Adios Facebook!!

I think I mentioned earlier this fall that I would be leaving Facebook as soon as I was done with my class project based on the social media site.  Well, the time has come.  And I'm REALLY excited.  I figure I'll leave my status (with the blog address) up for like 24 hours, and then I'm OFF.

Such a relief.

Happy Saturday!

COLD!!!

Dreaming of this...

...and not this...

...unless we get a little of this.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Mara/Vero/Dana, I'm looking now at flights in your direction.  

Because, Let's Face It.

So, to prove that I'm TOTALLY losing my mind, here are a few excerpts from an email I just sent the professor advising my CE (or thesis, or whatever the hell this stupid school wants to call it today).  Just as a little background another professor had just announced, IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE CLASS That I would not be graduating until May.  Needless to say I was PISSED, largely because this was news to me.  And in that light, I wrote to my advisor.

I will keep on keeping on until I'm dead.  Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.  Until I've got a few more letters behind my name (preferably MPH).

Re all else: Why on earth did I think it was a good idea to be ambitious with my CE?  Dr. HEAD OF THE ACADEMIC TRACK (in slightly different words) basically asked me the same thing tonight.

So you know, I am kind of at my breaking point (as I'm sure you are AND I learned a ton about the load of bull crap you put up with as a professor tonight, so I know this probably is 100 times worse for you)... 

...And then I start to bemoan the fact that, at this rate and with this horrid cyclical hell we find ourselves in, I will never graduate and never get a real job.

...I am available any time before 1pm and any time after about 2:30 until 6pm.  I will drive if I can make it in time (her office, your home, the moon) or phone at any point."

I realize that this probably makes NO sense to anyone but me.  But, this is my blog.  And one day I hope to look back on this and smile fondly.  Or not want to punch people.  Really, just so long as I don't feel so overwhelmed and frustratedUPTOHERE, I'll realize that this post and all the crap I've dealt with in relation to it are nothing.

So, you know.  Happy 150 posts.  Or 150 smacks to the face.  Or 150 "God, PLEASE don't make me deal with more of this"'s.

I promise one day I will talk about other things.

Geez, now I feel super guilty for having written this at all.  I mean, there are people starving or people that can't even read or those in the middle of war and all I'm doing is bitching.  So, how about I end on a happier note, eh?

After explaining the last few hours of my night to Hubster on the phone as I'm driving home from school, I get home to a very full glass of wine.  And I'm feeling much better.  And I am also very very very thankful to have such an amazing husband.  He gets me.  :) 

And on that rambling, ridiculous and a bit delusional note, I'm out.  

I haven't forgotten you

Promise.  But I'm finishing up my semester and my MPH classes!!!  I've got a few more papers and presentations and one exam between me and freedom.  Well, more accurately between me and spending time on my thesis (don't ask).  BUT.  I'm almost there.  And will be back HERE soon with posts, pictures and comments for my blog friends!!!

Today's Accomplishments

Really, not all that exciting and in no particular order.  But it's my blog, so I can.

1. Three school visits (not interviews, but a step in the right direction).

2. One informational interview...so freakin' helpful.

3. Training walk in a.m. and also a run in the p.m. with the pups.  They are getting SO much better on leash.  Wren's an angel, and Sammy is no longer a devil.  Most of the time.  :)

4. Thesis/CE emails taken care of.

5. Sammy has (fingers crossed and knock on wood) not eaten anything/been bad when left alone in the house since we started the new leash training routine.  Possibly because she's worn out from her new "job."  Score.

5. Still to do: paper edits, more emails, ordering birthday/Christmas presents.  But all of this can be done with a glass of wine, on the couch, with a movie on.  Praise goodness!

Hope you got everything done today that you needed to do.  It certainly makes the rest of the week so much easier!

+/-/++

In sorority rush, when we discussed candidates, we always had to use the plus, minus, plus, plus format.  So, for every negative comment, there were 3 positive ones.  I won't get into how well that worked (but on more than one occasion, the pluses were "she would be a great fit at X house"...where X was not us).

Today's post will be a +-++, for old time's sake.

Plus:
I can walk the beasts!  The new training collars we have are miraculous.  Numerous of you have mentioned how they have worked for you.  And THANK YOU.  It's going very well.  Sammy will never be a perfect lady and walk without distractions at my side, but she is an angel compared to two weeks ago. Woooooot wooooot!

