I am in love.... with this vacuum. I bought it last night, cleaned my whole apartment and watched as the entire dust bin filled with dirt. It was a little gross, really. But I think I will be vacuuming everyday.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Duece Duece Birthday
My sister turned 22 this past Sunday, so Mark and I went to Stillwater to stay with her for the weekend. We had the best time! We celebrated with Miss USA, birthday bowling and karaoke. On Sunday, we met my parents, sister and grandma in Oklahoma City for lunch with the whole family before heading back home. It was a great weekend. I was truly sad to leave Kelly on Sunday and start another week at work.
Birthday Girl!
All glammed up for some bowling
I can't wait until it's summer and we can be tan again..
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Lazy Days
It's been a slow, lazy week. I had Monday off for MLK Day and spent the morning lounging around with Gus. He loved it. So did I. Tonight I am babysitting for four kids under the age of four. Something tells me it won't be such a lazy time tonight!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Update: No Snow
Big surprise.
Today's high is 53 degrees and Pete Delkus, Chief Meteorologist Extraordinaire, said there wasn't even a chance of any flurries tonight.
So much for the short work week!
Today's high is 53 degrees and Pete Delkus, Chief Meteorologist Extraordinaire, said there wasn't even a chance of any flurries tonight.
So much for the short work week!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Snow Days
It's close to 70 degrees outside. The top story on the news for the past two mornings has been the "Artic Blast" that is coming to town tomorrow night. Everytime there is a chance of snow or ice around here, they call it an ARTIC BLAST. Watch out for the ARTIC BLAST. Better not drive during the ARTIC BLAST. School is canceled due to an ARTIC BLAST.
At least I hope that is the case later this week.
I could use a snow day. Then maybe we could play like these little snow dogs. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
At least I hope that is the case later this week.
I could use a snow day. Then maybe we could play like these little snow dogs. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Relocate?
Once upon a time, my apartment was very clean and I took pictures of it so that I could remember how nice it can look.
It no longer looks this nice. The plan for this weekend: Spring Cleaning, in the winter. Also, my lease runs out at the end of next month. I am once again at the point where I ask myself:
a) Where on earth did the past year go? Have I really been living here that long?!
b) What to do... renew or move out?
c) Potential roommate.. are you out there?
I hate making these decisions.
It no longer looks this nice. The plan for this weekend: Spring Cleaning, in the winter. Also, my lease runs out at the end of next month. I am once again at the point where I ask myself:a) Where on earth did the past year go? Have I really been living here that long?!
b) What to do... renew or move out?
c) Potential roommate.. are you out there?
I hate making these decisions.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Pack Your Kleenex
Last night Mark and I went to see I am Legend. Has anyone else seen it? I wanted to see Juno, but he was really pulling for Legend, so I gave in and off we went. I had heard that I am Legend is a little scary (try A LOT), but I was ready for that.
Now I've cried at movies before. I've teared up, maybe had a drop or two run down my face, but nothing like this time. From about the midpoint on, I was sobbing. OMG, it was so sad. I felt like an idiot, especially since there were maybe 6 people total in the theatre, including us, but I just could not stop the tears! I was having to hold in the actual sobs so that people wouldn't hear me weeping. I was wearing a white fleece sweatshirt and kept wiping my eyes on my sleeves and I just knew that I was going to walk out of there with eye makeup all over me. Please tell me someone out there has seen it. If not, go see it. Even though I will never ever watch it again (because its scary and sad), I do highly recommend it. Will Smith is amazing. And I fell in love with Sam.
On a happier note, I am trying to organize and back up all the pictures on my laptop. There are hundreds and its pretty much causing my computer to nearly crash every time I try to use it. The error message "Not enough memory on Drive C" never sounds good. Here are some recent pictures that I finally got off my camera from the holiday.
The kiddos before we went to see "A Christmas Carol"
Why hello there.
Number 1 and Number 2, the Amanda's (flashing our gang sign)
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Wrapping Up
Last night I finally took my Christmas tree down, so the holidays are officially over. My apartment now looks very empty and sad, to the point that I'm wondering how I lived with such a large empty hole in my dining area before. See, I don't have an actual table on which to eat food, so my "dining room" was the perfect spot for a Christmas tree. Now that said tree is gone, I've got a gaping stretch of carpet that serves no purpose other than to provide Gus with some extra running space. Maybe I should get a table, or at least a bookshelf....
