Thursday, March 31, 2011

Can't Wait

 I'm a baby person.  If you know me, you probably already knew that.  I look forward to babies the way my father looks forward to retirement.  Like seriously, people, why would you not want to take part in the joy of parenting...you get to do things like hang out with beautiful precious babies like this one.  She's great. 










Tell me I look like a natural, because face it...I AM! 

Just kidding, I'm not that conceded, but really, I love little ones.  And I can't wait. (but I will)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Needs/Wants/Desires

Needs:  New laptop case (zipper broke); new camera (screen broke); dress for graduation(s)...I have to be cute if pictures will be taken!

Wants:  AWESOME new camera (A Canon that is of course like $400); AWESOME new lappie (like the new HPs out or, dare I say it, a macbook!)
PLEASE NOT THESE JEANS!!!!!
I also really want new clothes.  I want summer clothes; cute summer clothes :)  And new jeans because mine are all too big. 



Desires:  Have the best summer ever; experience sequential days headache free; experience persistent happiness. 

...you should hear my dreams...     :)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Summer Plans!

It's freezing outside, the semester is starting to draggg along and I'm sick of being in school:  Time to look forward to SUMMER!!! 

This summer, I'm living at home, nannying lots (for the most precious little boys ever) and you better believe I will also have some fun :)  Houseboat....better be ready for me!

Memorial day kicks off the summer season...and also kicks off houseboat season.  I can't wait! 
I want to go to a Tigers game. 
Or two.
I want to see Lady Antebellum AND Keith Urban.
I want to go to the Zoo and feed Giraffes. 
I WILL get tan (It's not a matter of wanting to or not, it will just happen)
I WILL go down the slide on my houseboat about 1000 times :)
I WILL play with Scarlet Lots!!
I want to see family from Ohio.
I want to prepare for Grad school (well, I need to.  And I hate feeling unprepared.)
I AM going to be in Amandachuu's wedding :) 

Fun things, right?  I'm so excited. 

Monday, March 28, 2011

Scarlet





The morning after the Buckeyes lost, we welcomed a new little buckeye fan into our family; Scarlet!  She is an 8 week old GoldenDoodle.  She'll grow to be a little more than 40 pounds, and she will soon learn that car rides to the Houseboat are simply a fact of life.  She will one day love water and swimming in Lake Cumberland, and I can't wait to introduce her to her nephew, Einstein!  They're going to have so much fun!  As you can see, my madre is beyond thrilled.  As is my baby brother...


Saturday, March 26, 2011

Forever a Buckeye, Forever a Believer

I'm a buckeye fan, friends.  I love them.  I am sincerely interested in their success and their victories.  That by no means says that I am a fair weather fan.  I stand by them when they lose, when they are caught up in scandals and when they are down.  I mean just look at Brutus, how could you not cheer for Ohio State?



They fought hard.  Thad Matta is intense; he screams, sweats and puts fire into his players.  Last night they were simply off their A-game.  Kentucky isn't a better team per say, but Ohio State was caught up in a series of bad mistake after bad mistake.  They missed (I think) 10 baskets in a row; missed SEVERAL free throws (there is a reason they are free people) and they just looked messy on the court.  At the end of the day, they played HARD, worked HARD, and never gave up.  I will always be a Buckeye Fan!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Simple Joys


Ok friends.  Everyone has their favorite pair of underwear.  I have my favorite KIND of underwear.  I swear; they ALL fit exactly the same and I love them lots and lots.  And because Victoria's Secret loves me for spending thousands of dollars there a year, they are letting me buy more for less money.  Not to mention that all of their other underwares are 7/25 right now.

How do I know this?  Well I have been in bed all morning.  I know it's not still morning but it feels like it.  I have a horrible migraine and when this happens I lay in bed, watch TV, and fake-shop online.  (fake only because I rarely bust out my credit card digits).  When I don't feel well, I shop at Victoria's Secret, look at all their pretty things on their crazy pretty models.  How could that not make me feel better :) 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Lent

Lent started a couple of weeks ago.  Or maybe last week. Or maybe 3 weeks ago.  I have no concept of time. 

Anyways.  I obviously didn't give up food (I never eat fast food, candy, or pop.  I also can't have SO many other things that it seemed unnatural).  I didn't want to give up swearing because I like swearing.  And I am already doing a Bible reading plan and and exercise plan.  So I had no clue what to do.

