Another week down, about seven more to go. I know it sounds like a lot, but really it's so not. Where did the last two years go? Feeling the need to be reflexive lately. Wondering if my service really mattered to anyone? Maybe so if my director was willing to bribe me not to leave the country :)

Today is looking like it's going to be a great day. The sun is shining, my cold has finally gone, and I'm playing some softball with my kids later.

Currently I'm sitting here waiting for my friend to get into town and I'm wondering if it's a bad thing to be so intrigued by my cats. Perhaps I should find something more productive to do. On that note, I'll leave you with my "Song of the Day"

Thought it was about time to include my new found loves Lupe Fiasco, Feist and Sondre Lerche on my "Songs of the Moment" list along with some new found obsessions. Here's the list:

( 51 Songs That Changed My Life. )

It has been so long since I've posted on here. I feel like this journal is slipping through the cracks much like my old one did. To remedy this I've decided that I'm going to discuss my favorite things here perhaps to a degree that will be annoying :) I hope not though.

( Knitting )

Other than the knitting, I've been working again. I'm finding that sometimes the most positive attitude still won't help make teaching any better. Maybe it's the weather, or that my kids are a year older and care even less, or perhaps it's me. Who knows. I just dread going to school these days, but surprisingly my American Lit and American Studies lessons are hits when I was sure they would crash and burn every week. I'd like to think the kids are interested, but honestly I think it's the weekly quizes I've started threatening them with :)

The weather like I said has been shitty and with that, so has my running. I haven't been on it like I was before my allergic reaction a month ago. I want to get going again, but now I'm afraid to run in the rain and get sick. GRRRR. Can't wait til I'm home and have a gym again. OH! Almost forgot, since it's now a topic of my journal, I have to take a moment to discuss the new sneakers I treated myself to in August.

http://www.georgianshop.com/upload/products/shoes/1_7_1_2007_01_15_14_14_27.jpg

Though I've never been a fan of Adidas shoes, I really like these. They are amazingly light and a treat after logging miles in my old Nike shoes. They provide great arch support and are really cushioned. My only complaint is that they are wider than shoes I'm use to and my stride is a little off from it. I'm sure I'll get use to this soon though. We'll as soon as I can get out and run regularly again.

I'm hoping for a laid back weekend with friends. I had planned a softball workshop for my younger students, but the weather is looking to dash my hopes. We've rescheduled for next weekend, but I'm still having some other volunteers come visit. I can't wait to introduce them to the most amazing COCKTAIL (yep, hitting ANOTHER theme) ever! I discovered it today. One great thing about Ukraine is the juice selection. I bought some pomegranete juice earlier today and after my run I was looking for something to warm me up and got the idea to mix it with some Green Apple Vodka my friend left behind in my fridge. AMAZING! That is if you like sour drinks. I have a feeling it's going to be my new thing. No more tonics or beer for this girl!

Ok, I feel like I've babbled for a good hour about nothing really, so I will leave you there and get back to the 4th episode of America's Next Top Model: Cycle 11

No no this isn't the news show on SNL, too bad. But it's been awhile since I updated and since my internet has decided to start working again at 1 AM, I'm going to say alittle now in my sleep dazed state.

This last week has been wicked boring. I won't lie to you. I sat in my apartment, finished The Other Bolyen Girl (which was crap in my opinion), started watching Chuck (which is growing on me with each episode. how cute is Chuck?), and dealt with the worse case of stomach issues since language camp in Janurary. I really didn't want to go ANYWHERE. But I did have a couch surfer from America roll through. Strange guy, but nice enough and I'm due to have two more Americans anyday now. Who would have thought that people who aren't volunteers would come see Brody and enjoy it.

As it looks my plans for Poland have fallen through and to make up for it, I'm planning a last minute trip to Chernivtsi to visit some friends and see some castles. Should be interesting. Though I won't lie here either and say I'm not disappointed about Poland.

Good things from last week: I have decided to return to New York upon my arrival home to the States. I'm very excited about this and can't wait to try round two with the city. Also in the good column, I have kept the running going for another week. Here are my stats:

Days Ran: 21
Miles Ran: 33
Near bathroom accidents while running: 1 (oh yes, such is PCV life.)