I found the following on another blog and stole it. It's a good way to recap the year and I thought it would allow me to start fresh in 2008. Feel free to steal it from me now. In fact, I hope you do.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Went to Vegas. Adopted a cat. Started a blog. Told a boy I loved him and really, truly, genuinely, 100% meant it for sure.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to do three things last year: exercise more, save money and clean out my closet/throw out the clothes I don’t wear anymore. The latter I completed within the first four days of 2007, although I don’t think I did a very good job. My closet is still jam packed with clothes I don’t wear, probably won’t wear, but cannot throw out for fear that someday I will need them. Oh that Hawaiian print spaghetti strap dress that I bought when I was 18 and no longer fit in? I might get back to that size! There might be a luau to go to! I must keep it!
I did fairly well on the working out this year. I can now run for a decent amount of time (okay, 20 minutes) before getting totally winded. I’m pretty good at the kickboxing class at the gym and sometime I’ll do some lunges across my apartment before bed. And I did actually start putting some money into my savings account every month. It’s not much and my total saved would be at a much higher level if I hadn’t had to dive into it for a little trip to Vegas, but hey. How often does my best friend have her Bachelorette Party in Sin City?
I will make new resolutions this year. I just haven’t put a lot of thought into it yet. Maybe I’ll just do the same three again?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nooooo. I am finally used to my friends all tying the knot but when they start having babies. No. Not ready for that!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My uncle died this past June. It was one of the toughest weekends of my life. It still continues to leave a mark on my family that was especially felt through the holidays.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A wardrobe that reflects the fact that I graduated from college over two years ago. So that means no more sorority tshirt and jeans every day. This year I’m trying to dress like a grown up and throw out the 2002 Date Dash T’s. I plan to stock up on more casual clothes that don’t necessarily come from a football game or formal dance. Which means more shopping at Target and the Gap.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 4 - after much pressing from LJ, Mark and I had the DTR and then celebrated with lunch at McDonalds.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’m proud of myself for losing some weight this year. I really don’t know how much, but I know that my clothes fit better and I feel great about myself. I used to be that girl who had never once stepped foot in a gym. If I can get my bootie in there and run on a treadmill, anyone can.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t know if I really failed at anything, but I did have some slipups. Two times at work come to mind. I learned that everyone makes mistakes and that you just have to keep your head up, apologize only once and then get over it. Everyone else will have forgotten about it by the next day and so should you. Fix it, then move on!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. I got the occasional cold and had to go see the doctor a handful of times, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn’t do a whole lot of buying for myself this year, unless you count two very snazzy bridesmaid dresses. However, I did have the best thing bought for me when Super Boyfriend took me to Nordstrom and let me pick out any jeans I wanted. It wasn’t even my birthday. I picked up some hot Seven's and my back side has never looked better.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mary Beth! She took a bold step and was offered a job in the UK. In a few months she’s moving away to a place where she knows no one and where they drive on the wrong side of the road. I admire her strong desire to try anything and truly chase her dreams.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Is it lame to use Britney Spears here? She has gone so far down the drain that surely Morgan Ash doesn’t even look up to her anymore, right?
14. Where did most of your money go?
I was in two weddings this year. That’s two bridesmaid dresses, two engagement parties, way more than two bridal showers and two out of town bachelorette parties. Not jump in the car and drive to Austin, but “get on a plane and stay in a hotel for a long weekend” out of town. Don’t get me wrong though, those were some of the best times this year and I was honored to stand up for my friends on their big days.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My birthday. Christmas. New Year’s Eve. Going to Vegas with my best friends from college. Going to NYC with my best friends from high school. Watching two friends get married and celebrating with two others after they got engaged. Everyone coming up to Dallas for OU weekend. Having a real Valentine’s Day for the first time in a long time. Meredith’s wedding. Virginia’s wedding. The RRE 2K7. I had a lot to get excited about this year.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
“Cupid’s Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:? a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier and thinner, but also poorer. Oh well. Two out of three ain’t bad huh? And I’ll get back up to the richer phase. Just as soon as everyone is done getting married.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Corresponding. Phone calls, emails, letters, cards, anything. I let too much time pass between communicating with some of the most important people in my life. I know its easy to get caught up in what’s going on here and then I forget about my best friends scattered around the country, my sister in Stillwater or my brother in Portland. Too many times I said oh I’ll call her this weekend.. and then never got around to it.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Freaking out. I let too many things stress me out to the max, which often results in any combination of the following: tears, headaches, sheer anger, annoyance, silent treatments sleepless nights and heartache. This year I aspire to go with the flow and not sweat the small stuff nearly as much.
