March 31st to April 3rd?

posted by Rebecca Cooper 7:07 PM - 0 comments

. . .

The people at Southern Methodist are nice. Not only did they call to offer to answer any questions I have, but in one day, they managed to notify me that they are giving me full tuition and a $3400 stipend, give me the email address of a current student who can answer more questions, call housing to see if I can stay in a dorm when I visit, and invite me to meet the King and Queen of Spain. I mean, GW has been efficient and all. But come on... Royalty? That's hard to compete with.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 9:59 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Well, yesterday I came home to still find no mail from Southern Methodist University. That's the school in Dallas I really like. So, so console myself, I drove a half hour and bought rediculously expensive sushi. When I came home, I had an answering machine message. It was a professor from Southern Methodist. The message started out like this: "Hi. This is Professor Carr from SMU. By now you've probably received your acceptance packet...". Wow. Behold the power of sushi....

posted by Rebecca Cooper 9:54 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Last night's exciting news? I was denied admission to Princeton. So... no NJ reunion. Basically, they figured that I am not worth their time since I don't know exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life. If those are their standards, I'm kindof glad I wasn't accepted. Frankly, I hope never to know exactly where I'm headed in life. The way I see it, as long as I have an idea of what I'd like to be doing NOW, then I'm always working toward something. And that's good, right?

I think this somewhat positive outlook on life is a result of a rather tasty lunch. I made nachos, with tostitos, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and salsa. They were good. And I have to give credit to Barb for inspiring my culinary instincts.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 12:01 PM - 0 comments

. . .

Oh look! It's the sun!

posted by Rebecca Cooper 2:33 PM - 0 comments

. . .

I am solar powered. Today there is no sun. It is cold and ugly and uninviting out, and I feel like I'm swimming at the bottom of a swamp full of mud. I'd like to go home, but I can't. I'd like a hug, but there is a severe shortage of those in Reading, PA. I'd like an acceptance letter and fellowship from Princeton, but they'd have to stop laughing at my application in order to send one. Most of all... I think I'd like to crawl back into bed and wake up when it's spring.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 9:22 AM - 0 comments

. . .

Big snow storm coming, supposedly. And I wish that I could get stranded with the people I spent last night with. I don't know Jen and Stacy very well, but I like 'em. And it somehow seems that no matter how much time passes since I've seen Harlan or Darren, we never have to go through that awkward how-have-you-been kind of thing. They make me laugh, and they're easy to talk to and be around. If only I was around them more often.....

Plus, I got to see my sister. And that was fun, too. We sat at Starbucks for a while and just talked, which was good. I miss her lots, but she's happy where she is, and that's good.

posted by Rebecca Cooper 6:02 PM - 0 comments

. . .