After more than 3 months, I have finally found a decent replacement for the science center coffee bar. Or to be more accurate, for their mocha smoothies. Au Bon Pain has an okay mocha drink, but it's the wrong consistency. The guy with the cart in front of work has good, cheap coffee - both regular and iced - but it's not the same. But today on my way in to work, I walked down 3rd instead of 4th, craving caffeine, and a little shop caught my eye. I don't remember what it's called, but I'm sure I'll be able to find it again. First big plus: cranberry orange muffins. Second plus: iced mocha. I ordered it thinking it would be like most regular iced coffee, but no, this was blended smoothie style, just like the ones from the science center. Heavenly. One wouldn't think that finding a replacement for Swat's mocha smoothies would have been very important, but you have to keep in mind that they were what got me through junior year. I cut back a bit senior spring, but still - they were my go-to caffeine fix. This new replacement is missing the whipped cream option, and they're too expensive to get all the time, but still, at least the cravings can now be satisfied. Yum. :)

The process of applying to library school has officially begun - I filled out a request for an application. So now I need to get my rec letters together, update my resume, and write my personal statement. Whee.

In other news, I've been spending a lot of time with a cute, geeky Australian boy. My cat Schrodinger has been extra cuddly and affectionate, which is nice. The weather has been lovely. And, as always, I'm tired. I suppose you can't have it all, right?

Right, so it's been awhile. I'm still alive and actually doing rather well. I have managed to successfully find an apartment, graduate from college, move to Brooklyn, start work, and get a cat. I've just completed my 3 month probation period at work, so now I have insurance. Basically I've spent the past 3 months enjoying my new low-stress lifestyle. Free time! Reading for pleasure! No homework! There's rent and bills to pay, of course, but thus far it hasn't been too bad.

However, I plan on adding new stressors in the coming months -- I'm hoping to start classes for a master's in library science in the spring, and then in the fall I want to add classes for another master's, this one in costume studies. (Not costume design - it's more the history and culture of clothes than how to create costumes for theatre - info on the program can be found here.) In about 4 or 5 years I'll hopefully have completed both programs and will be able to get a job at a fantastic place like the Met's Costume Library.

All of this means, of course, that I'll probably be living in New York for longer than my originally-intended 2 or 3 years. But as long as I'm not living in Manhattan itself, I'm fine with that. My neighborhood is pretty quiet and safe, there are plenty of parks scattered throughout the city, and there's lots to do (when I can motivate myself to do anything other than loaf, of course). I was worried that I'd hate it here, but it's grown on me rather quickly.

Interestingly, one of the things I miss most about Swat (besides, of course, the people and the wonderfully strange conversations) are the plants. The city has lots of parks, but they're mostly patchy grass and trees as opposed to the lush greenery of the arboretum. It strikes me most whenever I walk by this flower shop near work - if I breathe in deeply, it reminds me of being in one of the gardens. A weird bit of nostalgia, I suppose. It's somewhat balanced by the joy of being in a state with sensible liquor laws - it's just so nice to be able to grab a bottle of wine or some cider at the grocery store, though it's certainly not as entertaining as an expedition to Delaware. :)