Minus:
The damn hammering in my walls.  It's like a thousand hamsters have been trapped and bang incessantly.  To be fair, a more accurate description is a knocking noise when the water is running.  But it's loud enough that closed doors don't really help and when Hubster is up in the morning (waaaaaaay earlier than I want to be up), his shower wakes me up.  Cranky-pants style.  I'm trying to figure out why this is happening.  Possibly calling a plumber.  Getting more irritated by the minute!

Plus:
It's GORGEOUS outside.  Cold and all.  And this means sweaters and scarves and boots!  Which is good as I don't have any flip-flops to wear anyway.  Thank you Sammy.  Wait.  Stay positive.

Plus:
Hubster's schedule since Nov. 1 has been better than the ever.  Ridiculously, he left this morning about 6am and should be home before 3pm.  Given drive time to the hospital, that's a normal 8 hour work day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And let me TELL YOU that I've got a list of chores for that man.  :)


Alright.  Back to school/house/staying sane work.  Happy Monday!

Waxing Political. Kind of.

For starters, I generally don't like politicians.  Not them personally (I know a few pretty well and love them like family) but I think that most politicians simplify issues into sound bites that only further misunderstandings and division amongst people.

Secondly, I voted.  I truly believe that it is not only my right but my duty to vote.  I felt that I was not as well-educated about local issues during this round of elections as I could have been and thus I plan to become more informed of local politics, as a citizen in MoCo.

So, on to what I'd like to say...

My best friend in the world (BFF) is my POLAR OPPOSITE when it comes to politics.  Like staunch Republican, really likes Sarah Palin, had a "W" sticker on her car for years.  I am not of that political mind-set.  I lean pretty liberal, but I am not affiliated with either political party. I do not think the Republican or the Democratic rhetoric (beliefs, values, whatever) do a very good job of summing up my personal beliefs.

BFF and I have talked extensively about politics and have come to understand that we both want essentially the same things: a peaceful world, decreased poverty, freedom.  We just think the path to those ends is different.  Which is OK...and which also means there is probably another path.  I think all politicians should be searching for this alternate, compromising path, not just putting on blinders down their Democratic or Republican path.  I understand that on some issues some people are not willing to compromise, and I respect that.  But I think it's a joke that every single issue comes down to right or wrong, left or right.  Seriously people?  That sounds like you aren't doing much thinking for yourself.

In public health, we are taught to never stop at the initial problem.  For example, obesity.  Telling people to stop being fat doesn't work.  Nor does simply educating them about healthy foods.  Nor does giving them a pair of walking shoes.  We must look at the environment, and the factors that go into obesity.  Am I working a 16 hour day to put food on the table for my 2 kids and we live in a part of the city without fresh produce in the stores and I don't have a car because I had to sell it to pay for medical treatments and...on and on.

In short, politics aren't simple.  But, neither are people and their beliefs.  I hope to grow in my understanding of my own values and opinions as well as my respect for those of others.  And I sincerely hope that we can spend more time looking for similarities instead of differences.

I will leave you with my new favorite saying:

I am an Earthling.  So we probably have other things in common too.

—Sign seen on the National Mall during the Stewart/Colbert rally.

From: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1690335&l=ba311a8c75&id=1489912408

Gone to Carolina in my mind

Who WOULDN'T rather be there??

Zombies Attack!

The Zombies (Laurel and I)... 

were hungry for Star Wars meat...

so we ate ourselves a star trooper (aka: Merah).

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Oh Happy Day!

I had my first interview today.  And I'm still buzzing on the high of loving what I'm doing.  I'm SO energized by the issues and people surrounding nutrition education (and I'm SUCH a dork).  And it didn't help that I was outside doing a lot of walking on this gorgeous day.

So, I'm thrilled.  :)

Well, maybe just very happy...I still have a paper to finish before class tonight.  :p

Vicious Cycle

I know that all I do is bitch about my thesis.  And I really should just suck it up.  I did do this to myself, after all (on so many levels).  And I will not revert to bitching about my final semester of grad school and the amount of loathing I hold in my heart for group projects, group papers, and professors who assign both.  (Or, just consider that my rant.)