Then...I was at the bar with Lisa and Panda, and when we were talking I mentioned that I had resolved that I wasn't too fat or too ugly.  I was SO proud of myself!!  They were not.  So..for lent, I am working on maintaining a positive view towards my body and myself.  Meaning that I don't want to be critical towards the way I look or towards who I am for 40 days.

Point?  We are all critical beings in nature, but at the end of the day the way I look doesn't matter.  But my happiness, my contribution to the world, and how much I take advantage of life DOES matter.  I'd much rather spend time on those things than on worrying about how I look or worrying about what people think of me (Which I am doing right now, fail).  In the end, I just want to have more peace in my life, to love myself more, and to be able to accept where I'm at in life. 

Monday, March 21, 2011

Tired

After a great weekend in Cleveland cheering for Ohio State at the NCAA tournament, I am exhausted.  The games ended at 10 last night...which meant I had to drive long time late at night. boo.  And it was storming most of the way.  I saw a car get struck by lightning (this was nuts) and I had to stop at rest stops a couple times to wake myself up enough to keep going.  No fun, friends.  BUT..the weekend, so fun.

I will admit that I am paying for my lack of sleep and too many days in a row being a college student (aka going "out").  Good thing Monday class isn't until 1 pm ...



Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Ouch, yo

I have migraines.  Why?  I was in a car accident when I was 16 where I suffered a very bad concussion/TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).  Actually, AAA is trying to convince me that I have headaches because of lots of other reasons.  Well, they're wrong, my doctors and I are right (I have strange appreciation and respect/care for my doctors, people).  Anyways, migraines.

Well, they have never been controlled well.  I've tried dozens (literally) of medications, but they only work enough to make my headaches "manageable".  Managing with this much pain though friends, well it can make you crazy and tense and unpleasant.  Maybe that's why I am a democrat?  Just kidding.  :) :) I love democrats!

So sad.
Today, I had a lovely procedure where they put a unsightly large needle in the side of my neck, directly between two vertebrae, to numb three nerves.  I have to do this again in 2 weeks, and then we will decide if we're going to burn those nerves or not.  NO FUN.  It was crazy painful.  I was seeing stars.  And it is still sensitive and uncomfortable. 


Some information about nerve blocks!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Rick Snyder

People, this is him.  This is the man who will be congratulating me on my four HARD years spent at U of M.  Rick Snyder.  One of the most controversial men on campus right now.  A man who's budget for Michigan is both radical, honest and devastating.  The issue is that Michigan has NO money, and we have been living outside of our means for quite some time...and he is working pretty hard to get us back within our means, and applaudable cause.  Problem: he is taking LOTS of money from education; money from grants for college, money from the K-12 public school system, and money from higher education institutions.  Problem: U of M is one of them.



Facebook is blowing up with people pissed off that he is going to be there, people talking about boycotting the event and I can guarantee you that there will be protests outside of the stadium (I might be in the picket lines).  It's not that I don't like him, actually.  I know, shocking, he's a Republican, but I just really don't appreciate the fact that so many people will no longer have the chance to go to U of M because of his budget cuts.  I am confused as to why such a liberal minded University chose him, but we'll see.  At the end of the day, just give me champagne and let me celebrate my hard work! 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

If you haven't yet...

I know there are lots of videos of the Tsunami out there.  I encourage you to take some time to watch them.  Not for a long period of time.  But just so you are aware of what these people are going through. 

Some friends of mine have yet to be in contact with there family.  Likely from down telephone lines and towers, but with death tolls reaching 10,000 it is hard not to worry. 

As I watched the news this morning (listening to three little boys play in the room next to me) I began to think of how lucky I truly am, how lucky our country is.  Though the people affected by flooding in the East and South right now might not see that, or the kid living on the streets strung out on drugs; we truly are the land of opportunity. 

What are you going to do with your chance?  Your luck? You opportunity?  I'm gonna do lotsss

Friday, March 11, 2011

Earthquake and Tsunami Aftermath

What were you doing around midnight last night?

Personally, I was out with two of my friends having lots of fun.  I was laughing, enjoying myself, and content with life.