Also, I could have done with a little less of eating the candy at work. My place of employment must have an entire item line in our budget for candy to replenish the little bowls on everyone’s desk. Every few weeks, someone goes to Sam’s and comes back with dozens of the jumbo size bags of every miniature sized candy there is. It’s my biggest weakness during the work week.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas this year was spent in three different places. First, I had a “Fake Christmas” on the 20th with Mark at his house. The plan was to each exchange one gift before we went home to our respective parents’ houses for actual Christmas. But when I got to Mark’s house and saw that he had sixteen presents for me under the tree, he let me open four. From there, I was in Muenster from the 21st through Christmas with my family and grandparents. Mark came up to Muenster for a few days and we had Christmas # 2 with my family before he and I headed to Bartlesville on the 29th to have a belated holiday with his parents. Whew! That’s three different times of opening presents. It worked out really well.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes :)
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Friday Night Lights all the way. Even if it is more about murders and meth labs than high school football this year, I still can’t resist the coach’s witty remarks and QB1’s goofy grins.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hmm. Not that I can think of.
24. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot this year! I joined a book club at work and then a girlfriend started up our own book club with five other girls, so I’m usually reading at least two books a month. Some that I’ve really enjoyed this year are The Time Traveler’s Wife, My Sister’s Keepe,. Harry Potter 7, and The Pact. I want to start the year out by reading PS I Love You but the darn thing is sold out all over town! Seems I’m not the only one who wants to read the book before seeing the movie.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn’t exactly “discover” a lot of music this year. It’s more like I heard a song on the radio and started liking it, thus I illegally downloaded it on Limewire and then listened to it a hundred times. A group who I haven’t heard a lot of publicly but do like a lot is Secondhand Serenade. Check ‘em out.
26. What did you want and get?
A Nintendo Wii. Watch your inboxes for a Wii-vite. Just as soon as I get really good at all the games myself, I’ll invite everyone over for a friendly boxing match.
27. What did you want and not get?
An apartment where I don’t hear every step my neighbors take, every song they play on their stereo and every shower they ever take. And also Justin Timberlake tickets.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Superbad
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned the big 25 this year. On my birthday I was in Stillwater, OK watching the Longhorns make their usual comeback and beat OSU in the second half. This was a great birthday gift, even if I was with all of Mark’s college friends and the only UT fan of the weekend. I kept quiet about our victory and they more or less left me alone, since it was my birthday and all.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could afford it, a nicer apartment. I live in a decent place with reasonable rent. But I think if I was living in some trendy high rise with stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors, I would be much more satisfied at the end of every day. I just have to keep telling myself that I won't live here forever and I just have to suffer through these renting an apartment days before I reach the blissful life of what's to come.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Swooping bangs, sparkly sunglasses, cute jeans and flip flops.
32. What kept you sane?
Mark. My friends. My family.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
JT. I tried and tried to get tickets to his concert. I watched ebay like a hawk the day before. It could be my biggest regret of this year, not coughing up the 75 bucks to go see him live.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I’m sad to say that political issues do not typically “stir” me. But I'm working on watching all this election coverage!
35. Who did you miss?
My girls in Austin and Morgan in Houston. I just didn’t see enough of them and when I did, it was always for a too short weekend with too much already going on. My year was extremely busy and I had to spread myself thin to see everyone. I wish I could have spent more time with these great friends.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Early this year, Mark took me to Tulsa to meet his friends that I had heard so much about. I was more nervous about meeting them than I was about meeting his parents! Winning the friends over is vital and Mark has such a close-knit group of college friends that I was worried I would always be that new girlfriend who never really knew that they were talking about when they started laughing at all their old college stories. However, this group of people quickly became not just his friends, but my friends too. I love going up to visit them and spend weekends with the whole group who was so kindly welcomed and included me.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Take chances. Take every opportunity you’re given. If someone invites you to out to do something and you don't have other plans, do it. Keep in touch with those far away. Write emails when work gets slow. Put other's before you. Don't whine a whole lot... like I always do. If you are carving pumpkins, make a boy scrape out all the gross insides.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
When you figure out love is all that matters after all,
It sure makes everything else seem so small.