But I feel like I'm in a never-ending cycle of "God, help me make it through this" to "I quit" to "Light, I see light!" to "I LOOOOVE public health and I really do love what I'm doing" back to "God, help!"   I don't know anyone who doesn't feel this way through school, at least at some point.  And, as a friend (and coincidentally, a group project member) said, "no one is so tragically unique!  We are all under the gun with so much on our plate."  Isn't that the truth?!?

So, I'm trying to keep in mind that I'm not tragically unique and that, either way, God will help me through it all.  Ridiculous professors, endless papers, exams and all the other things I haven't even thought of.  And somewhere, at some time, the vicious cycle will end.  And it will be a little bittersweet because I've been doing this for a solid 12 years now (K-8 don't count, those were the days!) -- with a nice little 2.5 year break before this last round.

And of course, I'm sure I'll throw myself (or be thrown) into another cycle.  Maybe one not so vicious, or maybe one a whole heck of a lot more vicious.  Either way, I'm going to try and keep in mind that it's these crazy circles that make life worth living.  That and really good cake.  :)

And now, just because you stuck out this whole totally boring post, a picture.

In the name of public health and all things humorous in the world:

Taken on a little break from the vicious cycle, on our cruise back in May to the Caribbean with these crazies.  Friends like these also make life worth living.  :)

Light? Is that Light?

At the end of the tunnel, you say?  Well, let's not put the cart before the horse people.

I FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY got approval from the Institutional Review Board for my thesis project which means I can begin contacting interviewees.  Thank you sweet baby Jesus in a tuxedo shirt!  I thought this day would never come.  But now that it has, I just want it all done without the work that needs to happen in between.  Too bad that's not a possibility.

In reality, the only other big things on my plate right now (since I just emailed edits for a group paper due tomorrow) are my weekly 2-3 page papers for Management.  And a few things that I'm just going to put off until the end of the semester, you know like the 20 pager.  SO!  That means emails and phone calls and interviews...all over DC...OH MY!

Wish me luck.



Or bring me a drink.

Shout Out to My SEEEEEEEEESTER

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaara!!! I'm so excited to see you this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you like woah, and like the sister I never had, and like chocolate cake.  The chocolate cake from the Trellis.  With whipped cream and some raspberries.  And a side of macaroni and cheese.

Girl.  That's A LOT.  :)

Wedding Joy!

I mentioned last week that I was heading to a wedding on 10-10-10.  It was so lovely.  :)  Most of the llamas were there and we helped set up the reception hall/ran bride errands/generally lent our man hands.  This was also the first wedding that Hubster and I have both attended in...um...ages.  I think since last May (like 2009).  And we (read: I) have been to a lot of weddings these last two years.  So, it was extra special to hear wedding vows again with him by my side.

Alright, without further ado, pictures!!

The night before, after the rehearsal dinner.  Llama men (alpacas??) were in attendance.  David seems less than thrilled, but he really did have a good time.  Or so I told him.  :)

Di, Merah da Bride!, Liz and Katie.  

Laurel, trying to move in on Keith's bride.  Too bad they are both (now) married!

I was SUUUUUPPPPER excited to help set up.  !!  It was a ton of fun and a tradition that I wish had started before my wedding...c'est la vie and looking forward to putting my wedding skilllllz to work at the next llama wedding.  

Love love love. Prom style. Love.

I'm pretty sure that we wore these exact same outfits to Kiki's nuptials last October.  Ah, and I realized that was the last wedding we were together for.  But Hubster was post call and only present physically.

Wuv.  Twu Wuv.  And just a year after their own wedding!

What what what?!

See, we're really professionals.  That and Merah is a srrrrrrrious planner and had everything mapped out.

First dance as Mr. and Mrs.!!!  Isn't she GORGEOUS?!?!!!

Although Papa is blurry in this one, I love the look on our beautiful bride's face.  She smiled all night.  

Taaaaable 1!

Having a ball.  Or scrunching our necks into really odd positions (me).  Or just looking confused and anxious (Kel)...

So, all in all, an amazing wedding and a fantastic weekend.  It was great to see my girls and as always great to see the beginning of a blessed union!

Oh, and as I was uploading these photos, I found pic from Justin's wedding (when I was the best lady, back in July).  Those will be coming to a blog near you...probably this one...soon.  :)

Ciao!

Wedding Weekend

This beautiful lady is getting married this weekend!!!!!  Hooray to the almost-new-Mrs.!

