For Amelia on a Rainy Day05:06:18 PMThe kind that you just wanna give away
It's okay to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through
I know it's hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out
And just be left alone
But don't run out on your faith
'Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And when you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small
It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It's like a river that's so wide
It swallows you whole
While you're sitting around thinking 'bout what you can't change
And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count 'cause you can't get it back
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
Oh, and when you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small!
Sometimes that mountain you've been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you've been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands
And then you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh, it sure makes everything else
Seem so small
"So Small" Carrie Underwood
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And the Winner is...RED TAPE!01:03:28 PMI am now officially a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. And in celebration, I am planning a prenatal massage tomorrow and have been madly "nesting" in my office at work all day. Does it count if you nest at work? My drawers have never been so clean.
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The Eight Million Hour Commute09:47:11 AMCommute time from Work to home last night: 3 hours 45 minutes (a record)
Amount of snow on ground: Way more than the 4 inches the media CLAIMS we got
Number of times I had to stop to use the bathroom on the way home: 1 (also a record, considering I am almost seven months pregnant)
Level of annoyance with commute: High
Number of times I skidded while driving one mile per hour: At least half a dozen
Total number of snow plows I saw: 4
Level of Discomfort by the time I got home: Off the charts
What I did when I got home: Ate dinner, went to sleep, got up, went back to work
Level of readiness to have the rest of the week off: High
Readiness to move to Sunny Southern California and live in a shoe box: Extremly
Desire to drive into the city tonight for appointment: Low
Desire to go on Vacation to tropical Location: High
Enough Said.
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ETA March 13, 2009.09:22:43 AMBut, I have been silent for good reason. I finally, FINALLY, have amazing news. For those of you not yet privy to the details, I'll let the photo speak for itself:
/A5CBB22EE373B4FF862574C9004EB53B/$File/IMG_1865.JPG)
Welcome to the World, Baby Wray. Your arrival is already much anticipated.
And this baby is pretty damn cute already, no?
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. This journey as been peppered with complications and scares, but we are cautiously optimistic that all will be well.
More details to come as events warrant.
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Jury Duty---A Rant03:03:32 PMRead More . . .
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It's that time of year again...04:00:47 PM1. What did you do in 2006 that you've never done before?
Bought a house, adopted a puppy, got an MSW, became a Licensed Social Worker.
2.Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year. I probably won't make any this year. I have goals, yeah, but no resolutions per say.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth.
Yes, my best friend from high school gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
4.Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, for the second year running, no. I hope to keep it that way for another year, too.
5. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More self confidence. Less worrying.
6. What countries did you visit?
I didn't go out of the country in '06.
7. What date from 2006 will remain etched in your memory and why?
9/1/06-The date we closed on our house.
10/2/06- The day Milo was born, and 11/22/06-The day we brought him home.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my Master's Degree and buying a house. It's a tie.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting a job I enjoy more.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yeah, I have been sick this year. Nothing horrible, but some unpleasant days.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our home
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My husband's. He is ever loyal, ever loving, and I will never be able to thank him enough.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled or depressed?
My boss's boss, and some choice patients of mine.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Duh-Mortgage
15.What did you get really, really, really excited about?
House, dog, Our first Anniversary, graduation, job.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
"Street Corner Symphony"
17. Compared to this time last year are you:
happier or sadder: happier
thinner or fatter: 'bout the same
richer or poorer: richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Stopped to enjoy each step of the journey.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In our new home with my Dad, Step-Mom, little brother, Milo, Neela, and Ivan.
21.There is no #21. I don't why there is no 21.
22.Did you fall in love in 2005?
All over again.
23. How many one-night stands?
Um, none!!!! I'm married people!!!!
24. What was your favorite t.v. program?
Grey's Anatomy hands down. And Ugly Betty, too.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate at this time last year?
I don't make a habit of hating people. In other words, no.
