Magical Movery Tour Stop #3

STOP #3: New York City
Friends: Becky Whittemore, James Robilotta

Becky is one of my favorite people. I met her at DSI two years ago, and we rarely performed together but we hung out all the time. She was my girl! She is the best person to visit in New York City because she knows where the parties are, where the best shopping is and how to pregame. We've visited her three times already since living in Philadelphia, and each time has been awesome!

This will be our last visit to New York City for awhile. We're staying with Becky, and we know we'll have a great time. She's even scheduled a party for when we'll be there. I love Becky, and I'm so excited to see her!!


Also wonderful to see is our college buddy James Robilotta. We've known James for five years now, and we still love him to pieces. He's a busy man who is frequently on call at his job when we're in town or performing comedy all over the city. Each time we've visited, we've managed to find a time to get together and rock out over some food.

I love hanging out with James because he always makes me laugh - and he knows where the best food is in the city. I know we'll reminisce about the good ole days of MTS and talk shop about what we're doing now. Oh Woooooooow!

Magical Stop #2

STOP #2: Boston, Massachusetts
Friend: Ryan Higgens

We're about to spend the weekend with Bryan's old college roommate and crew friend Ryan. This guy is hilarious.

We'll probably spend all of it making fun of each other and talking about why we aren't on a boat.

This is also Bryan's first trip to Boston. We'll have to get him some lobsters and an accent.

Buckley Magical Movery Tour

REMINDER: Today starts the Magical Movery Tour.



See you soon!

Goodbye, Philadelphia

Today is my last day in the city of brotherly love. It's been an incredible year. I think better in lists, so let's review all the wonders of our time in Philly.

Bryan's first job. Working at Ursinus was awesome for Bryan: they respected him, gave him great classes and taught him how to be a part of a department at a college.

The N Crowd. We really love this group. We found people who care about each other, who can stay up all night talking with, who can party, who can play the ungame, who can attend festivals together, who can hang out Tuesday nights. It was certainly the highlight of our time in Philadelphia to be a part of such a talented group. We'll miss our weekly performances, the crowds, the laughs and our friends on the team.

Our first two bedroom place. It's a big deal to have a second bedroom. Even though we used it as a big closet/office, it was nice to be able to have separate space for when Bryan wanted to play Starcraft and I wanted to watch Top Chef. Also, the second bathroom was the bomb dot com. Oh, and the view. I am really going to miss that view!

The cheesesteaks. I loved cheesesteaks before I ever got here, but having tried the cheesesteaks of the gods straight from the grills of the gods, I can say that I will never eat a cheesesteak anywhere but Philadelphia. Once you've had the best, why eat mediocre?

Wegman's. I love this grocery store. It's got everything! And more! Meat in bulk. Dozens of kinds of freshly baked bread (that spinach Parmesan bread...) All sorts of fancy cheese. Coupon books delivered to your mailbox. My cashier Fran who knows me by products. Red Bull in bulk. How will I live without Wegman's?

Our friends. We'll miss our friends from Ursinus College, from the YMCA, from The N Crowd and from our apartment complex. Thank god for facebook.

It's been a great year. We'll never forget Philadelphia. This pint's for you, Philly.

List of Things I Need to Survive a Week in an Empty Apartment

an air mattress
two pillows
a skillet and a pot
a tv
Wii plus games
laptop
car
muffin tin plus mix
eggs, milk, butter, oil, noodles and sauce
Scrabble Slam
suitcase of clothes

Believe me. That's a real list. I'm living that life.

Small Town Love

When Bryan said he was interviewing for a university in Oklahoma, I was sure it wouldn't be the one we chose. When we flew out west for the campus interview, it still didn't seem real. During our four day visit, we went from "No way we could live in a town this small" to "Oh, this place is so cute! I want a house like that one." An offer, a long talk and some signatures later, we decided Northeastern State University of Oklahoma was it.

In three days, we're moving from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fifth largest city in the United States to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, America's friendliest small town. It's going to be very different.

There's only one grocery store: Reasor's. And we're lucky because the Reasor's of Reasor's lives in our new town. They're like royalty there, "The Reasor's will be attending the summer production of Oklahoma." "Why then, we should all attend!"

It's going to be cheaper. Both renting and buying houses (the greatest cost of living) is nearly 50% in Tahlequah. When we met with the realtor, I told her how much we're paying in Philadelphia and she said there's nothing we could rent in Tahlequah at that price. Our new home is half our old rent.

Traffic is a mythological creature. When we visited, we were with the realtor at 5:30 and she called a full row of cars stopped at a red light rush hour. We were only slowed by the "traffic" an additional two minutes. Driving into the city on a Friday evening, we can take the same thirty minute route (on weekdays) and not arrive for two hours due to the many, many Philadelphians on their way to a good time in the city.

The internet is slower. Or maybe just the internet user. I've noticed a difference in response times between the East Coast and Oklahoma: it's slower. Also, the Craigslist in Tahlequah is as sparse as 2002.