And I get to see all of these wonderful ladies!  Gah!  Woot!  And half of them are currently sleeping in my house!  Even better!  :)

I've got the best friends a girl could ask for!

And I'll remember to take my camera with me to all the festivities.  Promise.  

The Beasts Within

What do you see when you look at these faces?

Innocence?  Playfulness?

Happiness?  Companionship?

Ha!

I see beasts.  BEASTS!  The most merciless crazy beasts on the planet.  

These two are pretty well trained.  They know the commands Sit, Stay, Come, Leave It (um...mostly), Wait, and a few others I can't remember right now.  

But do you know what they SUCK at?  Walking.  Specifically walking on leash together; they become Alaskan sled dog beasts.  Plus, in a few years when there's also a stroller in this crazy mix, I'm going to end up loosing a child (either 2-legged or 4-legged) every time we go out to pee.

Which means that we've had to revert to super basic leash training, separately.  So I'm spending an inordinate amount of time each day taking 17,432 walks (times 2).  I know that being a puppy parent, I've decided to spend the time for their sake.  But I expected to take them for walks 2 at a time.  

Yesterday, I let Hubster know that we have 3 options...  

1) Get rid of one or both dogs.  Fear not Mom and Aunty Mara, we're not doing this.  But I threatened the children, OH how I threatened.

2) Move to a house with a large enclosed yard.  Buy lawn mower, leaf blower, weed-eater, etc. to take care of said yard.  Not to mention move again within 6 months and deal with finances.  Clearly this was also not an option.

3) Get an in-home training consultation.   

So, #3 it is.  I'll let you know how it goes.  And then you can offer to dog-sit any time you want.  :)

And for the record, I do love these crazy mutts.  Which is why we're not getting rid of them.  Yet.

Woah Woah the Metro...

Before I go any further about public transport, I should say that, without question, I would move away from DC in a heartbeat if that were a possibility.  Unfortunately (or fortunately, I believe there's a reason for everything), leaving DC would mean either serious military repercussions or leaving Hubster.  So, um, no.

Living in the happening metropolitan area that is our nation's capital, I use WMATA almost daily. Usually, I bus to the red line and go in from there.  I can also say that there's usually a delay of some sort or another.  Over the last two weeks, I have been stranded on a train between stations for a half hour, off-loaded because of a tourist taking a photo of the train, and evacuated because my train car was on fire.  Like black smoke pouring from under the train approximately 6 inches behind where I was sitting.  JOY.

Not to mention the other people.  Tourists aren't always the best, but I can handle them any day.  I cannot handle the "young professional woman" sitting beside me smacking her gum to high heaven.  Or the man falling asleep ON ME.  Oh, or the guy who keeps swinging his bags into my face and elbowing me.  But my real favorites are the booger pickers and iPod blasters.  Best when it's the same person.

Some days I feel my metro ride is God's way of testing and strengthening my patience.  Some days I just want to throw people off the train.  Some days it's both.

Yesterday was a really good transport day.  They do happen occasionally.  :)

There is this trio of a cappella singers that travel around to different stations and sing.  They sing mostly 50's songs, the type that we used to play when I worked at a soda fountain and ice cream shop.  The kind that make me smile, even at the end of a rough day.

So, it's not all bad.  

Plus, at least it's not driving in this city.  Now THAT is a horrid experience.  And there are never 3 guys in my car singing to me.

I'll remember that when I head in this evening.

Day Ten: One Confession

Clearly I'm late with this final "Days" entry.

So, here it is.  Day 10: One Confession.

I'm obsessed with my vacuum.  It's a disease.  And it's due, at least in part, to the fact that I have 2 black-haired mutts.  If you had this much dog hair floating around your house, you'd be obsessed with your vacuum too!

I'm actually  having a hard time right now deciding if I should wash the filters (you're supposed to do this monthly and it's on my first of the month check-list along with other oh-so-exciting things like dog's heart-worm meds and sharpening knives...I'm SO COOL).

If I wash the filters now, I won't be able to use the vacuum for at least 24 hours while they dry. Um, did I really just lament not being able to vacuum for 24 hours?!?!


I told you it's a sickness.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

To the fabulous Kiki of Pinch Me.

Hope your day is FANTASTIC!  

Why is it?