26. What was the best book you read?
I read a lot more FLUFF this year to escape from the real world. Still loving the Marian Keyes.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rob Thomas
28. What did you want a get?
House, Kitten, Puppy, Diploma, Job.
29. THere's no #29 either. Who knows why...
30. What was your favorite film this year?
The Holiday
31. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you (optional)?
Ate cheeseless pizza and hung out with my Husband and pets. I was 27. We also celebrate by going to a movie and dinner the next day. It was perfect.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery, or perhaps an infinite money supply..but isn't that always the case?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2006?
Whatever catches my eye.
34. What kept you sane?
My husband, my pets, running.
35.Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I'm not good with names....
36.What political issue stirred you the most?
War. Terrorism. The whole damn mess.
37. Whom did you miss?
My grandmother (well, I suppose technically step-grandmother, but I think of her as my grandmother). She should be here to see me set and reach my goals. But she is always here with me in spirit.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I met a lot of people in '06. A lot of patients that tugged at my heart strings, new friends, new babies and puppies.
39. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2006.
Some dreams really do come true, even if they are a little modified from their original versions
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Some people
It's a pity
They go all their lives and never know
How to love or to let love go
But it's alright now
We'll make it through this somehow
And we'll paint the perfect picture
All the colors of this world will run together more than ever
I can feel it
Can you feel it
We may never find our reason to shine
But here and now this is our time
And I may never find the meaning of life
But for this moment I am fine
So
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Coming up for Air08:29:04 PMMiss me? It has been a long time since my last post. What's new with you? I hope you are well. Not to sick from all the pollution and crap. Anyway, I got a DOG. He's cute and furry and keeps me up all night. Yesterday, he slept until 4:30am and I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER. That's right...I sold my soul to my pet. I am now OVERJOYED when Milo POOPS and PEES outside. I talk a lot about pooping, peeing, and sleeping, instead of world peace, politics, and pop culture. BUT, you, see. It's not SO bad...in fact, most days it is SUPER great. World, you see, I think you would sell your soul too for something as cute as this....
So, world, that is what happened to me. I will write more when my brain is not so tired. Sorry to keep you waiting for so long. I'll send some Christmas cookies to make it up to you.
Love,
Pauline
P.S. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!
.
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I cannot get this song out of my head...02:11:30 PM
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And so it ends..and begins again.08:47:47 PMT Minus 8 days and counting until house closing....
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What kind of Smart Am I, you ask?08:42:37 PMYou are all-around smart. Essentially, that means that you are a good combination of your own knowledge and experience, along with having learned through instruction - and you are equally as good with theoretical things as you are with real-world, applied things. You have a well-rounded brain.
0% applied intelligence
0% learned intelligence
Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com
Read More . . .
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My mantra the last few months....12:49:16 PMas if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. don't search for the answers, which
could not be given you now, because you would not be able to live them. and the point is, to live everything. live
the questions now. perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it,
live your way into the answer... -Rainer Maria Rilke
The job search end is near...details (hopefully) coming soon...stay tuned....
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T-Minus Three weeks and counting03:56:51 PM(0)
When all else fails, chop it off!04:23:39 PM(4)
I could've guessed this one without taking the quiz......02:07:20 PMYou scored as Aidan Shaw.
You got Aidan Shaw. You are a committed and comfortable person. You love animals and nature. Relationships with you are all about being comfortable and fitting with somebody else perfectly. You treat others with respect and expect the same in return. Affairs are things you can't stand and would never do yourself. You want to trust your life partner completely.
| Aidan Shaw | 100% | ||
| Steve Brady | 100% | ||
| Miranda | 83% | ||
| Smith | 83% | ||
| Charlotte York | 75% | ||
| Stanford Blatch | 75% | ||
| Harry Goldenblatt | 75% | ||
| Samantha Jones | 58% | ||
| Carrie | 50% | ||
| Mr Big | 33% |
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Another Mischievous Kitty is born!11:03:05 AMCurious Little Neela is watching her brother Ivan play....
"Come on, you big cat!! Play with me!!!!"
