Since I've Been Gone

Here's some advice. Don't let your friends talk you into drinking "a lot" (I use this term loosely) before flying on an airplane. Or, more to the point, don't have beer and brownies for breakfast, beer and pancakes for brunch, beer and bacon for lunch, and then Burger King for lupper (my family's word for the early evening time between lunch and supper). It doesn't make for happy travels.

But that was the situation last Saturday as I celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Boston. Bill's friend Diana had a breakfast/day-long celebration of the Irish, and so we went over before I left that afternoon. It was pretty fun, until we left for the airport. I got the hiccups. And the hiccups hurt, especially when you have them for a full hour straight. That's why I had some Burger King, the only food available near my departure gate. The fries and water helped them go away... until right before take off. Oh, the poor girl sitting next me... I hiccuped for quite some time as I said goodbye to the city below me, and my efforts to get rid of them were so fervent that I ended up sick to my stomach.

That discomfort may have been my final memory of Boston, but all in all, my memories are happy ones. It was a fun trip. Sure, it would've been better had there not been a massive snowstorm all day on Friday, but what can you do? Thanks to public transportation, we were still able to get out and about. We went to a play at the American Repertory Theatre at Harvard (so good!), walked around Harvard in the snow, went to the Museum of Science, and even ate Ethiopian food. Here are some more photos:

And now I've been back almost a week. I was interviewed and officially hired as the Arts Industry Manager at the Nebraska Arts Council, starting Monday. I think I'm excited about it. Yesterday I spent part of the day sending out emails to people I work with in various capacities announcing that I'm leaving Nebraskans for the Arts. And I got such kind, supportive responses from everyone. In fact, my current board president sent me flowers to congratulate me. Tulips. They're so beautiful and spring-like!

But it's so funny how God works. First off, my interview for this job was almost four years to the date of when I interviewed for my internship there. I remember, because it was spring break. All of the roommates went to New Orleans, and I went to Nebraska. I guess that choice paid off in more ways than I ever would have imagined. But it's also funny because, a year ago at this time, I was following a potential job lead back in Iowa, desperate to move back home. Obviously, that lead never panned out, and here I am, still, committed to this landscape for some time to come. Now that I'm starting this new job, I'll have to be here quite awhile longer to make it worth it.

As anxious as that thought makes me, I know it has to be God's will. Like I wrote a few posts ago, I can't pray for change on January 1, have this drop in my lap, and not pursue it. I'm going to have benefits now, and a more livable salary. And though there's A LOT that I will miss about my current work, there's also a lot that I won't.

So Monday I will start to move into Elaine's old office. It's obviously not a huge move, but it's also one I never would have imagined. I always figured that when I'd leave my cubicle, I'd be leaving the whole office. It just comes to show that you never quite know what's around that proverbial corner.

Live from Bean Town

Greetings from Bill Huff's apartment, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts!

This place is huge. Imagine an apartment longer than an Andreas House suite, for only one person, and you're imagining this place. The walk from the living room to Bill's room at the end of the hall practically requires running shoes.

He has a big bedroom and TWO extra rooms- one is the guest room, where I'm staying, and the other is Bill's sewing room. Only Bill Huff would have a sewing room!

I'm just hanging out today a bit while Bill's at some meetings. I had lunch today in the Residence Life office with some of Bill's work friends, who were eager for me to dish out some dirt on Bill. The problem is that he isn't easily embarrassed. I can't think of stories that he wouldn't willingly share himself, but if any of you have ideas, feel free to post a comment here!

I got in last night around 5:00. I took the Amtrak from DC, where I was for Arts Advocacy Days since Sunday. The train was a fun new experience. I was in eight states yesterday, not counting DC. Eight! Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. I saw the skylines of Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York (!), and Providence, right out of my window, not to mention countless quaint little New England towns.

After Bill gave me the grand tour of his veritable mansion-dorm-house, we took the T into Boston. To start with, we walked around Boston Common. We saw the tableau of ice skaters on the frog pond, posed on the steps of the Massachusetts State House, and stood on the Freedom Trail. We had dinner at Cheers (despite the theme song, no one other than Bill knew my name) and then went to Little Italy to choose from the plethora of pastries at Mike's Pastries. We settled on a cannoli and a Black White cookie. Good stuff, let me tell you...

I now have a special message for you loyal blog readers from Bill Huff himself:

Nicole is lucky. I mean, I do not open these hallowed doors to many individuals and she is the first to Christen my guest room with her glorious presence. Not that I am bitter or anything that none of my friends from my many worlds including the Mount or even my family have come to visit. I am excited to have Ms. Palof out here where the Boston accents are as thick as the rush hour traffic. Tonight's plan is to attend a farewell dinner for one of my colleagues and either catch an event on campus or perhaps see some theater. Tomorrow is more theater, some museums, and some general hullabaloo (I really wanted to use hullabaloo in this blog). I need to go back to work now and meet with some students, you know making an impact on their crappy lives and all. Ms. Palof informs me she is going to include some pictures of our first night of revelry. Enjoy my friends!