...that working on my thesis is SO FREAKIN' hard?  I mean, this is what I LOVE and am interested in.  And apparently - according to my non-over-caffeinated-self - want to do with the rest of my life.  Part of it may be that I turned in my application for graduation yesterday and I'm trying not to FREAK out about not getting this all done.  But wouldn't that push me to work more???

...that I eat so much junk when I'm home during the day?  When I go into the city for work or school or meetings, I almost always pack a lunchbox full of yummy, healthy foods.  But when I'm home it's straight for the crackers and powerbars and processed foods alllllllll day.  Maybe I should pack my lunch even when I'm going to be home.

...when my dogs are behaved I love them SO much?  And when they are NOT (which happened more than once over the past week) I want to send them straight back to the animal shelter?  I mean, I still love them but really.  The number of shoes lost this week was crazy.   I'm thinking everything will be the same but instead of sending 2-legged pups back to an "animal shelter" they will go to "Grandma's."  Yes Mom?  :)

And....why  is it that I'm posting a blog when I should be doing 100 other things?  It's cathartic.  And I summarily forget other responsibilities, even if for just a brief moment when I blog.

Happy hump day to you all, especially those I know are out there reading: MV, VV, HG, LA, VK, JF, MFB, EC, LW, AR, JM, and ES.


xo!

Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life...

Um, I think this is stupid.  So stupid, in fact, that I'm not going to even think of some clever way to twist it and make it less stupid. 

Instead, you get...two interesting articles I've read recently (recently read?).

I laughed. I cried. I reviewed my spelling and grammar...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/13/AR2010091304476.html?hpid=features1&hpv=local

And (though it's a bit older, I re-read it):
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1940395,00.html

Day Eight: Three Turn Ons

1.  The smell of cookies.  Sugar cookies.  Vanilla.  Ginger molasses.  Orange crisps. 

2.  LIGHT cologne and fresh breath.

3.  A clean house.  It's ridiculous, but it's more like eliminating a turn-off than anything.

Because God Gave Me You...

OLD POST: Struggles, Take 2

So, I am cleaning out some things on my blog and changing a few other things.  Through this process, I've come across a few old posts that are super interesting to look back on.  Here's the first that I found that was originally drafted at the end of February 2010...

**********

Ugh.  I REALLY need to get my tookus in gear and finish this paper.
But I can't.
It's not like the "I can't because I'm so not interested" or the "Why is this 20 pages?"
Thing is, this isn't a long paper, nor is it difficult.  I know what I need to say and I'm actually looking forward to it.


But I'm distracted.


And excited.


And scared.


You see, we put in an offer on a house Friday night and it was accepted on Saturday evening.
It's so very GROWN UP.  But we've had a wonderful realtor who has explained everysinglething and has been oh-so-patient.  I'm excited for a new chapter in our lives.  But I'm also scared for the dumbest and most inexplicable reasons.  Like, where will I find a couch?  And what if Wren doesn't see his doggy best friends any more?  Or how about the more serious (though far-flung) ideas that race through my head: what if we have an intruder?  what if I get mugged walking Wren?  what if our neighbors are terrorists (like my BFF's run-in)?


And then I have to yell STOP! in my own head.  Because these ridiculous questions aren't things I'm scared of in a new place.  They are things I'm scared of everywhere.  But I refuse to live my life in fear of what may happen.


**********


And now, 7 months later, I'm still procrastinating.  Ha!  Though that's not surprising me in the least.  I've been a procrastinator since I was 12.

What HAS changed, however, is that being "grown up" isn't so scary.  The beginning of things are always nerve-wracking and the ends are usually sad.  But right now, being in the middle of home ownership and adulthood, things are mostly really good.  7 months ago I had NO idea that we'd have such amazing neighbors or that we'd have to replace part of a basement wall or that we'd have a 2nd pooch to fill our house with loooove.  And so far, no intruders (though there was an incident with a broom in the basement which scared the ba-jesus out of me!) or muggings or crazy neighbors.  :)

Big Guy sure does take care of us!

EXCITED!

I'd like to welcome one lovely Griffin, and her momma McV and pops to the fabulous world of familyhood.  I know McV and her hubs have been a family for awhile now, but really, adding a 4-legged kid to the mix is awesome.

Puppy play date soon???  :)

p.s. Wren (Wrendog, Bubba) and Sammy (Sam, Sammer, Smammy) can't wait to meet Griffin (and have their mother make up ridiculous nicknames for her too)!

