There is always

someone to miss.

When it rains, it pours

That seems to be the theme for Summer '09. Of course there is the literal downpour New York has experienced since June, but this summer has also been full of traveling to and from the Hamptons, weddings, road trips, dancing, movies, and fun. My last semester of college was so intense with wanting to make good grades, nannying, and my internship. I think the summer tends to make me a little stir crazy.

But, now that only a few weeks of summer is left, it's starting to hit me that I am no longer a student. During finals in May, Kristin and Katie told me repeatedly that they missed college, late night study sessions, and the feeling of being accomplished when all was said and done. That made me so mad when I was the one up til 3 am finishing a paper and they were sound asleep. But I think I'm beginning to understand the missing, at least a little bit. I mostly want to do back to school shopping. I always enjoyed purchasing a new planner and finding favorite pens and highlighters. (I know Katie, Robbi, and Lauren understand) And I really wouldn't mind sitting in Dr. Jackson's office discussing charter schools, child phycology, or grad school options. 

We always want what we can't have. I have all the time in the world to do leisure reading that I was so excited about in May, and I'm still working through Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor

23

Over the years on my birthday, I get nostalgic and think about what I did the year before. When I turned 13 I cried because I was a teenager. When I turned 20 I cried because I wasn't a teenager anymore. And last year I cried because I thought I had no other birthdays to look forward to. Once your 21, it's all the same the next fifteen years. Or so I've heard.

But last night, I fell asleep before midnight and woke up eleven hours later to a new voicemail from my mom, Seth, and Caleb. My mom told me the same story she tells me every birthday--that I was born at 1:20 pm and there was record breaking heat of 108 degrees in Little Rock that day but the hospital was well air conditioned. 

I thought I would be sad I wasn't in the city with my friends today, but the Marriott family knows how to celebrate birthdays. I was dropped off at the beach while Cara went to the gym and the kids were at camp. Typically when I'm at the beach I have to chase kids, build sandcastles, collect seashells, and fly kites. Of course, all that is good and fun, but it makes going to the beach by yourself to relax even more enjoyable. When Claire, Drew, and Hank got home from camp, they immediately said they wanted to go swimming. We all got our swimsuits on and when I came back downstairs, they were holding giant posters they made that said, "Happy Birthday Julie! We love you!" Hank gave me $2 of his own that he got from the tooth fairy, Claire picked out a broad-rimmed sun hat that wasn't floppy, and Drew helped me blow out my birthday candles. I asked them for a hug, and Claire refused of course. The Rosenkranz family came over, along with Jen-I, who gave me cards, chocolate, and new flip-flops. All the kids gave me underwater hugs and sang happy birthday to me underwater. 

All this to say, a birthday party at work in the Hamptons with 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 year olds is pretty fun. I felt like a kid again at my neighborhood pool parties. 

I have a feeling this is going to be a good year. 

Nanny Diaries

Once upon a time, when I was in high school, I believed myself to be an introvert. A quiet, reserved girl who liked reading poetry and happened to be a cheerleader. But, my freshman year of college, my two roommates told me that I was undoubtedly an extrovert. I still had my suspicions. I remained a self-proclaimed introvert until my roommate Tessa, who is a guidance counselor so her opinion is legit, laughed when I said I wasn't sure if I was introverted or extroverted.

The main reason I'm discussing the two types of people in the world is because this past week I've realized I am absolutely an extrovert. I work Tuesday to Saturday in Quogue, Westhampton as a nanny for the Marriott family. When I was in Little Rock a month ago, all my friends and friend's moms squealed with jealous when I told them I was a nanny in the Hamptons. But the truth is, it's not as exciting as it sounds or looks in the movies. There's definitely no hot lifeguard or neighbor who sneaks into my room at night (unfortunately). I'm not meaning to complain about my job. I love the family, free food, queen size bed, washer and dryer in the basement, HBO on demand, the beach, and their dog Peaches. There are pros and cons to be a live in nanny, but that's beside the point of this post.

I aboslutely hate missing out on what my friends are doing while I'm at work. This past week I missed out on Harry Potter on opening night, Kat's birthday, Jo's work party, Union Pool, Royal Oak, Amanda's birthday party, and laying out on the roof. I almost missed out on seeing 500 Days of Summer, but luckily it was sold out so Kat is going with me today. Maybe I'm selfish and don't want my friends to have fun without me. Or maybe I just love my friends so much that I hate not experiencing life with them on a daily basis. Probably a little of both, which undoubtedly puts me in the extroverted category. I know some friends who would love to have a quite, peaceful house to themselves until the kids got home from Sportime camp. As for me, I read for a little, get bored, watch tv, and then wonder what I'd be doing tonight if I was in the city.

The good ones

keep you guessing. Right?

Yesterday, I felt twenty-one again

"Do you remember when twenty-one years was old?"

-Countdown by Phoenix

you remind me of home

I'm going back to work today, finally. I'm ready to see the kids and take Peaches for a walk along the Hudson. This weekend was exactly what I needed after a week on the couch.

I cleaned the apartment on Friday, which was cathartic to get rid of all the flu germs. We ate dinner at Stand and saw Away We Go, which was hilarious and heart felt. It rained a lot but the weather on Saturday was perfect for a cruise around Manhattan (thanks Kristin!) And yesterday we went to Renegade craft fair in McCarren Park which made me wish I had extra cash and was crafty myself. Kristin is planning on redecorating the living room which is amazing. I'm excited to continue making this apartment more of our own since we are staying here for another year. Then we went to church and ate a potluck dinner for the 4 year anniversary of Res Pres. It feels good to think of Brooklyn as home. 

It's pretty much impossible for me to think of living anywhere temporarily.