I found the following on another blog and stole it. It's a good way to recap the year and I thought it would allow me to start fresh in 2008. Feel free to steal it from me now. In fact, I hope you do.
1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Went to Vegas. Adopted a cat. Started a blog. Told a boy I loved him and really, truly, genuinely, 100% meant it for sure.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to do three things last year: exercise more, save money and clean out my closet/throw out the clothes I don’t wear anymore. The latter I completed within the first four days of 2007, although I don’t think I did a very good job. My closet is still jam packed with clothes I don’t wear, probably won’t wear, but cannot throw out for fear that someday I will need them. Oh that Hawaiian print spaghetti strap dress that I bought when I was 18 and no longer fit in? I might get back to that size! There might be a luau to go to! I must keep it!
I did fairly well on the working out this year. I can now run for a decent amount of time (okay, 20 minutes) before getting totally winded. I’m pretty good at the kickboxing class at the gym and sometime I’ll do some lunges across my apartment before bed. And I did actually start putting some money into my savings account every month. It’s not much and my total saved would be at a much higher level if I hadn’t had to dive into it for a little trip to Vegas, but hey. How often does my best friend have her Bachelorette Party in Sin City?
I will make new resolutions this year. I just haven’t put a lot of thought into it yet. Maybe I’ll just do the same three again?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nooooo. I am finally used to my friends all tying the knot but when they start having babies. No. Not ready for that!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My uncle died this past June. It was one of the toughest weekends of my life. It still continues to leave a mark on my family that was especially felt through the holidays.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A wardrobe that reflects the fact that I graduated from college over two years ago. So that means no more sorority tshirt and jeans every day. This year I’m trying to dress like a grown up and throw out the 2002 Date Dash T’s. I plan to stock up on more casual clothes that don’t necessarily come from a football game or formal dance. Which means more shopping at Target and the Gap.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 4 - after much pressing from LJ, Mark and I had the DTR and then celebrated with lunch at McDonalds.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’m proud of myself for losing some weight this year. I really don’t know how much, but I know that my clothes fit better and I feel great about myself. I used to be that girl who had never once stepped foot in a gym. If I can get my bootie in there and run on a treadmill, anyone can.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don’t know if I really failed at anything, but I did have some slipups. Two times at work come to mind. I learned that everyone makes mistakes and that you just have to keep your head up, apologize only once and then get over it. Everyone else will have forgotten about it by the next day and so should you. Fix it, then move on!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. I got the occasional cold and had to go see the doctor a handful of times, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn’t do a whole lot of buying for myself this year, unless you count two very snazzy bridesmaid dresses. However, I did have the best thing bought for me when Super Boyfriend took me to Nordstrom and let me pick out any jeans I wanted. It wasn’t even my birthday. I picked up some hot Seven's and my back side has never looked better.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mary Beth! She took a bold step and was offered a job in the UK. In a few months she’s moving away to a place where she knows no one and where they drive on the wrong side of the road. I admire her strong desire to try anything and truly chase her dreams.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Is it lame to use Britney Spears here? She has gone so far down the drain that surely Morgan Ash doesn’t even look up to her anymore, right?
14. Where did most of your money go?
I was in two weddings this year. That’s two bridesmaid dresses, two engagement parties, way more than two bridal showers and two out of town bachelorette parties. Not jump in the car and drive to Austin, but “get on a plane and stay in a hotel for a long weekend” out of town. Don’t get me wrong though, those were some of the best times this year and I was honored to stand up for my friends on their big days.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My birthday. Christmas. New Year’s Eve. Going to Vegas with my best friends from college. Going to NYC with my best friends from high school. Watching two friends get married and celebrating with two others after they got engaged. Everyone coming up to Dallas for OU weekend. Having a real Valentine’s Day for the first time in a long time. Meredith’s wedding. Virginia’s wedding. The RRE 2K7. I had a lot to get excited about this year.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
“Cupid’s Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:? a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier and thinner, but also poorer. Oh well. Two out of three ain’t bad huh? And I’ll get back up to the richer phase. Just as soon as everyone is done getting married.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Corresponding. Phone calls, emails, letters, cards, anything. I let too much time pass between communicating with some of the most important people in my life. I know its easy to get caught up in what’s going on here and then I forget about my best friends scattered around the country, my sister in Stillwater or my brother in Portland. Too many times I said oh I’ll call her this weekend.. and then never got around to it.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Freaking out. I let too many things stress me out to the max, which often results in any combination of the following: tears, headaches, sheer anger, annoyance, silent treatments sleepless nights and heartache. This year I aspire to go with the flow and not sweat the small stuff nearly as much.
