Semester 1

I have completed semester 1 of graduate school. If I were Chuck Norris, I'd round house kick something. Good thing I'm not, so I will not attempt that.

I have survived the past two weeks which have been rough, school and not school. I feel relived. It finally happened. Remember that last post when I said that if I could get it dne early? Well, as I also said, we all know that wouldn't happen. BUT if we look at the exact time, I am 2 days, 23 hours, and 53 minutes early of the official deadline. In a way, it's a small victory. One that I will celebrate with sleep.

Tomorrow, I will sleep in and not worry about school. School will hardly cross my mind 'til January 18th, which at that point, let's be honest, I'll be thinking heavily about my birthday and how fun it is to be all about yourself for a day. With the exception of buying the 6 needed books for Spring, school will go to the back of my mind. I look forward to other things... like.. well, I don't know because it has been a while.

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Since I am a short haired girl now, I thought I'd try out not washing my hair. Mistake. I pinned my bangs back and looked like Dorothy Hammill was trying to be cool and hip or something. While Dorothy Hammill is Dorothy Hammill, I was not pleased with sporting her famous 'do. I have learned my lesson: Bed-head is only cute with long hair, must wash short hair and put a lot of effort into styling it to avoid looking like D.H. I guess there are worse looks, right? Haha!!

P.S. This was taken at 4 pm. You're welcome for the dark, dreary night room look. Maybe a better one to come.. days and days away. or weeks. I happened to like my hair in this pic, two days ago. It's hard to see what it looks like. My semi-apologies.

Avoidance

I have become the master of avoidance. I don't know how it happened. I see a deadline, I wait and wait, and then I work until the last possible moment to finish whatever assignment it was. What is wrong with working ahead? I have great plans to do this or this, but the topic/assignment is so far from interesting that I just cannot commit that much time to it. I let the assignment dwell within me, making me stressed and annoyed which in turn leaks on to those around me. You can always tell when I'm avoiding school. It's ugly.

I write this while 'working' on a paper over Women's Literacy. I even picked this topic. What is wrong with me? I actually care about educating women worldwide. Why, then, can I not seem to get it together to write this? I think I have myself convinced that I work best under pressure, so I continue this cycle of avoidance which turns into procrastination, or is it the other way around? Maybe I should continue to ponder that to further avoid this assignment?

If I could just get it together, then I could have all assignments turned in by the end of November and have ALL of December off and not have to start school again until January 18th. That would be a 7 week break. 7 WEEKS! It sounds quite lovely, and I hope to work towards that goal, but let's be honest. 1 book and 2.5 papers? (I give the half because the paper due this week is draft one of a final paper due December something as the final paper.) If I can do good now, then I will have less to correct for it. COME ON LACY!

At Laura's

I am not taking Andre out. Not happening. His whining is cracking me up though. Go Laura, GO!

The Smell of Cookies

I just love the way a house smells while baking. It's probably the number one reason why I buy vanilla, hazelnut, and toffee candle scents or something along those lines. mmm.

I ran 2.5 miles today. I decided to work on speed one day and distance the next. On Monday I ran one mile, walked .2 miles, and then timed a mile at 8:23. While not spectacular, I was impressed with myself. Friday will be another speed day.

Tomorrow, I'm going down to a neighbor's house to help her clean. Her husband is retiring and she wants a clean house.

Sirius found a new BFF. The next door neighbors left their dachshund out and he decided to come into our yard. He was very timid, skinny, and cautious. I finally got him to come up to me, but he was so scared. That made me sad that he looked horrified. I'm not sure why it bothered me so much since my dog is the biggest squirrel when it comes to people he doesn't know, but it just felt different I guess.

I'm finally starting to get used to my car. I've liked it all along, but it just hasn't felt like me. I feel like some kind of adult in it though. That might be why I've taken 5 weeks to get used to it. I don't know. It's a slow growing up process I guess? Well, I'll keep telling myself that anyway.

No Readers

Even though I know that no one reads my blog, I still have some things to get off my chest.
1. Stop freaking tanning. Do you realize how wrinkley your face currently is from abusing those UV's since you were 14 or 15? Think of what your face will look like in 5 more years? 10 years? 30 years? You'll be able to hide things within those face flaps.