Day Seven: Four turn offs

1. Olives.  Olive-flavored breath.  Olive chunks.  But not olive oil.  Love that stuff.

2. Brett Favre.  And I used to LOVE him.  I'm sorry, but anyone who goes on television and cries about how they are retiring and how much their career has meant to them but how it's time to be a family-man (or woman) and then NOT retire is not cool.  Anyone who does this five bajillion times is REALLY not cool.

3. Dirt under fingernails.  It even grosses me out when it's my own nails and I think "eeeeew, I hope no one sees!!"

4. Cursing.  Again, I do this too much.  It's good (but maybe bad too) that two of the four things on this list are turn-offs for me and yet I do (have?) them.  Should work on that...

Day Six: Five People Who Mean A Lot

*Post-edit:  I clearly meant day six, and not day four again.

Well, because I can't pick five people from my personal life (it would be too hard!), I'll pick five people from elsewhere:

1. Jon Stewart.  A (kind of bitter) W&M Alum, leading the Rally to Restore Sanity on October 30.  I'm going.

2. Natty Boh.  Not really a person, per se, but an icon.  And oh how I miss him winking his coy little wink at me every night.  Plus, he was part of the cutest advertisement I've ever seen:

(That's Natty Boh proposing to the Utz girl, for all of you non-Baltimore-fanatics out there.)

3. Sally Duff, who tortured me in grad school experience numero uno at Hopkins, but also happened to develop truly seminal standards for science education.  She's like a AAAS goddess.  I hope she's still out there torturing young teachers into submission and science prowess.

4. The person who invented stain-repellent fabric for furniture.  Because with two hairy-messy beastchildren, it's really really important.  Thank you, sir (or madame).

5. Scott Crabbs at the W&M Alumni House.  Because he gave us not one, but two engraved bricks.  Well, it was all a mix-up actually, but it meant that one was put in the patio at W&M and we have one sitting in our living room.  It reminds me of Hubster, our wedding day and our wonderful alma mater on a daily basis.


Maybe I also should have mentioned some of the people who have written the peer-reviewed articles I will be looking at for the next umpteen hours while I work on thesis goodness.  They do mean a lot to me right now.  I just don't like them all that much...

No announcer lady, that's not my bag!

McV shared this recently and I luuuuuuuve it.  I ride the metro almost daily and it makes me crazy.  Daily.  Yesterday, I was stuck on a train for 25 minutes sitting between Silver Spring and Takoma thanks to a trash fire on the red line.  Stooooopid red line.

Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done

Hmmm...this one is harder than the first few days.  

1.  Walked away from Mrs. W (my boss in Bmore) the day she made the comment about how I should be wearing pantyhose.  I should have told her that I might take her advice the day she actually knew my name and didn't get me mixed up with all of the other young, white, female teachers.  She was a GEM!

2.    Said hello to that guy (not the one you are thinking of).  What a headache that turned out to be!

3.  Stressed about wedding stuff.  That was just silly, because at the end of the day the objective was met and I got the best Hubster. :) 

4. Lost my wallet.  I hate losing things!

5. Walked into my freshman "dorm" room and the first thing out of my mouth was "I'm Sarah, are you Mary?"  My roommate's name was Liz.  I felt stoooooopid.  

6. Um...I seriously struggled to think of any of these.  That's all I've got.    Trying to live life with few regrets!

Day Four: Seven things that cross my mind a lot

1.    Food

2. I'd like to be playing/running/rolling on the floor with my pups   

3.    Spanish words I need to learn (though one great blog on my Google Reader is helping with that)

4. Thank you Lord for...Lord give me strength for...God help me to not...

5. COFFEEEEEEEEE (that's how it sounds in my brain)

6. Can I add a few more hours in the day?  I'd REALLY love to see my husband (or friends or other family or even just the inside of my own eyelids) a bit more.

7. UGH.  Schoolwork 

And #7 has the cake for the night.  Off to do about a billion things for school.

Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.

Most of these go for both romantic and platonic relationships.

1. Say thank you.  Or I appreciate you because…

2. Cook me dinner.  Or do the dishes.  Or both!

3. Do something nice for my family (wash Mom’s dog, work on a house project with Brub, visit DOU with me)…someone is GREAT at that.