Stats:

Days ran: 14
Miles ran: 21

This weeks running was surprisingly easier. It might have been the zero threat of getting stuck by lightning or the now bone dry streets, but it wasn't without its difficulties. I had to run after falling from my window (I'm a trooper), put in a mile after a couple pivos and some shashlik (probably the most painful run of the week) and force myself out of bed for an AM run on a Saturday. All in all though, it's been paying off. I got a "You look great. What have you been doing?" from a guy, given he's gay, but still it was a nice thing to hear. I feel great and maybe this is me tooting my own horn, but sometimes you deserve to pat yourself on the back. Keep it up, Melissa.

--I encouraged my cat to chase a wasp and in return she got stung and had a huge paw for a day. Yea, go me.

--Discovered Orange flavored coffee at the supermarket. Very interesting.

--Fell out of my window and now am bruised on most of the right side of my body. I wasn't even drunk. Not a shining moment for me

--Was introduced to Planet Unicorn on youtube by Garrard

--Learned Cutthroat Island really is an awful movie.

--Attended my first Ukrainian wedding and actually enjoyed it. Am hung over and on the downward slope of a sugar high as we speak (at 10:30 am)

And yes, I'm still running. Day 14 today. Stats to come later.

Ukrainian weddings should be the new marathons. Seriously, they should be an endurance sport. I went to my first today (my friend Ira's) and only made it until 12:30 pm (12.5 hours). I really do think I was first to leave.

Though I ducked out early, it was pretty awesome. I would have danced more had my shoes been more comfortable. I think that was the only thing that could have made me enjoy myself more.

I really want to post more, I do. It's just soooo late. Let's hope my internet works in the morning.

21) "Walking with a Ghost" - Tegan and Sarah
22) "Gone Daddy Gone" - Gnarls Barkley
23) "Popstars" - Rooney
24) "Connected" - Stereo Mc's
25) "Miss Halfway" - Anya Marina

Thank god for the sunshine. I've never valued it more than after 3 weeks of downpours. As I woke up to sunshine yesterday, I felt like having a really productive day, finally. Perhaps it was the weather, or maybe it was being finished with all 5 seasons of One Tree Hill and having nothing else to waste time doing. I'm spent most of my day working on my blanket I started last fall and still have yet to finish (even though it's practically done except for the edging and some final touches) while I watched episodes from season 5 of Scrubs. I can't tell you how my love for Zack Braff has grown :). I have to say, if I worked on any TV show out there, I'd love to work on Scrubs. It just looks like they always are having such a good time. Anyway, other than that, I took a break here and there to play catch with some of the neighborhood kids that have failed to lose interest in my American football (they are getting pretty good at throwing) and to run my mile for the day which actually turned into a nice 1.5 mile run until I rolled my ankle on a rock.

Today was productive as well. Started with doing the laundry that I've been putting off for weeks and moved on to baking a batch of chocolate orange cookies (a new recipe, and AWESOME). Now I'm happy to be reporting to you from my finally working again internet and afternoon cup of coffee. In store for the afternoon? Perhaps some drawing, rocking out to my itunes, and of course my run. Which come to think of it, needs a moment of mention.

Running Streak Status:

-Days Ran: 7
-Miles Ran: 10
-Thunderstorms braved: 2

Yes folks, I am a rockstar. I logged my first thunderstorm run today. Instead of backing out when the lightning seemed to be striking just next door to the stadium, I keep dodging puddles and running. It was terrifyingly AWESOME. Was it the smartest thing I've ever done? Probably not seeing as I had a key tied to my shoe the whole time. Oops.

And now it would figure, it has stopped raining for the first time today. After my run.

16) "Off the Rails" - Notwist
17) "Old World" - The Modern Lovers
18) "Chapter" - Psapp
19) "Under the Tracks" - Creeper Lagoon
20) "I Will Survive" - CAKE

I have realized, due to the month of solid rain, that I could never live in Seattle. If you EVER hear me mention the thought of moving there, just smack me. Go ahead, I give you permission.

Other cities where I'd go insane:

London
Pittsburgh


PLEASE STOP RAINING!!!

Today's Soundtrack:

11) "Easy" - The Beta Band
12) "His Truth is Marching On" - Mike Doughty
13) "Maybe Tomorrow" - Stereophonics
14) "When You're Smiling" - Louis Armstrong
15) "I Can't Make Me" - Butterfly Boucher


I feel as if I haven't seen the sun for ages. I think, seriously it's been a month of nonstop rain. The last time I endured weather like this was in Pittsburgh and I hated it then. I would give anything to be at the beach in North Carolina, enjoying some sunshine. But hey, soon right?