"Well, alright..I guess It's time for a bath then!"
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The Universe is Laughing03:32:26 PMThe job hunt continues...No new news...
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Three down, one to go...08:45:10 AMAnother semester has come to and end. Three down, and one to go. I am now relishing my days free of papers, tests, and readings. Though not free of the hospital, but that's ok, because that's the fun part. What I learned as the semester madness drew to an end....papers and tests aren't worth worrying about. Just gotta do your best and move on. Maybe that's true about everything in life, really. Do your best, learn from the mistakes, move on. I feel like I managed to end this semester relatively less stressed than last year. That was a good thing.
So, on the agenda now? All that Christmas shopping I've been procrastinating. All that pleasure reading that's stacked up beside my bed. And all that r and r I've been missing the past few months. And yes, I promise, to all of you who have sent me emails in the last month that I've neglected....your response is coming!
And then....well, then, just ONE MORE semester to go and I'm done! Back into the working world for me. I'm actually looking forward to it. School always seems more appealing when you're not in it. As does the working world, I am sure. So, we shall see where this journey takes me....
For now, Happy Holidays everyone!
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To tide you over until I finish my blog post about the Wedding/Honeymoon....02:50:13 PMHome stretch... 04:21:06 PMWedding: T minus 18 days and counting
Summer school: Final presentation over, one more class to go.
Sanity: Still present, though at times questionable
Gallons of ice cream eaten in the past week: Too many to count
Miles run to compensate for said gallons of ice cream and in preparation for Sunday's 10k race: many.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're in the home stretch now.....
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The Slacker08:19:54 AMYes, so I've been a slacker recently. Been too busy doing things to think about posting to the blog. But......
This weekend was my wedding shower. It was WAY fun...so thanks to all of you that were there and made it special. The highlights:
I managed to get through the whole party without making a total ass of myself. I was particularly proud of the fact that I managed to read a really sentimental poem from my maid of honor without bursting into tears..and if you knew just how easy it is to make me cry you would understand why I say that it was a great feat!
Highlight number two: The celebrity bride game. My infinitely creative future mother in law managed to cut out heads of celebrities and paste them onto various brides and grooms. It was hysterical....I mean you can't beat Kerry marrying Bush can you?
Highlight number three: so many awesome gifts!!! It's like having Christmas in May..maybe even a few Christmas' combined because once my lovely fiance and I lugged all those presents home we both laughed about the fact that we've never gotten this many gifts at once in our lives.
Highlight number four: food, cake, food, cake...mmmmmmmm (an yes, my favorite thing to do while relaxing at home really is eating!) :)
Aside from that, many things have been causing my slack-ness in the blog world. It seems as though every time I cross something off my "to do" list I think of something else to add. Let me just say, it is a delicate balancing act. I recently discovered that everything task takes about twice as long to accomplish as you think it will. Hee. But, it's fun.
Countdown to The Big Day: 68 days
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The Wedding Comes A Marching In...04:06:36 PMSo after being crazed with the end of the semester last week, I'm now yet again crazed...this time, with wedding planning! At least this is way more fun..But seriously folks, I am still astounded every day at what tiny little things piss people off. It's as if every typo, forgotten whatever, is a personal offense. And speaking of which, I was recently informed that my bridal shower invitations lacked the list of places we are registered...So...for those of you that are wondering:
Marshal Fields
WIlliams Sonnoma
Crate and Barrel
Now it's back to making bows on bubbles and continuing my growing ever more humurous quest for a funny cake topper. I mean, who know there were like ten thousand varieties?
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Meditation and the art of Running....A tale from the Land of the Uninspired10:03:33 PMI am sure the two of you that read this have noticed my conspicuous absence from the blog world. It's not because I don't love you all...I've just been feeling, well, uninspired. The end of the semester is drawing near and all of my energy is being poured into overanalyzing my past and figuring out which icky pieces I HAVE to disclose in my final papers so that they make sense. Sounds fun, doesn't it? It is par for the course, given my field, but nonetheless tiring when you have to do a string of papers in a row. So...I'll write about the one thing I know best....running.
