14
Sep

yes

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Philadelphia is smoke free!

I’m going to Corning this weekend. I’m planning on knitting / crocheting a ton while I’m there, and of course I won’t get done what I want to get done. Just like on every break. I think I’ll be taking my uncle to see Little Miss Sunshine. I’ve heard good things. I saw Talladega Nights last weekend and it was pretty funny.

I dropped my car off at the Firestone near campus to get an oil change today. They called because they couldn’t open the hood, I told them how because it’s weird enough that you need two people. They called back and said they still couldn’t get it. I had to go back down there, and I opened it on the first try. Thanks for wasting my time.

I saw a band called Hoots and Hellmouth the other night at the Cabaret. My dad had seen them at the Folk Fest this year and told me to check them out since they’re on Drexel’s label (and also they’re good). So any way it was free and I went. They were really cool, very energetic. Got off the stage and danced around for my favorite song. I didn’t have any extra money to pick up a CD but they’re recording their first actual album now so I can get that later since they play in Philly all the time.

I was at Swarthmore for a work event and wow, is that campus gorgeous. Very green. The buildings themselves were beautiful too, very old but well kept, and clean! It felt like a school. Their student center had awesome fliers for everything from tango lessons for credit to Irish Gaelic language classes. I hate Drexel.

13
Sep

phila smoking ban

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*** YOUNG INVOLVED PHILADELPHIA BULLETIN ***

Smoking Ban Update: Puff, Puff…Pass Already!!

After six years of deliberation and compromise, we are disappointed to inform you that the smoking ban legislation that finally passed City Council in spring is now in jeopardy. Mayor Street has said he’s not sure he’s going to pass the smoking ban and we only have until 10 a.m. this Thursday, September 14th, to persuade him that it’s the right thing to do.

What would you say to Mayor Street to persuade him to pass the bill?

– You could thank him for prioritizing health and fitness in his two terms in office and ask him to demonstrate his continued commitment to that priority by signing the bill…

– You might tell him how much Philadelphia’s image has improved during his administration and that signing the ban will further demonstrate that our city is as progressive as its neighbors?

– Or maybe you just love that Philadelphia’s restaurant and bar scene has flourished in recent years and you feel a smoking ban will encourage even more young people (especially young people with kids) to leave home for a night on the town.

So send the Mayor an email by clicking on http://www.pennenvironment.org/PE.asp?id=1771&id4=ES – ask him to sign the ban, for the health of restaurant employees and customers across our city.

And then pass the link on to your friends.

* A Round of Trailblazers *

Some establishments have already made the right choice— their bar is smoke-free all of the time. Without a smoking ban they’re taking a risk, but if a smoke-free workplace means healthier, happier staff and customers, that’s a risk they’re willing to take. Tell them you love them with your wallet ? go to http://younginvolvedphila.org/smoking_advocacy.htm for our list of smoke-free restaurants and bars.

11
Sep

Vogue 1944 design

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I picked out this pattern for Halloween:

The floral one reminds me of a dress Madonna wears in Evita during “Eva and Magaldi”, except Eva’s has a pink background.

The green one is really something any 40s actress could have worn to a premiere or something. I have to look for fabric still.

08
Sep

gaelic storm

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The Gaelic Storm concert last night was a lot of fun. It was only about half full, as opposed to when it sold out last time. I guess because it was a Thursday instead of a Friday? And last time was the end of March too so maybe people were still in a St. Patty’s mood. I forgot to bring my camera but I got a shirt signed. I might have to end up giving it to Laura though. They didn’t have any L so I got a M instead of an XL. I mean it fits but it’s tight. We’ll see if I can stretch it out a little bit.Tomorrow is Lisa’s baby shower. I’m not done the baby slings yet. I almost finished making one yesterday but then my sewing machine couldn’t handle the thickness where I have to sew through a bunch of folds. I’m going to have to hand sew that part I guess.

05
Sep

mandolin

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Camping this weekend was lot of fun. It stopped raining there Saturday after lunch and I stayed until Monday so we had a good bit of sun. Laura got a fiddle while we were there. It was a great deal for $100 including the case. She used to play violin in school before they cut the strings program so she’s really excited to start playing again. I’m going to learn to play the mandolin. We have a round-back one that was my great-grandmother’s. The only thing is my mom told my grandmother she could get it refinished like she wants to so I have to bring it up when I visit this month and I’ll get it back probably at Thanksgiving. So I can’t really play until then. I got a couple of books for it so I suppose I could start now but I only have a week and a half.

30
Aug

end of summer

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The term’s almost over. I have a final and a presentation tomorrow, and a final next Thursday, then I’m done. I mapped out my schedule for the next three terms until graduation and I’ll only need 12 credits for each of them, including senior project.

I only have 2 weeks for break this September. It used to be a 3 week break but who knows why they changed it. I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to go anywhere, I’ll probably just work like usual. I’m so ready to be done with school. At least I can see an end now so it makes it slightly easier.

I might do some part time work at my old coop this fall too. My class load will be really light so I think I can handle the 2 jobs at 16 hours/week each. I could really use the money, probably to buy a new computer when this one dies. My rent is also going up, and I’m not currently splitting my cable and electric bills with anyone. So if the job is available (they still have to check) then I’m pretty sure I’ll take it.

I’m going to a bluegrass festival / camping this weekend. I can’t wait. The temperature should be perfect with 70s during the day and 60s at night. The only thing is right now it’s supposed to rain. That keeps changing though so I’m hoping it will get pushed back more. I already bought tickets and it’s rain or shine so I’ll be there either way. I’m still getting over a cold that had me in bed at my parents’ house all last weekend though so I’d rather not be out in rainy weather for 3 days.

Gaelic Storm is going to be at NXNW again next Thursday so I’m going with a few people. Their show there last time was so much fun, and they also have a new album out since then so it should be great.

I’m really into Christina Aguilera’s new album. It’s got a lot of 20s/30s jazz/blues influences, which of course I love.

22
Aug

halloween

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I decided I’m going to be Ingrid Bergman for Halloween. I found a ton of 40s dress patterns:
one
two
three
four

No one will know who I am but I love that style so I’m doing it. I thought of picking a particular outfit she wears and doing the same thing but I can find barely any full length pictures of her. She’s so gorgeous that all the pictures are just of her face. I downloaded a couple of her movies to try to pick something out of there.

20
Aug

G. Love

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Went to see G. Love and Special Sauce in Ortley Beach on Friday. It was a really great show. Afterwards we met G. Love and Jimi Jazz. Jimi was in love with Julia (asked her to have his babies) so he came with us to eat tacos (where he forgot his wallet and we had to pay for him), then swam with us in the ocean. And took off all his clothes. Too bad it wasn’t G.

We got home at 6am, slept for 2-3 hours at Ryan’s, then I helped Lisa and Shaun move into their new place all day. Came back just in time for Eunice’s going away party, which was at my apartment. I had lots of fun but went to bed at like 1:30. Haha I have no idea why. I guess I was really tired from not sleeping the night before. I woke up this morning at 8 really confused.

My whole body is really sore today. I guess it’s from contorting myself into weird positions on the way home from the beach to stay warm in the jeep. I went down to center city to use some gift cards and coupons and hit some sales. The bike ride loosened me up a little bit but then I took another nap and am stiff again.

18
Aug

yeah

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I don’t know if I mentioned this before but when I was at Six Flags a couple weeks ago, Foghorn Leghorn grabbed my ass and told me to call him. It was kind of traumatic.