Those in coastal areas on the islands of Japan would not say the same.  They were hit by the 5th biggest earthquake in the history of the world, and one of that magnitude has not been recorded for over 120 years.  They suspect that 1300 people are dead, but that number will continually change as they find some and some injured won't make it.  One of the deadliest natural disasters ever.

I learned about it this morning while getting ready for work, the way so many of us probably did.  I challenge you to this:  Spend some time praying about how you can help.  Will the way you help look like donating blood? Money? Flying to Japan? Devoting time to pray for those affected by this daily?  Regardless, you can play a role in helping those so badly hurt right now.  Let's do something.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Wake Up Calls are Rough

Because of my post on Emotional Breakdowns you know that I am having a rough time adjusting back into the swing of life...well it's not getting much better.  And I am just not sure why.

I am a happy person, okay.  I smile a lot, make eye contact too much because I want to make amigos, and I just like to laugh lots and lots.
This made me sups happy..

I have a pretty great life.  I go to a great school have a great family and great friends.  I may have no money in the bank, but life is good.

Problem is, I am having a hard time with the fact that everything seems negative right now.  Between stupid things like AAA being dumb and me stressing about finding a subletter and stressing about student loans for grad school, everything seems negative.

Help me find positives, friends. 

Monday, March 7, 2011

Costa Rica, amigos

It's so beautiful there.  It's quaint.  It was relaxing, and incredibly peaceful.  I would rather show you, though, than tell you.

Here we were at Taco Bar were we got to eat amazing
food (that had menu items I could eat!!) and great (Crazy
strong) wine while SWINGING at the bar.  It was incredible :)

 
I saw some of the best sun sets of my LIFE last week...and these are some of them.  The colors were incredible. 




Every night, we spent 6-7 (approx) watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.  We were in an amazingly beautiful condo that had a GREAT balcony where we could all pull up seats to watch as the sun said goodnight to us and hello to others. 





We also got to go zip-lining one day which was one of the best experiences ever...we had so much fun, and I giggled a lot a lot. 

I couldn't have asked for a better trip.  I am really tan now, super refreshed, and got to breath humid air (I'm sick people, this is a HUGE highlight).  I loved being around people who just let me be who I am...inappropriate, goofy, silly, and fun.  It was great.  I can't say that I'm happy to be back, but since I have to be, I am excited that I was at least able to bring back my tan and refreshment with me (humidity doesn't travel well).

Emotional Breakdown

I'm back!  Meaning I'm back from Costa Rica for Spring Break and I'm back to blogging :)

My 6 SB buddies and I got back to Ann Arbor yesterday after stopping at Nathan's house to sleep for a few hours Saturday night-ish.  We traveled for 25 hours on Saturday.  I was awake for at least 23 of them.  Yikes. 

I loved Spring Break, friends, and I will be filling you in on my happenings in that beautiful country soon enough!

Yesterday was also my mother's birthday!  I of course won't reveal her age, but she is actually really young :)  I love her lots and was able to go to coffee with her and my padre for a little over an hour to fill them in on my trip and wish her a happy existence day. 

So...blog title time.  When talking to my parents, I realized that I wasn't just getting back from a vacation...but I was stepping back into all of the stressors that I left behind just 8 days earlier.  Grad school, student loans, medical bills, finding a subletter, lots of readings, applications for various things, and the list goes on.  Plus, in Costa Rica, I didn't have to be anyone but myself...no body told me what to do and no one had expectations on my behavior.  In Ann Arbor, that isn't exactly true...I have to fit back into my mold, so to speak.  It was all very overwhelming and I burst into tears while talking to some of my lovely friends and hearing about their breaks. 

Praying for clarity in the big stressor areas, and wisdom and guidance.  It's reassuring to know that I can't stop the days from coming, meaning everything will come and pass. 

What are you stressed about?  Did you go on Spring Break?

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Ocean in the Sliding Glass Door

I am currently sitting on a very comfy bed in a beautiful condo in Costa Rica.  Seven of us are spending an amazing time here and I am so grateful I was able to come see this beautiful part of the world.  Calling it beautiful really doesn't do a justice...

Upon getting back to Ann Arbor I will fill you in with pictures, funny stories and tales of our adventures but in the meantime I complain to you that my email is not working...gmail is have major problem with something I guess.  Anyone else experiencing this? 

Hope everyone is having a great week!