2. This is in regards to Facebook. Not everyone wants to know everything that happens to you. We don't need an update when your baby poops. Go figure, babies AND adults all take dumps. surprise. We also don't care about all the stupidity that you do with your friends. A funny thing or a serious comment as a status once in a while, but seven or eight times a day? More? WTF. Last thing with the postings. Don't whine about crap because someone's probably got it worse. And in the event that you got yourself into that situation, even if it was long time coming, suck it up. grow up.

3. Close minded people really irritate me. Politics irritate me. I like political debates when the participants use tact. However, the close minded people that almost always make the news are those that have the ability to create a cult following. You're right, I do want to drink your Kool-aid of stupidity. Thank you.

I suppose that's all for now.

Do Good-er

I feel like I'm back to my do-good self again. It's been a long time, but I think I'm creeping back to loving others.

4 1/2 years of college was nothing but LACY. I made time for others, helped my friends out, socialized, but I stopped doing anything to help a general group of people. I disliked the way clubs were run or certain people to do with a club, it was always something. I guess it was that, 'Find your way,' philosophy or something. I shared everything from birth to college. When I lived in the dorms, it was me and another person that I didn't get along with, but when it was only me, I decided I really liked everything to revolve around me. I bought what groceries I wanted, decided what TV show to watch, what to play on my computer, ME, ME, ME.

I was isolated in the Spring. I hated it. I felt like it was only me, not about me. I moved back to Norman and started doing my own thing again. This time, it was different. I've grown up a lot. I guess you have to eventually. As scary as it is to me, I'm okay with it. I ran Race for the Cure with some great friends for a great cause. I'm continuing to run. My manager at work asked me to be Team Captain for Relay for Life. I had no idea that there was so much for the people on the team to do because our previous captains have never said much. I'm going to own my role and make it fun. or something...



I feel better. finally. Small steps.

Weekend Visit

Ashley came and visited. We shopped, ate, watched "Eat, Pray, Love", and ate some more. Good time.

I cleaned my room. I had two papers due last week, so I was overwhelmed with getting everything done, on top of being behind already. Sunday evening was properly used to prepare for the week. There is so much more room and organization. I can breath again.

This week, I have to read a book and start a paper (due Monday I believe). Graduate school, graduate school. . . I'm kind of bored with the monotony, but I guess it's better to be that way that overwhelmed and drowning to my failing class death.

I'm looking for satisfaction. Why am I not satisfied with this? what. a. conundrum. hah.

Appropriately playing is, "Money, Money, Money" Thank you Abba and Mamma Mia!

Eyeball Blisters

Alluring title, aye? Yes, I had to go to the eye doctor this morning. Go allergies!

Anyway, not the point of my blogita today. It is a little past mid-way in the semester. I am dragging. 6 hours and I'm about to fall apart. It's not even hard work. I have a giant mess in my room, have stuff everywhere because I'm still in transition (yes, 3 1.2 months of this), and just don't give a flying flip. I find it hard to be nice to people who are even the slightest bit irritating. I would just rather move on from their stupidity.

I'm in an awful place. I know where a lot of it stems from and I'm hoping that will calm. Only time will tell. Running is not as comforting as it once was, but I think I'm going to start pushing myself to do more. More time running to music, less time thinking? And I'm picking up knitting. I decided that maybe something chill would be nice to relax too. The only down side of it is that when I do have a free moment to be still, I want to be completely still.

I need to get my crap together. Lots of things need to be organized. I feel like I try and try and try, but it is still a swing and a miss.

I type this while I should be working on my paper. I'm a little frustrated with it, so I'm stopping for right now. I'm going to get up early, run, and work on my paper a little more. Go to work, then come home and FINISH it.

Eartquake

Oklahoma had an earthquake yesterday, which is the first I've experienced here. I remember one from Alaska when I was little, but that not thought of to be uncommon since it's on "The Ring of Fire." Here, we live on a little fault line, but nothing that is world renowned.

Race for the Cure

I did it. A lot of room for improvement, but I did it. Then went to Waffle House, the Zoo, worked for 5 hours, and went to Bricktown. All in all, yesterday was success.

Photo credit: Dallyn M.

