Fibby's Life: A Quick Update

Hello Readers.

I am writing to you from Berkeley, CA, where I sit on the eve of Bay to Breakers, quite possibly the most fun day of the year. When else do you wake up at a rediculously early hour in the morning to dress in costume and then push a shopping cart full of beer across a city? Never. That's when else. It's a special, special day.

This year's theme is "Bay to Breakers in a Box" inspired by the SNL Digital Short.

A team of us worked hard for a full day to put together a ginormous box that fits on the front of a shopping cart. Photos to come, but trust me, it's gonna be awesome.

In other news, I got to see my old dentist while I was here. I had some gum and tooth irritation, and since I don't currently have dental insurance (and therefore don't currently have a dentist in Boston), I figured I might as well see a dentist who knows my teeth. He was great, and hopefully we figured out what's causing it, and the good news is that no surgery is required. Wahoo!

For those of you who remember my misadventures on my last trip out to San Francisco, you might be interested to know that I tried to get on the wrong flight coming out here this time as well. Waited in a loooong Southwest B-line (that I was very grumpy about because I knew I wouldn't get a window seat based on where I was in line), got to the front, gave the woman my ticket, and when she scanned it, it made a not-so-happy beeping noise. She looked down and told me that I was supposed to be at gate B-9 and this was gate B-11.

So I walked over to B-9 right next door, and was first in line in the B-line. Window seat. Nice seat neighbors. Life was good.

I can't help but wonder what it means that I've nearly gotten on the wrong flight both times I've flown out here since I moved away. Ideas, anyone?

More updates when time permits, but for now, I leave you with this bit of news:

Apparently, the 5-second rule is now a 30-second rule. Thanks Conn College researchers for that fun little tidbit.

Final Thoughts on Survivor: Season 14

Ok, so finals made me skip the last few episodes of Survivor, and so I was forced to read about them on the official Survivor website. Very detailed, but not as good as seeing them live. Yes, I could have streamed them like LB, but I haven’t been home much lately, so reading was the best I could do.

That said, I was able to see enough episodes over the course of the season that I knew who all the players were who were left, and I definitely had opinions on them all. Sorry to not have commentary on all episodes, but I think I have enough commentary on this episode (and the reunion show) to make up for it.

Survivor Episode 200:

Yau Man – what a win for that first immunity challenge. He needed it and got it. He is amazing.

What’s with Boo’s “Floz” hat? Was this explained in one of the episodes I missed? Why did I not notice it earlier? “FLOZ”???

Best quote: “An older Chinese guy and a young black guy. Friends. That’s like Rush Hour.”

The “saying goodbye to people who were voted off before you” segment is lame. It’s always lame. How many different ways are there to say “Sorry you had to go so early” or “I wish you could have been here longer with us.”

That arm hanging challenge was great at showing off Cassandra’s sexy armpits. I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen female armpits so hairy in previous seasons. Also, did she have an orgasm before she fell off? That was awesome.

The Immunity Necklace: Stupid move on Dreamz’s part. Because how could anyone pick him to win after he went back on his plan with Yau Man? The curse of the car got them both.

Speaking of… Why did Yau Man give Dreamz the truck? Didn’t the pact dissolve when Dreamz didn’t keep his word? I guess Yau Man is better than that, but still…

Did anyone else get choked up seeing the clip of Stephanie finding out about the merge for the “Built Ford Tough Tournament” (I think that’s what it was called) ? I loved that season. I loved Stephanie.

Is it me or was Cassandra talking to herself on the way to the “final” tribal council? Her lips were moving, but it didn’t look like anyone was listening…

Lamest opening statement to the jury was definitely Cassandra: “I was someone everyone could talk to and I tried to stay positive and I hope that at the end of the day, we can all still be friends.” Whhhaaaaat!?!??! (and how did I miss until tonight the fact that that she couldn’t swim?)

Alex: Wow. Yelling at Cassandra to stop answering the question he had asked her to answer? And what was with the “air quotes”?

Probst’s facial reaction to Lisi’s question was brilliant. Cassandra’s SHOES!? What the hell do they have to do with anything?! “How many zeros are in a million dollars?” WHAT!? What are these questions? And why didn’t Jeff ask her about them at the reunion show? She’s officially insane.

Boo: Way to give props to Yau Man. Way to play the Christ card with Dreamz. I didn’t see the episode with the truck promise, but I loved that Boo told Dreamz he was an immature Christian (and how the videos showed that Dreamz did indeed swear to God).

Random thought: Do you think that people got teeth whitening before this show? They all have very glowing teeth in the darkness.

Overall, it was an okay season of survivor, but not a favorite. I’m glad Earl won. I was pulling for him from early on. Wish I had someone to watch it with (I didn’t realize they were putting three people in front of a jury, so when I did the math, I got all excited to think that I’d be in SF to watch the finale with my SF-Survivor-Watching peeps), but it was good background while I packed for my upcoming trip to SF.

Probably no updates for a bit, as my schedule is jam-packed until I take off for SF.

Happy Mother’s Day to all.

Done.

Three hours ago, I walked out of my final class of this semester (which, coincidentally, happened to be the final class of this year too). NOT to be confused with the final class of my program (which will take place approximately a year from today), but still worth celebrating.

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been writing papers non-stop for about 2 weeks now.

Things I'll update you on when I get my life back:

* Aquafresh White Trays
* Brunch and Mermaids
* Ending my Internship
* Life in General

Also, let me take this moment to remind my most wonderful readers that just because you read my blog and know what is going on in my life does NOT mean that:

a) I know you read my blog

or

b) I know what's going on in your life

If you can't remember the last time you got in touch with me and/or told me what's happening in your life, then chances are I can't remember it either. Call me. Email me. Show up at my front door.

I miss my friends, and have time to have a life now, so I'd really like to catch up any way possible.

It's the little things.

So LB is done, and I'm wildly jealous. I'm sitting here in the library, typing away at a paper that just doesn't seem to be finding its way toward an ending anytime soon. And I had 2 classes back-to-back tonight, and I'm generally tired and kind of hungry and mostly I want to go home and go to bed.

And then a girl from my class comes into the computer lab and says hi. And then she says, "You know, Phoebe, I just want to tell you that you're really supportive."

And I'm not sure where this is coming from, so I sort of look surprised.

And she says, "No - I'm giving you a compliment" and she goes on to tell me that she appreciates how I stand up for myself and others in class, and how some people do it in a negative way, but I remain positive. And she tells me that as I handed a paper in to her last night, I thanked her, and how that made her feel appreciated.

And I was reminded yet again that it's the little things that often make a difference - the things we don't even know we've said or done.

And I went back to my paper (after typing this here blog) with renewed energy and a smile on my face, because sometimes - not often - but sometimes, you can find yourself the recipient of kindness and appreciation when you least expect it (and when you most need it).