4. Rub my feet. 

5. Let me tell you about my crazy family and crazy friends and crazy dogs and still want to spend time with me.

6. Write me a love letter.

7. Surprise me with flowers, or dinner (see #2), or a love letter (#6), or just give me a hug.

8. Play with my puppies. 

Day Two: Nine Things about ME!

1. I love mac and cheese, with ketchup.  And my SiL once gave me a giant box of mac and cheese for Christmas.  That was glorious, remember Seeeester?

2. I drive (on occasion) a white car that is named Violet.

3. Both of my dogs are named after people from my alma mater.  Tribe Pride!

4. I'm equally excited and terrified to have kids.  Six months ago I was more on the terrified side, but I feel the balance slowly (SLOWLY!) tipping.

5. I love my family.  And my friends.  And I am so thankful that God is both family and friend to me.

6. I wish the weather were always amenable to wearing shorts and long-sleeved t-shirts (or W&M hoodies).  Reason #352 we should move to Southern Cali some day... um, hello Mr. Military Placement Man?

7. I still carry the backpack I received before high school.  I keep it because it's great and big and still kicking, but also because it was the last thing my grandmother gave me before she passed away.

8. My mind wanders when I read for school so much that I almost always have to re-read.  But when I read a book for pleasure, I can become so engrossed I will stay up until 3:30 am just to know a little bit more.  I sometimes wish I could read all day (in my living room, at a coffee shop, on a park bench) instead of doing "real" things.

9. I can't wait to see Hubster tonight.  :)  This crazy man I've known for 8 years, loved for over 7, been married to for 2.  But you all probably knew #9.

Happy Thursday!

Oh, and we are heading to NC tomorrow.  CAN'T WAIT.  See #5.  :)

Day One: Ten Things to Say

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now (most are anonymous).

1.    When I’m this frustrated about what you HAVEN’T said, maybe we’re not meant to stay friends.  I've felt used for a long time and I want out.  

2.    I keep telling myself that I will be happy when this is all over because I’ve learned so much.  But you may drive me loooong crazy before then, so I’ll probably never know.

3.    You’re a rockstar!  Um, and I love your dog.  I’m ridiculously glad we’re friends. 

4.    I’m sorry I was so short and upset on the phone with you today.  I was late to class and now will miss work tomorrow.  It’s not your fault but at least say “I’m sorry.”  Really.

5.  I think you should live here for always!

6.  Holy cow Batman!  Babies!  Aaaah!  We are NOT old enough for this.  I'm terrified and excited and anxious and it's not even happening to me (yet).  

7.  To 7 others:  Mendoza?  New Year's 2012?  Just say YES!

8.  You aren't perfect, but neither am I.  You inspire me and push me and make me think in ways that I would NEVER do without you.  God sure knows what he's doing.

9.   Will you make meatloaf this weekend?  I love your meatloaf.

10.  Life’s short.  Be nice (to everyone).  Or if you can’t, get that person out of your life.  

Actually, eleven...

11.  I FREAKIN' LOVE YOU!  All of you.  And all of us.  And really, anything else I would say to you, you already know.  :)

Happy Wednesday!

A little kick-start

So, C-diddy did this and I'm joining the band-wagon for kick-starting some blog posts

Are you in a blogging slump? Here is a fun blogging activity to help you hit "publish post" again!

Over the next 10 days, blog about the items on this list:

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now.
Day Ten: One confession

Chances are I will write these while in class tonight.  With my fave prof.  Really, one day I will get over her.  

Day One will be posted later today.  :)

You Know What?

This thesis (I'm just calling my culminating experience a "thesis" now because, well, it IS.  But also, who the heck knows what a CE is??) may kill me.

These classes - or more honestly these professors - may drive me batty.

Juggling 2 pups, Hubster's ridiculous schedule, reading, laundry and two (which is two-to-many) part-time jobs may do me in.

But by GOSH I'm good with Excel.  Really.  So, if this whole public health/wife/mother to 4-leggeds/being sane and normal doesn't work out, I can always make graphs and charts for the rest of my life.  Yes?  Yes??????????



Will post more, coherent thoughts later...I've got a few things I'd love to share!  Sooooo probably during my class this evening I will write.  Ha!

Current Obsession

Que Vida La Mia!

I may not be a human mommy, BUT...