Almost There

Remember my birthday goal to be completed by birthday 24? Run a 5K? I'm signed up to do Race for the Cure on Saturday. What? yes. That's correct. I've been working towards it since the end of June. Week 6 of the "Couch Potato to 5K" kicked my butt three weeks in a row. (yes, I tried and tried!) Then, I decided I would run to my Latino Jams list. Running to Salsa and Meringue (did I just spell the dessert topping or the dance style?) is surprisingly delightful. I decided that while I was running more consistently (distance wise), I was also cutting my time short since I was finished when I said I was finished instead of when Robert Ullery told me to stop running. So, What did I do? I switched back to evil Week 6 after 3 weeks of Latin music. I accomplished Week Six Day One. 5 minute run, 3 walk, 8 run, 3 walk, 5 run. I knew I could do that day since I had done it before.
I visited Jessica and Melissa. They were going to run a 5K, but I had to work (and was NOT ready). They told me about Race for the Cure. I decided I would suck it and BE ready.
I finished Week 6 Day 2, Run 10 minutes, walk 3, run 10. Bam.
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And then Week 6, Day 3. 25 straight minutes of running. And the mean thing about this day is that it (on the podcast) last 2 minutes longer than Day 2, and 1 minute longer than Day 1. THE HARDEST DAY OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM. After it taking me about 10 weeks to defeat that day, I finally did it.
Week 7 was 25 minutes each day, week 8 is 28 minutes (about 2.75 miles according to podcast) each. I just had to cross that stupid hurdle I guess.
I am running in the morning, and then the race is Saturday.

My Morning View:

Okay, so that's not my morning view, but someday I'll have a great one.

The Saturn

This is in memory of the beloved The Saturn.

#1
Bubby, Leslie, Lindsey, and Brandy covered The Saturn with old, fall leaves. And when I say cover, I mean, pilled front to back, stuck with moisture to the sides, and on the roof. Entire car. And then I got to drive it to make them all fly off.

Driving to Bricktown for Lauren's birthday. We went ice skating.

#2
I still have the rock that busted my windsheild. Today it went outside the car for it's first time since entering the car (October 2003).

#3
Racing on River Road. and NEVER losing.

#4
The Saturn moved me from Tryon, to Chicksha, to Norman, to a different place in Norman, to a third place in Norman, to a fourth place in Norman, to Tryon, and back to Norman.

Jenna and I coming home from Cynthia's wedding, with the windows down. Cory created, 'The Great Birdseed Fiasco.' or something...


#5
Ultimate mudding vehicle.

Brandon driving. He was ... 13? ish..?


#6
I will always have an appreciation for radio since The Saturn had a radio total of 4 months the entire time I drove it.

Little Praying Mantis on the car.



#7
My favorite trip in The Saturn was when we went to Six Flags. My party was stuck in traffic close to the OK/TX line and the guy behind us would not get off the bumper. Ashley crawled through the backseat, into the trunk, flipped the trunk lid opened, and scared the crap out of the guy on the motorcycle behind us. He stayed off of the bumper.



Such a lovely thing.
Always a dandy.

Adult Day I guess

I went to sleep around 1 last night because I knew I could sleep in this lovely Saturday morning. Instead, I woke up at 6:53 am. I laid there for a little bit, then decided I would get up and run (which I planned to do on Sunday because I could sleep in today). Big funny joke, right?
Then, to continue on in my adult morning, I paid bills. How old do I feel today? I've really had an old week. It's (and I'm listening to "Pour Some Sugar On Me" as a side note) just been one of those weeks. At least I got to go out for sushi and 1 drink this last week. haha. For school, I wrote an outline/bibliography type assignment for my pre-rough draft work (which isn't due until the 27th). I know he's just trying to get us prepared for the 2 year journey, but seriously? Pre-rough draft work? I guess it did get me researching the topic a little and someone gave me some suggestions on what else I could look at. Assuming his (classmates) advice pays off, the peer suggestion part will be nice. In my capstone class last fall, my pal and I bounced ideas off of each other, but maybe the option of the entire class will work? I hate having people (sometimes even the teacher) look at my 'work.' Someone has to grade though, so I suck it up and deal.

I bought new jeans yesterday... in a size SMALLER than what I've been wearing! Pretty ecstatic about that crap! My running is starting to pay off. The best part is? (well, sarcastically so) The better I'm being physically for/to myself, the lower my confidence. What is that all about? Maybe the progress isn't progressing as fast as I'd like, or maybe even expect. I think it's more of the expecting half because lb wise, I've hardly moved, but I su'pose I'm toning enough to make a difference. I build muscle like an ox.. so that's kind of unfortunate, but I guess toning is not bulking.