Also, I could have done with a little less of eating the candy at work. My place of employment must have an entire item line in our budget for candy to replenish the little bowls on everyone’s desk. Every few weeks, someone goes to Sam’s and comes back with dozens of the jumbo size bags of every miniature sized candy there is. It’s my biggest weakness during the work week.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas this year was spent in three different places. First, I had a “Fake Christmas” on the 20th with Mark at his house. The plan was to each exchange one gift before we went home to our respective parents’ houses for actual Christmas. But when I got to Mark’s house and saw that he had sixteen presents for me under the tree, he let me open four. From there, I was in Muenster from the 21st through Christmas with my family and grandparents. Mark came up to Muenster for a few days and we had Christmas # 2 with my family before he and I headed to Bartlesville on the 29th to have a belated holiday with his parents. Whew! That’s three different times of opening presents. It worked out really well.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes :)
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Friday Night Lights all the way. Even if it is more about murders and meth labs than high school football this year, I still can’t resist the coach’s witty remarks and QB1’s goofy grins.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hmm. Not that I can think of.
24. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot this year! I joined a book club at work and then a girlfriend started up our own book club with five other girls, so I’m usually reading at least two books a month. Some that I’ve really enjoyed this year are The Time Traveler’s Wife, My Sister’s Keepe,. Harry Potter 7, and The Pact. I want to start the year out by reading PS I Love You but the darn thing is sold out all over town! Seems I’m not the only one who wants to read the book before seeing the movie.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn’t exactly “discover” a lot of music this year. It’s more like I heard a song on the radio and started liking it, thus I illegally downloaded it on Limewire and then listened to it a hundred times. A group who I haven’t heard a lot of publicly but do like a lot is Secondhand Serenade. Check ‘em out.
26. What did you want and get?
A Nintendo Wii. Watch your inboxes for a Wii-vite. Just as soon as I get really good at all the games myself, I’ll invite everyone over for a friendly boxing match.
27. What did you want and not get?
An apartment where I don’t hear every step my neighbors take, every song they play on their stereo and every shower they ever take. And also Justin Timberlake tickets.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Superbad
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned the big 25 this year. On my birthday I was in Stillwater, OK watching the Longhorns make their usual comeback and beat OSU in the second half. This was a great birthday gift, even if I was with all of Mark’s college friends and the only UT fan of the weekend. I kept quiet about our victory and they more or less left me alone, since it was my birthday and all.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I could afford it, a nicer apartment. I live in a decent place with reasonable rent. But I think if I was living in some trendy high rise with stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors, I would be much more satisfied at the end of every day. I just have to keep telling myself that I won't live here forever and I just have to suffer through these renting an apartment days before I reach the blissful life of what's to come.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Swooping bangs, sparkly sunglasses, cute jeans and flip flops.
32. What kept you sane?
Mark. My friends. My family.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
JT. I tried and tried to get tickets to his concert. I watched ebay like a hawk the day before. It could be my biggest regret of this year, not coughing up the 75 bucks to go see him live.
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I’m sad to say that political issues do not typically “stir” me. But I'm working on watching all this election coverage!
35. Who did you miss?
My girls in Austin and Morgan in Houston. I just didn’t see enough of them and when I did, it was always for a too short weekend with too much already going on. My year was extremely busy and I had to spread myself thin to see everyone. I wish I could have spent more time with these great friends.
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Early this year, Mark took me to Tulsa to meet his friends that I had heard so much about. I was more nervous about meeting them than I was about meeting his parents! Winning the friends over is vital and Mark has such a close-knit group of college friends that I was worried I would always be that new girlfriend who never really knew that they were talking about when they started laughing at all their old college stories. However, this group of people quickly became not just his friends, but my friends too. I love going up to visit them and spend weekends with the whole group who was so kindly welcomed and included me.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Take chances. Take every opportunity you’re given. If someone invites you to out to do something and you don't have other plans, do it. Keep in touch with those far away. Write emails when work gets slow. Put other's before you. Don't whine a whole lot... like I always do. If you are carving pumpkins, make a boy scrape out all the gross insides.
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
When you figure out love is all that matters after all,
It sure makes everything else seem so small.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)