Last week, when it was so unseasonably warm, I came to a conclusion. In this mad, fast pace, we're all too busy to stop and smell the flowers world, we all need a sancutuary. For the religious types that usually comes in the form of a church, for the partiers, it comes in the form of gin, vodka, whiskey, you name it...For me, it's being tied into my fast wearing out pair of new balance sneakers. They just make me feel, well, calm. It's not the shoes themselves, but more what they represent. Running is my meditation, my yoga...I won't go so far as to say it's my religion because for god's sake, I don't pray to the shoes! But it is a place of solace. I find that I come to most of my realizations, and make most of my important decisions while pounding the pavement. It's my way to blow off steam and gain energy at the same time. I often find myself cataloguing seasons and major life events by the trails that I've run. I remember places by how much (or how little) fun I had exlporing the neighborhood in my running shoes. I run my old running route when I go back to my mother's house, just to see if I can still do it. It's my measure of progress I guess. Running has kept me sane through my hardest moments, and I can safely say that the one day I truly felt on top of the world, without reservations or anxieties, and fears that I'm not "good enough" was the day I finished the half marathon. So, what's the moral of this tiny, probably uninteresting to anyone but me, tale? Find your sanctuary...It's worth it.
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Inspiring words for Spring...06:39:49 AMThis time of year, when spring is just around the corner, and promises of sunny sixty degree days are at my fingertips, I always feel like life is full of possibilities. And hey, it doesn't hurt that the first real spring day marks the beginning of a new outdoor running season for me! With 124 days to go until the wedding, here are some inspiring qoutes to keep you warm through what I hope are some of the last cold days for the year! :)
1. I love you not because
of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you..
2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is won't make you
cry.
3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't
mean they don't love you with all they have.
4.. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your
heart.
5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing
you can't have them. "6"
6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling
in love with your smile.
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the
world.
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their
time on you.
9. Maybe we need to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right
one, so that when we finally meet that person, we will know how to
be grateful.
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
11. There will always be people who hurt you, so what you have to do is
keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time
around. And don't forget the wisdom of forgiveness, hurts you hang onto
only hurt you.
12. Make yourself a better person, and know who you are before you try
and know someone else and expect them to know you.
13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them
to.
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What kind of Kingdom Personality do you Have?12:32:52 PM(0)
Joining the Bandwagon..05:43:25 PMI stole this from Becky (like everyone else)....So here goes. 50 things you may not know about me.
1.I have no children as of yet, but I really want them someday.
2.I have a total of one engagement ring. It's on my finger.
3.The first cat I ever owned was an albino named Henri.
4. He had one green eye and one blue eye and he knocked over our family Christmas tree.
5.I have never given a black eye
6.In fact I have never hit anyone and never been hit
7. I would like to keep it that way
8.My nickname until I was 14 was "fat fatyga"
9.I was born in Warsaw, Poland
10. I still speak Polish and love Polish food, but I was afraid to admit it as a kid because I didn't want to be different.