This is how I woke up today. Rearing to go. Why? I could not tell you, but I guess it's a fairly decent way to wake up. I'll be rockin' my new jeans today.

Grad School?

It's Sunday evening. I've been piddling around for a while. I've written (hand-written) one syllabus out. Rather than printing them, I decided I would just go ahead and write it into my notebook and be done with it. Go figure, I've only done one class and am I'm still waiting to do the other class.

I turned on E! and am watching the red carpet crap. Ryan Seacrest gives me the impression that he is actually in love with every person he has interviewed. I just don't know how that happens. I can understand how you could be sociable, but in love? Ridiculous. Hugh Laurie is adorable. o my.

Ouch

The entire left side of my mouth is asleep. I had 2 fillings taken care of. One of my previous dentists did a botched job and it needed repaired. Due to the size of my cheeks, I went ahead and rolled a cotton circle pad (usually use them to take off polish) and stuff it into my cheek to keep it out of my teeth since they're numb too.



I ran about 3/4 a mile in the rain. I had my ipod, so I called it quits.

Finally got enrolled. Thankful for Michelle who helped me out a lot. I have written mini-introductions for both classes and have completed the discussion board question for the week (hoping it's a 1 a week deal) for 5003.

Somedays, like today, I wish that Southern Belle hair would come back, like Steel Magnolias. That style is super easy to achieve and would work so well with my natural texture. Instead, I have to focus on taming my hair. In high school, I started getting wavy hair. Early in college, I was able to mouse it and pull the top back to maintain it. Now? It's to the point that I can put leave-in conditioner and smoothing cream in it and have a considerable amount of wave. Moussing is also an option, but it is always crunchy somewhere on my head. Seriously, Shelby had great hair that we ladies, and then men who want, could do with ease.
Maybe I exaggerate?

Enrolled

I have been dealing with trying to get enrolled for OU graduate classes. It's been stressful. If something could happen, it did, like usual. But, I'm past that, and am enrolled.
After looking at the two courses, I am self doubting and scared about what I'm going to try to do. I think I can do it, but I am nervous none-the-less.

I'm trying to tell myself that it's only 6 hours instead of 15 hours. They are a higher level, but still, I'm trying to be positive.

Dentist appointment mañana.

My Favorite Store

I absolutely adore Borders and everything to do with Borders. During college, I studied there at least once a week. I have my Borders Perks card and use it a lot too. Last year, I had $5 in Borders Bucks (or whatever they call it). I used that and my gift card from Blair for a cookbook and ended up paying only $2.17 for it. I love that cookbook. I buy cookbooks from Walden Books (branch of) or Borders. They have a really great bargain book section. I get emails every once in a while for the Borders Perks offers and have never browsed that website before. HOW HAVE I NOT?! I wish I would have browsed a few weeks later than today. I feel like I need to go check my Perks Page before shopping elsewhere now. I suppose in time I will be on that page more and more. I love Borders. I want to go have tea there right now, but instead, I will go swimming at my friend's apartment complex.

Also, I could listen to Mike Rowe all day. More on that later.

Little Sirius

My Pandora account thought it would be good to play a song from Puff the Magic Dragon. No. Actually it's not Pandora. Good try though.

I gave Sirius a bath, cute his toenails, and cleaned out his ears.


I love how curly his hair the day of a bath. It's completely dry, and needs Soul Glow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO9KBFF76MA

Oops

I changed my Gmail account password and was unable to access my lovely blog.

Working towards my 5K goal! I started off with Couch Potato to 5K. I was doing fantastic. Week 3 to Week 4. good, but a work. then Week 6. I suffered. I am on Week 6.B. And decided to time myself and run to my own play list and hopefully I can get to where I need to be (which is 25 straight minutes) of running. Today, I ran 16:42 minutes. Ya, I feel like such a wiener, but I'm working on it.

Off to Edmond.

Tryin' in Tryon

Things are not going well. Life is a little overwhelming while there is not much to be overwhelmed with.

Twitter

I just created a Twitter account. I have no idea how to use it.