I think I'll go to Boston...

This weekend is the Mount Mercy spring play, and, according to Kathi Pudzuvelis, Natalie's performance is "brilliant".

I'm sad to be missing it, but not as much as I thought I'd be. Last year, the weekend of her play, I was so homesick that it was the most depressed I've ever been. I remember that, during the week of the show, I spent my days fighting back tears. There were other reasons for this, but the biggest was this gnawing feeling of wanting to go home, to BE home for good, and not being able to go. I was miserable. I got over it, but I still remember that as the worst I've felt since living here, second to how I felt after Oma died.

Thursday afternoon, I felt similar feelings brewing at the end of my work day. I was still toying with idea of trying to make a super quick trip home, but knew it probably wouldn't be the smartest thing to do. But still, I hadn't decided, and I did NOT want to go home to an empty apartment and eat alone. It would have made me sad, knowing all of my family was at the show. So I worked late. I had a lot to do, so I stayed until 5:30. And I totally know that God was behind that move because, once I was driving west, Charlotte called and was running an impromptu errand in my neck of the woods, so we had dinner. I then did some shopping, and I didn't even think of the play, really, the whole night!

In theory, I could have left worked yesterday at 3:00 and made it to the McAuley Theater by 7:00. I could have seen the show, seen a few friends, and made it home by this evening, at which point I'd be up late packing, be tired... and be worn out before my coming trip even began. Yeah. I decided not to do that.

God provides. Work was so crazy yesterday that there's no way I would've been able to leave early. And I was so much less stressed with such an open Friday night ahead of me. And this morning, I actually had breakfast with Emily Evers, which was another pleasant surprise for the weekend. She is in town with her boyfriend visiting one of his friends. So, just when I'm missing Mount Mercy, a piece of it unexpectedly shows up in my day.

So now I'm packing, but not frantically. I have time to spare, and I'm at peace with that. I'm heading to DC tomorrow morning for work, and then on Wednesday I'm taking the train up to Boston to see Bill Huff.

I better get back to my suitcase...

Night Owl

Yesterday was my friend Aleeta's birthday, and I went out with her, some other friends and some of her co-workers to celebrate last night. I hadn't been "out" like that in such a long time! I rarely drink since I've been in O-town, let alone at actual bars. It was kind of a fun change of pace.

The first bar was a sports bar kind of place, and I enjoyed drinking beer, eating fries and shooting the breeze. The second bar was more of a dancing kind of place. I felt pretty awkward. I hate how self-conscious I can be! I didn't want to drink too much to loosen up, because it had been snowing and the roads were a bit treacherous. Plus, I hadn't had a chance to go home after work, so I was still in my work clothes. I just wasn't into it, and I'm kicking myself for it a bit now. Instead of just saying "screw it, I don't care what anyone thinks", I was awkwardly "dancing" while feeling like everyone was looking at Aleeta, Annie, Ashley and I and thinking "Look at those three beautiful girls and that one weird-looking girl who's trying to dance but can't." I'm sure no one was even paying attention, but I still was overly aware of myself. Phooey. I wish I could be less inhibited! I know I've come a long way since high school and all, but I still have a ways to go. I guess that's a good thing, though.

All in all, though, I had a lot of fun hanging out with Aleeta. She is a very real person. She doesn't pull any punches, and isn't afraid to ask the deep questions. In our short little jaunt around town, we were able to squeeze in some rather deep conversations about sharing our faith, managing our money, and counting our blessings.

Then we got stuck on her street. It was bad. It was around 12:30 when we approached the intersection of 108th and V, and it was 1:00 by the time I finally was able to pull into her driveway! We were stuck in the middle of the street, taking turns pushing the car and flooring it. I could smell the burning rubber. And I think we woke up the neighbors. We tried all different ways- forward, reverse, to the right, to the left. Finally, with one shoulder-popping push, Aleeta was able to shove Lola (my car) into the driveway. Needless to say, I ended up spending the night! Here's a picture of Alleta trying to shovel out my car. Look at the glow on that shovel!

And now tonight I was out past midnight for a second night in a row. That's shocking for me these days. Church, Perkins, movie at Jenn/Beth/Aleeta's. Even as I write this, it's after 2:00 am. I guess sleeping in until noon can do that to a person. Once Beth left for work this morning, I slept in her bed with the electric blanket. Talk about comfortable!

But now I really should get into my bed. We don't have church tomorrow morning, so I don't have to get up early, but I probably shouldn't sleep all day again.

I also thought I'd follow Tauna's lead and post some pictures of some of my Omaha friends, now that I finally learned how to do it. The first is of Charlotte, Beth and I. The second is of me and Aleeta. More to come...