11.I have two older step-brothers and a three and a half year old half brother
12. My little brother is almost the same age as my nephew
13.I always felt left out because I didn't have any siblings by birth
14. I have not gained or lost any weight since July
15. I wish I could wear my wedding dress all the time
16. It makes me feel beautiful
17. That is a rare occurence
18. Someday I will own a house on a lake or in the mountains
19. I finally found someone willing to marry me
20. And Nate is the most patient man I have ever met
21 I speak gibberish to him and he thinks its funny
22. This is what he's getting himself into
23. And I love him all the more for it
24. I have grown to love Country Music, especially Lonestar
25. And I swore on my life in high school that I never would
26. In a former life, I was a theatre director
27. I still miss it sometimes
28. But I grew to hate the life
29. I never realized how powerful words can be until I started training to be a therapist
30. I secretly want to be a singer and wish my voice didn't shatter glass in foreign countries
31. When I grow up I want to run a summer camp for disadvantaged kids in the middle of nowhere
32. And own a horse
33. I've been on the honor role my entire school career
34. And I am still afraid of failing
35. It makes me question my sanity sometimes
36. I have seen no babies born
37. I have never seen a person die, but I've been to one wake
38. It was one wake too many, and it still gives me nightmares.
40.I have never had surgery
41. The thought of ever having to terrifies me
42. I love the Japanese cartoon Hamtaro
43. I am addicted to the Gilmore Girls, and not afraid to admit it.
44. I play the guitar
45. My favorite type of music is folk
46. I am very indecisive. most of the time
47. In my early twenties I developed the nickname Plinebean
48. Since then it has had various incarnations including: P, Pline, Pster, and P-funk
49. I'm a wine-o. I love wine, and Nate and I have a habit of visiting vineyards on all our vacations.
50. This is numbered correctly. I checked.
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Found a new profession05:27:11 PMMy new title is "Official UPS truck chaser". Yes, that's right, you read it right. After spending approximately the last two hours chasing down my UPS package (to the center, trying to beat the truck home...swerving into my parking lot just as the driver is about to leave AGAIN and acosting him to get the package), I can now officially say that I am well trained in my new line of employment. Please, no congratulations. The job does have its perks, though. Where else can you feel like you've suddenly driven into an episode of COPS, where you're the cop instigating the high speed chase and your suspect is none other that Wreath, the middle aged UPS man? Yeah. What a Tuesday. Of course, on the up side of like...we now have Chair cover Samples to choose from.
Wedding Countdown: 151 Days!!!
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Today, I made a difference04:57:06 PMSemester two of graduate school. It's had its ups and its downs..and for many months my internship has been one of its downs. But today, I finally felt like I have a purpose there. After six months of not saying a word to me one of my kids spent a straight half an hour talking to me about life, his family, ninetendo. It was truly amazing. Yeah, may sound silly...but I never thought this kid would talk. Nobody thought this kid would talk, and today, for whatever reason, he decided to trust and talk to me. It sounds hokey to say it gives meaning to my work, but it does. It is not often that I got to see a tangible difference in the kids I work with, but today, something I did or said, made a difference. It feels pretty awesome.
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Year In Review (Bootleg Version)08:33:57 AMI've stolen this from Emily, who stole it from Barb. Does that make this some sort of weird chain mail? Anyway....
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Got engaged.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Yup.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Indeed. 'Twas the year of babies...My best friend Lindsay (little boy-Owen), my sister-in-law (little girl-Juliana), and my future sister-in-law (little boy-Cole).
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, not this year.
5. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Hard question....I think more self confidence.
6. What countries did you visit?
Saw California, Boston, Philly, Virginia, Indiana, Colorado...Think that's it.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
April 3rd....It's the night we got engaged.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Can we say Grad school? Or maybe surviving the first semester of my internship, more to the point.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Getting too worked up about stupid crap.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, nothing noteworthy.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Deep fryer for Nate. Something I never thought I'd purchase in my lifetime.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Too many people to name! I know some fabulous folks.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nobody I care to mention. I don't like to dwell on those moments.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Can we say grad school (again)?
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Nate, Getting engaged, marriage, grad school, Life (for the first time), the future, oh...and chocolate of course.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
Make the cat stop crawling in fron of the computer monitor so I can see what I'm writing..oh wait, that's not a song..Lonestar's "Amazed"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier, more and more everyday
Thinner of fatter? 'Bout the same.
Richer or poorer? Poorer and richer (are we counting the fact that I am no longer living solely off my own income?)
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Had faith in myself.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With Nate, at my Dad's in Virginia.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Yes (though technically it was near the end of 2003, but my love just keeps on growing.)
23. How many one-night stands?
Zip. Zilch. Nada.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Gilmore Girls and Trading Spaces
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate's a strong word...
