It’s funny where life takes you. I spent the last three years in law school in New Jersey thinking it would help me get a job that pays enough to afford NYC rent. While in law school and spending a weekend out drinking with friends, I met the love of my life. She lives in the big city and I still live in New Jersey. I sleep there 40 percent of the time. We’re planning on moving in together in December and we’re looking at affordable neighborhoods. With our massive student loan debt and my lack of a job, we may yet end up in Jersey still. Is NYC just sour grapes?
I haven’t been on this site in years. What made me think of it was the fact that I finally quit smoking. I see that my last entry was from 2006. It is now 2012. I haven’t had a cigarette in over two weeks. It has been very hard, but the worst is over. What inspired me was the doctor scaring the crap out of me. Apparently, I have clubbed fingernails, which could be a sign of a lack of oxygen in the blood. I’m only 29, but he recommended a chest x-ray just in case. When I realized that not only will smoking kill me, but it would be completely humiliating and embarrassing to have my friends and family watch me get sick over something as dumb and useless as cigarettes. So far, side effects include extreme fatigue, coughing less, occasional cravings, being able to swallow, and an abundance of money in my pocket. Thanks to everyone at 43 things for their support.
So I took the LSATs and applied to nine schools
1. Fordham: rejected.
2. American: wait listed.
3. Brooklyn: still waiting.
4. Cardozo: wait listed.
5. Rutgers Newark: wait listed.
5. Rutgers Camden: still waiting.
6. Seton Hall: ACCEPTED (part-time program).
7. New York Law school: ACCEPTED (10k/yr scholarship)
8. Pace: ACCEPTED (and declined, even with $27k/yr scholarship)
So it looks like either NYLS or Seton Hall. Suggestions are appreciated.
Last year, I finally finished Haunted and it SUCKED! I was not a fan. However, I DID read Rant a few months ago and it was incredible! Best Chuck book I had read in a while.
So now all I have left is Fugitives and Refugees (which I have less of an interest in reading since I have never been to the Pacific Northwest, but I’ll check it out anyway) and Snuff. My sister has a copy of Snuff I need to borrow. I heard it’s gross, but I’d probably get a kick out of it. :)
How long will it take before the real estate market bottoms out enough for someone like me to be able to afford New York City? I live and work in the shadow of the city, but I cannot get there. I need a bigger income.
Less Than Jake, Goldfinger and others at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.
Holy cow! Best show of 2008 and possibly best show ever. I’ve learned the trick to really enjoying a concert. Make sure you have friends who live in walking distance to the venue and set it up so you crash there and roll in with 13 people. It works better if all thirteen know all of the words to all of the songs. You can scream your head off all night in good company.
Who thought I’d finish a one-year goal in just six months? There will be more shows, rest assured, but I need to check my credit card bill…
When fooling around on the net, just close the window. Do not finish whatever you were doing. Just shut it. Within moments, you will forget whatever it was you were wasting time doing and go back to doing something productive.
...at a bar called Mason Dixon in Manhattan I rode the bull! I was very terrible at it, very intoxicated, and I was so nervous when they made me sign a waiver before I got on. I let go fairly early on in the ride because I thought I might injure myself. It was fun, but not really my thing. I’m glad I gave it a try.
11 – Smoking Brazilian and others at Hartley’s in North Arlington.
I will complete this goal before half the year is over. Why was this so hard last year?
10 – My Chemical Romance and Taking Back Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Don’t laugh. At the time I committed to going, I thought the tickets were free. In any event, I could be done with this goal before the end of summer. I’ve been going to shows much more often than last year and enjoying all of them (even the ones were I’m the oldest person there who didn’t bring kids).
I am now making a real effort to apply for new jobs. I’ve heard back from two jobs. One did not pay enough. The other wants me to come in and take a writing test. We’ll see how that goes next week.
OK. So last Tuesday, I threw on some sneakers and ran one mile straight. I came back to my house, horribly winded, and lied down on the floor to do some sit-ups. Before I could do one, I began having trouble breathing. I was wheezing and coughing for the next hour.
The next day I go to the doctor and tell her I think I have asthma and tell her the whole story. She tells me I don’t have asthma. I have allergies, the weather has been going from hot to cold and back and running a mile after sitting on my ass and smoking cigarettes for six months probably was not the best idea. Still, she prescribes me two inhalers and a case of allergy pills.
Yesterday and today, I used the inhaler before running, ran the same mile and threw in some sit-ups and push-ups. It gets easier each time.
I really want to stick with this now, because it makes me feel SO much better. It gives me a jolt of energy after I’m done and it makes me tired enough to fall asleep at a reasonable hour.
9 – Bamboozle day two with
The Mighty Mighty BossTones
The Bouncing Souls
Anti-Flag
Street Dogs
Inspector 7
Brett Michaels
Alien Ant Farm
Phantom Planet
and others
Giants Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
8 – Less Than Jake, Pepper, Armor for Sleep, Mindless Self Indulgence and others at the Bamboozle Festival.
Already up to #6 and it’s only April.
6 – Piebald (final show) and others at the Middle East in Cambridge, MA.
Whenever someone offers me a ticket to a show, I’ll go. If it involves driving four hours and spending the weekend on a stranger’s couch, all the better.
Today, I am officially licensed by the State of New Jersey and the United States Coast Guard to operate a watercraft. Yay!