Well what's new with me? Not much really because of the weather, but I have committed myself to a running streak. Basically, the rule is I have to run atleast a mile everyday. I'm on day three and as I watch the downpour outside, I'm really not looking forward to my mile. But I have to get use to running in bad weather if I'm going to maintain this streak right? I'm thinking of rewarding myself with new sneakers on day 50 of running. I think I might even be home in the States by that time (if I do indeed skip out early), if not I'll take a trip to Lviv and indulge in some insanely overpriced sneakers :)

I just started the 5th season of One Tree Hill and I seriously have some issues with this show. Yes I know, this isn't a grammy winning show worth my time by all means, but seriously are the writers on crack?

They keep missing or fucking up the few places they have to make this show worth watching. Why couldn't they just let Haley make music? That story line had some potential and brought in big name bands to the show that would have generated more viewers. And now in the 5th season, Nathan is paralyzed. WHAT THE FUCK! Seriously, it would have been cool to get to see him as a professional basketball player. It would have been interesting to take a show that's just like your cliche run of the mill high school bullshit and make a story line that would be kinda like Entourage.

I get what they are trying to do. The issues create drama, but they are just going over board. Sometimes happy endings aren't boring and make for a better show down the road. Look at Grey's Anatomy this year. The writers realized that they wrote nothing but depressing crap for 3 years and ended on a high note this season.

I really was interested in this last season because they opted out of showing the characters in college and just jump to after it, but they are falling into the same slump those shows do. The characters are just going to end up back in the same town anyway. I know it's expensive to film all over and to have lots of sets, but it's WAY WAY more interesting.

Anyway, just had to say it. And this is coming from someone that hopes to work on this show by the end of the year. I wish it wasn't so cliche.

AHH HA!! I got it!

Melissa: Most likely to be drunk on cheese.

Oh yes. I do love cheese.

--This message is brought to you thanks to JD's line, "Dont blame him, he's drunk on cheese!"

so i just finished a bottle of wine, save the one glass i gave to a friend, and i'm not feeling the least bit tipsy. should i be worried, or was the wine just weak??

1) "Was it You?" -Spoon
2) "Post Blue" - Placebo
3) "Son's Gonna Rise" - Citizen Cope
4) "My Heart"- The Perishers
5) "Somersault" - Zero 7
6) "Back to The Life" - Spoon
7) "Blankest Year" - Nada Surf
8) "Love You Madly" - CAKE
9) "Dice" - Finley Quaye
10) "Syrup & Honey" - Duffy

i'm freaking out. it's STILL raining and what's the forecast for tomorrow? MORE RAIN!

This has led me have an undying need to fill this journal full of postings (I've posted more in the last 3 days than I did in weeks in my old journal. Perhaps it's this unlimited internet thing or maybe waiting on episodes to stream....) Anyway. So without further ado:

( More random surveys to kill time )
( these things are just SOO addicting )
( and one more for the road )

Cheesiest.Episode.EVER.

and doesn't even have any good music in it.

I'm sitting here watching yet another down pour outside and I find myself wondering if it rained this much last summer. Seriously, we've had just one day of sunshine this week. I wished and wished for rain when my camp was over. I really needed a reason to feel ok with just sitting home, having some me time, and now I've gotten a weeks worth of storming. I feel like I'm coming to terms with sitting in my apartment, doing nothing all day. There have been more days this week that I haven't been outside, than in most months.

How am I filling all the hours of my day, you ask? Well I've been working on streaming all the episodes of One Tree Hill. Not the worlds greatest show by all means, but it's filmed in my future home so that's why I picked it. I just finished the 9th episode of the 4th season and I'm taken aback by how they ALWAYS ALWAYS take you from one extreme emotion to the next all within 10 minutes. It's kinda wearing on me and it's all getting alittle too melodramatic for me, but I'm hooked. I'm also trying to answer the question in my mind if OTH is a better show than The OC. See the kid that plays Lucas, the main character turned down the shot to be Ryan Atwood in The OC for this show. Did he get the better end of the deal? Really folks, that's what's on my mind.

Other than mindless TV, I'm reading The Other Boleyn Girl. It's mindless entertainment too really because instead of being totally taken away with the writing, as I heard it did, I feel like I'm reading something a high school kid has written and I'm rather disappointed. I know the main characters are teenagers, so this I spose is how they would really think, but where's the maturity that I was sure they would have? Will I stop reading the book, probably not. I mean, what else do I have do to?