*********************************************

I know this is going to sound ridiculous.  And I almost can't believe I'm going to type this.  But.

I miss my kids!!!  They may not be 2-legged, they may not speak, and they do gross doggy things like butt-sniffing, but they are my children none the less.

I will be out of town next week and with Hubster's schedule, it's just not feasible for him to take care of the pups.  So they will be going to board and day camp at Best Friends Pet Care.  And today is their trial run.  I'm sure that this evening when I go to pick them up, I will have two pooped pups (or at least I'd BETTER).  And you'd better believe that I appreciate that I've been able to write, clean and eat without two furry shadows (well, one really...Wren is a bit more chill than his sister).  But on days like today when I'm working from home, I love having them around to distract me and just for company.

Lord help me (and Hubster and the 4-legged kids) when we have 2-legged pups that are old enough to go off to day care (or school or whatever).  Maybe it will be easier because kids cry?

Share, Share Alike!

So, I was looking at the sitemeter for my blog the other day and noticed that many of my readers are from my neck of the woods.   But there were a few views from people allllll over the place.  Like the farthest reaches of Canada...who is that???  It's kind of cool to think that someone out there, across the world, might take just a minute to look at what's happening over here with my little family.

Tangent:  Sammy has tucked herself into the corner of the living room behind the chair.  I think she wore herself out trying to figure out who that dog was in the big mirror.  HI-larious.  Note to self, hang that mirror.

Anyway, what I was thinking was that I'd LOVE to know who you are.  I know a few of you and I probably do a little blog-stalking of my own with some others.  If you have a blog, I'd be thrilled to check it out and post a link to you.  I enjoy checking out new people and new perspectives.  So, don't be shy!

Procrastination, Continued

As McV noted in the comments section of my earlier post, there were a lot of dishes to finish after our fantastic, tasty, long-overdue dinner last night.

By the way, if you ever want to eat well, invite McV and Mr. McV to your house and when they ask what they can bring, say DESSERT.  Unequivocally.  And quickly.  You want her to flambe you some summer peaches in a bit of bourbon with vanilla bean ice cream.  See?  Right now.  You want some.

So, after my battle in the kitchen (usually Hubster is on kitchen duty but his schedule did not accommodate my needs...silly patients) I did spend some time working on my final paper for my last summer session class.  It isn't quite done but it's about a billion times farther along than this morning.  And now after a few loads of laundry, a newly fixed car (we had a leeeetle issue when our friends backed into the Fit) and plans to visit a doggy day care/boarding place, I am contentedly (riiiiiight) getting down to business.  I WILL have a draft to send to my reviewer by tomorrow morning.

It helps that Hubster is also working (at home!!!) tonight on a presentation for tomorrow.  No one in the WORLD stresses about my academic to-do list more than Hubs, not even me.  And thus he helps motivate me to be productive.  And at least 80% of the motivation he brought home for me today has gone toward this paper.  I was generously sharing the other 20% with you, lovely reader, and my washing machine.  I'm sorry to have neglected you both.  Forgive me.

p.s. Thanks for sharing that NYT article McV.

p.p.s.  And to Mrs. LW in NC, you and your Mr. and the munchkins certainly do help us look forward to the day when we have 2-legged pups around this house.  I'll be sure to let you know when that is an impending reality.  In the mean-time, I will enjoy a glass of wine and trips to NC (which needs to happen again!!!) and thinking that Sammy and Wren will try to be as fabulous as Zable and Fenway.  :)

Procrastination

I'm in DESPERATE need of some motivation over here.  I have one 15-pager and about a billion things to do for my CE (culminating experience for grad school; aka thesis).  And all I've been able to really get done today are the dishes.

UGH.

Pictures

This past weekend, my friend Jamie took me to the West Wing at the White House!

It was FANTASTIC.  We got to see the Oval Office, the Roosevelt Room, the Rose Garden and some other awesome stuff (not least of which is her ridiculously cool office just outside the WH).  

Here I am goofing off in the press briefing room.

And out front (where we, apparently, were not supposed to be...oops).  If you look closely, you can see the sniper on the roof.

And the mutts:

Wren is apparently camera-shy.  But Sammy-girl is NOT.  She followed me around for awhile wanting more pictures of her lovely self to be taken.  She's a little bit of an attention hog.  But she's cute, so we don't mind too much.  :)