26. What was the best book you read?
I discovered Marian Keyes in 2004. She's fabulous. I can't pick a fav. among her books.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Alison Krauss
28. What did you want and get?
Engaged. And if we're talking about material objects, some of the highlights include: SIMS and SIMS 2, A fabulous poster of Puss N' Boots,
Cool Jewelry...and sweaters (how could I forget the sweaters?)
30. What was your favorite film this year?
Too many good ones to name...Though we did just see Spanglish wich I thought was awesome!
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old are you (optional)?
Spent it with Nate and his parents. It was great. (25).
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothin'. It was a great year.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Still the same ol' me. I wouldn't say I have a particular style. More like whatever strikes my fancy in the moment.
34. What kept you sane?
It's a who---Nate.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Haven't really thought about it...I guess Sarah Mclachlan. I saw her in concert and her music makes me fell all warm and fuzzy inside.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
It's a toss up between the election and the never ending war...
37. Who did you miss?
All the people that I am close to that don't live close by. And my grandmother and my uncle.
38. Who was the best new person that you met?
Again, too many to name. I met so many cool new people this year.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004:
Have faith in yourself, because sometimes dreams do come true.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
It's not a song lyric, but it is something that has inspired me this year...
"for a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. but ther ewas always an obstacle in the way,
something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, tims still to be served, a debt to be paid. at last it dawned
on me that these obstacles were my life. this perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. happiness is the way. so treasure
every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one."
Peace. Have a great Holiday.
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I'm FREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!04:15:42 PMNo more school for two weeks!!! Woo hoo!! Now I can do all those things I've meant to do in the last five months and haven't had time for...or...maybe...I'l just Lounge...mmmm...lounging...mmmmm....Happy Holidays!
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Another Monday07:12:50 PM3 weeks to go until this semester ends. I can't wait. Break, here I come. Today was dreary. I've been in a funk. Blah. And hey, did you know that George Bush gives tax breaks to people who buy SUV's? You can afford to buy an expensive SUV, so you do. You spend A LOT of money, so Good Ol' W feels sorry for you and lets you write it off. There are 11.8 million people living in poverty in the U.S. What's wrong with this picture?
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O Merciful Day off....08:16:52 AMI finally have a day off. I can't remember the last day off I had. Of course, I'm filling it with homework, BUT I don't have to deal with obnoxious supervisors and flying chairs! Can we say amen! Anyway, another high point of today is registering for classes next semester. I can't believe it's THAT time already but it is. I'm psyched. Almost one semester down.
The wedding update...Wedding plans are moving along. Dj down, florist to go. :)
A disturbing reflection on the media....I was at the gym the other day and on the t.v I saw a show....the show was about a group of individuals who you could call overweight. It was all about their quest to lose weight, and other than the fact that part of the show was about helping these individuals excercise more there was nothing redeeming about it as far as I'm concerned. It was all about psychology torturing them, taunting them with various fattening food, trying to get them to break their diets, etc. Tell me, please, what is the point? I think it's a sad day when we feel the need to make a mockery out of people's personal struggles and desires to improve themselves...and don't even get me started on Dr. Phil.....
Stepping off my soapbox now....
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I never thought I would come to love Silence so much04:58:54 PMIt has been another enlightening day. I am constantly amazed at how much I learn every day that I spend at my internship. I hear kids tell stories of abuse, betrayal, and horrible choices without batting an eyelash. Yeah, at first read it might sound awful, but I have never appreciated my life more than I do right now. I have never felt so good about the opportunities I have had (and continue to have) and the love and friendship that's a part of my life. They've already taught me a lot about appreciation and about taking things in stride, about resilience and trucking on through the bad days, and about falling down and getting back up again.
Now, don't get me wrong...I would never wish, in my wildest nightmares, to work at a therapuetic day school full-time, but as a learning experience it is incredible. I feel like after I get through this year I will be able to face anything my career throws at me with confidence. And that, I believe, is what this is all about in some ways.