SuperSunday

I woke up around 8:30, let the dogs out, and sat on the couch. Laura got up shortly after me. We messed with my iPod and iTunes account. She got her library on my lappy, I guess. I have no idea on crap like that, but I got her music on my iPod.. AND MAMMA MIA =)

She joked that I should go get pizza from Perkins, so I suggested that we make pizza because I've been wanting to lately anyway. In the process, we discovered we had 10 varieties of cheese in the fridge. We each decorated our own, and each used 3 types of cheese. After cooking, we sat on the couch with Kool-aid and My Big Fat Greet Wedding. Laura had taken probably 4 bites out of her slice and she crunched a piece of glass. I didn't believe her, but sure enough, there it was, about 1/2 the size of a sunflower seed, maybe a little smaller. I laughed so hard, I cried. It was funny, but I have no idea how that glass got in there.

We finished the movie. Most of the dishes are taken care of. Then, we did the 30 minute Rodney someone DVD of Yoga. It has been sooooo long since I've done yoga. A little embarrassing. Finally, I vaccuumed.

It has been uneventful today, but nice. Split a fruit bowl with Laura. Don't know what else to get out of today.

Mid-January Blah

I talked to Tricia for a while last night. Then, it began to hail, power flickered, and then, no more internet. But, we used GoogleMaps to see where each other live. Silly Technology.

I'm currently looking for Cajun recipes. I'm tired of eating the same same ole, and I love Cajun food, so why not? Might as well.

I'm mid application process. A part of me thinks graduate school would be great, then again, I am having a really hard time getting through this process.

Today I will get groceries and run some other odd-lot errands in Stillwater. So tired of Stillwater.

My room is a disaster, and there is little hope of making it look any better any time soon because it was good, then Laura dumped the contents of mom's escape into it and now it is a mess..again.

Need to get my license renewed...

This last week

While I decided to blog again, I haven't been doing a very good job. I've thought about it several times, but this is post #2 of 2010.

I moved to 'home.' As in, where I once caught the school bus. I screwed the pipes up last night because the weather has been so cold. I let the faucet drip instead of run, so I woke up to no bathroom water. Imagine how delighted I was.
Sirius from Christmas Eve snow.

Transferred towns of employment. That's all I have to say on that.

Finally got to watch NCIS. It's been so long. Laura and Mom got me hooked on that show this last summer. I watched several episodes throughout Fall '09.

Sirius would rather sleep in his box in the living room than with me. Love that dog and his snap-snap=snap-attitude (took everything for me not to put snapittude.. but clearly still had to throw it in).

Laura and I had a fun back and forth night on Facebook.

I hate the cold weather. We walked to the mailbox. Andre and Sirius decided to skip away. Bad boys. Andre will be a handful all Spring I'm sure.

I went out with Brooke and her friends on Friday night. I had a great time. It would have been nice If I would have known them OR what they were talking about. But, all the same, I had a good time. I had my ID in my pocket, but left my wallet in her car, so I almost ran out of gas. I put in 11.57 gallons of gas in at the Short Stop. My tank holds 12.2.

Working on my resume and grad. school app process stuff tomorrow. I need to get on it.

All that stuff I said I was going to do from 1-1-010 ... well, I'm behind on it already.

Starting running tomorrow. Motivation!

2010

Even though many people are starting blogs for the new year, I've decided to pick mine back up.
I do not want to harp on about how crazy 2009 was, so I won't. Just remember that December 2009 really did try to kill me.

As a college graduate now, I do not know what to do. That will make 2010 more interesting. I suppose this will be a fun blogging year since I have nothing planned and will be hobo-bum borderline. Really looking forward to it.

Today:
-Birthday is in 26 days.
-Downloaded running pod-casts from the program I didn't complete in August.
-Probably going to see a movie with Blair and Virginie.
-Try Sausisson Seche, a French dried salami log given to me for graduation.
-Pack a few boxes.
-Clean up the kitchen.

I hate New Years Resolutions, so that is not what these are. They are simply things I've always wanted to do, but couldn't because of school.
-Read the Harry Potter series in Spanish this year, along with other books in Spanish. I think that will help me retain what Spanish I have and possibly further it.
-Sky Dive.
-Run dat 5K.
-Try new wines and beers.
-Expand my culinary abilities.


etc., etc.