5.20.2010

Sloths

I really like the movie Ice Age. A lot. It makes me giggle and well, something about a talking animal always makes me giggle and a little bit homesick. (No, my cows, cat and dog don't talk but I'm crazy enough to believe that I know exactly what they are thinking). While I wasn't into one animal over the other in the movie I started think more about sloths. Probably because it's an animal that I've never seen before. Well I found a great video about sloths and their adorableness. Forget the bunny... I now want a baby sloth for a pet!

Meet the sloths from Amphibian Avenger on Vimeo.

5.18.2010

'tis the Season

It's wedding season. I know this by way of two ways, well more like 25. Anyway the season is upon us and my bank account is starting to reflect that (but it's worth it) and a few many FB status updates now are fully devoted to word on the upcoming nuptials.

I say, "Oy!"


As a traditional, non-traditionalist (e.g. I want a mostly black wedding dress if the day ever happens for me), I often find myself gagging at some of the "stuff" I get to witness. But I must sit back and swallow it because I know with this type A personality there is great potential of me taking all of that stuff to an entirely different level. As I'm aware of the potential for that, I have start to make many and I mean dozens of mental notes of "What not to do" in order to keep my friends and family on the non-hatin' side of me!


Now because I'm only getting older and ~ 75% of the people I'm around are married or in fully committed relationships I get asked a lot of marriage questions (mostly by other folk who find it odd that I'm still singlesque). They are all so very excellent. My favorite are the non-questions, rather these people are making statements for me. Awww, how sweet. Just because I'm getting closer to 30 than 20 and have yet to commit to anything beyond the current month doesn't mean you can make such grand assumptions such as, "Your clock is tickin' for kids!"

Really? REALLY!? I like to remind them that it doesn't take a marriage to pop out a kid and if that damn clock was tickin' that hard I would have taken care of it by now. Funny how that shuts them up. Truth be told, from an early age I haven't wanted to settle down until after my 30th birthday. I'm a bit selfish in that way, I guess. But I figured if I were to settle down I'd prefer to do it only once and that means I should get a few things out of the way in order to be a better partner down the road. A crime, I think not. Until then, I'll enjoy celebrating these moments of flower filled, booze-induced dances, dry chicken dinners (ahem, weddings) in honor of my friends.


So here's a toast to my friend Mel and her sig other, Jonathan (J) - may you two have a rockin' marriage from here on out ... and yes, I will be enjoying the drinks and some darn good food this weekend down in 'bama with ya'll!

5.12.2010

School's Out for SUMMER!




Yes! I took my last final on Monday night. After 2 hrs & 45 mins I felt that I had successfully explained economic trade principles on in the international marketplace. Now we just wait and see if my professor agrees with me. Until then, Alice (Cooper) and I will be rockin' it (and workin' it so I can afford a few plane tickets).

After a weekend of studying, including a Saturday night final, I felt exhausted. Add in a poor diet and a pinched nerve and it's hard to believe that I didn't have a mental breakdown. I took the morning of Tuesday off and sat in a zombie-like state on the couch. I watched bad movies and kept my phone off. It was AMAZING. I had also put a ban on reading and writing for the day. I only read and wrote what I absolutely had to.

I miss yesterday. Perhaps it will come back.

oh and I found a pretty fantastic website: WTF CNN - yes, the name says it all.

5.05.2010

A Bear, A Lion & A Horse

Almost a week ago I had an aching back. Lovely, right? Well, I ignored it and moved on to play soccer for the first time ever on Saturday. Felt pain all through the weekend only to wake-up on Tuesday morning screaming in pure pain, falling down (from my bed) and weeping the entire 20 ft to the bathroom. I cursed at the fact that I'm a woman, rather than a man because I couldn't bear the thought of squatting to do my business. I decided I could wait until the pain subsided. I made it back to my bed and called my mom. It's 5:45 a.m. CST. She talks me through my crisis and diagnosis my pain as an upset muscle that's pinching a nerve causing the excruciating pain that was shooting down my leg and creating some numbness.

As soon as I got off the phone I called S&S and asked if they could take me to urgent care. Got there and was seen after only 30 mins (horribly LONG minutes) of waiting. They gave the same diagnosis as my mother and assigned me steroids and pain killers. I was in love. After a quick trip to Walgreens & breakfast from Wendy's I was back home where I could finally approach the bathroom for the first time without crying. The drugs started to work and slowly the pain subsided in my lower back and allowed for me to move from room to room, albeit, very slowly.

That was a 4 hour period. It sucked. Royally. Though, it has gotten me a number of sympathy points from TB (the boy) and given me ample hours to watch the going-ons in my 'hood. It's boring. Well, take away crazy neighbor, an army of squirrels and the annoying sorority house that likes to have parties with front door open (during the week) and you get boring. That is... until a crazy lady with a stroller across the street unloads a giant stuffed bear and horse onto the sidewalk infront of Bob's house (note: NOT HER HOUSE!).

I stare for a solid 20 mins trying to figure out what has just happened. Not wanting to fight pain if I didn't have to I staying inside and continued to stare. Yes, there was a "FREE" sign next to them. But still, why there?! Later in the day they were gone (Me: "Oh good, the hillbillies found some new toys!") ... but only to find another two animals out there the next day.

What the heck?!

Is this woman really good at carnival games?! Is her husband threatening to leave her if she doesn't get rid of them? Is she strategically leaving these all around the neighborhood!?

I guess I'll just have to wait and see if she comes back ... sans divorce!

p.s. I apologize, I was too dumb/slow to remember to take a photo of my crazy evidence.

5.03.2010

2010 One-third Over = New Sport

So the semester is coming to a close. With that, I'm very, super, super thankful for. I am sad to announce that I was wrong when it came to graduate school. I had fooled myself into thinking that it would be different this time around. As in, I would NOT PROCRASTINATE and I would LOVE EVERY SECOND of class and I would spend DOUBLE the hours on my assignments and read AHEAD. While I certainly did improve from my undergrad years, it wasn't the complete 180 had envisioned.

I did manage to get involved on campus though! I have a part-time gig working with the GMU Arlington Life area (i.e. planning local stuff for students) and plan on running for an office on campus come Fall 2010. My name is making its rounds, always a plus in school, most notably a school in the Beltway. And not-to-mention, I need it to get out of the job I'm currently doing. As much as I love making decent money working from home, it gets kinda lonely and doesn't move me that much closer to desirable international work.

But the semester is coming to a close and current work is packing on. Stress is mounting but I thank the help of good friends and a wonderful guy who is making it into my thoughts more and more. I also thank myself for finally verbalizing a need... the need to get on board of a new sport for the year 2010. Upon hearing this TC presents me (a week later and to my surprise) with a pink soccer ball and shin-guards. I squealed in pure delight and ran down his condos hall kicking a soccer ball with my flip-flop foot.

After dusting the cleats off and donning a pair of bright pink socks (courtesy of TC), I walked onto a soccer field. I told the team that I was new at the sport and not afraid to get whacked, sweaty or yelled at. They were cool with that and all three happened during the hot, 90 degree and humid Saturday game. But please note, the whacking was ALL on my part.

So three words.

I love soccer.


There is a lot for me to learn but I like it. It's a great cardio workout and allows for me to be super aggressive (take THAT flag football). I enjoy a good bruise if it was all for sport. The team seemed like me, so yes, I will be back. Yay!

**The only downfall: my back has been giving me trouble and I guess the solution is NOT to go and play soccer for an hour, who knew!? Apparently my mom did. It just means me waking-up for the third day in a row screaming in pain and walking hunched over and allowing the boy to pamper me with kind words of worry.**