And too, I am learning the value of just being quiet with yourself. Of just sitting back and soaking in the life around you. Being surrounded by so much drama all day makes me just want to be happy with my life as it is and live every moment to the best of my abilities.
And yes, this place is already making me sappy and introspective....but it's a good thing. I feel more peaceful and calm than I have in ages.
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And you think you've got it bad.....04:37:50 PMOut with the Old, In the With the New....08:26:31 AMI trained for my new job yesterday and it was fabulous! I can't even begin to describe how awesome it feels to actually care about my job. I actually WANT to know all the ins and outs, the details etc. And when handed a remarkably fat binder affectionately reffered to as the "MSR bible" I couldn't wait to get home and soak up all the information. Truly astounding. I can't remember the last time the thought of working actually excited me. YEAH!!!!
And in other news....also, went in search of a veil pattern with Mom last night. Found some cool stuff, but no cool fabric. Anyone know any good fabric stores in Chicagoland? And I'm talking something with a bigger selection than Jo-Ann's or Hancock's.
And finally, only a little over a week to go until classes start. I'm psyched. Can't wait to "move on" so to speak. Though I am very much enjoying the comparative laziness of the two week hiatus between corporate land and graduate school land.....
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Haze--Tales from the Other Side09:12:53 AMBack on-line again...Miss me? The DSL is back up and running again. That means I once again have the opportunity to talk your ears off. So what has happened in the last week or so? We found a condo. We fell in love with it. We found out it had massive water damage in the basement. We are no longer in love with it. Enough said. It is amazing what a roller coaster thinking about buying is.
Meanwhile, barring any horrific developments my stint with corporate america will in fact be coming to an end in a little less than a month *dance, dance, dance. Shout with glee**. Yes, and not a moment too soon. Let me take this opportunity to thank the job gods for being so kind as to find some things for me to piece together while in school so I will not go broke, but will not have to be a mindless corporate slave either. I finally feel as if freedom is right around the corner.
We saw I, Robot yesterday. General feelings were that it was entertaining to watch but that it could've been much better. Not much character depth and a whole lot of things blowing up. Lots of cool ideas, not a lot of development. Though I am inspired to check out the books now...
Enough Ramblings. Less than a month to go. I am still biding my time, but getting ever more excited.
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The Light at the end of the Financial Aid Tunnel"As of July 1, the fixed rate on Stafford loans (the cheapest and most common student loan) slipped to a 39-year low of 3.37 percent for the next 12 months, down from 3.42 percent in the prior year. PLUS loans (Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students) check in at 4.17 percent, down from 4.22 percent.
Those same loans went for 8.19 and 8.99 percent, respectively, four years ago."
The financial gods are watching over me after all...
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"In Every Lifea little rain must fall." Yes. You can say that again. I still feel damp from the weekend. But, more metaphorically, I was thinking today about how we often times allow the little annoyances in life to get us down. How, in the face a hundred annoying tasks to do per day, we often lose sight of what's really important...Our family, our friends, our pets, our pleasures. It's easy to get lost in the negative and before you know it another week's gone by and what do you have to show for it but rings under your eyes and a huge sigh?
And I'm thinking about what I can do to get less caught up in the negative and focus on the good stuff. I'm thinking more running's in order, more relaxing, more spending quality time with N, more playing, less thinking and worrying. And, in the spirit of letting go of the crap to make room for the good times....A story about a very wise Donkey. Enjoy!
DONKEY
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The
animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried
to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the
animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up
anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the
donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help
him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel
dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized
what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to
everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel
loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of
dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something
amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on
top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a
step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the
donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and
happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of
dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to
shake it off and take a step up. Each of our
troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the
deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
NOW...
Enough of that crap .
The donkey later came back and bit the farmer who had
tried to bury him. The gash from the bite got
infected, and the farmer eventually died in agony from
septic poisoning.
MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong and try to cover your ass,
it always comes back to bite you
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