There's not as much to do. When you compare Tahlequah to Philadelphia, you just won't win on activities. Tahlequah does offer a new festival every month from the Balloonfest in August (I assumed regular balloons to be on the safe side, but they're hot air balloons!) and the Taste of Tahlequah in November (all the restaurants give out samples from their menu, similar to Fall for Greenville).

There's no giant YMCA. I grew quite attached to our large gym here, and it will be hard to find something to replace it. I guess I'll have to use the university gym and work out beside those young sweaty college boys...if I have to.

Town gossip. I've already heard a lot of gossip from our one visit. Gossip seems to be a much bigger thing in Tahlequah than anywhere I've lived, even Clemson. It's the "everybody knows everybody" phenomenon. Which worries me because they don't know the Buckleys, and I doubt they'll be using Google to learn about us. We'll be unable to escape the "new in town" title and questions. I'm excited about being the new lady in town, but if you know Bryan, he's just ready to have his routine and handful of friends with which to kick back.

Visits will be fewer. I am blown away when somebody says he wants to visit us in Oklahoma. I understand if you never visit us out there. It's okay; who has "Visit Oklahoma" on their bucket list? Our home will be bigger, so we'll be able to fit lots of guests. Also, we'll love the company. July is already booked, with our craziest friends visiting each weekend (Jason, Sheryl, Alex, Russ).

They still have internet in Oklahoma, so I'll continue to hold my relationships with people in Philadelphia, Carrboro, Clemson, Florida and elsewhere in the world through skype, facebook, twitter, reader and my blog. In the words of our dear friend Mac, I love you, guys.

My husband the professor

My husband is a professor of economics. No, he can't help you with your taxes or help you pick stocks. He can, however, teach you a new way to look at the world. And he does, everyday, to college students.

He just got his reviews back from his spring semester, and like each semester, his ratings are above average. Here's some snipits from his student evaluations:

I think Dr. Buckley's enthusiasm was his greatest strength. I also think his modern applications were a huge strength. Applying the material is important to learning, and I think he did a great job of doing this.

Professor is interesting, funny, informative, current, and just a good natural teacher. Ursinus needs more professors like him. Great teacher, best teacher I've had since I came here.

i liked him alot as a teacher probably one of the best ive ever had. Was never bored in class because the stuff he taught is actually interesting and i paid attention because it actually made sense.

He made class interesting, and learning about interest rates is not always the most exciting thing.

Clearly loves his job, was always enthusiastic in class.

I have grown up around business because my father worked on the NYSE, but I never fully understood everything until this class. Sweet.

Professor Buckley clearly loves his subject.

He's able to explain complicated theories in easy words.

He was interesting. I would never take another business class, but maybe if he taught something else I might.

A few funny ones:

Very incite full for those that are interested in Econ.

He likes to teach, I think.

He didn't demand anything outlandish.

He's very serious, maybe he could crack a few more jokes. He is an improv comedian in his spare time after all.

I made the news.

Our dear friends at the Philadelphia Improv News just published an article on Bryan and me. It is the sweetest article anyone has ever written about us.

Watching Bryan perform is a lesson in wit. His sense of pacing and narrative is among the best I’ve seen, and he does hoity characters like it’s his job. Likewise a delight on stage is Alyssa, who is as surprising in a scene as she is funny. She’s adorable like a kitten… a kitten who sometimes delivers shockingly dirty lines.

We've been incredibly fortunate to fall into such a wonderful world of comedy in Philadelphia, to have had the opportunity to perform every Friday night (and some Thursdays and Saturdays), to coach local teams, to teach workshops, to support our fellow comedians and to make new friends. It's been truly wonderful and leaving a group like this will be harder than we even know. Thankfully, our home group in Philadelphia The N Crowd has organized a send off party for us next week. I know there will be lots of laughs and lots of tears.

You can read it here.

Silent but Steamy Badge

If my friends on Foursquare can earn badges like Player Please! and I'm on a Boat, I'm going to award myself a Silent but Steamy Badge.

How might one earn this badge? Getting to bone every day as quietly as possible while your inlaws are in town (for five days, four nights) visiting in an echoey, empty home.

What now, Foursquare?

It's Sometimes All the Buckleys in Philadelphia

Today, Philadelphia is about to get 3 times cooler. My inlaws are coming to visit! Driving in their Prius, Warren, Joann and Brooke are on their way to us! I am so excited. Not only do I love to host guests in our home, but it's been since Christmas since we last saw the Buckleys!



My goals for the week include:
Give them a happy first night with my trademark Chicken Alfredo and pound cake with strawberries and whipped cream
Pack all our boxes and furniture into our pods
Hit the King of Prussia Mall to blow Brooke's mind
Hit the Philadelphia Outlets in Limerick to blow Brooke's mind
Get them to see our N Crowd show on Friday
Shower Joann with chocolate from Max Brennar and the Reading Terminal Chocolate shops
Surprise Warren with a trip to Daniel Boone Homestead
Teach them how to be rockstars in Beatles Rock Band
Tell them everything that's happened since January
Show them all our cool things from Oklahoma
Share with them that I GOT A JOB!
Hang out like family